I still don't agree with the industry that they need suspension forks on these types of bikes, they could save money, weight, and improve the looks with just a rigid steel fork.
There's an astonishing number of people who *want* a suspension because they seem to think the ride will be too harsh otherwise - dispite the cushy saddle, wide tyres, and the fact that they usually don't exactly ride that far. Meaning, I completely agree a rigid fork would be a much better idea, but it's possible it might put people off the bike.
yea I sort of thought that too, but maybe that's just a matter of marketing. Actually that reminds me of a friend who bought a bike of this caliber for riding 5 minutes to work and back. He bought a $100 or so fully suspension "MTB" for that very reason, he said he likes a soft ride...
@@BruceChastain Yeah that's exactly the type of person I was thinking about! I feel like the people who know better / feel differently are not necessarily the ones interested in $100 Walmart bikes, so maybe it's just a case of them knowing their clientele.
I'm pretty sure those cheap suspension forks cost like 50 cents more than their rigid counterparts... Cheapest ones I managed to find from Ebay with fast search were around 6 dollars. Otherwise I agree.
that might be because after $6, they're not going to sell any fork for $3, there's no where else to go. But I'll bet in China when they mass produce these, the steel rigid fork would be a good bit less to source. but wow a $6 fork? I'm cheap as hell but even I can't see ever buying a $6 spring fork.
I have a sort of big box bike too. When it was given to me i said if the frame fails ill get a better bike. 9 years later its still going strong this thing just wont die. Lol
I use to have the men's one and loved it I as the woman at the bike shop sed severely overbuilt it then it got stolen I miss my bike and this video brought back good memories thank you
My wife just started riding. I am so happy she is wanting to ride with me. I'm not taking her on the trails we are doing urban riding. It makes her more comfortable and she is enjoying it. Happy to see your sister riding again. Hope she sticks with it.
I used to go to college riding a cheap bike from Sears, and it was a good experience. I did not to ride on massive hills, but it kept me healthy. There is no need for a boutique bike, or an expensive entry level trek, scott, diamondback, Cannondale, GT, Santa Cruz, Rocky Mountain, Giant, among others, to have fun and other fitness purposes. If you have a kind of limitless budget, there is no problem to buy a famous brand with quality components. I just advice getting and riding a bike wether you have money or not so much. It is a good excersise.
One thing I'd like to add: The ladies' Roadmaster Granite Peak 26" (see time-index 1:19) is recommended for riders 5' 2" to 5' 10". I am 5' 2"; and when I tried it out in the store (with the seat at its lowest setting), I could _barrreeely_ reach the sales floor with the tiptoes of my riding sneakers-and that not firmly. :( As I felt uncomfortable, and didn't want to have to remove the reflector mounting bracket on the seat tube (not that you could easily do that in-store), I decided to go for the smaller 24" Roadmaster. Although the 24" Roadmaster is rated for riders up to 5'6", I don't think that's accurate. I've got the seat tube on mine extended up to max-and there's not much vertical adjustment in the handlebars to match. So as a result I'm pitched too far forward on the bike (or I feel that I am, anyway), where the majority of the weight of my upper body is resting on my wrists and the bike's handlebars. I couldn't give traffic a hand-signal if my life depended on it. :( While I didn't expect to ride in my favorite super-comfy upright position like on a hybrid or cruiser, neither did I envision I'd be training for the Tour de France. :( The flat bars aren't my favorite for more than one reason, but this tops the list. I measured the seat tube on the 24" bike, and it's only like 13". I can't imagine how anyone 5-foot-6 could ever ride that bike. Might anyone have some suggestions on how to fix this? Anyway, the point I'm making here is that there doesn't seem to be much overlap in the sizing between the 24" and 26" Roadmaster bike frames; and those of us ladies who are somewhat height-challenged might find ourselves in an awkward position--no pun intended.
Like these readily available bikes. It would be cool to take a Walmart frame and build a bike out of your parts bin. Those small bikes handle surprisingly well on jump tracks and the narrow handlebars get through pretty tight trails.
I do that a lot, actually. I enjoy building something up out of a cheap or used bike, because then, I'm not as pissed off if it gets crashed or stolen.
And there you have it! Walmart bikes aren't for everyone, but they're there for some people. Thanks to you and Walmart your sister is riding again. Nice job Kev.
