Motopia Cafe going private

[calscrazy]

tues hooter's south arlington= not much of a bike night but would be when we show up!!
thurs riscky's fort worth= too much fun answering questions from guys gawkin at the bike!!

[bryant8]

My cruiser is a Roadstar and all 820 lbs of her and my friends throw a party every six months to wrench on our bikes.  Maybe we should do this and alternate garages?  We could start every quater?
As for me, I can clip-on accessories and change oil and plugs but THAT'S it friends.  Need a real mechanic for the fun stuff.

Hell, I learned most of my wrenching skills by watching Chis Kelly maintenance videos, the Haynes manual, and by helping other wrench on their bikes.  That's the kind of clubhouse that interests me; people working on their bikes and helping others as well.  It's a fun time and educational

Back to the topic though

I wish Rene' all the best with the new direction that Motopia is taking, but I don't plan on joining the club.  I live close by and still don't go by there enough when it's free to use. 

[fastwin]

Do you guys really need a clubhouse/place to hang out?

Sunday - Dubliner
Wed - Amsterdam Bar has a Euro bike night
Thurs - Well Sonic's been shut down
Thurs - Burger joint near me in WRL(Buckner & Garland)  has a bike night

I liked meeting up at Motopia for races and moto talk, but it is just a cafe. 

Most of the people in our group know where you can wrench on your bike.  There are some really nice people that have offered their garages and homes to mod days.

I don't have a nice lift to work on but I still do quite a bit of basic wrenching in my apartment's garage.  If I want entertainment, I'll go hit the Monk.

As far as parts go, any shop that's a Parts Unlimited dealer can get you parts for your Ducati.  The PU catalouge can pretty much get you any part you need, if not there are tons of online vendors (PJsParts,Yoyodyne, & CA-cyclworks to name a few) that provide amazing customer service.  If you need OEM parts, there's Salt Lake Ducati, Ducati Omaha, Commonwealth Motorcycles.  Commonwealth saved me a lot of money on my full Termi kit.

The Thursday night hang out at Buckner and Garland is Fat Daddy's burger place... they do have free beer!! If you don't have a license then you can give it away free!! But it's almost 100% Harley and baggers.... Bryant could hit it with a rock from his place!

[never2loud]

Free beer and motorcycles... 

Nice 

[fuzzykeith]

But if you ask me the location absolutely stinks.

You mean you don't like making a hard right immediately after a traffic light that is frequently run at 50 mph?? I am honestly surprised no one has gotten whacked there.  If it were a true place for motorcycle peeps to hang out, it would be over an hour out of town and you would have to take twisties to get there.  Dubliner always has free parking, no membership fees, no "pre-fab" crap, plenty of people watching, and for that price you can get a sandwich, 2 beers and watch a guy roll-start his homemade bike down Greenville Ave. 

AMS, Motoliberty and the Dubliner/Monk have always exceeded my expectations for anything bike related, so I'm good [moto]

Besides - you can usually watch someone wrench on their "classic" bike at the Dub...or watch it leak gas, smoke or rust...always fun...

[muskrat]

You mean you don't like making a hard right immediately after a traffic light that is frequently run at 50 mph?? I am honestly surprised no one has gotten whacked there.  If it were a true place for motorcycle peeps to hang out, it would be over an hour out of town and you would have to take twisties to get there.  Dubliner always has free parking, no membership fees, no "pre-fab" crap, plenty of people watching, and for that price you can get a sandwich, 2 beers and watch a guy roll-start his homemade bike down Greenville Ave. 

AMS, Motoliberty and the Dubliner/Monk have always exceeded my expectations for anything bike related, so I'm good [moto]

Besides - you can usually watch someone wrench on their "classic" bike at the Dub...or watch it leak gas, smoke or rust...always fun...

I've been there several times and twice at least I've blown past the entrance because a car was on my ass....need to find some contraption to drop ball bearings on the road when they tailgate.  I hate that.

[greenohawk69]

The Thursday night hang out at Buckner and Garland is Fat Daddy's burger place... they do have free beer!! If you don't have a license then you can give it away free!! But it's almost 100% Harley and baggers.... Bryant could hit it with a rock from his place!

