THE DUC GARAGE BLOG
If you're looking for a quick read, this isn't for you. But if you're passionate about Ducati motorcycles, stick around—this is a journey worth sharing.
My Ducati obsession began in Sydney, Australia, back in 1973. I had my beloved Honda CB750 shipped down from Canada, but it was a visit to a few motorcycle shops in Sydney that changed everything. I’ll never forget walking into an MV Augusta shop and being stopped in my tracks by the sheer beauty of the machines on display. Then, we visited a Ducati shop, and I fell in love at first sight. That love only grew stronger when, in 1979, I finally bought my first Ducati from Reg Carter at Northern Cycle in Edmonton.
Fast forward to January 1985, when my wife Patti and I opened an Italian motorcycle service shop in Cochrane, Alberta. The shop was a haven for Ducati, Laverda, and Moto Guzzi motorcycles. However, the journey was anything but smooth. The Canadian distributor’s supply issues and the Italian manufacturers' lack of technical support made it challenging to run a motorcycle service business.
Despite the hurdles, we found our niche. We focused on sourcing parts from the UK, even after becoming an official Ducati dealer in 1991. The American distributor, Cagiva North America, was difficult to deal with, but we persevered. Our shop, Sport Cycle, grew steadily, and by 1990, we relocated to Calgary, the city where Ducati wanted us to be.
Growth, Challenges, and Triumphs
Relocating to Calgary was eye-opening. The motorcycle business in the city was cutthroat, with bigger shops trying to edge us out. Yet, we kept growing, moving to a larger location in 1994 to accommodate Ducati’s expanding lineup. We even started organizing long weekend rides with our customers in the interior of British Columbia, which became a tradition.
The early 2000s were a whirlwind. Sport Cycle grew to include four techs, two parts guys, a sales guy, Patti managing the accounting, and me at the helm. We expanded our showroom, introduced apparel and accessories, and installed a new Dyno in the service bay. We were rocking, but it was also exhausting.
In 2006, the Calgary motorcycling club introduced the Ducati Cup, which brought more business but also more stress. The winter of 2006 was spent building race bikes for the upcoming season, a task that seemed never-ending.
Then came the financial crash of 2008. Sales plummeted, and the stress took a toll on my health, triggering a severe flare-up of my Crohn’s disease. I spent most of 2009 in and out of the hospital, undergoing several major surgeries. During this time, Ducati North America (DNA) was pressuring us to spend a significant amount of money on our showroom, but the market was in shambles. I stood up at a dealer meeting and challenged DNA’s demands, much to their displeasure.
In 2010, after a long and challenging relationship with DNA, Sport Cycle and Ducati parted ways. It was a relief in many ways. The Ducati franchise in Calgary changed hands multiple times after that, each time failing to capture the essence of the brand. But through it all, Sport Cycle Ltd. remained true to its roots.
Still Rolling Strong
Today, we’re still working on Ducati motorcycles, though not as a dealer. We’ve restored countless older Ducatis, customized many more, and served a loyal customer base that continues to grow. It hasn’t been easy—there have been plenty of ups and downs—but our passion for Ducati remains unwavering.
At Sport Cycle, we’re still telling our story, still serving our customers, and still living the Ducati dream.
