Why buy local for your motorcycle?

In 2023, 30% of total UK retail sales were online. The internet has transformed choice and convenience for us to shop from our own homes with suppliers around the world. The choice is almost endless, and competitive pricing means it is often considered to be cheaper… But is online shopping really the best when it comes to motorcycle tyres and accessories?

What you don’t get online

The most obvious disadvantage to online shopping for motorcycle-related items is that it is not a physical experience, so you don’t get to examine the products before you buy them. This can make it difficult to get a realistic idea of the quality, size, fit and condition of items and can lead to disappointments and time-consuming, and sometimes expensive, returns processes when the products turn out not to be suitable or as expected.

It also means that products that need to be physically fitted to a motorcycle, such as tyres, require more planning to buy online. The tyres must be ordered and delivered, then transported along with the bike or wheels to the workshop to be fitted, which requires time and organisation – and either making the effort to remove your wheels and drop them off, or getting the tyres to the workshop along with your bike.

Another difficulty can be with finding out accurate information about the product you are buying and its suitability for your needs. If you don’t know exactly what you want, or need some advice about the type of tyre, the expected performance and wear or the correct fitment for your bike, you will need to do some research and sort the reliable sources from the deluge of enthusiastic marketing, uninformed opinions or outright codswallop on the internet. ‘T-Meister Kneedown’ might claim he got 8,000 racing miles of impressive grip from a rear, but that doesn’t mean he actually did… or that you will.

It’s a lot easier to give Moto-Edit a call, have a chat with our experienced staff about what tyres are going to suit your bike, riding style and budget, or what parts are going to float your boat and do what you need, then drop in with the bike and enjoy the best coffee in town while they’re fitted.

Advantages of being a local

The other big advantage to shopping locally and in-person is the opportunity to develop a relationship with your local workshop. When our workshop regularly sees your bike, the technicians build up a knowledge of its history and your needs and preferences. Every bike (and rider) has a history and their own individual quirks, so developing a relationship with the people who are looking after your bike can be worth its weight in gold. The opportunity to get really well-informed and specific advice can save you money, alert you to potential issues and enhance your riding experience.

You also get the assurance of quality and reliability, knowing that parts and tyres will fit and work as expected, you can trust an expert job will be done, any arising issues will be communicated and any problems will be quickly sorted.

At Moto-Edit, when we get to know our customers and their bikes, we can offer more relevant suggestions because we understand what your priorities are and what your bike is likely to need. Whether you’re after economical solutions, top performance, safety and reliability, classic styling or the latest in technology, we get to know what you’ll like and make sure you’re the first to hear about it.

It's also just more enjoyable on a social level to be able to chat about bikes, enjoy a coffee and perhaps make some new friends at your local bike shop than to spend your time scanning the internet.

But what about the prices?

At Moto-Edit, we deal with all major tyre brands and can offer pricing and deals comparable to online tyre retailers – with the advantage that our prices include fitting, whether to a loose wheel or to the bike.  We can also supply a huge range of parts – original and aftermarket – for maintenance, performance, styling or practicality. Just have a chat with us about what your heart (or bike) desires and we will help you source it.

Our customers regularly benefit from exceptional value deals, meaning they don’t have to scour the internet for price comparisons, or compromise on quality to meet their budget.

If the internet still calls, at Moto-Edit we also fit customer-supplied tyres and parts.

But there’s a strong case for buying local and in-person. The ease of ride-in, ride-out fitting, avoiding the hassle of online ordering and getting specialist advice and friendly expert service –all at very competitive prices - should be a no-brainer. And we also carry out puncture repairs while you wait and keep a range of popular brands and fitments in stock so we’ve got you covered, whatever you need.

So, give us a call to discuss your requirements, send us an enquiry or pop in to the workshop. See you soon!