About Us - Beach Sportcycles
 
2006 50th Anniversary YZ250F
In 1979, Beach Sportcycles was formed and opened in a 500 sq. ft. storage warehouse complex in the small community of Indian Harbor Beach, Fl. The warehouse soon was busting at the seams and the shop was relocated in Melbourne, to a 1200 sq. ft. store and then proceeded to acquire the first franchise in 1981, Husqvarna Motorcycles. It did not take very long for Beach Sportcycles to become recognized as a leader in the off road market in Florida as many top amateur and pro riders made Beach Sportcycles there winter home while racing the Florida Winter AM Series.  The list of riders is a virtual who's who of current day motocross racing. Such named riders were Billy Grossi, Kris Bigelow, Andy Stacey,  JoJo Keller and John Finkleday. Then in the summer of 1982 as the store had become too small again, an opportunity was available and the decision was made to buyout a YAMAHA dealership in Merritt Island and then Beach Sportcycles was moved to it's current location in Cocoa, Fl. This location was a much larger 10,000 sq. ft. building in which more room was made to combine the YAMAHA product line and Husqvarna as for the traveling pro's such riders as Phil Alderton, Dick Burelson, Jeff Stanton, Mike LaRocco have made Beach Sportcycles their winter home. As we got more dominant in motocross racing with the Yamaha motorcycles soon the BSY  name was born and as room was needed for the ever growing YAMAHA  product line the Husqvarna line was dropped.  As we moved into the 90's YAMAHA  started to get more aggressive in amateur racing and in 1992 BSY was named as the Official Yamaha Trackside Support Dealer for the Southeastern United States.  At that time there was a new crop of young talented amateur riders that BSY was to start assisting. To name just a few that have made names for themselves we sponsored or assisted at races at one time or another Amateur National Champions Ernesto Fonseca, Matt Walker, Tyson Hadsell, Matt Goerke, Troy Adams, Kalen Fitzpatrick, Marrisa Hampshire, Justin Buckelew, Sara Whitmore, Tara Geiger, Ricky Renner, Gene Naumec, Ray Sommo, Kevin Foley, Larry Ward, Larry Brooks, Jacob Saylor.
Cocoa Riverfront Park on the Indian River
A little information about our area, the city was founded by fishermen very early in Florida's history. The history of the City of Cocoa is rich, from the exciting Cocoa Playhouse to Riverside Drive and its old Florida mansions and the turn-of-the-century elegant and classic example of Florida architecture, the Porcher House (now a historical site); Riverfront Park, on the Indian River; the antebellum paddle boat rides down the Indian River, and one of the most successful and prosperous downtown redevelopment beautifications you’ll ever find – Historic Cocoa Village. An authentic, historical account states that the first families arrived in Cocoa around 1860. A post office was established at Magnolia Point two miles north and the first commercial building in Cocoa was erected in 1881 or 1882. First plats of the new settlement were made in 1882 under the name "Indian River City" on land owned by Captain R. A. Hardee. The name Indian River City was unacceptable to the U.S. Postal authorities who claimed it was too long for use on a postmark.
In 1925, the Cocoa Tribune published several accounts, supplied by readers, of the town's naming. A Mrs. Ruby Myers credited Captain R.C. May with the choosing of the name Cocoa at a town meeting in 1884. Those attending the meeting focused on a local product or characteristic feature of the area; e.g., citrus plants and Cedar Key. It was stated that at Captain May's suggestion, the group finally chose for its association with the Cocoa plant.
The name was forwarded to Washington, D.C. where it was officially adopted.Another version suggests that while a group of citizens were seeking a name for the town, an old woman received inspiration from a box of Baker's Cocoa and her suggestion was adopted. Still another version suggests that along the bank of the Indian River lived an old woman who would supply hot cocoa to the sailors.
SeaDoo RXP in action on the Indian River
Incorporated in 1895, Cocoa has continued to develop and mature despite serious setbacks early in its history. In 1890, Cocoa's business district was destroyed by fire. However, in the early 1890's significant development began to occur with the extension of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Indian River Railway to Cocoa. The new rail connection served as a catalyst for the growth of the economy and population of the town. By 1895, Cocoa was a maturing community. Cocoa suffered a second severe economic setback in the winter of 1894-1895 when the "Great Freeze" destroyed the citrus crop and forced many individuals involved in the citrus industry to seek new occupations according to one source, by 1903, the population of Cocoa had dropped to 382.
During the second decade of the of the twentieth century, population growth and economic development in Cocoa accelerated. The state business directory of 1911-1912 set the population at 550. By 1925, the population was estimated at 1,800. During the Great Depression, starting in 1929, the local economy declined and the two local banks failed. Still according to one source, the population rose to 2,200 by 1930. The population rose dramatically following the development of the Space Industry. The population quadrupled from 3,098 in 1940 to 12,244 in 1960. Cocoa and the surrounding area also became integrated with the tourist industry for the first time as thousands visited the area to witness the launches from Cape Canaveral. By 1980, the population had grown to 16,096. Based on the 2000 Census, the City's population of 16,412 is 62.46% white, 32.45% black and 3.4% from other racial groups.
Space Shuttle Atlantis roars into the blue sky.
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center located just minutes north of Cocoa is America's premier gateway to the universe. As the world's only launch site for the Space Shuttle, Kennedy prepares the vehicles for each mission, operates each countdown and manages end-of-mission landing recovery activities. The Center also coordinates all expendable vehicle launches carrying a NASA payload, whether the launches take place at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, or elsewhere. Finally, as the last Earthly stop for International Space Station hardware, Kennedy prepares these elements for their missions in space.