Awww..... how sweet. Did someone just get an "incentive" from Mike?

More often than not this happens.

Wow they must be losing money because it says that the list price is $1,399.00!

Yeah - I love those numbers they make up! They claim to undersell your LBS, and they send you something you (most people) don't understand with instructions to slap it together, and you end up at the LBS (many times) with a broken whatsit? In this respect - BD is working in synergy with all the LBS's near where they sell a bike. Pet Peeve: Using all those names of the once mighty classic machines. Grrr....

One of the best business plans I've heard lately was the guy who opened a bike-repair business across the road from a WalMart.

$hhh.....

Can you not Xref it with the mfg's website to verify that BD is not pulling numbers out of thin air?

There are pros and cons. My brother ordered a bike from BikesDirect.com. I helped him assemble it. The assembly wasn't too difficult. From unpacking to on the road in about 2 hours. He saved a bunch on a bike with components he otherwise could not afford. He is happy with the bike. That being said, I just purchased a bike last week (should be picking it up tomorrow), and I went through the LBS. Warranty issues, service, and keeping it local all factored in my decision. If you own tools, and know how to use them, Bikesdirect is okay. If you want service after the sale, be able to test ride the bike, and build a relationship with the LBS, go local.

ordered one of the titanium bikes they sell.. got to wait a month though to receive it. anyone know how easy it is to remove motobecane stickers/decals?

Why does it seem that many people who buy Motobecane, et al defend BD to the hilt, but are too ashamed to ride the bike without taking the stickers off?

bikesdirect is at an inherent advantage compared to most of the local LBSs.

BD business model = Taiwanese Factory - Bikes Direct - Customer

LBS business model = Taiwanese Factory - "Name Brand" Bike Company - Distributor - LBS - Costumer

When you take two sets of middlemen out of the supply chain, OF COURSE you're going to be able to offer a cheaper product.

The bikes aren't bad. I owned one of their fixies, and considering I weigh about twice as much as the average fixie kid, and it held up for me just fine, I can't complain. Sure, it took a couple of hours to assemble and true the wheels at the local co-op, but considering that it would have been at least $150+ more to get something comparable at the LBS (which is a lot when it's a $350 bike), I can't complain.

PlatyPius is right though, the liveries on BD bikes are APPALLING, which is why mine were covered up with reflective tape almost immediately. I sometimes wonder if this is their idea of throwing the other companies a bone, as they'd probably be blowing the other manufacturers out of the water even faster if their bikes didn't look like crap.

My next bike, however, is probably going to be a $1,000+ road bike, and at that point, I'll give the LBSs much more serious consideration, as I'll want a bike that's properly fitted, by people who know what they're doing, who'll let me swap out the stems and saddles and whatnot, until I get the bike dialled in properly.

The question is finding the right bike shop, one that actually knows what it's doing, can give me a reasonable price, offer some future service with the purchase, and make me feel good about the bike and the shop. I'd pay extra for that.

If they're going to be bitter about online companies, and just pull bikes out of the box and slap the wheels and handlebars on, and act like I should be grateful that they're there, well, I'm going to fire up the internet.

It's a tough business, especially because LBSs have to fight the online discounters as well as the bad reputation that some of the LBSs give the rest of them. (I walked in to my local LBS the other day, and when the guy quoted me a few bucks more than I'd been quoted over the phone, and I told him that, and that it was cheaper still on the internet (although I was fine paying his first quoted price, which is why I came to the shop), his response was "They're selling this on the internet? Well, I'm going to stop carrying this product." Needless to say, I'm done with that shop.)

The local shops that aren't run by cranks, that are run by decent people that care about bikes, are going to do well, as long as they can make their customers understand the value that they offer. Offer clinics, explain the value of a PROPERLY FITTED BIKE and how a bike can't be fitted online, explain how a cheaper online bike isn't necessarily cheaper once you pay for assembly and swapping out stems and adding pedals that aren't total garbage, offer prices that are reasonable, if not amazing, and treat your customers with gratitude and respect. Offer knowledge and service and respect (and publicize that knowledge with a decent website. Sheldon Brown's contributions to the Harris Cyclery website are the best example) and people will pay extra for it, but expecting people to pay extra because you're the only game in town is not a winning strategy.

Even though I am kinda the only game in town at the moment, I can't operate with the assumption that it will always be that way. I don't have customers so much as friends. If you come into my store and shoot the shi+ for a while, you're no longer just a "customer". If you go on a ride with me/us, ditto. Yeah, I like making money. But I like seeing people happy on their bikes more. Anyone who gets into the bike biz for the money is an idiot. I love bikes, I love riding bikes, and I love riding with other people. If I can make a living wage at the same time, that's even better.

because I feel like I stole it compared to what normal brands cost and their graphics suck.