Ok I'm 97% sure I'm probably gonna buy this bike. I'm 61 and haven't ridden in probably 5 years. I have a public trail near me that I should be taking advantage of. Thanks this was a great video!!
Wow.. good riding after 20 years! This just made me realise... when I got my bike last year, that's the same amount of time since I'd ridden. Took me a solid week, actually two weeks, of secretly practising in the dark at 4AM so no one could see my utter fails before I could even get off the lowest of gears. Kudos!
I think these days it's common for us to ride as kids and teens and then take a long time off, and then at some point get back into it. I stopped at 15 and started again at 32 years old.
@@BruceChastain I stopped (as a teenager) mainly because I got my first car and then moved back to a rural area of the county from the small town where my Dad and I used to rent an apartment. From about 1985 to 1992, (when mountain or hybrid bikes weren't near as ubiquitous as they are now), we lived in a place along a soft sandy dirt road connected to a very busy highway (35 - 45 mph) with virtually no shoulder (much less a bike lane) along an incline. It's kind of discouraging when you have to constantly lug (and I do mean "lug") your bicycle to and back from where it's actually safe to ride, every single time you feel like going riding. :(
Can you explain how to use twist shifters to me? I just picked up a men's Roadmaster today from a friend. No instructions and when I got it out of my pickup, it would only move a couple of inches either way and then it would lock down as if the brakes were fully engaged. It would not move without doing this and the brakes are by no means locked down at all. I feel pretty dumb in not being able to readily identify what the issue actually is to resolve it. I hate to have to take it to a bike shop in order to find out, but I can't seem to find anything on youtube regarding this issue and actually how to use these twist shifters at all. You never really mentioned them in your other video. Can you offer any suggestions as to what I must be doing wrong? Thanks.
That's an amazing price for that bike! I 2nd your thoughts on family bike rides. They are a lot of fun and make good memories. And thanks for a couple of good laughs! Always welcome.
Good for her. I bought a BCA SC29 bike from Walmart almost a month ago. It was a return from a previous customer. Not sure why it was returned but I haven't had any issues with it. I work at walmart so with my discount i only paid 88 dollars and change. it's been 10 years for me since riding a bike. I'm having fun with. Been on a few trails with it and it handles pretty good.
I watch these not because I'm willing to buy a big box bike - I already have two bikes, one of which is my pride and joy and the other one collects dust out back. Most other guys and girls reviewing these usually say they are really bad because they're comparing them to a bike that costs as much as a decent second hand car, so naturally it's going to look bad against a purpose built machine. You, on the other hand, review these from the perspective of someone who is actually willing to buy these things. Like you said a while ago, people do buy these bikes and they do so not knowing what they're getting in to or what constitutes a good budget bicycle. So kudos and keep riding!
I just picked up a men's Roadisaster Granite Peak to get back into mountain biking. Yes, I'm going to take it on some light trails. After inspecting it, the first thing I did was completely disassemble and grease every bearing. The front wheel had some grease, the bottom bracket had none, and the rear wheel had traces. I bought some better pedals instead of trying to service those bearings. I added six rubber grommets stacked inside of each coil spring in the lower fork tubes in order to increase the stiffness to near rigid fork levels (BTW, it takes a 6 mm hex key to get to the bolts through the tops of the fork). I also went for a better saddle and some solid metal brake lever assemblies. That's when I realized it didn't have bottle cage mounts, so I had to buy a clamp type mount. Now I'm ready to hit the trails and stark breaking stuff! Hopefully just the bike, and not my body. I wouldn't recommend one of these super cheap bikes to anyone who is not handy with a wrench, or good friends with a bike mechanic. Things are going to break. I do this because I'm a mechanic and I fix things. I basically wanted a regular steel frame mtb for some light trail riding; I want a good workout, not a race winner. I have no need for a lightweight frame, disc brakes, or fancy suspension. The threaded/quill stem does not turn me off because I consider it to be very serviceable. I will upgrade cheap components as they break. I think the frame itself is worth the money, even if is based around old tech.
Kev, could you do a video on how to shift gears correctly? I'm in the same position as your sister. I just got into biking after a loooong pause. I owe your channel many thanks for helping me transition back. I feel like my riding experience suffers because I don't know what gear I should be in and when.
What little I know is, take it one gear transition at a time. Continue pedaling (but not accelerating, to reduce torque force) throughout the gear change; and avoid cross-chaining.
