Sunday, June 29, 2014

"6th Street Specials"

"6th street specials", a freaking landmark in New York City's lower east side. If you ride an English bike you know this place. When I worked at "Iron Horse Magazine", we were there a lot, Indian Larry and Paul Cox both worked there in the mid 80's. Hugh, who runs the shop, was featured on the TV show "Cafe Racer". Since 1986 Hugh and Dimitri (RIP) ran the shop. Now Hugh and his trustee wrench "Fumi" keeps all the cool kids up and running on their Triumph's - BSA's and what not. This is not some designer motorcycle shop like a Harley dealer, this is a knuckles down, bare bones bike shop. You will not see leather chaps and fingerless gloves for sale here. They work on bikes "THAT'S IT". You can buy parts and maybe a shop T-shirt. If you are ever in NYC, you should stop by and see what a real bike shop looks like. bBy a T-shirt so Hugh can have some pocket money for tea and cookies, and don't wage to much of the man's time, he has a shop to run for Christ's sake! You can find "6th Specials" at 703 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10009 My wife Carrol being patient while I chat with my pals. Hugh hard at work during my visit. That's how he rolls, he worked through our whole conversation The Amazing Fumi spinning wrenches in the basement on a customers bike. A fixture at the shop, Greaser Mike, a lower east side legend in his own right!