BARF Community All Stars! - Our sponsors - a barf first!

[budman]

Hey All,

This is a first for barf. We have done barfies for about 10 years now and those are handed out to acknowledge the effort and other contributions that members have made to our riding community. For the first time ever we are going to recognize some of the businesses that support our website. We chose four companies that have been advertising and working with us for 10 years. I have two more lined up for next year already. :teeth

So we created a plaque for these guys thanking them for their dedication to barf for 10 years and helping us help our community as well.

One thing I have found during my trips to hand them out and sometime meet the owners or top level of management they all share a passion for motorcycling. In fact when we visited one of them Surj made the articulate statement that you don’t get into the Motorcycle Business to get rich, you do it because you love motorcycles. Truth! I have had different experiences with all of them and I want to share a little about each and why I chose them.

So with that said I would like to introduce the four recipients ( in alphabetical order):

Cycle Gear
Evolution Motorcycles
ROADRIDER
Werkstatt Motorcycles

 

[budman]

Cycle Gear

Cycle Gear has been around for a while. They are the largest motorcycle accessory retailer in the USA with 112 stores. Wow!
Dave Bertram and I met at the first Indy MotoGP race when he sauntered by with Foolish Mortal. I had read of his tails in Cycle News for years as he was a ISDE Gold Medalist and way more off road racer. I remember well going into the AFM pits back in the day and seeing Cycle Gear with 3 canopies and a good presence with Dwayne Chung leading the charge to the top plate in the AFM. Years later Cycle Gear joined barf and then did something quite unique. They pulled away from trying to really sell stuff on barf, but still wanted to support our community and the effort I was making in trying to work on our right to ride. They became the forum sponsor of “Riders Rights”. When there was a hot topic I could email there team and they would help spread the word that we needed riders to step up to contact their Senators or whatever. How could was this..! I was honored actually. There has been a transition in the day to day operation and ownership of Cycle Gear recently and I met Surj at their HQ in Benicia. I always love walking through a Moto biz. The pics and history speak volumes to the passion involved. It was an awesome afternoon and I enjoyed sitting down with them to discuss the future of the business and meet the brass.. guess what.. they are all cool people! Got to see frozenuts too. Bonus :banana

George said “Cycle Gear was honored to receive the award and it feels good to know that barf felt they were community supporters. Many people think we are just a big box store and the reality is we all love to ride and will forever". :cool

Below Cycle Gear brass
L to R:
Gordon Pull(Promotional and Marketing Planner), Andy Johnson (National Sales Director), Tracy Wan (President and Chief Operating Officer), George Gerstenberg (Director of Associate Training), and Bill Beers (Vice President of Merchandising).

Pic 2 is the Warehouse.. :wow

Pic 3 Max (frozenuts) and Surj

 

[budman]

Evolution Motorcycles

Evolution Motorcycles started with barf as Evolution Suspension. Their name spread through word of mouth through barf by going over the top in terms of making sure that the work was done right. I first met Rob and Jane at the barf bash in 2005 when Rob rolled in a bike with a gatling gun exhaust. I was :wtf and quickly realized this guy was not from America and was a bit nuts! Met his cool wife and a dog too. He may have been the only barf sponsor to join us at the first barf bash.

I am not sure if that is where he met Anthony Alonso, but we shared our support of the Alonso dream for years. Rob and Jane had contacts that really helped the Krazy Cid reach for the stars by racing in Europe. I first noted the amazing work when I took my Husky 510 down to him with a simple request “race prep this please!”

What I got back was art in action with everything perfectly installed and a custom made catch can that looked like it came with the bike. Amazing. When I visited recently we talked about Anthony, the modification the shop is going through to expand the service department because demand is good.

SPEC-ECU was down there working on his bike and his Honda Art bike sits glistening in the Lobby. Rob and Jane are just real moto folks who both ride.. who both love the people that love 2 wheels.

Upon receiving the award Rob and Jane were blown away that it had been 10 years already. They were very proud of being presented with the plaque and immediately started to figure out where they were going to hang it…:laughing I am really happy to see folks this nice smile! Awesome.

 

[budman]

Roadrider

ROADRIDER has been in business since May of 1978. It was founded by Sam Patrick and his son Robert back when it was near impossible for the DIYer to find something as simple as an oil filter for the common Honda. At the time truck drivers by profession and motorcyclists for fun, Sam and Robert sold their trucks, pooled together whatever cash they had, and opened a new shop for South Bay riders on what was then called "Motorcycle Row," or Monterey Road. As time went by and the store became more successful, Road Rider expanded into two adjacent addresses in the same building, becoming the largest parts and accessory store in San Jose. It continues to supply South Bay motorcyclists with DIY maintenance essentials, riding gear, and accessories.