My sister bought one when she first went to college. Not a bad bike for just getting back and forth to classes. It's a bike you won't cry over if someone cuts your locks and steal it or leave outside because you're not allowed to leave it in your dorm.
It looks like alot of bike for the price. Even though we may not be fans of those big squishy saddles, they're great to keep new riders riding. In my experience, it takes at least a season of riding to get used to a proper mtb saddle. How are those tires though? The shininess makes me think they're super hard. Another swap I've done on friends and families bikes is throw a softer, low resistance tire on like a Kenda Kwick. New/infrequent riders are much more confident when they are rolling smooth and straight.
Thanks for the video as always. I bought my wife this same bike to get her into cycling. Once she enjoyed cycling we upgraded to a del sol bike. This is a perfect bike to just try cycling on a small budget
Agreed. Funny you mentioned a Del Sol. In my local area the other day, some lady advertised on Craigslist that her customized Del Sol had been stolen. I'd never heard of that particular make before this.
I borrow one of these from my sister for mountain biking in Park City. $Free.99. Replaced the grips, and glued the brake lever I broke, let me tell you: you CAN hit the trails on these! Great for getting the skills necessary, without beating up a $1000 bike. I’m looking at used bikes for a replacement, but until then, this is the best value bike I’ve ever ridden! Can’t complain!
So... The day after you did the piece on the granite peak I went to my Wally's and the price was 89 guess it works with the piece you did on prices climbing. Interesting. thanks for the videos.
On a recent trip to the US i had the ‘ pleasure’ of riding the Mens version of this bike. I covered 160 miles over two weeks. I admit that initially i hated it. The thing weighed at least twice if not more than my Soecialized chisel and rattled its way along the bike trails. But i got used to it and actually accepted its flaws and just got on with riding it. I left the bike with fond memories as i as without it i would have not be able to explore all the areas i did. Taking it off road is a gamble but on the road and bike paths its just fine. Just accept its a heavy MTB with not great gears and you’ll have fun.
My wife has been riding a pacific Walmart MTB for over 10 years. Minor adjustments and new tires this year are all it has ever needed. She loves it. I agree, it has been a perfect bike for her. The best $49.99 I have ever spent.
If they can't get forks on right half the time, I would not expect tires in the right direction. Last week our Walmart had all the Rear stickers on the forks facing forwards.
great video kevcentral, a few years ago i needed a new bike because i cracked the hub on my old bike i think it was a mongoose hatchet and i went to walmart and bought a genesis V2100 and it worked well the fork had problems then a few years later i start doing stuff it was not made for and broke the rear axle and then one of my neighbors was throwing away there specialized rockhopper and i got the bike free and i love the bike and it worked for some of the more crazy stuff i do on a mountain bike and now im building a 2008 iron horse mkIII and brand x ht01 and i look back and think about when i started mountain biking and it all started with that walmart bike
Greatly looking forward to more reviews of budget women's bikes. Most videos on youtube about women's frames focus on the $1500+ price range, and often far above that.
Who says that family bike rides don't happen that much anymore? I rode with my parents growing up and now when I go home to visit them on holidays I always try to ride with them as well. I went from a Burley trailer, to a trail-a-bike, to my own bike.
Bikes aren’t as popular with kids as they used to be. At the local bike shop there was a scout troop visiting and the shop owner was shocked when he asked how many of them knew how to ride a bike. I can’t remember the exact number, but something like half of them had never ridden and didn’t own a bike. And these weren’t poor kids. Why bike when you can game with your friends from home? That was the logic.
@@KevCentral Wow, that's crazy and sad. Maybe it's due to the fact that when I was a kid my parents were of the generation that experienced the bicycle boom of the 70s when they were college aged, whereas kids now have parents from a decade later once it died down? Still, I see a lot of kids doing "ride outs" on 29" BMX bikes; it's not really a family activity, but it's kids riding bikes and kids in urban areas that traditionally weren't into cycling.
I believe that's true the decline of cycling among kids. I have a little baby now and we're already riding with her in the baby seat, even in winter. But on the other hand I think more adults than ever are riding, at least it seems so.
What tool did you use on the freewheel? I've got a 26 inch women's bike with TD1 system and only 40 miles, but something is not well in the bearings. I'm new to bikes and only figured out my old Falcon system a few months ago. Oh, and thank you for the pedal idea, I wore out the cheap Magna MTB pedals and have no idea what ones would make decent replacements for a commuter.
