Duke’s Cycle

I am very happy with the bicycle I purchased at Duke’s two years ago, and even more pleased with the customer service I received on trips back for repairs and tune-​ups. The little fixes were mostly covered under warranty, and the tune-​ups have always been top-​notch. The folks who have helped me at Duke’s, Lisa in particular, have always been friendly, knowledgeable, approachable and accommodating. My experience at Duke’s speaks to their staff’s dedication to offering excellent products and services to their customers. It’s no wonder this business has been a Toronto mainstay for over a century!

I’ve bought two mid-​to-​high end bikes at Duke’s over the past couple years (one for me, one for my wife). Despite them each being «last year’s model» and on for substantial discounts to MSRP, the service level from the staff (Michael and Lisa in particular) was excellent. First bike had excellent build quality and to this day rides like a new bike with a combination of Duke’s and my maintenance. My wife’s bike had a creak in the bottom bracket that turned out to be a warranty issue with the manufacturer. Despite the fact that we paid much less than someone buying the bike a year earlier, Duke’s took it into the shop 4 – 5 times, no questions asked, free of charge to sort it all out.
Great prices on mid/​high end bikes, exceptional service, all in all a great shop and would definitely buy from them again.

My husband, Alan, who has Cerbral Palsy, went into to Duke’s to look at a new bike. The staff were knowledgeable and informative. They also fitted him correctly to bike, which was going to take some modification in the pedals due to his disability. In addition to that they took the time to teach him about his new bike. Whenever he goes in they are only too happy to answer his questions. About 6 weeks later, I brought my bike in to be tuned up. It never worked better. I couldn’t believe it. It was like I had a new bike. Duke’s Cycle is worth every cent.

After visiting all the bike shops in my area to replace 2 bikes that were stolen I ended up coming back here. All the staff really listened to my budget and what I was looking for. I ended up going over budget on my road bike– only after I tested out all the bikes that were in my budget and not loving them. Stefan was working with me and said he knew which bike I would like– and he was bang on!
Since I went about $ 1000 over budget on the road bike I ended up finding a really nice used MTB bike which I brought in for a fitting and tune up. The day I came in the Guru machine was on strike so we had to do it the old fashioned way! I had both the bikes done.
Both of my bikes feel fantastic! The tune up and replacement parts on the MTB are just perfect.
Both the sales team and service team where great and I would recommend Dukes any day! They even offered water for my dog and kept an eye on him while I was trying out the bikes!

Love these guys and ladies! I bought a bike in 2013, just after I destroyed my previous road bike, all with a week until my vacation/​cycling trip, these guys were able to order, receive and perfectly assemble my new and beautiful Cannondale Synapse, they were helpful, insightful, polite, not pushy and not snobby, it was really a pleasure dealing with them, the bike was priced fairly and it rides incredibly well, the best bike I’ve ever ridden! Dukes has a customer for life with me! Although I wish I was offered the free fitting considering I dropped close to $ 3k there that day, but I won’t lose sleep over it, great bike shop folks!

I am not a huge fan of Dukes. I had to pester someone to help me and when I finally got help… The manager didn’t bother explaining any of the bikes to me. He just went into a half hour sales pitch for a bike fitting. He was friendly after I agreed to the bike fitting but before that, I felt like he was quite rude. I also felt like he scoffed at my $ 800-​$ 1200 budget. I just didn’t feel like purchasing my bike there after that experience.

