West Coast Connection opened May 5, but it's only been in the past 60 days that the motorcycle parts and accessories business has had enough inventory to do business.</p><p>The challenge that now confronts the shop and its five employees is letting the public know it exists.</p><p>"It's just a matter of letting people know we're here," said the general sales manager, who goes by the initials J.D. </p><p>On Sunday, the business will hold its grand opening, complete with a free barbecue and a live band. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the shop, 1415 Badger Flat Road.</p><p>J.D. said he's expecting a couple of hundred people to attend. </p><p>The business is near Denny's in the building formerly occupied by the Golden Valley Harley-Davidson Shop. The Harley-Davidson business closed in March 2009; the owner wanted to devote more resources to his Merced shop. </p><p>J.D. said West Coast Connection services Harley-Davidson motorcycles.</p><p>"We're kind of a stand- alone here, (but) we're still kind of affiliated," J.D. said. "We are a custom shop. Do I sell Harleys out here? Absolutely I do. Anything that has to do with a Harley-Davidson I can do in this shop."</p><p>J.D. has been in retail sales for 17 years, and he said he believes West Coast Connection will either be deemed a success or a failure within the next six months. </p><p>"Just like any other business there is, it's about the dollar. You either pass or fail in that category. There's no gray area," he said. </p><p>The business does not have a large overhead, J.D. said.</p><p>"It's not going to cost us as much to stay around as it would if you're a dealership and you had a million dollars worth of bikes floored," J.D. said.</p><p>He said Los Banos is a promising area for the business not only because of area bikers but also because of the motorcycle enthusiasts who come through town during trips from Fresno to Monterey.</p><p>The types of people who patronize motorcycle shops can vary.</p><p>"You get them all. You get the young guy who wants the chopper, you get the old guy who wants the big ol' cruisin' bike, you get them all," J.D. said.</p><p>The current economic climate seems to be favorable to West Coast Connection's success, according to J.D.</p><p>"They're looking at it as gas milage right now," he said. "Some of these bikes get 60 miles to the gallon. A lot of people, the commuters you know, are turning that direction. The guy who used to keep it in his garage and ride it on Saturdays is now riding it back and forth to work."</p><p>Even the people who are refraining from buying motorcycles because of the economy will likely purchase them eventually, according to J.D.</p><p>"This country's always been about hills and valleys," He said. "We went through one of the highest hills we ever had, now we're in one of the lowest valleys we ever had. </p><p>"Sooner or later you're going to start climbing that hill again."