Building the Valley: Lojaks Cycle Sales celebrates 50 years of business and its place in off-road racing history

Full Story Online Here: https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/building-the-valley-lojaks-cycle-sales-celebrates-50-years-of-business-and-its-place-in-off-road-racing-history/ 

Being in business for 50 years has its perks.

For example, Lojaks Cycle Sales has motorcycle parts from the 1970s that can be found at few other retailers. Recently, the shop shipped out a part made in 1972 to a buyer in California.

Branded hoodies take up a whole corner of the motorsports dealership in Fawn. Wearing the latest Lojaks gear has become something of a trend among students in the Deer Lakes and Highlands school districts.

And then there’s the credibility, built over the years by founders Ron and Joe Lojak and their nephew, late off-road racing legend Ed Lojak.

A release from the Grand National Cross Country racing series following Ed Lojak’s death in July calls him the “original (greatest of all time) of off-road racing.” His resume makes a compelling case, boasting nine overall titles, two gold and two silver medals for Team USA, an American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction in 2017 and more.

But for all that history, Ed’s son and current owner, Ryan Lojak, most loves introducing new customers to the sport. Like many in the business of outdoor recreation, he has seen an increase in first-timers since the pandemic forced people to find social-distanced hobbies.

“I just really enjoy passing on my knowledge,” Lojak, 32, said in his wood-paneled office, surrounded by accolades and photographs his family collected over the years.

Lojak has been doing some learning, too, after taking over the business earlier this year. Motorcycle knowledge wasn’t the hard part — he’s been into racing since he was 6 years old and had a laudable professional career in his own right.

“It definitely takes some patience sometimes,” he said. “I just had to step into … the business side of it, the bookkeeping.”

The shop sells a wide variety of motorcycles, side-by-sides and ATVs, in addition to all the associated gear. Their speciality, however, is Husqvarna and Yamaha dirt bikes. It also offer maintenance and repair services as well as parts selection numbering in the thousands.

Levi Goheen is the head service technician — a title a little too official for his taste, since everyone on the four-member team does a little bit of everything, he said. The dealership’s offerings range from oil changes to full-on engine rebuilds.

He sums up the shop’s services like this, “Front to back, upside down and every which way, we’ll repair whatever.”

His family has known the Lojaks since the 1960s, so when the shop needed someone to take the lead on service about two years ago, it was a natural fit.

“A lot of us were raised on dirt bikes and Lojak family was famous to us,” he said. “I’ve know about this place and been coming here since I was a little kid.”

General manager Tim Christy, an employee of about 30 years, handles the parts section of the business, bringing a wealth of knowledge that helps customers nail down the right component to a vehicle they may have bought decades ago.

Between the solid team, steady stream of customers and rich history, Lojak thinks the shop could just be getting started.

“We’re looking forward to the next 50,” he said.

Lojaks Cycle Sales is located at 9030 State Route 908. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The shop is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Read the full article online here: https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/building-the-valley-lojaks-cycle-sales-celebrates-50-years-of-business-and-its-place-in-off-road-racing-history/