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any decent walmart bikes?

Old 09-22-20, 08:18 AM
  #1  
windy7777
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any decent walmart bikes?

or still mostly garbage?
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Old 09-22-20, 08:43 AM
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Cyclist0108
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Welcome back!

There is: https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...lmart-viathon/
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Old 09-22-20, 08:45 AM
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Miele Man
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Even if the WalMart bike was decent, the assembly of it by WalMart would be iffy t the least if not downright dangerous.

Cheers
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Old 09-22-20, 08:48 AM
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Juan Foote
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I would say according to what locale you are shopping in, but yes I have seen some decent bikes there. I echo the above sentiment insomuch as assembly.
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Old 09-22-20, 08:56 AM
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Some of the bikes they sell are online-only. Not sold in stores.

If you're able to assemble the bike yourself, it might be a good way to go.
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Old 09-22-20, 08:57 AM
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The cheapest bike at your local bike shop will be better than the best bike at Wal-Mart.
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Old 09-22-20, 09:07 AM
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Checkout Bikes Direct if you are looking for a bargain bike. This one caught my eye:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...avel-bikes.htm
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Old 09-22-20, 09:08 AM
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It depends on what you expect. The simpler the bike the more likely it will be ok. I would avoid anything with suspension and a front derailer. Rear gears may be okay if you check the setup before you ride. Park tools has videos on how to do everything.
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Old 09-22-20, 09:08 AM
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cb400bill
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If you are referring to the bikes stocked at Wal*Mart, yep still mostly garbage. But, as mentioned above, Wal*Mart has started their own brand which appear to be quite good. They also have other bikes offered on their website that are sold by other companies through the Wal*Mart website.
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Old 09-22-20, 09:14 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by leob1
The cheapest bike at your local bike shop will be better than the best bike at Wal-Mart.
Ask anybody who works at, is affiliated with or has an emotional or financial attachment to an LBS (or the branded products sold there) and he will tell you the same. BF has a large contingent of such people who will respond accordingly to this type of allegedly innocent "question".

Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 09-22-20 at 09:18 AM.
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Old 09-22-20, 09:16 AM
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https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...walmart-bikes/

https://www.sdf-law.com/blog/2017/ja...rt-faces-clas/
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Old 09-22-20, 09:28 AM
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The last bike I bought at walmart was for charity. I bought a 20" bmx bike, brought it home. I checked the hubs and the cones were set ok, the brakes needed setup. I thought it would only be proper to test ride it, so was wheelying around inside the house and jumping it off and onto the front porch until I got in trouble with my wife. I wouldn't have hesitated to take that bike to some flowy trails.
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Old 09-22-20, 09:35 AM
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great input everyone ty
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Old 09-22-20, 10:01 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by wgscott
I think that's the first time I've ever seen "Walmart" and "high end" in the same sentence.
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Old 09-22-20, 10:23 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by Milton Keynes
I think that's the first time I've ever seen "Walmart" and "high end" in the same sentence.
Note the OP asked about decent, not high end bikes.
"Decent" bikes does not necessarily mean or require "high end" except perhaps to those people involved in selling or promoting "high end" bikes.
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Old 09-22-20, 10:28 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Ask anybody who works at, is affiliated with or has an emotional or financial attachment to an LBS (or the branded products sold there) and he will tell you the same. BF has a large contingent of such people who will respond accordingly to this type of allegedly innocent "question".
Doesn’t mean it’s not an accurate statement.
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Old 09-22-20, 10:37 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Doesn’t mean it’s not an accurate statement.
Of course not, even a broken clock is right once or twice a day, and platitudes from posters with an obvious financial or emotional bias might even have a ring of truth every now and then.
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Old 09-22-20, 10:41 AM
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Can't believe there hasn't been a popcorn emoji yet.

OP seems to know a little about big-box bikes, so it is safe to give unbiased info ... and some people here have. Good to see.
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Old 09-22-20, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Of course not, even a broken clock is right once or twice a day
What about a broken record?
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Old 09-22-20, 11:02 AM
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This is my favorite Walmart bike - got it on sale for $500

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rawland-x...mall/157213013
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Old 09-22-20, 11:06 AM
  #21  
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Check out Kevcentral on youtube. He tests and upgrades big box bikes.
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Old 09-22-20, 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by leob1
The cheapest bike at your local bike shop will be better than the best bike at Wal-Mart.

Actually whole heartedly have to disagree with you on that one.

As I mentioned above, according to where you are, what store you go in there have some decent bikes using mainstream standard parts. I have noted that even among brands there seem to be a two tier quality level. For instance they have some Schwinn bikes that are complete boat anchors, and they have some that are fitted with decent Shimano groupsets, good welds, decent enough parts to take a ride on.
While working at the bike shop this is (as a for instance) one Specialized fixed gear bike that completely stands out to me. I think it was called a "Roll", and was a total boat anchor in itself. Poor welds, poor parts....we saw a few other brands do similar but not to that level. The Motobecane super cheapy I purchased from BD made it look like a joke and it wasn't exactly what I would call write home about itself.

With that said....I live in an area with a wide diversity of economic realities. I can travel to four different stores around 15 miles from one another and you would not believe that two of them were the same company. The OTHER two are exactly what the stereotypical expectation is.
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Old 09-22-20, 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by leob1
The cheapest bike at your local bike shop will be better than the best bike at Wal-Mart.
yeah, because a 7 speed freewheel bike from China becomes magically better once you add 30% markup.....
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Old 09-22-20, 11:13 AM
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It's all a matter of perspctive and opinion.
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Old 09-22-20, 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by c_m_shooter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6b9RxXGzSY

It depends on what you expect. The simpler the bike the more likely it will be ok. I would avoid anything with suspension and a front derailer. Rear gears may be okay if you check the setup before you ride. Park tools has videos on how to do everything.
Why are you afraid of front derailleurs? Having more than one chainring really helps balance gear range & spacing, without the need for thinner, weaker cogs at the rear.
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