SocialCow

I saw this thing at my local wally world it just looks like a bad ass bike for whatever reason. Its $150 and I am tempted on getting it, even though I'm aware of what type of problems big box bikes may come with but look at it, it looks like it would be fun to ride it! What is more amazing is, reading the reviews on this thing, a lot of people reviewing it are clydesdales/athenas, anyway I would like your opinions on it.

Bill Kapaun

"a lot of people reviewing it are clydesdales/athenas,"

Wal Mart Clydes or Bike Forum Clydes?

Neil_B

Unlike a lot of people here, I don't look down on Walmart, Walmart bikes, or the people who ride them. However, the negative reviews on the website concern me. If you are mechanically inclined, and don't mind fixing things and making replacements after purchase, it might be a fun ride.

Also, keep in mind that the people praising the bike on the Walmart website probably don't put as many miles on their ride as most people here do.

Hendricks97

I bought a walmart bike last summer just to see if I could ride after my knee surgeries and within a month: the crankarm was stripped, the shifters broke, both wheels were bald and split one across the sidewall, tacoed both wheels and stripped the seat clamps. All this during commuting, no off road at all. I wouldnt even buy a walmart bike for my kids after that POS. By the way, this was one of their "top end" mongoose bikes

Neil_B

A Bike Forums poster rode a 200 dollar Schwinn Sidewinder from Walmart from South Carolina to Texas. His only major problems were flats, which considering Texas is goat-head country is understandable. I agree most big-box store bikes are bad, but there are exceptions.

LarDasse74

The problem with them is not so much the overall quality, but the quality of assembly and adjustment. The guy who puts bags of cat litter on the shelves, cleans the bathrooms, and greeting customers does bike assemblies when the regular guy is too tweaked out on crank to come in.

SocialCow

I really didn't want it to become about walmart quality vs bike shop quality, I don't loathe or love walmart bikes, and if I remember correctly I did see on a post that the bikes that arrive in walmart come in the same type packaging and assembly state as the ones that arrive in a LBS, the difference is if it is poorly assembled they can re assemble it in a lbs.

My point is, tell me you wouldn't want to just jump on this thing (assuming it would NOT fall apart as many fear) and ride it.

RaleighSport

That bike is the subject of a lot of gas motorized bicycle conversions for knowledgeable larger people in a different forum I frequent.. the title sucked me in being as I was considering buying this bike at one point myself. If you can, order it unassembled and do it yourself, otherwise it's gonna be the usual walmart crap shoot, otherwise it's a solid low cost cruiser.

fietsbob

Doesn't look like a 29er cruiser.. wheel probably a 26"
Do bear in mind every part of the bike was chosen factory cajoled to making
at the lowest cost..
YGWYPF

you can always go back and buy another one if it fails.

caphits

To all those who say they the assembly is the biggest difference: You are terrible wrong. Walmart bikes are cheap. They are cheap because they suck. They will break, be heavy, slow, dangerous, AND terribly assembled. They are made from inferior materials/manufacturing techniques.

But, if you have $150 bucks burning a hole in your wallet...

jethro56 

I don't want to ride it.

Bill Kapaun

Think how much energy you waste just trying to get those heavy tires rolling every time you accelerate.
Even when you slow down for an intersection etc., you have to accelerate again.
That would get old fast.

green427

I just went on a 5 mile ride with a lady that has one of those.

The handlebar position felt very unnatural to me. The bike is good for exercising at slow speeds, since it is a single speed and is heavy. Still, I could not ride it for more than 50 feet.

My daughter has a Schwinn Sidewinder mountain bike from Wally World, and I have been impressed with it so far. Other friends of mine have not had good luck with Wally bikes. It is a crapshoot....you either get a good one or a bad one.

If you are not mechanically inclined, I suggest you get a better quality similar bike at a local bike shop for a little bit more.

LarDasse74

Some of them are and some of them ain't. They sell $250 and $300 bikes that are very similar in quality to entry-level bike shop offerings. Many of them are made in some of the same factories where big brands get their entry level bikes made.

Even the cheapest bikes deserve to be properly assembled, though.

Peter_C

Sorta reminds me of that other brand...Worksman, Workmans, Workman???

Neil_B

"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejui-----"

Peter_C

hehe - candyman, candyman, cand

youcoming

Ok I don't want to ride it. I don't now or ever have liked the looks of cruisers or plain black bikes, to dull for my likes.

Doohickie

fify

RaleighSport

Just took one on a cruise around the inside of walmart.. heavy but solid as I thought.. I like it, although it stretches me a bit (I think it's meant for people 6'+)

Seattle Forrest

My opinion of it would be some drivel about Wally World bikes and all that, which you already know. With that aside, $150 isn't a lot of money for a whole bike, and if you have fun riding it 'til the wheels fall off, you've probably got your money's worth. If you're comfortable with the risk, there isn't much reason not to give it a spin.

b_young

The bike that got me back into riding was a mongoose on sale at walmart for $90. I rode it for 4 years without any major issues. I gave it to my nephew 3 years ago and he still rides it. I kinda wish I still had it because I do not have a mt bike now. I have a Specialized Sirrus and Roubaix. I have over 10K miles on the sirrus and it is just now needing some attention. It is lighter and overall more enjoyable than the mongoose but it should be. If you get the bike and ride it, it will be worth it. But, as said, you may get it and have all kinds of trouble. If you do, take it to LBS and get it adjusted right for around $30.

Road Hog

My first bike I bought when I began seriously riding around six years ago was a Wal-Mart schwinn sidewinder. It served me well for probably 2000 miles before I upgraded to a used hybrid. Nothing wrong with the bike, I just outgrew it. I now ride a Motobecane Le Champ TI. I did maintain it reasonably. If you know what your'e looking for it could be worthwhile. The guys who stock cat litter don't assemble bikes. They contract out to companies who send someone in to assemble bikes. That being said they are paid piecework and it is true that the bikes may not be adjusted properly. If you can do your own work, they can be OK. The bikes are heavy and only one size. If your'e taller than 5'8" the bike will probably be too small.

gyozadude

I bought a "Triumph" mountain bike for $98 CDN in Squamish, B.C. this winter while up in Vancouver. I was amazed by the assembly. All cable housing trimmed to the exact length, lined with teflon liner, and bearings adjusted perfectly. I needed to upgrade the set of bikes we have in our vacation home because the kids keep growing. But for a sub-$100 bike, I was impressed. And it's a STEEL frame/fork MADE IN CANADA. Alloy rims too. Sure, the derailleurs were cheap, and the bike was fairly heavy. But it was pretty sturdy, shifted flawlessly and the brakes worked well, stayed centered and the wheels were true. And my son thought it rode just fine under the rain started coming down every day before the New Year.

Yeah, you get what you pay for, up to a certain point. But assembly and maintenance can be huge factors impacting the performance and longevity of a department store bike.

indyfabz

In light of the fact that some department store bike do fall apart, that's "putting the bunny in the hat," as one law school professor of mine used to say.

That aside, I would not want to jump on it. I have ridden bikes of that configuration (basically a cruiser) and don't find them pleasant to ride. The apparent lack of gears is a turn off, too. If I really wanted (or needed) something with fat tires I would opt for one of these:

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/moonlander