Dropping In On Cycra Racing

As far as off-road motorcycle components go, plastics are pretty dang underrated. Though they provide a wide array of functions-from keeping dirt from flying up into your grill to giving you a place to rep your sponsors-it seems like nobody really gives a hoot about anything concerning plastics except what color they are. Instead, fans and enthusiasts tend to drool over anodized knick-knacks, meticulously engraved components and fancy, customized decals that grace most every machine out there. Ah, but if they only knew.

As a result of this failure to appreciate the full value of a good set of plastic, those who manufacture it have been painted into the corner of simply being good at producing several different colors of synthetic material. This notion may be true for some companies, but couldn't be any more backwards for Cycra Racing. Situated in a quiet business park in Hebron, Ohio, Cycra has broken out of the traditional mold (no pun intended) of a simple "plastic maker" and has taken the art of off-road motorcycle bodywork to an entirely new level.

Through dynamic new parts and designs, tried and true testing procedures and an enthusiastic attitude bred from.... well, pure motorcycle enthusiasts, Cycra has established a reputation for injecting performance and style into every item that they produce. Dirt Rider recently swung by Cycra's 57,000 square-foot headquarters for a private tour of the facility, and it didn't take long to see that these guys are doing more than just pumping out colorful components.

Brothers Glen and Ken Laivins founded Cycra over 16 years ago to serve as an outlet for their creative talents and ideas, and to this day they still serve as the core of the company's design and developmental elements. But above all, the Laivins are purebred motorcycle junkies, and their passion for the sport has leaked into every product they make. With a private test track minutes away from the manufacturing plant, these guys spend more time at the track than some pro racers, and they do so simply because they love riding. However, the proximity of a solid riding area isn't just good for entertainment purposes; it gives them a real-world venue with which to test the beans out of whatever product they can come up with.

A quick stroll through the Cycra shop reveals the latest in manufacturing technologies: things like injection-molding machines, plastic thermoforming equipment and CNC machinery are commonplace, as everything that Cycra makes is built under one roof here in the States. One corner of the plant houses an extensive array of molds, while another area is devoted to the in-house paint shop (used primarily for street bike parts).

While much of the work that Cycra produces is for their own aftermarket and performance components, they also do an undisclosed amount of plastics production for several OEMs. Remember when Cannondale made motorcycles? Cycra built much of the plastic for those. See those fancy orange KTMs in the showroom? Yep, Cycra has a hand in that, too. From stock machines to factory race teams, many of the bikes you see have some sort of Cycra plastic on them.

Of course, plastic isn't all Cycra does. Their new catalog boasts a sweet line of casual wear, tie-downs, bike stands and a piles of stuff in between. They even have a line of bicycle parts that stem from the same vein of style and performance that feeds their MX products. What's that? You didn't realize that their line is so extensive? That's probably because Cycra isn't the kind of company to toot its own horn.

Sure, Ken, Glen and the rest of the crew could make it a point to send out more press releases. They could pound their chests about how many factory teams use their products, or post web videos detailing their extensive history and roots in the sport. They could even carry out widespread public comparisons showcasing the quality and durability of their products in relation to their competitors. But Cycra will do none of these things. Because at the end of the day, when all the new designs have been put away, the emails have been answered and the injection-molding machines are cooling off back in the plant, these guys will be too busy riding to worry about the little things. And that, my friends, is the definition of enthusiasts.