I suggest you ask same in Bicycle Mechanics. There are threads there dedicated to this issue - rather than hijacking this thread.

Good luck!

You're doing it right PlatyPius! I've followed your thread, and I wish you the best of luck.

There are many arrogant LBS in my area. Some of the store clerks would respond in a attitude that turn off would be customers and new cyclists which is too bad because that $$$ lost.
There is a section in MTBR.com that has LBS ratings by cities. Lately MEC has started selling bicycles and alot of LBS in the vicinity cry foul. I bought my bikes from LBS in the past, I've not returned to that LBS for service since I can get free tune-ups at various bike clinics/events. My next bicycle is likely not from my LBS because due to selection after learning what I know now about bicycles.

ohh boy how often will this topic come up

Every couple of weeks.

More if BD increases their advertising budget.

We should just write a Pro & Con list and make it a sticky.

You'd think that would save everyone a lot of time and arguing, till the people making the list start arguing!

Sorry for taking so long in answering your question, the two BD bikes fit me very well, but the first bike I purchased has too much flex in the bottom bracket area, along with it's wheels, and the second bike's front suspension is far too soft, even with the adjustment fully tightened. My LBS bikes have little or no flex in their bottom bracket area, and my one LBS that has a front suspension, is far more rigid than the BD bike. Since I can test an LBS bike either in the store or on the road for flex, or suspension quirks, I've now stopped making any further online bike purchases for this very reason.

you need to be more spefic about what BD bike has a flexing BB as opposed to the bike from your local bike shop. are you comparing a basic ultegra equipped aluminum frame to a cannondale? what forks are you comparing?

of course the BD Motobecane Fantom Uno is not as nice a bike as the Bianchi San Jose I really wanted but at 1/2 the price it takes me to Dunkers or Starbucks just as well as the San Jose would have and I have more money for cappicunios

The point that I was trying to make is that I now would like to check out any bike ahead of time rather than having done all the work of assembling it, only to find out that it has some design flaws. To partially answer your question, the BD bike with the flexing issue cost twice as much as my current LBS commuter bike, and even if it did cost the same or even half, it still does me no good to have the bike hang in the rafters.

The cynicism in BD threads is enough to make one vomit. I...am a consumer. I know how to work on bikes. It is well documented, and backed up by my reputable LBS that these (Motobecane/Dawes/Windsor) frames are made in the same places the big boys get their frames. Do the research on your componentry and figure out your budget. For Pete's sake Wal-Mart even has a 105-equipped (save cranks and BB) carbon fork bike for $499. Beat that anywhere else.

Be that as it may, and politics aside, I have been unable to click 'Buy' on either BD or Wal-Mart's website. I am test riding a Trek 1.5 tomorrow, as the LBS took the time to show it to me despite the fact that I knew more than almost every salesman on the floor.

But honestly, $499 for a mostly 105 bike at WM (2007 (?) Corsa FA), $699 for a mostly Tiagra bike at BD (2010 Motobecane Vent Noir), and $819 for a mostly Tiagra bike (2009 Trek 1.5) at the LBS. The math ain't pretty, but Tiagra is Tiagra, Sora is Sora, 105 is 105, no matter where you go (possible exception of the 105 at WM - might be a 2007 model, which is STILL better, from what I'm told than 2010 Sora/Tiagra).

There is a 30% chance I go with the LBS, and a 70% chance I have a few bourbon and sodas and visit BD. I just don't have the courage to buy online without trying.

You mileage may vary.

I bought one in august 09, After about 900 miles the bottom bracket was making a little noise, LBS adjusted it for sixteen dollars. I am satisifed with my bike, but I still want another one.

And I'm sure the Wal-Mart bike's frame is of the same quality as a $1500 bike. It's just like the cheap carbon frames on eBay....they may be made by the same company, but that doesn't mean the materials used are the same. Sure, buy a Wal-Mart bike for $500, strip the components off, buy a new frame, and build up a cool bike. Just don't ever mistake the Wal-Mart frame for a real bike frame.

Building / rebuilding a bike is not rocket science. I'm so tired of people acting like it is. Maintaining a bike is even less so.

Your comment about parts breaking in the first year is silly. It's not as if parts are breaking every other day on a bike -- if they are, you're doing it wrong. The value of tuneups in the first year is questionable -- tighten a few cables, adjust brakes and deraillers. Not too hard to do for oneself.

I will say that building / maintaining does require (at times) a few specialized tools. The cost of those tools may not be worth doing it oneself unless you plan to do all your maintenance and future builds yourself.

OP - Bikesdirect is a highly divisive subject here. There isn't anything inherently wrong with their bikes, and many people find them to be a good value. There is also value in having a relationship with your local bike shop, if they aren't a bunch of elitist wankers (many are). You have to decide for yourself what suits you best. Being able to maintain your own bike is a good ability to have regardless of where you get it.