General Cycling Discussion - kmart

why is it that every time i go there i see a bike being returned (i'm returning my 3rd one in 2 months and goin to walmart):crash:

Why don't you go to a local bike shop and get a decent real bike - even used - at just a little more that you won't have to return? Might even last for many years. Also, might fit you correctly and have brakes that actually stop you.

kmart ones last about a month... then suddenly break
i'm gonna get a NEXT, Schwinn, or Mongoose from Wal*Mart and put it together myself.

Schwinn from Wal Mart is not the same Schwinn you remember.

These are pretty much toy bikes, not meant for long and hard usage.

Please check out the LBS. The components, brakes, gears, chain rings, cassettes, derailleurs, tires will be much higher quality, and the steel frame will be lighter.

Putting together crap by yourself still leaves you with crap.

Something like a Specialized, Trek, etc.

Agree with the Fox on this one. Assembling crap components yourself might prevent them from falling apart, but they'll still be crap components, and they'll still wear out quickly. The law here is that you get what you pay for.

Denver is so right about this. I took two bikes back to WalMart within a week or so of buying each one. Do yourself a favor, just go to a local bike shop and look around before you commit to WalMart. Ask them why their bikes are better. Ask why a Wally bike with Shimano is not the same as a bike shop bike with Shimano. Ask why plastic brakes put on Wally bikes are not as good as the brakes on the lbs bikes. Ask why the rims are better, ask if they will sevice the bike after purchase. Ask why Schwinn is no longer the Schwinn you remember, they were bought by a Chinese conglamorate, and are not made at the same factory, or with the same quality. Only the Schwinn name remanes. I bought a Next brand myself, and I thought it was a good bike, I took it back to get a better one at the LBS.

Some good lbs bikes start at $200. That is not that much difference in price from some of the Wally bikes. Best -

I know a guy who plunked down $200 on an X-Mart bike. It had full-suspension... well, sort of, the weight of the bike frame compressed the shock right down. It had plastic brake levers and V-brake arms that were, to be honest, utterly incapable of stopping the bike even at 5 mph. It was the most incredible peace of ****e I ever saw. He was so proud of his purchase, and I just kept shaking my head because we had a lightly used second-hand Specialized Hardrock back at the shop for $210.

Originally posted by peloton
I know a guy who plunked down $200 on an X-Mart bike. It had full-suspension... well, sort of, the weight of the bike frame compressed the shock right down. It had plastic brake levers and V-brake arms that were, to be honest, utterly incapable of stopping the bike even at 5 mph. It was the most incredible peace of ****e I ever saw. He was so proud of his purchase, and I just kept shaking my head because we had a lightly used second-hand Specialized Hardrock back at the shop for $210.

You should ask him to go to a trail with you, and watch when he goes over a "root" or down a hill...and his suspension will bottom out. Get your camera ready to watch some endo action. Ouch. I hope his helmet will be decent.

Yep I agree with everybody on this one go to a good LBS there are some shops out there that deal strikly with used bikes and spend the money you weould on the disposable bikes and by a good used one. My Specialized Sequioa I have had for 10 years now payed $150 for it. Its my work horse I have been conmmuting with it so there is a ton of millage on it best deal I ever made!

Sadly, I don't think Shadow Rider is listening.

So, chalk one more sale up to the *Mart's of the world.

I bought a Kmart bike for both my wife and myself...this year. But...for the right reason. We were in Key West for 10 days and realized clunkers rented for $16 per day! We went to Kmart and got new Kmart Clunkers for $86 w/ tax. Looked at them as disposable. Even sold them to another couple coming into our hotel for $50!

We both have good LBS bikes. I have a Specialized Elite for the road and a Trek 4900 MTB. She has a Trek 2000 WSD for the road and a Trek 4900 WSD for the MTB.

In this case and only this case would I buy a Kmart bike. It was actually scarry how cruddy they were put togeter, I spent about 20 minutes fixing up each. Hey, they served our purpouse.

