Breaking Chains and Building Community at Broken Chain Cycles

When David Barnes opened the doors of Broken Chain Cycles this past June, he knew it was about more than motorcycles. Yes, riders needed a trustworthy place to get their bikes serviced, but for David, the bigger picture was freedom. The kind that comes from faith, from family, and from real connections in the community.

“The name comes straight from my faith,” David explains. “When we submit our lives to Jesus Christ, He breaks the chains that bind us. So, calling it Broken Chain Cycles is a reminder of that freedom. It’s ironic for a motorcycle shop, because yes, people bring their broken chains to get fixed. But the mission goes beyond fixing bikes. We want to help people, too.”

 

What They Do

At Broken Chain Cycles, no job is too small or too complicated. Riders can come in for basics like spark plugs, oil changes, and air filters, or bring in a bike that needs heavier repairs like clutches, cams, and even full rebuilds. The shop also offers tire mounting and balancing, plus detailing such as polishing chrome, waxing, and making a bike shine again.

“We treat every bike as if it were our own,” David says. “Safety is everything when you’re on two wheels. You don’t want just anyone wrenching on your ride. Nothing leaves our shop unless we know it’s safe and solid.”

Helping out in the shop is Zachary, a certified Harley-Davidson technician who trained six times at the company’s Milwaukee headquarters. Between David’s hands-on know-how and Zachary’s specialized training, riders know their bikes are in good hands.

 

A Journey Built on Faith

David didn’t get into this work through trade school. He grew up in New Jersey, where his father taught him how to fix just about anything with a motor. Cars, lawnmowers, motorcycles. “If it took gas and a spark, we worked on it,” he laughs.

But starting his own shop wasn’t only about skill. It was about faith.

As a member of Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club, David knows there may come a time when God calls him overseas for mission work. “I didn’t want to be tied down to a nine-to-five job,” he explains. “I prayed for God to open a door. And when He did, it happened so fast. Within weeks, we had a building, bikes to work on, and everything fell into place. It was all Him.”

The shop isn’t just about providing income. “It’s about building something that gives me the freedom to go when God calls,” David says. “It’s about creating a place where conversations happen, where people can feel welcomed, and where maybe someone hears the gospel for the first time.”

 

Family First

David and his wife are celebrating 25 years of marriage. Together they’ve raised a blended family of four kids, two sons and two daughters, and now have four granddaughters. “She had her concerns at first,” he admits. “That’s normal. But she knew this wasn’t me stepping out on a whim. Once she saw how God was working through it all, she supported me fully. Her encouragement means everything.”

She doesn’t work in the shop, but her role is no less important. David sums it up in three words: “She’s my rock.”

 

Community on Two Wheels

Broken Chain Cycles is based in a small town, but the biker community in this area is strong. Riders come in from surrounding counties and even from Winston-Salem and Statesville because word has spread about the shop’s honesty and care.

“This community runs on relationships,” David says. “Bikers want to know they can trust you. They want to know their bike will be safe and the work will be solid. Honesty and integrity mean everything here.”

And as David meets other small business owners, he’s seeing just how supportive people are. “It’s tight-knit,” he says. “People here look out for each other, recommend each other, and want to see each other succeed. That’s something special.”

 

The Garage Gospel

For David, Broken Chain Cycles is more than a shop. It’s also a platform for encouragement and faith. On the shop’s website, he started a blog called Garage Gospel, where he writes about life, motorcycles, and scripture.

One recent post, The Sabbath, the Shop, and Staying on the Road, compares bike maintenance with the care of the soul:

“When you skip rest, skip prayer, and keep running yourself ragged, you’re no different than a rider ignoring that loud knock in the motor. Sooner or later, you’re stranded on the side of the road, wishing you’d done the maintenance when you had the chance. Your bike won’t run right without the right fuel, and neither will your soul.”

David says the blog isn’t on a strict schedule. “Sometimes it’s shop tips, sometimes it’s encouragement, sometimes it’s just a thought I want to share,” he explains. “But it all points back to Him.”

He also hopes to start hosting Bible studies at the shop in the near future. “That’s part of the vision,” he says. “We haven’t started yet, but it’s coming.”

 

Looking Ahead

David has a vision for growth. He hopes to expand to three locations in the next five years, though he isn’t sure yet where those will be. “That number three just keeps coming to me,” he says. “I believe it’s part of the plan.”

For now, he balances running the shop with his full-time job. It isn’t easy, but with Zachary managing much of the daily work and a silent partner helping behind the scenes, David knows the shop is in good hands.

“God qualifies the called,” David reflects. “He doesn’t call the qualified. This whole journey has taught me that when He opens the door, you walk through it. And He’s been with us every step of the way.”

 

More Than Just Repairs

In the end, Broken Chain Cycles is about more than motorcycles. It’s about freedom, faith, and family. It’s about creating a place where riders feel safe, where relationships matter, and where the work is done with care and integrity.

For riders around Taylorsville, Broken Chain Cycles isn’t just another repair shop. It’s a place built on trust, passion, and purpose. A place where chains are fixed, and lives are lifted.

 

📍 Address: 95 2nd Ave N, Taylorsville, NC 28681

🛠 Motorcycle repair, maintenance, tires, detailing, and full rebuilds

🌐 Website: brokenchainscycles.com

➡️ Facebook:  www.facebook.com/brokenchainscycles

Instagram: @broken_chains_cycles

Tiktok @brokenchainscycle

📲Phone: (828) 352-7979