Author Topic: Inventory at Flying Tiger - St. Louis (Read 5155 times)

kballowe · « **on:** December 01, 2018, 03:38:48 PM »

Flying Tiger Motorcycles in Maplewod, MO (St. Louis) had a little get-together today to show and offer demo rides on the new "Genuine" 400 motorcycles.

We stopped in for the (guzzi content) free coffee and snacks.

For you history buffs - Maplewood is the original intersection of U.S. Highways 50, and 66.
Walk out the front door of Flying Tiger - and there is the Schafly brewery.
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They are a service, restoration, and retail shop - Selling Moto Guzzi, Royal Enfield, and "Genuine"

Here's one of their's - parked out on the curb.
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Right and left side pics of the show room. There are a lot of V7 III's in several varieties. V9's, Two Audace, a red Eldorado, Two Flying Fortress, a Griso and a Stelvio. Plus several different models of Royal Enfield, "Genuine" scooters, and now - the "Genuine" 400cc motorcycles.
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These new 400 cc "Genuine" motorcycles are single-cylinder, with a four valve head. Great exhaust note, for a 400cc bike.
They feel really light and the power is about what you'd expect from a 400cc single. The build quality is unremarkable.
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Storms rolled thru overnight, and it's still windy - but it's also 62 degrees here today.
hahahahahaa we just got home and two minutes later, it was pouring rain.
Great day, after all.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2018, 03:55:46 PM »

I used to live about 3 blocks from there, 7305 Zephyr Pl. I could see the top of the arch from my 2nd story back deck. Maplewood has an old upstairs bowling alley. It's a neat part of St.L

Two Checks · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2018, 10:51:49 PM »

Which street was US 50 that intersected with Manchester Rd. and when was that? It had to be before 1930.

greer · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2018, 04:25:24 AM »

Mercy, what a shop. A buddy has kin in St. Louis and keeps saying we ought to go spend the weekend. Now I'm thinking we need to. Thanks for the report kballowe; have you ever ridden a TU250, by chance? I'm wondering about a comparison between it and the Genuine.

Sarah

kballowe · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2018, 11:06:32 AM »

Quote from: greer on December 02, 2018, 04:25:24 AM

Mercy, what a shop. A buddy has kin in St. Louis and keeps saying we ought to go spend the weekend. Now I'm thinking we need to. Thanks for the report kballowe; have you ever ridden a TU250, by chance? I'm wondering about a comparison between it and the Genuine.

Sarah

There are a lot of re-purposed old buildings in this area. Some arts-crafts. Eating places. Curiosities.

Not that I visit every Moto-Guzzi dealer in the country - but this place has the biggest selection of MG that I've seen.

I have not ridden a TU250.

kballowe · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2018, 11:09:43 AM »

They had some leftover 2017 V7 III Stones for $7,600 and the ones with the shiny paint jobs were something like $8,150.

This place is up-front on their pricing. No fees no freight no BS no nothing.

Some other stuff on sale, but I didn't pay too much attention. There WERE, after all, FREE SNACKS !

kingoffleece · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2018, 10:30:57 PM »

I'm always interested when I hear free freight. How do they get the bikes to the shop?
Triumph charged us for every bike delivered. Harley charged us for every bike delivered. How does Guzzi do it? I'm seriously curious.

kballowe · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2018, 06:12:19 AM »

Quote from: kingoffleece on December 02, 2018, 10:30:57 PM

I'm always interested when I hear free freight. How do they get the bikes to the shop?
Triumph charged us for every bike delivered. Harley charged us for every bike delivered. How does Guzzi do it? I'm seriously curious.

Did I say free freight ?

The point is that the price they give you is the price you pay.
They don't add fees, etc when ya sit down to do the paperwork.

Subdewd · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2018, 08:26:36 AM »

maplewood has come a long way since the steel closed down in the late 60s 70s. Kind of hipster but not overly so as
to be obnoxious. I live in a neighboring community and wished I had gone there instead. I always has and still has
a lot of community pride.
I've been to Flying Tigers on a couple of occasions and was nice to see they are not just dealers but enthusiasts.
Them and Donnelsons on the rock road. Although Donnelson, which dates back to the sixties, warrant a visit if
your interested in seeing how shops should be run.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2018, 09:35:30 AM »

I get it. They do it before you sit. Nothing wrong with that.
being a self employed numbers guy for almost 30 years-I like to know how an invoice breaks down. Not all do and that's fine by me.
Just asking.