Fourtnately none of my roadie friends saw me......they were still at home in Texas....

Originally posted by pcsanity1
I bought a Kmart bike for both my wife and myself...this year. But...for the right reason. We were in Key West for 10 days and realized clunkers rented for $16 per day! We went to Kmart and got new Kmart Clunkers for $86 w/ tax. Looked at them as disposable. Even sold them to another couple coming into our hotel for $50!

Now that's clever!:beer:

That's actualy not a bad idea pcsanity, cheaper then renting if there for more then a week. Just take a few tools to tune it up properly and then sell it off or give to someone else when you leave.

Kmart and Walmart bikes are basically for kids. Ride it for a while and throw it away. My first 'mountain bike' was a Huffy from Walmart. The tires literally fell apart, they replaced them, and they fell apart again. Then they gave me a refund and said go to a bike shop and get some good tires. That bike got stolen (lucky me) and I got a Schwinn from a bike shop. There was no comparison between the $110 Huffy and the $200 Schwinn. Everything on the Schwinn was much better - better brakes, better shifters and derailleurs, better rims and tires, better seat, etc. Plus the Schwinn actually fit me. If you are at all serious about riding, DO NOT buy toy bikes.

Originally posted by steveK
That bike got stolen (lucky me)

I can honestly say that is the first time I've ever heard those words used in the same sentence.

>>>>>We went to Kmart and got new Kmart Clunkers for $86 w/ tax. Looked at them as disposable. Even sold them to another couple coming into our hotel for $50!<<<<<

I have another good use for Kmart bikes. Junk Commuters.

The Pacific Toy bike stays on the streets of New York City 24/7 and has yet to be stolen. I ride the bike 40 blocks per day. No more. The bike no longer shifts and it's treated like a beach cruiser even though it has dual suspension.

I told this to another cyclists and he couldn't believe that I'm able to keep a bicycle on the streets of New York City without it getting stolen. I didn't think it could be done myself but I've been pleasantly surprised.

Originally posted by Kev
That's actualy not a bad idea pcsanity, cheaper then renting if there for more then a week. Just take a few tools to tune it up properly and then sell it off or give to someone else when you leave.

What's even better is that the couple he resold the bikes to probably ended up with better bikes than if they were to have bought them new since he took the time to correct all the mistakes made by the *-Mart employees during assembly. Hell, I'd consider it a public service.

I advised my Niece to get herself a Wal/K-mart beach cruiser for using on campus next fall. Full metal fenders, single speed, v-brakes, all I need to do to it is install a rack on it. Of course, I made sure everything was ok first. It needed (and badly, too!) a brak adjustment, and the heaset was loose, the stem was loose, and the seat was installed bacwards. Still, for less then $100, she has the perfect campus bike.

Just to keep things in perspective, though, this is the only time I've ever suggested that anybody should buy a bike from one of these sources.

My friend just bought a Mart bike until she can save up for a low-end road bike. It's a mountain bike and rides like crap. You have to start braking about 30 yards from your stop, so I hope she's never in an emergency situation. :eek: After she gets her new bike, she plans on using the POC for a camping bike...ride to the showers, fishing hole, etc. I guess that's a good idea, because I would never take my road bike camping.

I guess that's a good idea, because I would never take my road bike camping.

Why? :confused:

Because of the value or . . . ?

Originally posted by goose
Why? :confused:

Because of the value or . . . ?

Most campgrounds are not really very friendly to 700x23 wheels. I'd take my MTB with me camping. It does have a certain high value to it but I'll either carry a lock or it'll never leave my side.

10-4.

I camp at state parks for the most part. Very well maintained, and don't have to worry about the drunks. :D

Just got back from a trip today in fact, and I wouldn't hesitate to take a road bike with me (if it wasn't in about 300 pieces at the moment!).

