A GMC Denali For $40? Why the Heck Not?
09-08-21, 09:22 AM
#26
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Cross-promotion between GM and Walmart, I'd imagine.
Back a while, there was all kinds of that stuff--"Ferrari" and "Lamborghini" bikes, "BMW" skis ..... all just logos on existing products, but a serious attempt to both soak more cash out of folks who owned the cars, and to sell more high-end, over-priced good as "luxury items" because of the branding.
In the US, GMC and Walmart ..... well, it's a little bit country .....
Back a while, there was all kinds of that stuff--"Ferrari" and "Lamborghini" bikes, "BMW" skis ..... all just logos on existing products, but a serious attempt to both soak more cash out of folks who owned the cars, and to sell more high-end, over-priced good as "luxury items" because of the branding.
In the US, GMC and Walmart ..... well, it's a little bit country .....
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09-08-21, 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Iride01
You can find out if cycling is what you want to do with a 40 dollar bike. Just make certain it fits you.
After almost thirty years of doing just work, eat, sleep, I got back into shape on a 46 pound bike. I even did a couple 100 milers on it. Got rid of it when I knew better what I needed. Less bike weight for the most part.
After almost thirty years of doing just work, eat, sleep, I got back into shape on a 46 pound bike. I even did a couple 100 milers on it. Got rid of it when I knew better what I needed. Less bike weight for the most part.
Agreed, I started back to riding about 5 years ago on some objectively crappy bikes. I found out I was still good at it, and needed and deserved some better bikes. The experience on the crappy ones taught me a lot about what to look for.
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09-08-21, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Reflector Guy
I was always curious about their choice of name. Why GMC? Why Denali? They could have called it the Boeing 737 or the Canon EOS1 or the Steinway Baby Grand and those names would make about as much sense.
To use General Motors names and logos on your product requires a lot of hoops to jump through from GM. Even simple items like hats or T-shirts. Even making and selling hats with something like a Pontiac logo (defunct for eleven years already) requires GM's blessing. Kent must've REALLY wanted to use the GM name and logo!
To use General Motors names and logos on your product requires a lot of hoops to jump through from GM. Even simple items like hats or T-shirts. Even making and selling hats with something like a Pontiac logo (defunct for eleven years already) requires GM's blessing. Kent must've REALLY wanted to use the GM name and logo!
I think they wanted the association with off-road adventure and what a major shortcut to piggy back on someone else's marketing!
I'm more surprised GMC would go along with it.
09-08-21, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Maelochs
Cross-promotion between GM and Walmart, I'd imagine.
Back a while, there was all kinds of that stuff--"Ferrari" and "Lamborghini" bikes, "BMW" skis ..... all just logos on existing products, but a serious attempt to both soak more cash out of folks who owned the cars, and to sell more high-end, over-priced good as "luxury items" because of the branding.
In the US, GMC and Walmart ..... well, it's a little bit country .....
Back a while, there was all kinds of that stuff--"Ferrari" and "Lamborghini" bikes, "BMW" skis ..... all just logos on existing products, but a serious attempt to both soak more cash out of folks who owned the cars, and to sell more high-end, over-priced good as "luxury items" because of the branding.
In the US, GMC and Walmart ..... well, it's a little bit country .....
09-08-21, 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
I think they wanted the association with off-road adventure and what a major shortcut to piggy back on someone else's marketing!
I'm more surprised GMC would go along with it.
I'm more surprised GMC would go along with it.
As I've said elsewhere though, that's the whole reason that people take notice of the bike in the first place, and maybe the reason people figure it must be OK:
1. people have seen the logos before, and 2. the Denali designation is on the General's trucks that have the top-spec stuff.
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09-08-21, 10:21 AM
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Porsche, don't think you can get one for $40.
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09-08-21, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by GlennR
Porsche, don't think you can get one for $40.
09-08-21, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by LifeNovice1
That's funny.
I'm looking at a Novara Randonee now. It's more at $150 but maybe I'll like it better. I've posted on the vintage what it worth thread
I'm looking at a Novara Randonee now. It's more at $150 but maybe I'll like it better. I've posted on the vintage what it worth thread
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Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
09-08-21, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by GlennR
Porsche, don't think you can get one for $40.
