Canterbury Motorcycles, formerly known as Chapmans Garage, is a local business that has been serving Mid Canterbury region for years.
Clint Collett began his journey with the business after leaving school, starting his apprenticeship while gaining work experience with the garage’s former owner, David Chapman. During this time, he was also completing his pre-entry trade course at Southern Polytechnic. At the time, the business operated as a Mobil service station before David transitioned it to a Kawasaki Motorcycle franchise in 2002. This was an exciting new direction that brought bikes and cars together under the same roof.
In late 2003, Clint left Chapmans Garage to pursue his dream job as a motorcycle tour guide in Queenstown. After three years, he returned to Mid Canterbury, diving into the world of buying, fixing, and selling all things automotive, and gaining invaluable experience along the way. This led to the creation of two more start-up businesses and, eventually, a move to Australia, where he ran motorsport workshops until 2013.
A conversation between Clint and David brought him back to New Zealand, where, after 5 years of working together, the opportunity arose to purchase David’s business. In 2019, that dream became a reality, and since then Canterbury Motorcycles has seen significant growth.
Now with a team of nine, including Clint, the business has earned the title of New Zealand’s Number 3 Kawasaki dealer, and the largest Kawasaki farm dealer overall.
At Canterbury Motorcycles, they pride themselves on being a one-stop shop for the farming community and recreational equipment enthusiasts alike. Offering everything including on-farm servicing, their commitment to quality service and providing a diverse range of solutions ensures they are ready for every challenge.