trmcgeehan

Went to Wally World (Wal-mart) yesterday, and upon approaching the store, I saw about 50 BMX bikes out front, all chained together. Upon closer inspection, I noticed all the bikes had dual suspension, and on the chain stay had a big sticker saying "Suspension by Shimano." These bikes were priced at $59. I had no idea Shimano was into mass market stuff -- I thought they produced strictly quality. I noticed that these bikes were already starting to rust -- many of the screws were totally rusted. No doubt about it, we're into the era of disposeable bikes.

Chris L

I'd say they're probably factory seconds or bikes rejected by Shimano "quality control". In other words, give the proper ones to the bike shops and give all the crap to w*lmart.

Raiyn

What the heck to you expect from them? Bianchis?

ChipRGW

My POS Roadmaster was equipped with all Shimano except the shifters which were SRAM.

wyobiker

Unforunately due to Wally's huge purchasing power many "quality" manufactures knuckle under and supply them with "cheap" products branded under their "quality" name i.e. Shimano, Goodyear, etc. It's too bad that these companies choose to lower their standards so they can get access to "budget" shoppers. I think that at the end of the day all they have accomplished is to erode their brand image even though many people know for the most part that the "branded" products are not their top of the line offerings. Sad, but true.

chewa

Shimano took a large slice of the market by producing goods for mass market store and catalogue manufacturers.

Inkwolf

I always understood that Shimano provided several different levels of quality. It was back in the early70's already that cheap bike makers realized they could sell more bikes by outfitting them with low-end Shimano parts, so this is nothing new.

Actually, I'd much rather see cheap-o bikes with decent name-brand components (if low-end) than generic parts....at least you know all those kids will be riding something partially made by people who know what they're doing.

DieselDan

And just how long will these bikes last being stored outside in the elements?

greg360

Has anybody ever looked at the kind of people that patronize SprawlMart?
Most of those bikes will be ridden only once. Perhaps less.

speir2

I made 39 yrs in very competive sales, I rode a Schwinn Paramount for 30 yrs, 2 yrs ago I purchased a Mt Bike from Walmart, not knowing if would enjoy trails, after being on the road all the years, I liked Mt Biking & trails, So about 4 months later I went to a LBS, purchased a $1500, Mt Bike, The gearing was so advanced I want a new road bike, purchased a Trek 2300, Looking back had I not purchased the Mt Bike from Walmart, I would still be happy with my Paramount, here I have spent about $3500. with LBS I would not have spent
had I not went to Walmart, because before I was very happy with my Paramount.

So don't knock Walmat, LBS just do a good job, because people will spend a
$100. to see how it feels, once adicted be ready to help them fulfill their wants because they cannot get it at Walmart

jatkins679

That's not very nice. People like me patronize Wal-Mart.

greg360

OK speir2 and jatkins679, you guys have a point.
It was wrong for me to tar all of WallyWorlds patrons with one brush.
I apologise.
But it is my impression that there are more unhealthy looking people at that establishment than say... an LBS.
And if WW gets a person into biking... and eventually patronizing an LBS, then that's a good thing.

supcom

The $59 Wally World bike is for kids who will likely put less than 100 miles on them before they outgrow the bike. Why waste $1000 on a high quality bike that the kid will tear up and leave out in the yard in the rain? Not everyone is riding centuries every weekend.

My company bought several Wally World bikes for charity last Christmas. The biggest gripe I had about them was that they were poorly adjusted by the store employee. I brought in a couple tools got all the brakes and derailers set up correctly. At least the kids got bikes that would shift through all the gears.

Other than poor adjustment, all the bikes looked like good value. Not real great quality components, but what do you expect for $59?

As far as Shimano catering to the low end market, I would expect that the low end market is where they sell the vast majority of their components and is what really makes the money.

Chi

My first bike here in the States was bought at Toys R Us. Unfortunately, there wasn't a big bikers club in my high school so I never really got into it. That bike was eventually stolen.

Anyway, I've been riding an old Walmart bike now and I am learning more about bikes (mechanically and otherwise) than ever before. I now know what to look for at the LBS and how to work on faulty components, etc. I really believe this bike has opened my eyes to discriminating true quality: after comparing my friend's Trek 8000 to mine, it's night and day.

I'm in the market for a new bike and knowing all this has definitely helped me. Besides, stuff at Walmart is so cheap, esp since I'm a starving student!

roadbuzz

As far as I know, Shimano has been providing derailleurs, etc., for the low end for since forever. They don't advertise it or market it to consumers... who's going to buy a gruppo of that stuff? Besides, direct from Shimano, it'd cost more than the MegaLoMart bike!

Still, it does the job, they have the know-how, and there's $$$ to be made.

RiPHRaPH

here we go again. blaming a retailer for a product it sells. it's what the market will bear, boys. we are consumers. we consume...then we throw out. then we consume....then we throw out. Wal-Mart is just the convenient scapegoat that helps to speed up that process.

i know. the exec's at walmart held guns to these manufacturers heads and said "make cheap crap so we can sell it in our stores" there is a price point for everyone. i bet there are more horrific threads about people who spend $5,059 on a bike than one who spends $59 (ok, it would probably be about even)

Walter

Shimano and the late SunTour entered the US market on lowline bikes and moved their way up. Shimano's first attempt at indexed shifting appeared in the department stores. Even a Campy rider like myself will acknowledge Shimano's quality but it would have been a poor decision on their part to have abandoned the department store bike market.

I don't imagine the actual production costs of the X-Mart gruppo is very different from that of the current Deore or whatever they're calling it now group (I'm not around mtn bikes that much). How many thousands more of the low end groups do they sell than the high end?

Paige

The Wal-Mart bikes are toys, nothing else....... I mean some stores sell guitars also, if you were a musician would you buy your instrument at a disount chain?

Joe Gardner

I noticed my local grocery store had about a dozen children's "bikes" for sale, all $24.95. Luckily, these could be found in the fruit section, not outside.

Scooby Snax

Two words for you.... Joe Walsh!!
I think I read that he recorded the first James Gang album with a guitar from Sears!!


I'm just wondering, do any of us stand a chance against any pro rider on a Wal-Mart bike? (I don't patronize the place myself so no I'm not arguing on their behalf) Its just a thought....

Pete Clark

Sales drives business and unfortunately, sales are often driven by consumers that know little or nothing about the products marketed to them.

greg360

One word, er um acronym: SUV

webist

If it means more people being introduced to the sport, I say "Go Wal-Mart and Shimano!"

D*Alex

Eh, the problem is, somebody buys one of these pieces of $hit, finds out that it $uck$, and thinks that all bikes are as cr@ppy as his own bike is.

speir2

Maybe most people do not think as you imply you think, I purchased a Mt Bike from Walmart for around $100. not knowing if I would like trail riding, after about 3 months trail ride I found it to be an enjoyable time, so I went to a LBS purchased a $1500. Mt Bike had I not rode the $100. one for a while I would never consider spending $1500.+ the cost of a computer, a camelback, & other things in reference to the Mt Bike riding, I have owned several nice road bikes, a Schwinn Paramount, I now have a Trek 2300, so before I went to Walmart I knew what bicycles was but just wanted to try a Mt Bike, Do you think any other person could ever be of the same mind.