Located at the intersection of Highway 7 and Islington Ave. in Vaughan, ON (just north of Toronto), you’ll find one of the most unique and exclusive motorcycle dealerships in the province. Ride Motorcycles is the only place to go in the Toronto area if you’re in the market for an MV Agusta, Indian or a Triumph (Nortons are in the works too, and Stella scooters have been added to the menu). They recently hosted a week-long open house that included a barbecue, live music and demo rides to celebrate a very successful first year in business.
Ride Motorcycles beckons you in from the road with perhaps the biggest Indian and Triumph signage you’ve ever seen. The showroom is big and spacious, with high ceilings that allow the place to breathe. While there are lots of bikes, parts, accessories and attire here, it isn’t crowded at all.
When they opened, Ride sold exclusively the Indian lineup after Polaris took over the iconic brand early last year; since then, they brought on the other brands, and sales have been good – many of Ride’s bikes are sold before they even arrive in Canada, including the 2013 MV Agusta F3s. General Manager Alan Blinoff felt that having a niche in the Toronto market was the way to go. Blinoff’s background includes serious time at the legendary McBride Cycle and Cycle World (West), both of which saw the axe fall due to lack of revenue 5-6 years ago. Blinoff feels that the exlusivity of Ride’s lineup sets it apart and will lead to its longevity.
On top of the unique lineup of bikes, Ride Motorcycles sells official accessories from Indian and Triumph, including Arrow exhausts, panniers and adventure goodies for your new Explorer. There is authentic Indian apparel on one wall, while Steve McQueen riding jackets hang on a rack across the room. Names like Shoei, Bell and Fox are here too. And yes, this is one place in Toronto to find your authentic, no-bull, classic Triumph t-shirt. Ride now also has a service department that handles all makes and models.
Just go in for a browse. The staff is friendly, and they’ll let you stare at (and dream about) a collection of bikes that you’ve probably only ever seen online and in your favourite magazine!
For more info, visit www.ridemotorcyclestoronto.com.