About The Owners
Brad Barnes, Owner
"I grew up in the Canonsburg area and went to school in the Canon McMillan School district. After high school, I got my business degree from Robert Morris University and got married right after graduation. My new wife and I moved to Florida to run a couple retail stores for my father’s company. I learned to fly small planes in Florida and developed an interest in Aerial Photography. We moved back to the Pittsburgh area after a couple of years and I started an aerial photography business serving the commercial real estate industry. After 15 years of flying, I wanted to experience working for a large corporation. I worked for many years in Pittsburgh for one of the top Staffing companies in North America. I had teams of IT and Telecommunications Technical Professionals working for me on projects at national and international companies."
“Even though I loved corporate business, I longed to have my own business again. Our son, Liam, was working at the dealership we now own and kept pushing us to approach the owners and buy it. Since we are all so passionate about all type of riding, we decided to do it. In April of 2014 we officially became the new owners”.
Why I Ride "When I was a kid, we had a mini bike and a Honda 70. I really thought it was fun, but then I got married and had kids and just really didn't think about riding. When I turned 42, I was visiting a client in West Virginia, and his Kawasaki Mean Streak was parked in front of his office, and it really got me excited about riding. At lunch, he told me it was for sale, and after some ‘discussions' with my wife, I bought it.
I didn’t just jump on it and go, I earned my license at the PA Motorcycle Safety Program, a totally free service. I took my time riding slow on two lane roads and worked my way up to riding on the highway in traffic. Because my experience level was low, it took me a few months to gain the confidence to feel in control to ride anywhere I would drive. Today, I feel safer on my bike than I do in a car. I ride almost year-round, rain or shine, in the heat or in the cold. I just don’t ride when there is the possibility of ice on the road.
If you are going to listen to those who have never and will never ride a motorcycle because it’s 'too dangerous' you will be missing out on some really great times with some really great people. Yes, a motorcycle is dangerous IF you don’t take any safety training, don’t wear a helmet and proper riding gear, and you speed.
Since we purchased the dealership, I have been mainly riding the KTM Adventure bikes on the street. I also ride dirt bikes, ATVs and side-by-sides. Since I really wasn't using my car anyway, I sold it about a year ago and ride full-time, year 'round on a KTM 1290 Super Adventure T. If you are looking for someone to give you some practical advice on gear and luggage so you can actually use a motorcycle as transportation, I'm your guy!
Meet the Barnes Bros, Blake & Liam
Blake Barnes, Owner
"I grew up in Canonsburg, PA, graduated from Canon McMillan high school, and earned my Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. After college, I spent two years in IT Staffing, and was a founder of a high-tech start-up in Pittsburgh, PA."
Why I Ride "I've been fascinated by anything with a motor and wheels from as far back as I can remember. As kids, we always had quads, dirt bikes, golf carts, etc. around the house and we rode the hell out of every one of them.
Street motorcycles always interested me, but I didn't start riding them until college when my Dad got his first bike, a Kawasaki Mean Streak 1500. After riding that thing a few times I knew I needed my own. Then my younger brother, Liam, bought a brand new Kawasaki ZX6r his senior year of high school, so I obviously needed one too (you will see that pattern often with us)!
I bought my first road bike when I was in college, a 1995 Yamaha FZR 600, and I was instantly hooked. I fell in love with riding to class, zipping back home to Pittsburgh, and especially the ride to Deep Creek Lake, MD. I sold my trusty FZR after college and purchased my first new bike, a 2009 Kawasaki ZX10r. After racking up 10,000 miles, I did my first track day (again, thanks to Liam) and was once again hooked! After riding on the street for years, it was an incredible feeling to be told to go AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
I'm into all types of riding, whether it's in the dirt, on the track, or on the street. I'm excited for the opportunity to work in the industry I love, and foster a community of riders who share our passion!"
Liam Barnes, Owner
"Like my Dad and brother, I also grew up in Canonsburg, graduated from Canon McMillan high school before attending Garrett College. If you are familiar with Bentley's, in Canonsburg, I started working there when I was 17, and our family purchased the dealership in April of 2014. I was in sales for most of my career, and was recently promoted to Parts Manager before we bought the business. Working in the powersports business quickly became my passion, and I knew that's what I wanted to do for a living."
Why I Ride "My love for bikes and quads came long before I started working in the powersports business. From the time I was 12, I have owned dirt bikes, quads, snowmobiles, everything from a Suzuki LT185 to a KTM EXC 500. I just can't help it, I live and breathe powersports.
After riding my Dad's Mean Streak, I bought a new Kawasaki ZX6R and rode it to High School. That began my love for sport bikes and street riding. After a few years of riding on the street, I did my first track day and realized what we were missing all those years. Riding a Sport motorcycle on a track was the way it was meant to be ridden and it was the biggest rush I ever had!
When I am not in the shop, you can find me chasing lap-times on a road course with my custom-built Yamaha FZ07-R, in the woods, or on the street."