The Zen of Exeter’s Boatyard Bikes: Finding Connection Through Motorcycle Maintenance

By Stephanie Darkes

I love shining a light on community projects that bring people together in unexpected ways. So when my friend Ben Bowen invited me to Boatyard Bikes on Exeter Quay, I knew I had to check it out. Here, I discovered a remarkable story of connection and purpose, great coffee, and the power of motorcycle maintenance.

We’re in such a hurry most of the time we never get much chance to talk. The result is a kind of endless day-to-day shallowness, a monotony that leaves a person wondering years later where all the time went and sorry that it’s all gone. ― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

It’s a sunny Thursday morning in May, and the Quay looks beautiful. Tucked behind Haven Banks, I walk into the new Co-Create space, home today to Boatyard Bikes. Inside is a scene of focused activity. Four people are gathered around a partially disassembled Honda motorcycle in the courtyard, tools in hand, deep in conversation.

This is Boatyard Bikes – a community initiative quietly transforming lives by rebuilding motorcycles together.

“We strip the bikes down completely and rebuild them,” explains Ben Bowen, co-director, who greets me with oil-stained hands and a big smile. “These bikes are straightforward. They were made during a time when Honda focused on reliability. Everything is well-made but streamlined, making them as simple as possible to build—and consequently, to work on.”

Watching the group work, I’m struck by how easily conversation flows between them. There’s laughter, the occasional debate about the best approach to a mechanical problem, and a palpable sense of shared purpose. One participant tells me that he comes most weeks.

I knew nothing about bikes when I started,” he admits. “But it doesn’t matter. Everyone’s willing to teach you.

I sit on a bench overlooking the quay. It’s a beautiful sunny day. John Marker, Director of Co Create and the man behind Boatyard Bikes, joins me for a chat while keeping one eye on the workshop activities. His passion for the project is immediately evident:

When you’re working together on something tangible like a motorcycle, conversation flows naturally,” he explains. “Particularly for men, who might find it harder to sit down and directly chat about life issues.

John’s insight cuts straight to the heart of what makes this project so effective. While hands are busy with spanners and screwdrivers, minds are free to wander, and the conversation drifts naturally to deeper topics. 

When we’re tinkering away, we end up talking about life, meaning, faith, and all sorts of big topics that would be difficult to cultivate in a formal discussion setting,” John continues. “Plus, there’s something engaging about motorbikes – the sound, the smell – we all love that part.

As I chat with John about philosophy and faith, it brings to mind a book I read in my twenties – ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.’ Pirsig’s philosophical journey weaves together motorcycle repair and profound questions about values, quality, and what makes a meaningful life. Watching the participants at Boatyard Bikes, I see Pirsig’s concepts materialise. There’s something almost meditative about the focused attention they bring to their mechanical tasks, and the way this creates space for authentic connection reminds me of Pirsig’s insight that “the real cycle you’re working on is a cycle called yourself.” As the author discovered on his motorcycle journey across America, these men find that working with their hands opens pathways to deeper understanding – not just of engines, but of themselves and each other. It strikes me as a place where the practical and the philosophical come together naturally.

On a cycle, the frame is gone. You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming. ― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Boatyard Bikes receives some funding but also has a clever sustainability model. Bikes are bought cheaply, fully restored, and later sold to fund the purchase of another project. This ensures the project can keep welcoming newcomers, easing constant fundraising pressures.

Local businesses are also supporting the initiative. Hel, a major parts manufacturer on Tedburn Road known for superbike components, and Bridge Motorcycles provide sponsorship. It’s great to see local enterprises recognising the value of what’s happening here.

For some participants, I learn that this weekly gathering is their primary social interaction, as John explains with characteristic insight:

Having an activity to be involved with regularly can prevent social isolation and poor choices. We’re offering a space where people know they’ll be asked how they are, where they’ll be respected and treated with dignity.

Boatyard Bikes is just one initiative under the impressive Co-Create umbrella, which has been operating for around 3½ years. Other programs include “Find Your Words” (a creative writing program), women’s woodworking courses, and “Holy Fool” – a coffee roasting project that runs barista workshops.

All share the same fundamental vision: creating spaces where creativity, skill-sharing, and genuine human connection can flourish.

As I prepare to leave, reluctantly (there’s something addictive about the atmosphere here), I reflect on what makes Boatyard Bikes so special. In our digital world, where connection is often reduced to likes and comments, there’s something incredibly refreshing about people gathering in a physical space, working with their hands, and forming genuine connections.

Whether you’re mechanically minded or can’t tell a spanner from a spatula, this project offers something valuable: a chance to learn practical skills while connecting with others meaningfully.

And isn’t that what community is all about?

Boatyard Bikes runs sessions every Thursday at their workshop on Exeter Quay. No booking is required—just drop in between 10:00 and 16:00. All are welcome, regardless of experience level.

Stephanie x

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