ShopTalk is powered by Dennis Kirk.
There are some companies in the motorcycle industry that become part of the background because they have simply been doing the job right for a long time. Cycle Electric is one of them. This week on ShopTalk, Nick Fahringer joins us to talk about the family business, the racing life that shaped him, and what it takes to keep building dependable charging systems for American V-twins.
Cycle Electric: The Stuff That Keeps You Riding
Cycle Electric has been manufacturing generators, stators, regulators and complete charging systems in Brookville, Ohio for decades, with a focus on American-made components and long service life. That kind of work does not always get the spotlight, but anyone who has chased an electrical problem on an old Harley knows how important a good charging system really is.
From National Enduro Racing to the Family Business
Nick brings another side to the conversation too. Long before sitting down with us for ShopTalk, he built a serious racing resume that includes national enduro competition, hard enduro events and international racing experience. He represented the United States at the International Six Days Enduro and spent years battling at the front of the AMA National Enduro field. That mix of racing, fabrication, troubleshooting and day-to-day work inside a family-run motorcycle company gives him a perspective that goes well beyond a parts catalog.
In this episode, we get into the Cycle Electric story, the realities of working in a family business, the lessons that come from racing motorcycles at a high level, and why quality still matters when so much of the aftermarket is built around price first. We also make room for the rest of the regular ShopTalk chaos — a feature bike, a look at a product from the Motor Company, and as much two-wheel BS as we can cram into the show.
If you care about American-made motorcycle parts, keeping old and new V-twins on the road, or just hearing from someone who has spent his life around motorcycles from the race course to the shop floor, this one is worth watching.
Watch the full episode above, and subscribe to Cycle Source on YouTube for more ShopTalk, custom motorcycles, builders, products, tech and the people keeping this whole thing moving.