A Family-Owned Shop Hits the Ten-Year Mark
It’s not easy running a business or being self-employed, especially with how things have been changing. Rent is out of control and the cost of things has increased comically. Pittsburgh has lost a few bike shops and dealerships since 2020, so it’s refreshing to know that the local Kasyan Cycle Worx is still going strong.
The father and son team of Nick and Jordyn Kasyan recently moved into a new building in McKeesport, where they have a lot more room and easy street access. Walking into the back was impressive, with almost every bike lift being occupied by a customer’s bike or one of their own custom builds. We learned the backstory of how Nick got things started with the shop and how his son, Jordyn, picked up on mechanic skills at such a young age.
How did you get the business going?
Nick Kasyan: I started with cars. In 2004, a buddy that I went to school with had parents who owned Heritage Harley-Davidson, so I had an opportunity to go up there and give it a shot. It worked out, and I’ve been doing motorcycles ever since then. In 2013, I opened our first Kasyan Cycle location in a two-car garage in an alleyway. From there, we moved to our Fifth Avenue location. The only reason we ended up moving from there was that the owner wanted to sell the building. We started looking for other spots and stumbled upon this McKeesport location. It’ll be a year in August in this building.
Nick Kasyan: I started with cars. In 2004, a buddy that I went to school with had parents who owned Heritage Harley-Davidson, so I had an opportunity to go up there and give it a shot. It worked out, and I’ve been doing motorcycles ever since then. In 2013, I opened our first Kasyan Cycle location in a two-car garage in an alleyway. From there, we moved to our Fifth Avenue location. The only reason we ended up moving from there was that the owner wanted to sell the building. We started looking for other spots and stumbled upon this McKeesport location. It’ll be a year in August in this building.
Was there something that motivated you to open your own shop?
Nick: I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was doing part-time work at the time because I had young kids and a family. I bought some parts from a guy out by Wicked Witches in Natrona Heights. He had a double-decker garage with maybe twenty-five used bikes for sale upstairs and did the service work downstairs. That inspired me to do my own thing. Ten years in, and we’re just now getting bikes to buy and sell. We’re at that point where we’re steady with bikes and trying to buy and sell as much as we can.
Nick: I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was doing part-time work at the time because I had young kids and a family. I bought some parts from a guy out by Wicked Witches in Natrona Heights. He had a double-decker garage with maybe twenty-five used bikes for sale upstairs and did the service work downstairs. That inspired me to do my own thing. Ten years in, and we’re just now getting bikes to buy and sell. We’re at that point where we’re steady with bikes and trying to buy and sell as much as we can.
Jordyn, when did you start working with motorcycles?
Jordyn Kasyan: I’ve been doing this full-time since I was maybe thirteen or fourteen. I’m seventeen now.
Jordyn Kasyan: I’ve been doing this full-time since I was maybe thirteen or fourteen. I’m seventeen now.
Was your red, white, and blue Sportster your first custom bike?
Jordyn: It’s a collection I’ve accumulated throughout the years. I’ve been building bikes since I was a kid but was more of the bastard stepchild of the guys who were doing their cars. I did some knuckleheads, panheads, and all kinds of stuff. I grew up around motorcycles, so the parts were always around.
Jordyn: It’s a collection I’ve accumulated throughout the years. I’ve been building bikes since I was a kid but was more of the bastard stepchild of the guys who were doing their cars. I did some knuckleheads, panheads, and all kinds of stuff. I grew up around motorcycles, so the parts were always around.
How does it feel to be involved with a craft so intricate and mechanical at a young age?
Jordyn: I have always had a motivated mind and was never huge into video games or stuff like that. I’m a mechanical type of person that has always torn things down and worked on stuff. Even when I was little with RC cars. Although it sucked, Covid actually helped because it gave me the opportunity to be able to work full-time. I was always down here after school, even just sweeping floors.
Jordyn: I have always had a motivated mind and was never huge into video games or stuff like that. I’m a mechanical type of person that has always torn things down and worked on stuff. Even when I was little with RC cars. Although it sucked, Covid actually helped because it gave me the opportunity to be able to work full-time. I was always down here after school, even just sweeping floors.
What style of bike or type of work do you both prefer?
Nick: We service all bikes, but we’ve been getting more into the performance baggers and softails. You kind of have to chase the trends in this market to survive.
Jordyn: We definitely both found a passion for the performance side, especially as it picks up in the area. We’d like to start stepping into having more bikes for sale and parts in inventory, even our own built bikes for sale. More eye candy but keep the everyday operation going.
Nick: We service all bikes, but we’ve been getting more into the performance baggers and softails. You kind of have to chase the trends in this market to survive.
Jordyn: We definitely both found a passion for the performance side, especially as it picks up in the area. We’d like to start stepping into having more bikes for sale and parts in inventory, even our own built bikes for sale. More eye candy but keep the everyday operation going.
How would you describe Kasyan Cycle Worx to potential customers?
Jordyn: We guarantee our work and will stay late to get it done if that’s what it takes. Our biggest thing is to be fair with the customer.
Nick: We’re family-owned and give a fair price with a good product. We have customers from all over, even one that brings his bike from Tennessee for service when he’s visiting family in the city. If I’m not touching it myself, I’m keeping an eye on things. Would we like to charge more? Of course, but I like to keep things as fair and affordable as we can. That’s how we’ve made it for ten years.
Note: Starting in March 2024, Kasyan Cycle Worx will be operating out of their new location at 101 5th Ave, McKeesport, PA 15132
Jordyn: We guarantee our work and will stay late to get it done if that’s what it takes. Our biggest thing is to be fair with the customer.
Nick: We’re family-owned and give a fair price with a good product. We have customers from all over, even one that brings his bike from Tennessee for service when he’s visiting family in the city. If I’m not touching it myself, I’m keeping an eye on things. Would we like to charge more? Of course, but I like to keep things as fair and affordable as we can. That’s how we’ve made it for ten years.
Note: Starting in March 2024, Kasyan Cycle Worx will be operating out of their new location at 101 5th Ave, McKeesport, PA 15132
