Cairns motorcycle shop veteran Wayne Leonard set to retire

Former Australian enduro champion Wayne Leonard is passing down his iconic Harley Magic business to take the open road of retirement.

AFTER close to four decades the biggest names in the Cairns motorcycle industry, Wayne and Rhonda Leonard, are stepping away from the business to “chase the sun” on the open road.

Former Australian enduro champion Mr Leonard started a motorcycle wrecking business called Bits for Bikes in 1983 before expanding to new and used motorcycle and accessory sales from the Water St shop.

Expanding further, Mr Leonard opened Harley Magic in 2013, but the time had come to offload the successful Harley Davison dealership.

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“Rhonda and I want to lighten the load and follow the sun. The boys can run one shop and we can sell the other shop,” he said.

Mr Leonard said his sons Troy and Joel as manager will continue a tradition of top notch service at the Water St shop.

“We rely on repeat business and we have had many happy customers over the years,” he said.

“We have people come back that have not been in the shop for 10 years but would not dream of going anywhere else.”

After 38 years of selling motorbikes from his Water Street showroom, former champion rider Wayne “Magic” Leonard and his wife Rhonda are retiring. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Leonard said both businesses had traded well since the pandemic sent motorcycle sales skyrocketing but the Covid restrictions had thrown up challenges finding the right buyer for Harley Magic.

“Covid has been a bit of a thorn in the side but at the moment we have three contenders that are having a serious look,” he said.

The Harley Magic dealership owns the only licence to sell the iconic motorcycles in the Far North and the business employs six people including an operations manager who has been with the Sheridan St business for 23 years.

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Originally published as Cairns motorcycle shop veteran Wayne Leonard set to retire