yeah walmart bikes are a little heavier and other stuff, but for the average joe who wants a nice bike and dosent want to pay a ridiculious price and can take care of a bike, a walmart bike is good. Im pretty sure that all the problems you describe with you bike is because you didnt put it together right or didnt take care of it. Ive never experienced the problems you describe. ive had alot and know alot of people with walmart bikes and they all work great for years. infact i still have my bmx that i got atleast 9 years ago from walmart and its still working fine. and im sure your first bike wasnt a $1000 bike, it was probably a old xmart bike. i remember my first bike and i loved it, it was a old huffy.