CARSON CITY (Dec. 9) – Following one’s passion then starting a business related to that passion is a real blessing. And that’s how McCoy’s Off Road Center got started.
Ed and Rheyanna McCoy own and operate the business. He’s well known in the motorcycle and recreational community and has been involved with motorcycles for most of his life.
Ed and Rheyanna stand in the display area of their shop, McCoy’s Off Road Center.
“My family was in racing and I’ve been riding since I was three years old,” he said. “Probably racing at 10. “I quite racing professionally in 1981 and didn’t start racing again until ’96.
Finally he had enough of Southern California and moved here and started the business in 2000 so this is his 17th year. It all began as a way to have a place he could work on bikes.
“We just wanted a race shop to take care of people that raced,” he said. “So I was totally race orientated in race bikes, suspension just because I knew how to do it for myself. I wanted to do it for other people just because of the knowledge I had doing it and then it turned into just a full blown shop.”
That original shop began with 4,000 square feet and was full of all types of gear and accessories. He decided to downsize when the economy crashed in 2008.
“There was a struggle for everybody so we just downsized as the business was pretty much cut in half,” he said.
Rather than compete with the Internet McCoy stopped selling accessories and now only stocks hard parts, like tires and other things. He first moved to a smaller shop, stayed there for about five or six years then a year ago moved to its present location where he has 2,500 square feet of space.
He explained that 90% of his business is repair and hard parts. And his new store is very close to the freeway and has much easier access.
McCoy’s Off Road Center.
Asked about this new location, near the on and off ramps at Fairview, he said, “It’s awesome, way better, clean area, nice shop, good neighbors it makes a difference.”
While the location is good there is plenty of competition in the area.
“Tony from Parts Unlimited said that Carson has more shops per capita than the population in Reno. So he always wonders how we survive in this town. It’s personal, they know I work on their bikes, they know my wife takes care of the stuff up front and they know us as a family.”
The shop has also allowed them some freedom both in their family life as well as their business life.
“We’ve raised three kids here so we didn’t have to farm them out to childcare. That was our main goal for many years, to get through all of that and we made it,” he said. “People just come here because they know us and they trust me to work on the bikes, they know they’re going to get it done right and I’ve got tons of experience.”
He feels the key to his success is service and a loyal customer base.
Two main areas of service he offers is engine repair and maintenance as well as suspension tuning.
“This place does more suspension work than probably all of Northern Nevada,” he said.
He explained that most motorcycles are set up for a riders having a certain weight and for a certain level of performance.
“So if you don’t fit that criteria we need to go in there and either re-spring it for heavier guys or valve it for off road racing or off road riding instead of motocross. The aim is to make it safe and comfortable,” he said.
When asked about the difference McCoy explained that in motocross a bike’s suspension is set on the hard side because the riders is going corner to corner and accelerating between them.
Then he continued, “On the desert you might be going full throttle but you’re already at speed so there’s a bit load difference on the shock. So it doesn’t take as big a bump to kick that back end up and throw you over the bars.”
Then he added that In off road racing the suspension is set up, “a little more plush.”
The age of his customers is another factor driving change.
“A lot of our customer base are over 40 years old and they’re getting to want softer and softer. I used to make them for race people only and it was fairly stiff for that and it’s quite the change,” he said. “And we’ve had the same customers for years.”
While some come from the Reno area McCoy gets a customers from South Lake Tahoe as well as Truckee. And the new location close to the freeway makes it easier for the customers.
And he works on many types of engines.
Ed McCoy stands by a motorcycle he’s repairing.
“I rebuild Razor motors, complete top end, full motor repair on all race bikes and pretty much all brands,” he said. “The motors all seem to be pretty good now so I don’t see to many big issues other than just wearing them out. In Nevada they can ride a lot and they just put time on them.”
One big change McCoy is seeing is the growing use of UTV’s.
“I know we’re getting more and more into UTV’s just because people are getting rid of their bikes and buying them as people really like it,” he said.
And UTV suspensions also need tuning depending on what the owner wants to do. And it varies from just riding on dirt roads to racing.
He cited the example of a UTV customer telling McCoy that FOX wanted $1,700 to do the suspension work that was needed. So McCoy is going to start working on the UTV and see if he can get it tuned to what the customer wants.
“That’s a lot of money, way more than a dirt bike but it’s the same shock and the same business,” he said. “That new Yamaha is what he has and the Yamaha 1000 is set up for short course jumps same as a motocross bike. So what we’ve got to do is to go in there and soften it up. Like the valving make it absorb square edge chop cause its way too stiff.”
The McCoy’s efforts has given them a good reputation for quality service, which actually saves the shop some money.
“It’s pretty solid. It’s pretty much wide open, we don’t advertise, don’t do anything, it’s all word of mouth. Basically we go to MRANN events, people know us,” he said. “People keep wanting us to do all this advertising, take our money but people know us more through word of mouth than advertising. So we spend our money going to the events, sponsoring people and doing it that route.”
Asked about how he felt toward the business and his life McCoy said, “We thoroughly enjoyed doing it, glad we’re able to raise our family and be involved in a sport that we enjoy and love. It’s made life fairly good.”
The McCoy’s have combined their passion for racing and business into a successful family enterprise.
For further information about the shop and services it offers please check their website at, www.mccoysoffroad.com.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Nevada Kart Sport announced the signing with Acevedo Racing for a one-year contract to have Alec Acevedo race with them. The young racer will not only race in the Junior 2 LO206 class with NNKC but also compete in the Briggs & Stratton Super Regionals.
Nevada Kart Sport owner Rodney Rivera stands with his new driver Alec Acevedo. Photo courtesy Nevada Kart Sport.
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This weekend Need2Speed had a “Friends of Dirt Track Racing,” contest Sunday. Several drivers showed up and here is a group shot after the racing was completed.
The racers that showed up for the “Friends of Dirt Track Racing,” contest at Need2Speed.
Photo courtesy -Need2Speed.
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