Went for a fitting (after finally giving in after riding for years without knowing my exact fit) and had a fantastic experience.
I had it done by Lorne, who took his time with everything and made sure I was comfortable after running through multiple geometries. The GURU system seems to work well, making dynamic adjustments while you’re on the system. That being said a bike fit (or so I’ve read) is only as good as the fitter, and Lorne was obviously one of the good ones. At no time were any extra $$$$ components pushed on me (I was worried about this going in) and I enjoyed the lighthearted banter as we went through the motions. He even offered to let me take out a pair of his demo look shoes and pedals for a few days just to see if I preferred them over my SPD pedals — and we agreed we should meet up for a ride in the future. Better power transfer and more comfort = win!
Beyond the fit services I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Lisa, who is always floating around the floor helping people. She’s not pushy, is super-​friendly, and knows her stuff. She sold me a FANTASTIC bike in my price range after taking into account my needs (well to be honest I had one look at the 2014 synapse and pretty much made up my mind) and managed to remember me and my bike months later when I came in for my fit.
I read another reviewer mentioning that he wasn’t addressed even though he was the only person on the floor. Duke’s is a NO PRESSURE bike shop. They love cycling and love their customers, but you won’t be swarmed like you’re at future shop by people dying to make a commission. That works for me, as I like to do my own thing until I’m ready — at which point they’re more than willing to be friendly and helpful.
As far as accessories go, it’s always helpful to do your own homework before hand — that being said I don’t mind paying an extra couple of dollars to a bike shop that employs knowledgeable passionate ADULTS with gobs of experience — as opposed to kids that have minimal saddle time working at a shop for peanuts. Sometimes the benefits you don’t see on the sticker price of a spare tire are far more worthwhile for customers. Save 10 bucks on a saddle that doesn’t fit you from another shop because the salesperson had no idea what they were talking about? No thanks!
All in all a great LBS. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ — would return again! (and again, and again).

As I’ve written in some of previous reviews for cycle shops, each one has its fans as well as detractors, and there are always pluses and minuses for each. Depending on who you ask, any given shop could run the gamut from horrible to great, but I find that the star rating that is most prevalent is probably the rating you should trust. It’s with that in mind I give Duke’s 3 stars. Here’s why.
Duke’s isn’t a bad shop. It’s not run down and the staff there haven’t been rude to me when I’ve gone. Most people I’ve dealt with there were pretty nice actually. But the reason I give it 3 and not 4 or 5 stars is that in my experience there the customer service I’ve gotten has simply been just OK. A couple of the people were really really nice. A tall gentleman I spoke to about a specific bike they’d had before and a couple of the girls who work there were very polite. A gentleman with longish gray hair was not excessively rude but has never seemed that enthused and a couple times didn’t even address me even though I was the only person on the floor. Another thing that I’m not crazy about is the layout. By far this is the biggest cycling store in Toronto, but the variety is not that great. Maybe it’s because they wanted to specialize in the types of bikes I don’t ride, but they typically only have a few fixed gear and they’re not displayed in a way that makes them stand out so as to find them right away. The selection also says to me that they’re looking to satisfy only the beginner rider (at a price roughly around $ 200 more than your average starting fixed) and the very high end ($ 2200 – 2300 for the Cevelo T1 last year and the new Cannondale around the same price this year). Nice bikes in the high end, nothing special on the lower end. I won’t hold this against them too much as it may just not be their target market, but there are other things I don’t like as much as other shops either. Whereas many cycle shops display the rims they sell so you can see them first hand and gauge what quality and aesthetic you want, Duke’s keeps their rims downstairs where the customer can’t see them. When I brought in my bike to replace the front wheel, they only had about 3 – 4 options. Not a fan. Also, it’s definitely a store where it helps to know what you’re talking about already. For instance, I got a Gatorskin tire there and they were charging $ 75 for it, whereas it’s usually $ 55 max anywhere else. There is two types of Gatorskin so it may have been the pricier option, but it looked exactly the same as the one I already had which was $ 50, and I checked the specs on the tire so I feel pretty safe that it was the same version. I only bought it because it was an emergency replacement situation. Other examples are: Pedal straps ($ 11 at Duke’s, $ 5 at Urbane), Inner tube ($ 12 at Duke’s as opposed to about $ 7 anywhere else) and almost all accessories.
The pros are the staff is mostly all friendly, they do have some pretty sweet bikes if you ride race or mountain or anything with gears, and they have an excellent selection of bike carriages for kids, racks for carrying stuff on your bike, and the store is spacious and clean. They have a great selection as well of Cervelo bikes, and also carry Cannondale and I believe Trek. They have a nice selection of parts and Brooks stuff and are full service.
Overall not a place I find unpleasant to shop at but I’d probably only go there if I had something specific to buy such as the T1 or fluorescent green Cannondale Fixie.
Generally too expensive. Better for starters than riders looking for an upgrade on parts.

