Recumbent - Walmart Bent

I just noticed this recumbent bike at Walmart. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information on it.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10983235


Thoughts?

You've got to be kidding me.

Afraid not Sir. I know I know, it's a direct rip of the Sun-something-something that costs like $1,000 + and is d/c now. I was just wondering what everyone here thinks of it. I know its kind of heavy (50lbs+) but that won't matter if a 48v20ah battery and 500w motor is slapped on it!

For $275? I'm frightened to where they cut the costs, I suspect on everything...

Sounds like a waste of a good motor, but I guess you could always re-use it on a [bent] bicycle in the future.

I can't say for sure, but I suspect that for that price, what you'd get is an aluminum frame that has not been heat treated, a 3x6 speed drive train, a shock that is in fact nothing more than a spring, and very low-level stamped steel components. None of that would matter much for an electric conversion, EXCEPT the frame. In spite of its beefy looks, if not properly heat-treated, it would be susceptible to breaking; especially when loaded down by an adult and a power unit/battery.

We've been discussing it in the thread on why are bents so expensive for a few days. It has also been the subject of a long thread at BROL for several days.

It is a clone of the old SUN EZ-Rider bents. They sold a SX version, with a high-tensile steel frame for something like $750 or so. They had an aluminum version, the AX, which had high-grade aluminum and high-level components, like SRAM X.9 derailleurs & shifters, and AVID disc brakes. I know because I own one of them.

I think this one is a 21-speed, so it probably uses the Shimano Tourney derailleur.

Only weight we have on it is the shipping weight at 57 pounds. That includes boxes, packaging, etc. Don't know if the bike-only is 45, 48, 50, ? pounds.

Note that it is an on-line order item only, they will not be stocking it in stores.

Here's an image of the Sun EZ-Rider, from Bikepedia. Very strong resemblance, although the top tube is different. And it has a different seat.

I have been saying for some time, when companies fnd out that recumbents are goood they would jump on the bandwagon...did not expect Wally to be the first. On the other hand it does not suprise me.

I keep hearing from people on this forum that recumbents will finally catch on and start to become popular when people can buy them for cheap at wally world.

Well now that day has come...

So far there are at least two people who have ordered, and received one of these new recumbents from Walmart according to the thread in BROL. One of these is non other than Randy Schlitter, the founder and owner of RANS!

He posted a brief message saying that the bike had arrived, and that "it has been a mostly positive experience." according to him. It will be interesting to read his complete impressions about this new bike from Walmart in the next few days. And again, there is another person who received one and will be posting his review as well.

If it turns out to be a decent bike, this could be a good thing for this rather small segment of cycling.

So far there are at least two people who have ordered, and received one of these new recumbents from Walmart according to the thread in BROL. One of these is non other than Randy Schlitter, the founder and owner of RANS!Are you sure Randy purchased only one? Wouldn't surprise me that after securing his first arrival and examining the contents, he figured out slick way to create a 'budget' premium version and sucked Wally's warehouse dry of these currently "out of stock" 'bents? I mean, why else would a major recumbent manufacture' be shopping at Wally World for recumbents?...

Feedback on BROL is starting to show up from two people who now own this new recumbent from Walmart. So far so good. Still awaiting for a review from Randy S.

Are you sure Randy purchased only one? Wouldn't surprise me that after securing his first arrival and examining the contents, he figured out slick way to create a 'budget' premium version and sucked Wally's warehouse dry of these currently "out of stock" 'bents? I mean, why else would a major recumbent manufacture' be shopping at Wally World for recumbents?...

I doubt that! Randy would try to make a Ti version out of it, throw carbon on it, and sell it for $1500! And there is folks that would buy it! Or at least the Ti frame!

Jerry

car and bike manufacturers routinely examine other manufacturers products

I heard Ford got an original Austin Mini car. They took it to bits to see how Austin could sell it for the price. Austin couldnt sell it for a profit at that price.

The Wallmart bike looks ok.
just dont understand how its so heavy

Even though it has an aluminum frame the swingarm, seat frame, and handlebars are steel so that accounts for a lot of the weight.
Randy Schlitter has written some thoughts about this bike on his website but has not done a full review yet. http://www.ransbikes.com/ITR78.htm

The R&D guys at Bachetta could learn a thing or two about making slick looking, uber-fast recumbents, from the R&D guys at Wal-Mart! :rolleyes:

maybe the Bachetta guys could learn how to build the bikes in a more economical way.
so they could sell the bikes at a lower price. Hence getting more customers
Or they could keep the price at the same level. Hence getting more profit per unit.
And being able to use the extra money to expand there business and develop more models.

I looked at the Rans page. I thought that was a picture of my back yard, all the old bikes. :/ He said the Wallmart is 44 pounds. Thats a reasonable weight. Thought it was supposed to be over 50 pounds, geuss that the shipping weight.

Even though it has an aluminum frame the swingarm, seat frame, and handlebars are steel so that accounts for a lot of the weight.
Randy Schlitter has written some thoughts about this bike on his website but has not done a full review yet. http://www.ransbikes.com/ITR78.htm

What he says makes a lot of since as a lot of the kids around here want me to fix there bikes and a lot of the low end ones there is not much you can do with them.

Its out of stock

It's been out of stock since about the 3rd day after it was listed. I think they must have made about 10 of them.