In the early '90s, two avid motorcycle enthusiasts rolled up the doors of GP Motorcycles for the first time. Their passion for the classic style and character of such marques as BSA, Triumph, Norton and Ducati, led to the opening GP Motorcycles, with the intent to fill a cultural void in downtown San Diego -- a "cool place" to hang out, eat, sleep, and breathe European motorcycles.
It was this passion for motorcycles with "old world" style and characteristic exhaust notes that paved the way for what now seems a very natural transition to the sexy lines and throaty roar of the modern machines of Ducati, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, and Aprilia. Over the past 25+ years, GP Motorcycles has grown from a small, mostly-vintage bike shop to a thriving multi-brand dealership that has been named the top-selling dealer in the country for each of its franchises over the years. Even with the advent of all the modern machinery, the team at GP still exude a passion for the vintage & classic European bikes that brought the shop into existence. And, GP is still the coolest place to hang out in downtown San Diego.
Paul Lima is the "P" of GP. He has over 30 years experience in motorcycles, as a technician, a winning racer of many classes both on and offroad; a vintage motorcycle enthusiast, he loves restoration.
Rafael (Rafa) comes to us with years of experience in motorcycle sales and F&I, and is an avid rider.
Raeanna has the experience and connections to get you the best financing possible for your new or used bike.
Joe Salgado has been with GP since he was knee-high to a grasshop...I mean, since he was in high school. He has worked in virtually every department in the shop and has taken ownership of our parts department, putting his knewly honed business management skills to work for us.
Candice comes to us with a plethora of experience in the motorcycle parts and accessories market having managed the online sales for CA Cycleworks, a manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket motorcycle parts. She drove all online sales initiatives, and does the same for us here at GP, as we venture into the virtual world of eCommerce. Candi rides a Ducati Supersport.
Chris is a certified Ducati Master Tech who rounds out our now fully staffed service department. Chris gained his experience with Ducati while working at Hudson Valley Motorcycles and Ducati New York.
Sergio graduated with top honors from MMI and gained practical industry experience in parts sales, and as a motorcycle technician in Florida and Virginia before coming to the Golden State.
Gerald - the quiet one - is a really hard worker. He came to GP in 2008 with his MMI diloma under his belt, and several years experience working at a shop in the bay area. He is factory trained and certified by Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Husqvarna and Ducati.
Erin has been with GP since the beginning in various roles, and has settled into Office Management, including HR, IT, AP/AR, DMV, website management, and general office support. She learned to ride on a BSA C15, then moved up to a Triumph Daytona. But when Paul let her take his Ducati 750 F1B for a quick ride around the block, she had to have her own - and moved up to a Ducati 750 Sport. To this day Ducati remains her favorite, and air cooled Monster her favorite model.
In the late '80s and early '90s if you rode your European bike to one of the larger dealerships in town, they would treat you like you had the plague. Now of course, things have changed and these very same European bikes that we have always loved are now considered mainstream, and we love and respect them just as much as we did back then.
With all the shops and online stores out there, we realize you have a choice, so here are some more reasons why you should choose GP Motorcycles:
If price is your concern, don't fear! At GP, we understand and always strive to provide our customers with the highest level of service at a fair price. Don't assume you are getting a deal somewhere else that we can't match — GIVE US A TRY BEFORE YOU BUY SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! Whether it is a new bike or a new tire, we truly appreciate your decision to do business with us.