RIDERSVILLE CYCLE - THE BIGGEST SMALLTOWN MOTORCYCLE SHOP IN THE WORLD
by Jeanne Mozier

Steve Jobs started Apple Computer in his garage; Kurt Cobain launched the garage band revolution. Morgan County's garage success story is Harold Unger and his Ridersville Cycle now the world's largest Polaris dealer. Unger and his brother raced motocross and started their cycle business as a hobby in their two-car garage east of Berkeley Springs. Today, Unger has 20 acres and more than 40,000 square feet of buildings jam packed with motorcycles, jet skis, and ATV's that look like alien life forms. Ridersville was an overnight success taking only 24 years probably because Unger insists on taking every Sunday off to ride. Except for his ride time, Unger is at Ridersville at least 12 hours a day. In 1992, his wife Dawn joined the business for a chance to see her husband. Now she handles sales, financing and everything but loading up the bikes.

Over the past two decades, Unger has added motorcycle brands beginning with Can Am and now including brands from Austria, Sweden, Italy and Japan. In 1999, he picked up the new Victory brand bike.

Currently Unger sells approximately 3000 vehicles a year. "It's all about best price," he said. Ridersville has 18 employees as
well as the Ungers.

Ridersville is partnering with the Morgan Arts Council on Vroom Vroom and has been featured in motorcycle magazine ads for the art show. They are sponsoring a Poker Run for the organization on June 23. "Having Ridersville Cycle here is a big boost for marketing Berkeley Springs as a motorcycle destination," said Laura Smith, administrator of Travel Berkeley Springs.