Two Checks · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2018, 10:25:21 AM »

Quote from: Subdewd on Today at 08:26:36 AM

maplewood has come a long way since the steel closed down in the late 60s 70s. Kind of hipster but not overly so as
to be obnoxious. I live in a neighboring community and wished I had gone there instead. I always has and still has
a lot of community pride.
I've been to Flying Tigers on a couple of occasions and was nice to see they are not just dealers but enthusiasts.
Them and Donnelsons on the rock road. Although Donnelson, which dates back to the sixties, warrant a visit if
your interested in seeing how shops should be run.

Yeah Aprillia shafted Carl after years of selling Guzzi. I used to go in to get parts, Charlie would see me and get out the 850T parts book and hand it to me. He hated it. Wasn't on a fiche.

I got my SP II through Carl. It was in for repair and the owner was selling it.

kballowe · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2018, 11:43:16 AM »

Wasn't that about the same time that they opened Vespa, St. Louis?
I'm sure there's more to it - but Carl wasn't happy with another Guzzi dealer in town - and that close. I don't blame him

vstevens · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2018, 08:10:54 AM »

St. Louis has an old city charm with lots of fun pleasant surprises throughout. I was raised farther south in St Genevieve and surrounding small towns. Lots of history. After the navy I settled in San Diego. Tried to live in St. Louis in the early nineties but couldn't handle the weather.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2018, 08:14:13 AM »

Ste. Gen has some cool historical stuff too!

Two Checks · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2018, 10:50:50 AM »

Quote from: kballowe on December 03, 2018, 11:43:16 AM

Wasn't that about the same time that they opened Vespa, St. Louis?
I'm sure there's more to it - but Carl wasn't happy with another Guzzi dealer in town - and that close. I don't blame him

You are correct. I was told they hadn't seen the Guzzi rep in some time and was ignoring their calls. One day he shows up and words were exchanged so they told Guzzi it wasn't worth the time, effort and floor space for the few bikes they sold.

Suddenly Vespa stl appears and they didn't last long at all.

BrotherJim · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2018, 11:58:17 AM »

I visited a couple of motorcycle museums in StL a couple of years back. The Moto Museum near the Triumph/Ducati/etc. dealer and the Mungenast Museum over in the old auto dealer district. Both were very cool... and free! Also stumbled into the St. Loius Cycle Showcase show (not free) with a Wall of Death Motordrome! Great weekend.

jrt · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2018, 02:04:59 PM »

Donnelson's has...maybe not quite a museum, but a nice collection of vintage and historical motorcycles in a couple of rooms off the showroom floor.

kballowe · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2018, 04:35:35 PM »

Quote from: jrt on December 05, 2018, 02:04:59 PM

Donnelson's has...maybe not quite a museum, but a nice collection of vintage and historical motorcycles in a couple of rooms off the showroom floor.

Donelson has some vintage bikes on display that have never been fired. There are some great old BSA's in that back room. Zero discoloration on the pipes. And more

brider · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2018, 06:02:20 PM »

My wife and I lived in a WW II era bungalow in Maplewood when we got married. The entire neighborhood has since been bulldozed. Of all the cities I've lived in, Least Coast to Best Coast, best memories are from St. Louie.

D Knaus · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2018, 05:09:23 PM »

When I needed fork seals for the WP forks on my Sporti, I didn't have any luck finding them through the Guzzi shops. I was in Carl Donelson's getting Norton parts and asked him about them. We had to go to a Centauro parts fish to get the parts number since he didn't have fish for the '97 sports. He had the seals in stock.
I get a lot of vintage British parts from him, like the choke plungers for my '79 Triumph's Amals, and parts for the Norton Commando.

Carl opened shop (if I remember right) in 1962. A lot of the bikes in his "museum" were raced by friends of his, or some he restored himself, and he still rebuilds and repairs the old vintage bikes, like BSA triples, etc. A good shop and a great place to do business.

drbone641 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2018, 08:52:13 PM »

Interesting name for the 400s. 'Genuine Motorcycles'- Chinese copy of a Honda 450

Luap McKeever · « **Reply #21 on:** December 07, 2018, 07:11:27 AM »

Looks like a great selection of motorsickles to me. I hope they sell out. Next time I'm up in that neck of the woods, I'll be sure and drop in.

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Author Topic: Inventory at Flying Tiger - St. Louis (Read 5155 times)