exmechanic89

I totally agree. I would ride Walmart or Target bikes if I didnt have other options. And for some people they work out just fine, they're not garbage, imo.

In fact I was quite impressed with my friend's recently purchased $200 Bikesdirect single speed - really rides nice and handles well. Even has a carbon fork. The reality is modern day manufacturing, combined with cheap imports results in very useable inexpensive bikes - as well as guitars, and many other items. Unfortunately there will always be people that think they can buy a skill, and that the more you spend, the better you'll be at that skill.

jon c. 

It's not that anyone considers the increased sales a bad thing, but many think people would ultimately be more satisfied and more likely to enjoy and thus continue riding if they spent that same money on a better bicycle through the used market.

As far as we know, the IKEA bike is not subject to the same level of uncertainty that one finds with the Wal Mart product, so I doubt the same sort of objections would be raised. Unless of course the IKEA product turns out to be crap with a high failure rate.

I'd never advise a friend to buy a bike from Walmart and I really don't think snobbery has anything to do with it. I just want friends to get something better for their money. I'd have no reason to advise a friend not to buy one of these. As far as I can tell, it seems to be decent value for the buck.

jefnvk

Superior is subjective to the goals you need to accomplish. Many tourers find friction shifting and 26" tires to be superior, because their goals are vastly different than Froome and Sagan's goals. Heck, Froome and Sagan's bikes are different, because they don't even have the same goals in the same race.

Sarcasm and jokes don't always travel well over the internet, we've all been there! No harm!

To be fair, one big variable is removed here: these bikes are assembled at home by the end user, who is probably competent at basic instruction following if they are a regular Ikea shopper. Wal-Mart bikes go out the door assembled by whomever was put on that shift that day. Wal-Mart may well be better off if they just sold their product in box for home assembly.

But in either case, I'd expect the Ikea quality to be more along the lines of better than Dicks level, maybe not to REI quality, very much above the local X-Mart.

morfeeis

Sort of like a gateway drug? Walmart got me to buy a cheap'O bike and next thing i knew i was on a cannondale synapse doing a century...

tyrion

Plus one would need to be very physically fit to drive that 2 speed IKEA tank up and down hills. Not a great commuter for places like San Francisco. It is photogenic though.

SHBR

I would think almost any person on any bike would need to be physically fit to ride up and down the hills in SF.

Ikea seems to be testing the market, for all we know it could be a flop, either way, its got more potential than the typical BSO offerings. If this product is successful, I could see an e-assist version being released.

I have no interest in cast iron 1 piece cranksets, and stamped bendy steel frames, often times sent out the door in such poor mechanical condition, that many bike shops refuse to service them.

tyrion

Having read a little more about it I find it an interesting niche: durable, low maintenance, inexpensive - but heavy and limited by its simplicity (only one size and all). I wouldn't be surprised if it's successful and gets copied by the bike industry.

superdex

it comes more assembled than a bikesdirect bike. Might see a few in Denver when they get here; a lot of the US is such suburban sprawl designed for autos that I hope Ikea isn't overthinking their market penetration...

If I lived near downtown, I'd consider it. Has a "why not take the bike to the store?" +1 attractiveness to it

I-Like-To-Bike

If you lived near downtown AND had your own shed or garage out back, sure why not?

Moe Zhoost

I think there is quite a difference. While Walmart markets any low cost, low quality item they can make a profit on, IKEA sells items that may be low cost, but are designed by them to meet specific criteria for build and utility. I have always found their products to be great value.

Yep, a lot of snobs here, so Walmart will always have a negative connotation. Having "fixed" a lot of mis-assembled WM-type bikes for co-workers, I can see why this is. Selling a poorly assembled (sometimes unsafely) bike does nothing to encourage their use. In addition, the complexity of maintaining cheapy multi-gear systems further inhibits use.

I-Like-To-Bike

Are you sure the IKEA bikes are designed by IKEA to meet specific criteria for build and utility?

I had a Smith & Wesson "Tactician" bicycle for use in SW Asia. I previously owned other products with the S&W brand name that were of great value; the S&W bicycle was worth the zero dollars I paid for it.

I doubt that S&W had anything to do with either the design or the manufacture of the bicycle just because it allowed its brand name/image to be attached to it.

jefnvk

Like all products at Ikea, they credit the designers for their products:

And, the in depth story from them: Designers of SLADDA: Scandinavian bike for the world - IKEA Today

TimothyH

The real value in the Ikea bike is that they will begin appearing on Craigslist at greatly reduced prices in a few years. I'd wait till then.


-Tim-

I-Like-To-Bike

Thanks for the clarification.