Pretty sure you can't get one period. Concept so flawed it was never built. It was supposed to be an aluminum frame,BTW.
09-08-21, 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Pretty sure you can't get one period. Concept so flawed it was never built. It was supposed to be an aluminum frame,BTW.
09-08-21, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by GlennR
Here's one you can buy.. .for $8000
Looks like an Imperial Storm Trooper.
Butt ugly.
E-bike, right?
Last edited by livedarklions; 09-08-21 at 11:03 AM.
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09-08-21, 11:13 AM
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BMW
ebike
ebike
09-08-21, 11:23 AM
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I put together a Denali for someone once. I had refused to do it beforehand, but my friend knew that I couldn't refuse to do it if they brought it to my house, so I did end up putting it together. Nothing but regret about that whole ordeal, and I didn't have to ride it. I think they cost $70 back then. How do you make a wheel that can't be trued on a new bike? It's virtually impossible. I would see it on campus sometimes and the pangs of regret would show up all over again.
I think I might pay $10 for one to cut up the frame and use it to make parts for my garage bike rack.
Target used to sell Varsities for $99 on sale sometimes, and that was a pretty good bike as these things go. Especially if you abused your friendship with someone who knows how to work on bike to put it together for you.
I think the retail was $200, which really wasn't bad either. Don't take this as a recommendation, I haven't seen one for at least a decade.
I think I might pay $10 for one to cut up the frame and use it to make parts for my garage bike rack.
Target used to sell Varsities for $99 on sale sometimes, and that was a pretty good bike as these things go. Especially if you abused your friendship with someone who knows how to work on bike to put it together for you.
I think the retail was $200, which really wasn't bad either. Don't take this as a recommendation, I haven't seen one for at least a decade.
09-08-21, 12:00 PM
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09-08-21, 12:04 PM
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I like riding and I certainly don’t need my bike to get anywhere.
So if it were me, no, I absolutely wouldn’t buy it. More frustrating than fun, I don’t need it.
So if it were me, no, I absolutely wouldn’t buy it. More frustrating than fun, I don’t need it.
09-08-21, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
09-08-21, 02:11 PM
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^^^Chinarellos were quite the thing 10 or more years ago. IIRC a few owners fessed up here on BF. Probably didn't go as they expected....
09-09-21, 06:49 AM
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Originally Posted by unterhausen
How do you make a wheel that can't be trued on a new bike? It's virtually impossible.
09-09-21, 08:16 AM
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The best bikes you can get at Walmart are the super cheap aluminum Chinese cruisers with the coaster brakes. Less is more.
09-09-21, 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by 55murray
The best bikes you can get at Walmart are the super cheap aluminum Chinese cruisers with the coaster brakes. Less is more.
09-09-21, 11:49 AM
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Sorry to hear about the job loss. What industry are you in? You doing seasonal work? The landlord/agency won’t fix the garage? That blows.
I’d store the bike in your apartment.
Buy what you want. If it’s generally regarded as a piece of **** but you like it all is good.
What’s the bike for? Pleasure? Commuting to work(what’s left of it)? Are you willing to move for a job? If that’s the case you might need to
hold off…
Good luck!
I’d store the bike in your apartment.
Buy what you want. If it’s generally regarded as a piece of **** but you like it all is good.
What’s the bike for? Pleasure? Commuting to work(what’s left of it)? Are you willing to move for a job? If that’s the case you might need to
hold off…
Good luck!
09-09-21, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
^^^Chinarellos were quite the thing 10 or more years ago. IIRC a few owners fessed up here on BF. Probably didn't go as they expected....
09-09-21, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by himespau
Are people no longer doing that? I thought it was still a thing.
I had to go "huh, if they managed the unique dropout shape on an 'open mold'"......then maybe it was a "4th shift" product.
Either way I backed off real fast.
09-09-21, 01:01 PM
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Not every non-brand-name Chinese frame is badly constructed, dangerous to ride, cheap, or a bad investment.
09-09-21, 01:05 PM
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I'd imagine that the problem is, if they're not branded, knowing which is which.