My idea of a cheap budget bike would be rigid forks, a freehub on the rear, semi-slick tyres, basic cassette 12-32 and a single smallish front single chainring maybe 42T. That would save a lot of money on the weak suspension forks, front derailluer, front shifter, triple chainring to pay for the freehub rear wheel. I'd keep to the 26" wheels although if possible have double wall rims on the rear only. It would still be heavy and maybe a bit harder going up hills but would be strong and reliable and a good workhorse bike. It's not just about that front suspension being heavy and not needed but it could be very dangerous too if it fails in traffic etc.
What a great video. 59$ wth!!! I just ordered a basic sram shifter for my son's bike to replace grip shifter and it cost half of that bike. I think as you said this bike at this price serves its purpose. To get people out. I still can't figure out how they can put a bike together and make profit at that price.
You keep making great videos man! I hope to be that smooth on my videos one day. I am planning on doing a family biking while camping video and will reference your channel for people to get back into riding together!
Hmmm, after having two bikes stolen while parked at work, this could be a good choice for simple commutes. I wonder if a women's bike is less desirable for bike thieves? But at $59 it is less than a monthly bus pass to get to work.
@@BruceChastain Ride and dump bikes are the unlocked or weakly locked bikes. Cutting through U-locks with a grinder in a public place is a job for a bike that has immediate perceived cash value. I've had two bikes that look like decent mountain bikes (they weren't) stolen that way. I now make sure my bike is the ugliest on any rack now. A women's bike might have less perceived value? I dunno but I might go that route if my current ride goes AWOL.
@@newttella1043 Do I presume correctly that you work in a large city? I have a relative in Baltimore (a crime-heavy section, to boot). I'd love to get her a bicycle, as (similar to Kev's sister) she hasn't ridden since she was a teenager; plus she currently has no other means of independent transportation. I'm guessing however that it wouldn't last long in her particular neighborhood. :\
@@ThatClassic70sGirl I work in both a large city and do contract work in a small city, but that small city has a crazy opioid crisis and bike thefts and car prowlings are higher there than anywhere I've lived. I would always assume that a nice bike will get stolen. My strategy has been to buy old used bikes and cover them in stickers or spray paint over any brand name. Get the best U lock that I can afford, a $75-$80 ABUS. Then, most importantly, lock it next to a nicer bike that is using a crappy cable lock. The thief will have a choice, either my crappy bike that is hard to steal, or the nice bike that is easy to steal. At $59 the Walmart bike sounds half decent to maintain and ride and won't make me cry if it disappears. Give these tips to your friend and I hope she ends up loving the bike ride into work as much as I do and meet others that ride because we want to.
Newt Tella That happened to me too! 2 bikes stolen! My boss gave me a cruiser her brother (a sport cyclist) was not using and that he was looking to whom give it away, and she let me keep it inside our office at work. The private security at the place told me they do not watch the bike racks.
I have one for my wife as a city ride bike. It was free but new now after 3 months. Brake levers flex. The forks wiggle and fork rubber seal slides away. The back wheel started to wiggle. And beware of the cables. Water explode the cable and freezes it to the hose now I tightened up back wheel and tried my best at the fork. But however for just a warm and dry place it might be just a bike to be a short ride to the store. I'm not bad mouthing the bike. Maybe just a bad bike I got. I did get a new one. And this one is still going.
Anytime. I dig what ya do I like seeing the budget bikes because I deal with them a lot. I get free bikes if they need fixed I fix them then donate them to kids or adults. I've seen a lot. Of misguided bikes.
Thanks for the video, Kev. I was wondering if you could recommend a comfortable female or unisex saddle that is moderately priced, in case I might want to buy one of these bikes and just change out the saddle right off the bat?
Hello there. I have an opportunity to purchase this same bike that you bought your sister; I'm only 5'2", will be bike be too tall for me? I had this problem with the last bike I got, it was way too large. Thank you.
I started riding a bike again after 12yrs... out of necessity. I had no other form of transportation, not having much money I bought a big box Schwinn. It lasted 2yrs until I got hit by a car. I replaced it with another Schwinn which got hit by another car. Having little $ I bought a Hyper bike it fell apart after 1 yr of daily use. I now have a much more expensive LBS specialized bike which I love! Granted it's good to get back into riding it connects you to your community and neighbors. I just wish I had started with a better bike in the first place. I enjoy biking more now than ever before! 😁
Question: On the cheapest bikes (Say,, Under$100) Do you think the quill stem is better (More robust and secure) then the cheap components in a threadless setup?
