By Violette Wang/Discoverparkland.com

As I entered the ivy green door, I was engulfed by the smell of machines and engine oil. It was the typical scent in mechanical shops: vintage and rusty. The next attraction in the room was the wall decor. A variety of motorcycle tools occupied all the walls so that there was no room for irrelevant ornaments. Will this place provide an easy start for its first customer(s)? You will find out as our tour in this little shop begins.

Easy Street Custom Cycles, owned by Rip Vansikler (left) and David Ray (right), is located on the corner of 118 St at Pacific Ave, an easy location to find.  It offers motorcycle repairing services and has been staying at its current address for approximately four years. “We do Harleys and older Triumph repairs, parts, and some custom work,” Vansikler said. “Compared to Harley& Davison, we are probably one of the least expensive shops around.” Opening the shop was Vansikler’s childhood passion. Later in his life, he started considering his passion and interest more seriously after working in a motor shop over a period of time. He was ready to have a shop of his own. “We started the business 15 years ago with 600 dollars,” Vansikler looked up. “We’ve been able to maintain. I think we are doing OK.”

“Not knowing anything, that’s how I started,” said Ray (left), as he was trying to install a new belt he received this morning onto the motorcycle that will be soon brought to a fundraiser for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Vansikler (right) and Ray’s daily routine at work consists of three parts: repairs, phone calls, and parts orders. While fewer employees are there in a small business, it is important that the owner(s) have the ability to multitask. “I typically make a good plan for what I want to accomplish in the day. It’s rarely fulfilled by the end of the day because the phone rings, people come in with questions,” Ray smiled. “Basically, it is like constant prioritizing. Trying to figure out what is the most important.”

Ray mentioned one of the downsides about this shop is the limited space, as the tour continued onwards toward the back. “We have a lot of mess going on, but it is managed.” Although the work space seemed small, it is efficient considering business size and the types of projects needed to get done.

 

According to Ray, building this engine has been a three-year project.  This is called the Fatvo, which is known for its rarity. Ray said, the complete Fatvo is not a common seen product in the market, unless it comes from someone who built it and then tries to sell it. “I’ve only seen one other before,” Ray spoke with pride. A long term project not only requires time and effort, but also one’s passion. If time and effort were the secret ingredients for success, passion would be the recipe that provides the instructions.

 

 

The world behind the ivy green door is not just about installing or repairing. It is also about doing what you love. “It literally is something that we live and breathe,” Ray said. “It’s something that we love to do.”  Passion connected one kind spirit with another, so that Ray and Vansikler together can support each other and share what they know and can do with the community.