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Ray Cowles Motorcycles Pontypool

I've lived in South Wales for the best part of 25 years, and for the first few years lived near Pontypool. I used to drive past this shop every day on my way to work in Cardiff. I didn't have a bike license at the time, so it didn't much interest me - but it always struck me as looking as though it was lost in time. Roll on a quarter of a century and even though I don't live near it now, whenever I pass through Pontypool I've found myself taking the side road to see if its still there. I must have said to everyone a thousand times, "I've got to go and take a look" after all, surely it wont still be there next year....

So, at last, welcome to Ray Cowles Motorcycles of Pontypool. When I eventually popped in last week and told him my little story he laughed. It happens quite a lot apparently, people popping in to take pictures.He doesn't mind at all and says hes never been busier - apart from when he was a Honda main agent a few years back. (Hes been in business there for 47 years). I wasn't sure whether I was visiting the 50's, 60's or 70's and its as far away from a modern sanitised bike dealer as could be, and all the better for it.





 













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Comments

  1. Unknown18 April 2019 at 03:51

    I spent a fair amount of time with Selwyn and Jason in the shop growing up in pontypool.
    I used to paint the race bikes for Jason back in the day, and they would help me with my motocross bike. Well move on 30 years and I’m in Australia as a police office, but I always pop in to see my old friend Selwyn when I’m back in Wales, good times.

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  2. Richard H. Black26 May 2019 at 11:08

    Nice to read your article! I am looking forward to sharing your adventures and experiences. Suzuki bikes price in Bangladesh

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  3. Unknown18 August 2019 at 05:18

    Just found this and delighted to read it. I lived in New inn in the 1960's and, growing ip with 2 older brother both into biking, Ray Cowles was always a statutory visit for any spares and advise. Like you, every time I pass ( which is rare these days as I live in france now) I am always amazed to find it open and Selwyn still in residence. They had a big past in racing and the name Ray Cowles still means a lot to those in the know apparantly.

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  4. Gwil26 October 2019 at 12:34

    Thanks for this. So pleased to see Ray is still going strong. He was a regular at my parents hotel in the 1970s.

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  5. Best14 June 2020 at 11:45

    Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can't wait to read lots of your posts. electric bike company

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown1 November 2020 at 07:15

    Excellent read of an iconic Pontypool buisness,my Mam and Dad bought me my Honda XR 80 from Cowlesys in 1978, there was a Shop on South Street in Sebastopol also but cant seem to find any pictures of it anywhere

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  7. Sidekick Stu14 September 2021 at 12:34

    Lovely to read, Ray was my Grandads brother. He was an absolute legend and so is Selwyn who is pictured in your collection. Ray sadly passed away in 2007, he certainly left some great memories for people though.

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  8. Anonymous28 July 2022 at 19:02

    its great to see selwyn still there, im from cwmbran so ray cowles was my parts supplier for my bikes, you could just go there for a chat with a very knowledgeable man, thanks for the memories

    ReplyDelete

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