I bought my bike here at the beginning of summer and found the staff to be very knowledgeable and honest in terms of what I needed from a bike (commuting, exercise). I have to admit — I do not know anything about bikes… the last one I owned was when I was 10 years old and had pink hearts on it. The staff here were helpful and explained the differences between the bikes/​materials/​etc and I was able to test them out in their back alley. I did look around at many different bike shops and I paid more than I would have at another bike shop on an «okay» bike but I do not regret my decision at all… I LOVE my bike!
Their bikes include a one year servicing warranty. I’ve brought mine in once so far for a tune-​up and they were able to look at my bike within a few hours but this can be dependent on how busy they are. I’ve also bought other accessories and they have offered to install them on my bike as well. Highly recommend Duke’s to anyone looking for a new bike!

I’m not the most bike savvy but I know the basics. But the staff at this shop were there with a lot of pointers and tips. Not only that, the store is wonderfully organized. Not super expensive but certainly not cheap. However, you pay for what you get!

Terrible spot, save your time and go somewhere else. I got an overhaul on my three year old bike. They are so disorganized and couldn’t even find my file (the work they just did) from less than a week ago. My breaks were squealing so they told me to come in so they can check the brakes and that they didn’t need to see my file. However, if they would have checked my file they would have seen that the breaks will wear in and that I don’t need to come all the way in again.
When I first came in to pick up my bike I was told to wait 5 minutes repeatedly for nearly half hour. I had already paid, but when I came back the second time they tried to charge me again. I had my receipt in my hand but the girls behind the counter bickered for 10 minutes where I could not get a word in edgewise.
The whole bike pick up took two hours total. I hope this review saves someone time.

So FRUSTRATING!!!
I have not enjoyed the sales service here at all. I get conflicting advice, conflicting pricing, conflicting…
I made an appointment to try a bike, took it out, the set up was awful, the tires flat, and then was upsold.
I just wanted a bike to suit MY NEEDS without all the bike jargon about which components were better and how it would be in my best interests to buy a more expensive bike.

You know what’s not cool? When you suddenly can’t gear down. Or when you pop your tire en route to a party. Both of these things happened this summer, and it was Duke’s to the rescue for the both of them.
Quick service and turnaround; I was able to have my tire’s inner tube replaced the day I brought it in and even schedule a full tune up within 2 days of calling. I’ve always been greeted kindly and helped immediately and their work has been consistently awesome. Their prices are pretty reasonable, as well: less than other shops I’ve brought my little yellow bike to for both parts and labour.

I have purchased two bikes from Duke’s and found them to be a great place to deal with. Their prices are competitive and the staff are excellent. The staff are all riders and very knowledgeable.
The warranty work on bikes is great and their scheduled service is also fantastic.
I highly recommend Duke’s. They are one of the best firms I have ever dealt with.

I came here looking for a child trailer to attach to my bike. After doing a lot of online research my husband and I wanted to see the models and talk to someone about the differences between them and what we should be looking for.
We walked in and within about 2 minutes a woman came over to ask us if we had any questions. We started talking about the various models and what to look for and she told us about her experiences with other models and brands of trailers. She also mentioned what kinds of materials were used in the construction of the trailers they had on display. I was really pleased with the service she gave us. She even looked up prices for models they could order for us.
Ultimately her knowledge of the products and great customer service mean that we will be coming back to buy our trailer!

I came in looking for a new bike and was given some advice by one of the sales staff who seemed eager to help. She helped me pick out a bike and let me go for a test ride. I asked about a kickstand and she said she will throw one in for free since they’re only fifteen dollars. I paid and said I’d be back by four to pick up the bike. When I came back the lady I dealt with was busy with someone else. I spoke to someone else and they delivered my bike but without a kickstand. Apparently there was a misunderstanding, the actual offer was for free installation. Well, I know what I heard but I’m not putting up a fight over a kickstand. I’ll just know to take my business elsewhere next time.
One year of free service and a great bike selection but poor customer service. I’d recommend this place if you know exactly what you want and want nothing more.