Goose, I definitley think State Parks would have some good road riding, and I may consider that. But, as far as a ride to the bathroom, or to the commissary, I don't want to have to deal with putting my bike shoes on, lock it up before I go inside, etc. So, if a $50 bike is stolen, or somehow damaged, I wouldn't be nearly as upset as if it were my roadie.

Khuon, YES!! The wheels are way too thin for most campground surfaces!

Originally posted by BikerDawg
Goose, I definitley think State Parks would have some good road riding, and I may consider that. But, as far as a ride to the bathroom, or to the commissary, I don't want to have to deal with putting my bike shoes on, lock it up before I go inside, etc. So, if a $50 bike is stolen, or somehow damaged, I wouldn't be nearly as upset as if it were my roadie.


Makes sense to me.

Curiosity satisfied. . . for now.

Originally posted by ShadowRider
i'm gonna get a NEXT, Schwinn, or Mongoose from Wal*Mart and put it together myself.

I don't believe that WalMart will sell a bike that isn't put together. Probably so you won't do a better job than their guys, or more likely, to protect themselves against any liability arising from doing a face plant because the fork crown separated.

*sigh*

i'm out of a job so i cant put no extra money into a bike... anyway, the only bike shop i have near me is ran by some blind guy and he only has old old old rusty girls bikes and wont go lower than $15 for $5 bikes

http://www.rei.com/online/store/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1&storeId=8000&categoryId=4500839

and start collecting and redeeming aluminum cans. Won't take too long, and there is a nice bike there on-line for $239.00

Originally posted by Davet
I don't believe that WalMart will sell a bike that isn't put together. Probably so you won't do a better job than their guys, or more likely, to protect themselves against any liability arising from doing a face plant because the fork crown separated.

Hmmm... I remember, from my youth, my parents buying me a Huffy "ATB" from *-Mart and we brought it home in a box (strapped to the roof of the car). I spent the evening putting it together myself. I always thought you could buy bikes from those stores as either assembled or assembly-required.

Toys R Us will sell you a bike in the carton, they will charge $10 to put it together. They sell adult sized bikes also....if you must go that route.

Originally posted by The Terminator
Toys R Us will sell you a bike in the carton....

That could lead to some interesting warranty/liability issues. I wonder what kind of paperwork the customer might have to sign?

I was at my LBS the other day and overheard part of a conversation between a salesperson and a person trying to get his bike fixed. His bike was a $350 Mongoose full suspension he bought at Dicks Sporting Goods. From what I heard Dicks didnt lube the thing at all and put it together badly enough for the bike shop to want like $150 just to fix it when it was only 3 months old. The shop told him to basically trash it and buy a bike from any bike store. I have seen many other bad things from Dicks and even Galyans which I expected to be a bit above some of the other places.

Brian

Originally posted by Davet
That could lead to some interesting warranty/liability issues. I wonder what kind of paperwork the customer might have to sign?

None, you bought it in a box, you accept the liability if it is put together wrong. Stores actually have more liability when they do put it together.

I don't know about liability, but all of the bikes come in the carton. If you buy one, you do not get the display model. They have to assemble it, or you have to take it with you.

Most of the bikes bought at Kmart and other cheap places can be assembled so they are at least safe. In my opinion when Kmart is assembling bikes improperly they have a huge liabilility problem. When shoppers assemble the bikes they are usually responsible for the problems of the bikes. I think it is pretty rare that a bikes frame just falls apart, and then it isnt Kmarts fault.

i've noticed they last a little while then suddenly die

Honda #1: chain kept getting stuck between the plastic gard(basically hub) and free wheel when i'd shift into first

Honda #2: brakes pretty much fell apart and the bearings are locked solid(which i did so they'd take it back incase the brakes werent enough)

I want to get a simple BMX bike. I've only had 1 brand new one from Kmart and it lasted 4 years back when they made em good. Or I might buy my friend's mongoose :P