History of Equinox Cycles
The Equinox Cycles story started in the mid 1960's, when the Beattie brothers' obsession with anything that had a motor and wheels led them to motorcycles. It started with Honda's, then Kawasaki's and the occasional Triumph or Hodaka, and ultimately to OSSA's. Repairing other people's bikes was a logical next step, so in the winter of 1968 there were 14 motorcycles in various states of dis-assembly in the farmhouse basement. For the remainder of the 1960's and 70's anything that had any connection to motorcycles in the Manchester, Vermont area centered around Equinox Cycles at the farm.
Older brother Kevin began the Enduro involvement on Honda, but as he became more serious was the first to race an OSSA. Ivan started in short track on a Hodaka, then Kawasaki. He rode Enduros on an OSSA , but ultimately turned to Motocross on a CZ, then Honda, and inevitably of course OSSA. Younger Brother Eric rode Enduros and Trials, also primarily on OSSA's.
Older brother Kevin began the Enduro involvement on Honda, but as he became more serious was the first to race an OSSA. Ivan started in short track on a Hodaka, then Kawasaki. He rode Enduros on an OSSA , but ultimately turned to Motocross on a CZ, then Honda, and inevitably of course OSSA. Younger Brother Eric rode Enduros and Trials, also primarily on OSSA's.
At the end of the decade of the 1970's Ivan and Eric expanded Equinox Cycles from the farm to a commercial location, first in East Dorset, and later in downtown Manchester. We took on dealership of Can-Am, Sachs, and other smaller brands. At the same time we formed "Team Equinox", mounted on Can-Am's, which became a serious force in the New England Off-Road racing world. By the early 1980's the greater Manchester area was saturated with Can-Am motorcycles.
Through the 1990's Equinox Cycles continued to serve Southern Vermont's motorcycling needs. In 2007 Ivan returned to Vintage MX and continues today on, of all things, an OSSA. In 2012 he returned to racing a Hodaka, the same brand he started racing on in the 1960's. Eric continues to compete in Vintage Trials on an OSSA, and the occasional Vintage Cross Country on a Can-Am.
Now in it's sixth decade Equinox Cycles is a well respected resource in the North East for motorcycle and ATV parts and accessories, as well as advice and information on both modern and vintage motorcycles.
As our family has grown, the motorcycle gene has been passed down through the generations.
Now in it's sixth decade Equinox Cycles is a well respected resource in the North East for motorcycle and ATV parts and accessories, as well as advice and information on both modern and vintage motorcycles.
As our family has grown, the motorcycle gene has been passed down through the generations.
It's awesome to watch the third generation of the family begin to enjoy the obsession!
RIDER GALLERY
This is a gallery of photos from our extended family of customers and friends. You may click on any photo to see a larger image.
