Ok, we're a little bit late for this season.... or maybe just early for next year. We've decided to open a small shop in Fairbanks to provide tire changes along with basic repair and maintenance, machining, and precision TIG welding services. We'll be featuring Heidenau K60 tires, but should have the old stand-bys (Tourances & TKC80's) on hand too. If there's something special you want, give us a call and we can make arrangements to have the parts on hand when you get here. Alternatively, if you want to ship tires or supplies ahead of you, we'll be glad to receive and hold on to them until you arrive (just make sure you clearly mark the outside of the package with your name). Don't want to burn up dirt tires on the asphalt? No problem, we can change your street rubber out for dirts, and hold on to the road tires until you return from Deadhorse, then swap you back to streets. Since we're just getting underway, and still waiting on some inventory to arrive, please call ahead to make sure we'll have all the supplies necessary for your bike and requested service. The webpage should be up and running this weekend with all the relevant details, until then, here's the contact information. Adventure Cycleworks, LLC 362 Snowy Owl Lane Fairbanks, AK 99712 http://www.advcycleworks.com Shawn: shawn@advcycleworks.com (907)347-4329 Dan: dans40xc@hotmail.com (907)457-4259 Open Sunrise to Sunset (yep, it's Alaska, that's 24/7)
This is awesome! What a great service to provide in an ideal location. Have you ever part of something like this before? I'm sure you'll be kept pretty busy. I've never heard of those tires. I'll have to google em. Good luck and have fun, Mark H.
Hiya Mark, Nope, I've never been part of a business like this before but I've been around bikes since I was knee high to a grasshopper (and my business partner/father has been working on bikes since the 70's... everything from FIM MX to top fuel funny-bike pit crews). Heidenau is a German manufacturer. The K60s are a real nice Dual Sport tire, slightly less aggressive than a TKC-80 but they wear and ride a whole lot better when subjected to asphalt without giving up much in dirt. They also make nice street tires, which I can get ahold of if someone wants them. You can see their line of tires, including scooter tires , here.
Look forward to seeing ya. For the time being, I'm still working my day job while my father mans the shop. Also, since we're getting a late start this year, we're running things out of his garage... so don't be surprised if you stop by and he offers you a burger/brat from the grill.
Cool. And yeah, those tires sound pretty neat. A lot of good reviews. Hey, you need to list yourself in the 'Vendor' forum on here so people start to know right away. Maybe I'll come up next weekend on my way to Tanacross for the motorcycle races. I've never been there to watch em before. See ya, Mark H.
Good idea on the Vendors listing. When are the races, maybe I can make my way down to Tanacross? I've been looking for info about it, but haven't been able to track anything down.
Great to know and congratulations! I'll be through on an F800 rental in about three weeks and have been considering the Heidenau K60s for my personal F800 back here in Las Vegas. It would be great to actually see a pair. RobStar
Stock a few BMW final drive bearings and seals and you'll make a fortune. The lack of Parts stocked up there was rediculous this summer. Go ahead, ask me how I know. Good Luck.
Get some bitchin' T-shirts and License plate frames made up. People love swag and if it's from somewhere exotic (okay, maybe exotic isn't the right word...) it'll sell like water in the desert. Also, offer a place for people to stash their stuff while they do the pilgrimmage up the Dalton and you'll have a ton of traffic. They are bound to buy something.
We've been tossing around some ideas for tshirts/stickers/etc...(but have to come up with a logo first ). Yep, got a covered spot around back to stash stuff.
Great news!! I think I met you outside the BMW shop a couple of weeks ago. I was on the very tatty English 1100GS having just towed my buddy`s very broken 650 Dak from the Yukon crossing..... Great idea because the Fairbanks BMW shop is one of the worst motorcycle shops I`ve ever had the misfortune to have to deal with. If you don`t have an HD there, they are utterley dissinterested and when they can be bothered to help, they charge an absolute fortune!! Luckily, we found someone else for tyre changes before going to Deadhorse. I`ll be back up there in 2011 with a few Brits so I`ll be contacting you before then. Good luck with the project and as mentioned, a few BMW final drive seals and bearing would be a great stock item.
Congrads on the shop/service! Nice to see a new offering in Sqbanks. The tires look very good. Best of luck!
Hello again Marakesh, Sorry to hear about your bad experience...wish we would have had our tire machine here and ready for you. We'll keep you in mind, and begin preparing for the 2011 Brit invasion.
Thanks! Yep, the Heidenau's are a nice tire. akwerf loves 'em on her F650GS. I just got word today that the importer/wholesaler is in the process of moving their shop, so there's going to be a bit of a slow down on us getting our order. But, if anyone is in the Fairbanks area and you want to lay eye's on a pair with ~5k miles let me know.
Another good service to have available is a pressure washer setup for hire as the bikes are covered in mud by the time you get back, even if you have a dry run. A secure lockup so customers could leave some gear behind for the trip to Deadhorse. How about sell gas cans with a buy back deal. ? These were all things we had to suss out for our trip. And the weather forecasts !! Most important.
Pressure washer... got it. No "secure" lockup, but we're ~10 miles outside of town in a good residential neighborhood... so for the most part, got it. I like the gas can "rental" idea.... I'll be heading to the store to pick up some 1 & 2 gal. plastic fuel cans tomorrow. What do you think, $10 with $5 refunded on return? Does that sound reasonable?
Sounds reasonable to me! Great idea you have here, AKtracks. We're planning on Alaska in July 2010, so you'll probably hear from me again.