Back in the day I didn't care if it was made for a dog I rode it anyways...I got one in off facebook market for $20 I know how to repair bikes so I renewed the bike made it faster smoother and our 14 yr young man loves it ...I like the low frame that will help him recover a fall quickly as I rode dozens of bikes all used for doing tricks. It was just something we got for him last minute til we buy him a bigger one and new. It's a very good bike for the money. I'd buy it new but now we can save to get him alittle smoother quality.
I recently bought a gt ricochet from dsg and I literally did everything including flipping the stem because it was upside down and the bottom bracket was loose, the couldn’t set the derailleurs for anything and the brakes were hands down terrible
I’d like to see a test of the Schwinn Ascension, it’s $300 at Target and has a shimano Tourney derailleur, a threadless headset, a decent zoom fork, and a lifetime aluminum frame. It’s also a 29er.
got this cheap bike for fun occasional rides...but the seat is like riding on a concrete block...just ordered another seat....hope this helps me ride longer with more enjoyment
Love the cheap bike videos! I completely agree with wanting to set up my own big box bikes instead of receiving it prebuilt. It just takes the error factor out from someone who doesn't care as much as I do.
For 16 months I've had the menswear section it is a secondary bike and it's used very lightly and very well pampered I've replace the seat I've got some aluminum blue brake levers that I will install over the winter months it's had one brake adjustment in the front only Ivory place to see when my KHS receives some new pedals those old pedals will go on the granite peak my only real gripe about the bike is the shifters are slow I don't really plan to upgrade this much I think it will have a long and pampered life due to the fact that it's only a second bike I used to swim my primary bikes are down without waiting for its and that is the case as far as looks at gets a lot of compliments and I do think it looks sharp for a inexpensive bike
Bicycle thieves are the lowest of the low, IMO. They're like the creeps who kidnap other people's pets: there's so many pets out there homeless and available for adoption (or even on the streets), you'd think they could get one of their own. :\
I would recommend anyone with a cheap bike like this to change out the knoby tires for a pair of a slick tires. I have an old clunker MTB I got from a big box store many years ago and replaced the old tires with a pair of Kenda City slick tires recently. The ride quality is amazing for cruising around the neighborhood and parks. I highly recommend you check out slick tires for budget bikes. Happy New year!
Yea I read sheldon brown's mini rant about it and it makes sense - slicks for concrete all the way. Even potholey, unmaintained asphalt - that just needs bigger, tougher tires, not knobbier ones!
I agree in general but if you're buying a $59 bike I guess you're not going to want to spend another $30 or so on new tires. And truthfully the knobies will work fine too. But when they're worn out, for sure get something smooth, maybe 1.8" wide or whatever.
@Bruce Depends on how you view it. Changing tire types can give a definite and noticeable improvement in ride quality and potential longevity - cheap soft knobbies are significantly less stable on pavement, and you want a bike like this to crash as few times as possible. The other major "upgrade" to a bike like this is a proper setup - professional or DIY - to remove debris from manufactuing and properly grease all the bearings. Either way, the sticker price on a bike is never the full cost and imo risking rim or spoke bending is worse off than an easy replacement with some quality tires.
@@Aubreykun definitely agree. My mtb is 17 yrs old and it had and old pair of Maxxis Skelter tires (26'X2.4). The bike is not trail worthy by today's standards and there's no point in upgrading any major components either. So rather than throwing it away I decided to give it a tune up by adjusting the brakes, derailer, crankset, lube, and a good wash. With the addition the Kenda slicks this bike is brought back to life! Tires really do make a difference in the ride quality of anything on wheels. For those with a mtb that is not really meant to be shredding trails, a $40 pair of slicks is a great investment.
I don’t make recommendations, I can only share my experiences and opinions. In my opinion, if money isn’t a factor then it adds a bit more promise to the ownership experience
Hello Kev, I came across your channel when trying to get in to trail biking with my wife. And I wanted to thank you for all your videos, they helped a lot. Yet I am still looking to buy two bikes for me and my wife and I came across WHIRL WIND 26” Geneses Women Bike at Walmart that I really liked for my wife. It cost 148$ but I can’t find any dissent review on it. I wanted to ask your help in this choice. And if you already had this bike tested, can you please send me the link so I can view it before purchasing. Thank you once again))!! You are grate))!