Boy you sure like to bag (pun intended) on Harley's...a "bagger" is type of Harley.  Sheesh.     Quit whining and show up.  I did on my Monster and talked to the peeps there.  I talked to a couple regarding mine in particular.  Nice peeps. 

[GeorgeInDallas]

Well, let's look at the models that are working: Blue Goose, Duke's. They have in common:

    * Lots of parking in front (we like to show off our rides, after all)
    * Lots of outdoor seating (we like to admire our rides, after all)
    * Limited, simple menus
    * Easy access from a main road in a well-traveled area
    * INclusive atmosphere (don't have to ride a Euro bike or be a member)
    * Absence of peripheral activities
          o NO business facilities
          o NO storage facilities
          o NO service department (although I actually like that)
          o NO off-road tours or out-of-country rides
    * Mainstream (not Latin) music on the PA system
    * Good-lookin' chicks waiting tables
    * OPEN after 6 p.m. (!), and all day Sat and Sun

Having your own business is a lot of work...for the owner. If the owner isn't there, it had better be an oil well. I have never seen a business thrive where the owner wasn't there all, I mean ALL, the time. FWIW.

With love and best wishes for Rene's prosperity,
George

[fastwin]

Boy you sure like to bag (pun intended) on Harley's...a "bagger" is type of Harley.  Sheesh.     Quit whining and show up.  I did on my Monster and talked to the peeps there.  I talked to a couple regarding mine in particular.  Nice peeps. 

"Bagger" is Harley only? Jeez, they claim to own everything related to two wheels? They probably have a copyright on "bagger" like they do to their staccato idle sound. Glad Harley is around but f#@k 'em.

Anyway, Fat Daddy's is a good place. Good burgers and yes good Harley/bagger folks. Not a damn thing wrong with that!

[svoloch]

Think everyone is a bit overhyped on the Motopia angle.  As for me, if it happens, I'll review it then.  If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't.  In the meantime, it's comfy, it's right by my house, the coffee is good ( never eat the pastries, but I hear the food is good ), and it's a very welcoming environment with lots of other folks there who love motorcycles...

[NorDog]

Damn, that's a bummer.  Oh well.

If I may chime in with my .02 for the "dream" clubhouse:

   Cigar smoking room (people would have their own private humidor)

I nominate you for the club president.

Always like Motopia, sort of.  A bit TOO nice for me.  Too much chrome and glass; always felt like I might break something if I weren't careful.

[GeorgeInDallas]

Think everyone is a bit overhyped on the Motopia angle.  As for me, if it happens, I'll review it then.  If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't.  In the meantime, it's comfy, it's right by my house, the coffee is good ( never eat the pastries, but I hear the food is good ), and it's a very welcoming environment with lots of other folks there who love motorcycles...

Sir, I hate to admit it, but by golly, I think you're right.

[Giannis]

Rene came by the BMW Club meeting tonight to explain what's going on.

Said it was all about the $$$. And that he's not even breaking even right now.

Said many folks loved Motopia but didn't love it often enough.

Now it's really just a Club-House for rent. (my words & take on the situation)

Said the "Members" and the "Members Board" will be directing the future of the place.

The "garage" will still be open to the public but not the cafe.

Once a Member though, you can bring in as many Guests as you want.

I guess you could buy one membership and divide the cost among the "guests". 

Could we get 20 of us to pitch in $5 a month and fill the place with guests?

that's from another forum (TwTex) Sounds like a good idea... Those who used to visit offten can pitch a small amount of money for the monthly fee (less than $10 a month if 10 or more people) and the yearly fee of $100 again less than $10 for 10 or more people...

[svoloch]

the only catch is that the membership is keyed to one person.  whoever's name it is in has to be there for others to show.

if this is something we might be interested in, we might purchase as a group multiple memberships to be more flexible.

Don't know what the interest level is ( if any ), but Rene is wanting to pitch it to us, and after some discussion, he is going to host a happy hour with reduced drink $ and free appetizers, or something to the like.  I'll post up time/place for those interested.  Certainly worth a listen...