Stadjer

It's more a copy itself. The bike industry has made durable, low maintenance bikes for a very long time and not that expensive, especially the one that aren't extremely durable. The only thing that makes this bike itself different is the belt drive, and that's not it's strongest point.

What makes it special is that it's from Ikea and there is very little choice instead a confusing amount of choice. That's a good thing, it makes purchasing a bike easy. You only have to trust Ikea to make decent products and because of their enormous size they can offer quite good value for money, nothing really special either, but it will be hard to compete with a simular bike.

jefnvk

Just out of curiosity, since you are over there and likely know these things, what does a Gazelle (or similar) basic 3-spd Dutch city bike sell for brand new?

Stadjer

Gazelle 3 speeds start at around 600 euro, but Gazelle is a luxury brand and that's the very low end of their range, they're not as durable as in the past but they always ride really well, with low mechanical resistance. The Sladda with it's belt drive won't match that. Weight is hardly an issue here, but a 'light ride' certainly is.

But the Sladda is 399 euro here and that's a middle class price. A basic 3-speed Sparta citybike is about 50 euro's more, with front and rear racks that will hold an adult and everything and they have a reputation for low maintenance. And then you can choose a frame size, colour, accessoires and pay more for 7 gears and roller brakes, don't have to become member of the Sparta family, at the LBS you'll probably end up paying 500 euros, but then it's fully assembled, checked and fit to size. Big wharehouse and DIY stores will sell not very well build and not very durable 3-speed city bikes for 300 euros. If Gazelle is the Mercedes-Benz of bicycles, and Sparta is like Volkswagen, than this Sladda better be built like a Volvo or Saab to compete at this price. I believe they wouldn't have put it on the market here if it falls apart after a year of Dutch abuse, that would be bad for the reputation of their other products.

It's a competitive price but in a very competitive market for this kind of general purpose bike. So they didn't work a miracle on the price, but have the advantage of scale and size and in most countries with Ikeas it will be a lot harder to find a bike like this from a different brand in this price range.

canadian deacon

IKEA, like every other company, is selling a lifestyle. You have to be able to see yourself in this picture. That is what sells the bike.

CrankyOne

Yes, this happens for some. Others get one of these and find the ride uncomfortable, the clickety-clacky out of adjustment gears annoying, the inability to carry more than a loaf of bread on the thin rack useless, and don't like getting grease on their pants. So they determine that bicycling (rather than bicycling on an uncomfortable bike) is not for them. We have a number of Dutch bikes for guests to use when they visit since we ride bikes many places rather than drive. A quite high number have commented how much they enjoy riding on our bikes and dislike riding on the bikes they have collecting dust in their garage. A bunch of gone on to buy Dutch bikes for themselves.

This is similar to the problem of people buying Electra bikes. At first they love sitting upright but then find after a while that 'riding a bicycle' gives them a sore back. The problem though is 'riding a bicycle that is inefficient and with poor geometry that pushes you back on the saddle'.

This is one area where the Ikea bike might be beneficial. The flat handlebars, potentially a more lean-forward geometry, and lack of a decent chain-guard might be issues though. I don't know that most Americans would miss the ring lock or dynamo lighting.

TimothyH

I totally picture myself in that photo.

For sure, I always carry my leather valise, a throw pillow, house plant and lamp shade when I ride.

The plant produces oxygen which I need when I get winded on my longer 1.7 kilometer rides and the valise holds my arm warmers, leg warmers, rain jacket, poncho and other clothing in case the weather turns bad. The articulated lamp is a particularly good idea for riding in the dark and the lamp shade ensures that the light doesn't blind other riders on the sidewalk.

The towel hanging off the side of the trailer provides extra braking force when it falls into the spokes. Safety is no accident and you can never have too much brakes!

jefnvk

Yup. If a company can make you think that their product fits into your lifestyle, or that if you buy it you will fit int a lifestyle, selling becomes much easier.

No different than Trek:


Specialized:


Giant:

NoPhart

It's much more assembled than that. Unboxing's and less than one hour build videos are showing up on YouTube (simple search will see them). Simple assembly just like any other bike in a box, but they do recommend having a bike mechanic assemble it (smart instructions for any manufacturer). Rear wheel, crank and belt are already on and adjusted. IMHO it's a great concept and just enough different than all the other bikes out there to peak interest.

Interestingly I sent an email to an engineer friend in Australia. He and his wife don't own any bikes, but are thinking about getting a pair to toodle around Adelaide on. He had already read a review on this new Ikea entry...

Here's a Happy Camper!

shafter

That picture make my guads hurt. I hope there's no hills or that poor rider will wish he had more gears!

I-Like-To-Bike

And a garage/backyard shed at home to park it overnight and any time it is not in use!

SloButWide 

Oh, I thought the bike and trailer combo came with a free mobile garage sale!