Hey Kev, you mentioned in one of your older videos that Nishiki Colorado might be tubeless ready as some of your viewers mentioned... Any way to confirm this? Another great video and still patiently waiting for the stories 🙂
It’s not tubeless ready. There are a few people that have commented that they were able to make it tubeless with the factory wheels and tires, but it wouldn’t be a proper (and potentially dangerous) setup, IMO.
i have the trek marlin 6. the 6 at least is a good bike, lots of fun. can't say anything about the 5 though. don't think i even saw one at my bike shop.
Be careful with the quillstem. I got a roadmaster around 2011 and the quillstem stripped out while I was riding and my brake lever went right into my leg and I have a bone contusion cause of it. When I took it to my bike shop, they said that the bike was all bent from the crash. The metal in the quillstem turned into dust and metal peices. That was common with roadmaster quillstems, from what they said. The rest of the bike is good for a cheap bike.
Another great video, Kev! How do you get notified about flash sales? I couldn't find anything on the Walmart website. I have registered on the site and signed up for all the marketing stuff, but there is no option for flash sale notification. P.S. I am still watching the Hyper Carbon X, but they have raised the price again to $419.00. I would love to get it on sale.
Cheap bikes aren't bad, you just need to know how to choose the good ones. And if you're limiting your budget to $60 or so, avoid suspension forks and multi-speed. A single speed bike with a rigid fork will give you a much better service and won't cause you trouble if you keep it clean, lube the chain once in a while and keep the tires well inflated. But you probably want a better saddle, better grips and smooth tires to really enjoy it. I upgraded a really cheap bike with good components and I actually really liked, specially the aluminum brake levers (originals were plastic) and aluminum brakes. I still wonder why budget retailers haven't realized what most people would be happy with.
Great review as always Kev! I suspect the twist shifters are less of an issue on a women's bike than a men's one. This is mostly due to women having smaller hands than men, making it less likely to accidentally shift. Additionally, I'm always surprised that the step through design is considered a woman's frame. It seems like that style is way more practical for commuting, regardless of gender, due to the ease of getting on and off the bike.
There are a lot of people around my city that get oddly offended when I ride the Sladda or when they see a guy on a bike that doesn’t have a flat top tube (like the Trek Dual Sport.) They go on a rant about how it’s a plot to weaken men by making us ride women’s bikes. Sadly, I’m not kidding.
@@KevCentral That must be why the Sladda was recalled. Enough people in your town realized that by riding a bike with a diagonal top tube rather than a flat one, Ikea was trying to destroy masculinity.
that's interesting Kev, I've actually heard people get slightly annoyed when someone calls a step through frame a womans bike. I do occasionally ride my wife's step through frame city bike to get groceries, it is nice when the bike is loaded with food to not have to do a ninja kick to get on and off.
You should be a consumer reporter on a major network. Your videos are entertaining and very informative 😀
I still don't agree with the industry that they need suspension forks on these types of bikes, they could save money, weight, and improve the looks with just a rigid steel fork.
There's an astonishing number of people who *want* a suspension because they seem to think the ride will be too harsh otherwise - dispite the cushy saddle, wide tyres, and the fact that they usually don't exactly ride that far. Meaning, I completely agree a rigid fork would be a much better idea, but it's possible it might put people off the bike.
yea I sort of thought that too, but maybe that's just a matter of marketing. Actually that reminds me of a friend who bought a bike of this caliber for riding 5 minutes to work and back. He bought a $100 or so fully suspension "MTB" for that very reason, he said he likes a soft ride...
@@BruceChastain Yeah that's exactly the type of person I was thinking about! I feel like the people who know better / feel differently are not necessarily the ones interested in $100 Walmart bikes, so maybe it's just a case of them knowing their clientele.
I'm pretty sure those cheap suspension forks cost like 50 cents more than their rigid counterparts... Cheapest ones I managed to find from Ebay with fast search were around 6 dollars. Otherwise I agree.
that might be because after $6, they're not going to sell any fork for $3, there's no where else to go. But I'll bet in China when they mass produce these, the steel rigid fork would be a good bit less to source. but wow a $6 fork? I'm cheap as hell but even I can't see ever buying a $6 spring fork.
