Cycle World of Houma growing strong after nearly 40 years

Humble beginnings in an old, remodeled grocery store in 1967 has grown into the area’s most well known motorcycle dealer.

Nearly 40 years ago, it started as Suzuki Cycle World on St. Mary Street in Thibodaux, and carried Bolens Lawn Mowers, Hodaka motorcycles and a full line of Suziki motorcycles.

Today, that same small motorcycle dealer—now called Cycle World of Houma—resides on West Park Avenue, and is housed in a 20,000-square-foot building slated for expansion over the next two years.

In March, Cycle World celebrates its Silver Anniversary, and continues to grow. “With each expansion, we have expectations of growth,” said owner and general manager Glenn Diedrich, “and we’ve certainly achieved this in the last few years from our latest remodel. Now with business continuing to grow, it’s time to put yet another remodel in the pipeline. We expect to have added on 8,000- to 10,000 square feet within two years to make room for more bikes on the showroom floor, more parts and accessories to add to those units and, of course, more customers to satisfy.”

Today, Cycle World carries the brands Honda, Kawasaki, KTM and Yamaha. Among the items Cycle World carries are motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, utility vehicles and parts and accessories for those vehicles. The company also maintains a Web site (www.cycleworldofhouma.com) where customers can purchase accessories and interact with Cycle World employees via e-mail.

“Twenty-four hours a day, if a customer can get on a computer on a Saturday night at 10 o’clock, or Sunday night at 10 o’clock,” Diedrich said, “they can look for information and they can e-mail us so that Monday, we’ll be ready to respond to them.”

And while having an abundance of options—not only of what to buy, but how to buy—is one reason customers come back for more, it is not the only reason. “We want to establish relationships and not just have customers come and go and not really get to know them,” explained Diedrich. “So we try to provide a comfortable atmosphere where they like to come in and just visit sometimes. Not necessarily come in to buy, but just to visit, see what’s going on and talk to our people.”

Another perk for customers is an in-store snack room where they can enjoy refreshments while visiting with the store’s staff. “We visit with dealers in other parts of the United States, quite a bit,” said Diedrich. “Somebody talked about this idea, and I decided to bring it into our store.”

Another way Cycle World caters to its customers is by dedicating a night to different groups of riders—whether it is a motocross group, Gold Wing riders or sport bike riders, there is a night dedicated to that group.

“What we’re attempting to do again, is build relationships,” stressed Diedrich. “When you have an open house, and you have potentially all of your customers coming in, you’ve got the cruiser rider with the ATV rider and the dirt-bike rider. In many cases, they don’t have anything in common.

“In January and February, when we have a Gold Wing night, then all of the focus will be on Gold Wings at that point in time. Then when we have an ATV night, all of the focus will be on ATVs, and the related products and services.”

Along with its business interests, Diedrich said Cycle World makes special attempts to give back to the community. Over time, the company has donated to over 50 area organizations. “We feel it’s very important for us to give back to the community that supports us,” he said. “We are certainly inclined to give to the community that we live … and work in.”

For the past 40 years, Cycle World has played a role in the community, both in donating to charities and building a relationship with its customers. And with the growth the company has seen in the past year, the trend of its growing relationship with the community does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.

Staff photo by Matt LeBlanc • Tri-Parish Times/ Mike Oubre (left) and Henry Champagne (right) look at a dirt bike at Cycle World of Houma’s recent Motocross Night in Houma. Cycle World of Houma will celebrate its 40th year of business in March.