Flying Squirrel | GTAMotorcycle.com

Flying Squirrel

jemberlin

jemberlin

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I'm struggling to understand their business vision.

• They sell a bit of gear (only really Belstaff by the looks of it) and pricey FSM branded products (candles anyone?)

• They have memberships to their lounge (what is in the lounge? what does one do when they are a member—sit and drink coffee and watch some tv?)

• They have a huge space out front which doesn't seem to be used for anything—whenever I pass by it's empty.

• They have some events by the looks of it but you don't really hear much about them.

When I first saw them opening up I was excited and really thought it was going to be a like a Town Moto of the East end but to me, it's fallen very flat. I used to ride down everyone once in a while to grab a morning coffee but have since stopped and every time I pass the place it looks closed.

Anyone know what happens there on a daily basis? Anyone a member that can speak some positives? I'm at a loss to what they really do...
 
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Flying Squirrel?

I heard a rumour that the building Flying Squirrel are in was sold to developers and are they closing down. In a FB group it was mentioned that they aren't taking winter storage bikes, and their site now longer mentions winter storage. Anyone have more accurate info?
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Relax said:
Or were you talking about their supposedly new location in Scarborough?
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Royal Enfield Toronto has spun off and moved to a new location just north of St. Clair off Warden.
Flying Squirrel seems to believe they can keep the doors open by being a 'lifestyle' destination - at least until a developer comes along and offers them stupid money for the dirt.
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Official Royal Enfield Motorcycle Dealer in Toronto. Sales, Service, Parts, Accessories & Apparel
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Relax said:
Or were you talking about their supposedly new location in Scarborough?
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No, referring to the Queen E. location. Building being sold makes sense, but from the get go they never had a vision. I don't understand why they opened in the first place and why they bought the Flying Squirrel name from the old owner (Glenn?).
 
jemberlin said:
No, referring to the Queen E. location. Building being sold makes sense, but from the get go they never had a vision. I don't understand why they opened in the first place and why they bought the Flying Squirrel name from the old owner (Glenn?).
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When they initially renovated that place, they were a legitimate repair shop. I believe their vision was to enhance the experience of existing customers and attract new ones with additional amenities like the coffee bar. From what I see, they're charging exorbitant membership fees and some membership levels include bike storage. At that point, they might as well have made it a DIY garage like MotoRevere.
 
It’s a shame, because the loss of Town Moto has really left a gap in the “scene”. Though not everyone’s cup of tea (not really mine tbh), they certainly promoted motorcycles/motorcycling and brought people together.
 
Relax said:
When they initially renovated that place, they were a legitimate repair shop. I believe their vision was to enhance the experience of existing customers and attract new ones with additional amenities like the coffee bar. From what I see, they're charging exorbitant membership fees and some membership levels include bike storage. At that point, they might as well have made it a DIY garage like MotoRevere.
Click to expand...
I don't think I'd go as far as saying they were a legit repair shop. The one partner there was one of the repair guys and he's not a licensed mechanic. I know they had various mechanics in at some point (I'm not certain they were licensed either) but I know two people that got service done there and they ****** their bikes up. I tried ordering parts at one point and they didn't seem interested in helping.

It's weird space and I imagine they must be hemorrhaging money.
 
I drive/ride by that area all the time and in the winter, I have always wanted to go in and check stuff out... but seeing that they are members only... I am iffy to go in...

I follow them on Insta and they see to hold events and bike meets and stuff.. but the members fee thing is really putting a damper on whether I want to go in or not.
 
So 200 bucks a month to store your bike plus some coffee. I can see it if you don't have the space.

What hours can you access your bike though? If it's limited to their shop hours, I can't see many actual riders buying into that.
 
I stopped in last year, I parked out front and bought a coffee (maybe my membership was comped? :p)
The coffee wasn't very good and the washroom was filthy.
I wandered into the "shop", the retail front end having a few leather jackets, and the basement a bunch of unsold RE's. It was dank.

Not worth the effort to get there from the west end (ESPECIALLY with the Gardner offramp permanently removed).
 
I could see this model maybe working in a more central location, and a 80% drop in fee's.
Understand that they are trying to be exclusive and "unique" but it just looks like profits above everything else, at least from the opinions of people that have actually been there.
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