Even though I'm 100% positive I'm not going to buy a women's Roadmaster 😂, I'm more than happy to watch another KevCentral video! Keep it up man!
I have a sort of big box bike too. When it was given to me i said if the frame fails ill get a better bike. 9 years later its still going strong this thing just wont die. Lol
Next video "I took my sister down a double black diamond trail GONE WRONG" 😂
🤔
@@KevCentral considering that suggestion? 😅😃😀🤔🤨😐
WHAT? YOU'RE CONSIDERING IT!!
If so, take her to a pro line/rated trail. :) Love your vids
Do it @@KevCentral
100 likes on this comment and he should do it
Follow-up please!!! I am buying this for my mother, later this year - I plan on upgrading her gearing, though!
I use to have the men's one and loved it I as the woman at the bike shop sed severely overbuilt it then it got stolen I miss my bike and this video brought back good memories thank you
My wife just started riding. I am so happy she is wanting to ride with me. I'm not taking her on the trails we are doing urban riding. It makes her more comfortable and she is enjoying it. Happy to see your sister riding again. Hope she sticks with it.
I used to go to college riding a cheap bike from Sears, and it was a good experience. I did not to ride on massive hills, but it kept me healthy.
There is no need for a boutique bike, or an expensive entry level trek, scott, diamondback, Cannondale, GT, Santa Cruz, Rocky Mountain, Giant, among others, to have fun and other fitness purposes. If you have a kind of limitless budget, there is no problem to buy a famous brand with quality components. I just advice getting and riding a bike wether you have money or not so much. It is a good excersise.
One thing I'd like to add: The ladies' Roadmaster Granite Peak 26" (see time-index 1:19) is recommended for riders 5' 2" to 5' 10". I am 5' 2"; and when I tried it out in the store (with the seat at its lowest setting), I could _barrreeely_ reach the sales floor with the tiptoes of my riding sneakers-and that not firmly. :( As I felt uncomfortable, and didn't want to have to remove the reflector mounting bracket on the seat tube (not that you could easily do that in-store), I decided to go for the smaller 24" Roadmaster.
Although the 24" Roadmaster is rated for riders up to 5'6", I don't think that's accurate. I've got the seat tube on mine extended up to max-and there's not much vertical adjustment in the handlebars to match. So as a result I'm pitched too far forward on the bike (or I feel that I am, anyway), where the majority of the weight of my upper body is resting on my wrists and the bike's handlebars. I couldn't give traffic a hand-signal if my life depended on it. :(
While I didn't expect to ride in my favorite super-comfy upright position like on a hybrid or cruiser, neither did I envision I'd be training for the Tour de France. :( The flat bars aren't my favorite for more than one reason, but this tops the list. I measured the seat tube on the 24" bike, and it's only like 13". I can't imagine how anyone 5-foot-6 could ever ride that bike.
Might anyone have some suggestions on how to fix this? Anyway, the point I'm making here is that there doesn't seem to be much overlap in the sizing between the 24" and 26" Roadmaster bike frames; and those of us ladies who are somewhat height-challenged might find ourselves in an awkward position--no pun intended.
Like these readily available bikes. It would be cool to take a Walmart frame and build a bike out of your parts bin. Those small bikes handle surprisingly well on jump tracks and the narrow handlebars get through pretty tight trails.
Check out my Schwinn Cutback videos
I do that a lot, actually. I enjoy building something up out of a cheap or used bike, because then, I'm not as pissed off if it gets crashed or stolen.
That's a true value for money bike right there... And very thoughtful of you to gift your sister a bike 👌
Looks like an OK bike for $59. Seems like some smoother tires, a rigid fork, and a more comfortable saddle would make this a better deal though.
And there you have it! Walmart bikes aren't for everyone, but they're there for some people. Thanks to you and Walmart your sister is riding again. Nice job Kev.
Ok I'm 97% sure I'm probably gonna buy this bike. I'm 61 and haven't ridden in probably 5 years. I have a public trail near me that I should be taking advantage of. Thanks this was a great video!!
Wow.. good riding after 20 years! This just made me realise... when I got my bike last year, that's the same amount of time since I'd ridden. Took me a solid week, actually two weeks, of secretly practising in the dark at 4AM so no one could see my utter fails before I could even get off the lowest of gears. Kudos!
She did great.
