Every shed has a story. Sometimes it’s part of your business, sometimes it’s part of who you are. That’s what it is for John Mazzer, who has spent countless hours meticulously restoring rare and beautiful motorcycles inside his shed in Lismore.
A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, John has been restoring old motorbikes for about 10 years. He’s lost track of how long he’s spent turning wrenches, stripping, sanding, welding and tuning about 15 bikes over the years. There’s a 1955 BSA Bantam, a couple of Ducati’s and even a 1984 Kawasaki GPZ750 factory turbo-charged race bike.
Each bike has had a fascinating journey, but none more so than his current project, which is an ultra-rare 1937 BSA Y13. The story of how the bike found its way into the shed spans more than 2 decades with quite a few twists and turns along the way.
It starts 25 years ago when he was visiting a client and happened to spot the bike leaning against a neigbour’s wall. He made a mental note of it, but it was not until many years later that in conversation he learned it could be one of the last remaining examples of a BSA V Twin in Australia. Excited, he went back and found the bike as he had left it all those years ago.
At the time the owner wanted to hang onto it, so John had to wait a few more years before he got the call that it was finally up for sale. As luck would have it, he didn’t have the cash! Reluctantly, he tipped a friend to buy it and John was left kicking himself. A few more years passed before he was able to persuade his mate to swap it for a Kawasaki race bike he had just finished restoring. That’s how, more than 25 years down the road, John finally rolled his dream bike into his shed.
John has always wanted a shed, but his original home didn’t have the space. So when it was time to find a new property, a flat piece of land for a large shed was number 1 priority. After years of working in a cramped workshop, he finally got the place he’s always dreamed of for his craft to truly take shape. He’s customised it with a strengthened centre beam allowing him to suspend motorbikes and work on them if needed.
“I also made sure the shed was well insulated to help keep it cool,” says John. “With our Australian summers it’s important that the shed is pleasant to work in because you spend a lot of time in there. I also put in side windows to give it good air flow.”
The shed isn’t just a workshop. It’s a meeting place for bike mates and banter. It’s about family too.
“It’s brought my son and I together,” says John. “We have a good father-son bond, but we also have a great mateship. A lot of people these days hardly talk to their kids, but we’ve always had something to do together. It’s also kept him out of trouble because it gives him something to spend his money on.”
Listening to stories like John’s you realise that a shed is made of more than steel and concrete. It’s about more than making old bikes come to life, too. Sometimes it’s about making memories, forging friendships and living out the things you love.
If you want to protect your pride and joy, speak to the team at Shedboss and build a place you can be proud of.