This is the place I’m going to buy my next bike.
I’ve been shopping around for a few weeks. I haven’t bought a bike in about 12 years so I really didn’t know where to start when I began my hunt. Duke’s was about the fourth or fifth store I’ve visited and easily the store with the best customer service and most reasonable prices.
Their selection isn’t as ample as some stores, but they’re certainly competitive with what they have. The gentleman that was helping me walked me through everything I needed to know, asking lots of questions to determine exactly what my needs are. He also handily answered my novice questions.
April challenge ²²⁄₃₀

First off, let’s talk a little philosophy. You want to get a bike. You don’t want to get a toy. A bike is a highly efficient human powered piece of engineering marvel that will give you a decade of enjoyment if not more. It will not let you down, will give back whatever you put into it, and will not go out of fashion. A toy is something that will keep you amused for a single afternoon, and doomed to be abandoned and to rust on a city bike lock post within a year. A bike will cost you anywhere between $ 500 and $ 10,000. The sweet spot is somewhere in the $ 800‑1000 range. A toy will cost you maybe $ 250-​ish. For a toy, go to your Wal-​Mart.
You want a bike. Ok, we on the same page?
Now I would say Duke’s the best place in Toronto to get it. I visited close to 10 reputable stores in Toronto before deciding to buy my bike here. If this is your first why-​so-​serious bike, for whatever purpose, just march into this place, and try not to look nervous. The people here can sense fear… just kidding. They are all actually super nice, but you have to know who to talk to and who to avoid entirely. I will tell you…
If you are a woman, then you MUST MUST buy your bike at this store. Anywhere else is run by a bunch of dudes that will bore you to death with specs and technical blah blah no one gives a damn. But don’t just to talk anyone when you go to this store. Clearly they are all bike addicts, but the girls here can give you the best advice specific for women, If you are interested in mountain biking and off-​road riding, ask for Lisa. She is super sweet, and super knowledgeable. She will ask you the right questions, but more importantly will shut up and listen to exactly what you want and what you need. If you want a bike for commuting or road riding, then ask for Gisele. Also a super sweet girl that will hook you up with exactly the right road machine.
If you are a guy, pretty much everyone here is good to talk to depending on your need. Just first ask them what type of riding they do mostly, and if it is similar to your own then you are on the right track. BUT really try to avoid Michael, the store manager. I have nothing against him personally, but don’t care for his attitude. His customer service falls quite short also, in contrast to everyone else here. Actually if it was writing this review after only talking to him, I would be giving a 1-​star rating to the store.
Now you might ask, is Duke’s the cheapest place to get a bike in Toronto? I am not sure… it has a reputation for being on the expensive side. But two pieces of advice for you 1) if it comes down to a lower sale price you find somewhere else, they will surely beat it anyway and 2) forget about haggling to save $ 25-​$ 75, and instead think about building a long-​term relationship to take care of this amazing machine you are about to buy. Duke’s offers excellent service and deals with warranties in a customer-​always-​right attitude, that much I know… that fact alone has saved me hundreds of dollars so far which might not have if I had tried to get the bargain at another store, or worse, I would have lost thousands of dollars if I had bought the on-​line sale which doesn’t come with the local store service benefit.
So there you have it. Have a good ride!

This place is OPEN! I was there today, and Mark and Reza were super nice!
They let me and friend of mine check out a number of models of bikes, and gave us a ton of info… living in Leslieville — I feel like I need a bike, and they were happy to show us what they had that would suit our needs.
Happy shopping — they’re super helpful!

Very underwhelming experience at Duke Cycle. I dropped off my bike for a routine repair that was only supposed to take one day. I showed up the next day to be told that they had to special order the part and it would take another two days. No big deal. Except I didn’t hear from them until the end of the following week and when I went to pick it up, they had gone ahead and installed a part twice as expensive as what I was quoted.
After a bit of griping they knocked $ 6 off the labour charge. The manager empathised with my frustration, but I wasn’t too satisfied. It’s a shame about their repair desk, because the rest of the staff was really nice and they have lots of cool gear.
Obligatory Title Pun: This DUKE might be HAZARDous.
Menu Readability: n/​a
Need to mention: You might be confused about where to take your bike for a repair. Just up the stairs and right on in to the back.
What this place teaches me about myself: The bait and switch is my least favourite scam. I even prefer the ‘old switcheroo.’