Road Rider has thousands of items in stock and features amazing availability on non-stocked items (often one business day!). Open 7 days and week and ready to serve! You can read about their history here. I have been going down to San Jose for years and recently bought a Bell Custom Carbon Star helmet at their Brain Day.

It is always fun visiting the store because you can touch and feel so many cool things. Heck I even get some Christmas presents for the GK’s there because of the models they carry. :laughing

I have had several friends work there over the years and I know a couple of barfers work there now. There staff is always friendly and the selection diverse.
Most of the time I find exactly what I have needed and when I don't they can order it w/o a problem.

Upon receipt of the All Star award I got thanks from Robert the Owner of the shop and a good vibe that barf has made a positive impact on their business. He enjoys being a part of our community and looks forward to many more years of being a part of it.

I got this email the next day.

"Thank you BARF for counting Road Rider among your All Stars! It is our pleasure to support you and be a part of the community you have created. Bay Area Riders Forum is an important part of the greater riding community and has enriched the lives of many riders new and experienced. Thank you!" RR

:cool

Thank you RR! :thumbup

In the pic below: Left to right: Phil, Rob, Robert, Dave

 

[budman]

Werkstatt

This is a place holder for Werkstatt

It has been hard to get up to see Jennifer and staff. I still have to hand off her award. :teeth

Jennifer and I met at the races... a great place to meet. Here was this blondish haired lady in pony tails working on Matt E.'s race bike. I mean wrenching ... not just working!!!. She barely had a moment to say hello. She did and kept working. This was in 2004.

I knew she was a barf sponsor, but had never interacted really as the original barf owner did all that. I was just a partner in barf for fun at that point.... and for running the sprouting racing team.

The next year when I took over I call Jenn to tell her I was now her contact and man.. she gave me a good German tongue lashing. :wow
She was frustrated by no responses and :rant :rant :rant Now I laugh about it as it is a great story of transition for me. :teeth

I was embarrassed and my 1/2 German self made her an offer to continue as a sponsor. She chilled and agreed and we have been happy associates every since. Her work is well known in the City and her ethic is as well. I am proud to say that Werkstatt is a barf Community All Star!

 

[CrazyGenius]

:applause

I DO know Robert & Jane & Evolution ! :thumbup

Ditto for Phil & Rob at RR ! :thumbup

Ditto for many of the SJ CG staffs. :thumbup Won't mind visiting the CG warehouse though !! :teeth Benicia ??

Field trip to Werkstatt ???

arty Congratz !!!

 

[Cycle Gear]

Thanks B! :thumbup It was great to have you and Surj in the house and we're extremely grateful for the award. It's been a great 10 years. Let's keep it rollin'!

Ditto for many of the SJ CG staffs. :thumbup Won't mind visiting the CG warehouse though !! :teeth Benicia ??

Been thinking about doing some sort of open house type thing. I'll talk to the brass and see what their thoughts are on this.

 

[canyonrat]

Budman, awesome awards. "Surj made the articulate statement that you don’t get into the Motorcycle Business to get rich, you do it because you love motorcycles." Very acute observation. I'll give a two up and center stage BARF salute to our excellent Santa Rosa Cycle Gear Manager Chris. He's been managing our Northland location since in opened 12 years ago.

 

[ThumperX]

:hail

All hail these Community Super Stars!!!

 

[deathbug74]

this is pretty awesome to see, and an awesome way to show the sponsors appreciation for their participation at the same time.

 

[ZCrow]

:thumbup Whenever possible I favor BARF sponsors!

 

[Unicorn Power]

Congratulations all recipients!

Bud, there are a handful of us who are former Werkstatt apprentices who would be happy to be your proxy if you'd like to present Jenn with the plaque...

(NemoBrinker, Slowblood, pyschocandy, myself, among others surely)

 

[budman]

Cool. Thanks Will. Given Jenn's schedule and mine that might be the way to go!!

 

[mosquito]

Thanks B! :thumbup It was great to have you and Surj in the house and we're extremely grateful for the award. It's been a great 10 years. Let's keep it rollin'!



Been thinking about doing some sort of open house type thing. I'll talk to the brass and see what their thoughts are on this.

I would like this.

 

[Surj]

I would like this.

Me too. The warehouse is impressive, and there's all kinds of cool stuff floating around the office. :thumbup

 

[CrazyGenius]

Been thinking about doing some sort of open house type thing. I'll talk to the brass and see what their thoughts are on this.

:thumbup Gordon,

Put Surj, mosquito and myself down for this then !! Thanks arty

 

[budman]

Just wanted to say thanks to Unicorn Power (Will) and nemo brinker (Heidi) for getting Jenn her plaque.

Very appreciated guys. Love her shirt. Since 1994... Rocking :cool

I added her pic in the post above.

 

[Unicorn Power]

No problem, D! :thumbup

 

[budman]

Moved to BoB.

REALLY appreciate these folks for helping barf survive.