I think these days it's common for us to ride as kids and teens and then take a long time off, and then at some point get back into it. I stopped at 15 and started again at 32 years old.
@@BruceChastain I stopped (as a teenager) mainly because I got my first car and then moved back to a rural area of the county from the small town where my Dad and I used to rent an apartment. From about 1985 to 1992, (when mountain or hybrid bikes weren't near as ubiquitous as they are now), we lived in a place along a soft sandy dirt road connected to a very busy highway (35 - 45 mph) with virtually no shoulder (much less a bike lane) along an incline. It's kind of discouraging when you have to constantly lug (and I do mean "lug") your bicycle to and back from where it's actually safe to ride, every single time you feel like going riding. :(
Can you explain how to use twist shifters to me? I just picked up a men's Roadmaster today from a friend. No instructions and when I got it out of my pickup, it would only move a couple of inches either way and then it would lock down as if the brakes were fully engaged. It would not move without doing this and the brakes are by no means locked down at all. I feel pretty dumb in not being able to readily identify what the issue actually is to resolve it. I hate to have to take it to a bike shop in order to find out, but I can't seem to find anything on youtube regarding this issue and actually how to use these twist shifters at all. You never really mentioned them in your other video. Can you offer any suggestions as to what I must be doing wrong? Thanks.
That's an amazing price for that bike! I 2nd your thoughts on family bike rides. They are a lot of fun and make good memories. And thanks for a couple of good laughs! Always welcome.
Good for her. I bought a BCA SC29 bike from Walmart almost a month ago. It was a return from a previous customer. Not sure why it was returned but I haven't had any issues with it. I work at walmart so with my discount i only paid 88 dollars and change. it's been 10 years for me since riding a bike. I'm having fun with. Been on a few trails with it and it handles pretty good.
I watch these not because I'm willing to buy a big box bike - I already have two bikes, one of which is my pride and joy and the other one collects dust out back. Most other guys and girls reviewing these usually say they are really bad because they're comparing them to a bike that costs as much as a decent second hand car, so naturally it's going to look bad against a purpose built machine.
You, on the other hand, review these from the perspective of someone who is actually willing to buy these things. Like you said a while ago, people do buy these bikes and they do so not knowing what they're getting in to or what constitutes a good budget bicycle. So kudos and keep riding!
I have a $550 Giant Talon 3 and its my pride and joy, and a $30 Sears bike that I got at goodwill with a bent frame 😎
I just picked up a men's Roadisaster Granite Peak to get back into mountain biking. Yes, I'm going to take it on some light trails. After inspecting it, the first thing I did was completely disassemble and grease every bearing. The front wheel had some grease, the bottom bracket had none, and the rear wheel had traces. I bought some better pedals instead of trying to service those bearings. I added six rubber grommets stacked inside of each coil spring in the lower fork tubes in order to increase the stiffness to near rigid fork levels (BTW, it takes a 6 mm hex key to get to the bolts through the tops of the fork). I also went for a better saddle and some solid metal brake lever assemblies. That's when I realized it didn't have bottle cage mounts, so I had to buy a clamp type mount. Now I'm ready to hit the trails and stark breaking stuff! Hopefully just the bike, and not my body.
I wouldn't recommend one of these super cheap bikes to anyone who is not handy with a wrench, or good friends with a bike mechanic. Things are going to break. I do this because I'm a mechanic and I fix things. I basically wanted a regular steel frame mtb for some light trail riding; I want a good workout, not a race winner. I have no need for a lightweight frame, disc brakes, or fancy suspension. The threaded/quill stem does not turn me off because I consider it to be very serviceable. I will upgrade cheap components as they break. I think the frame itself is worth the money, even if is based around old tech.
Wow. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks for the well made and informative videos. I watched a ton of them before settling for the Granite Peak. @@KevCentral
Kev, could you do a video on how to shift gears correctly? I'm in the same position as your sister. I just got into biking after a loooong pause. I owe your channel many thanks for helping me transition back. I feel like my riding experience suffers because I don't know what gear I should be in and when.
What little I know is, take it one gear transition at a time. Continue pedaling (but not accelerating, to reduce torque force) throughout the gear change; and avoid cross-chaining.
@@ThatClassic70sGirl wow, thank you! this is very helpful
I am impressed at how it is for its price, hope she continues riding
My sister bought one when she first went to college. Not a bad bike for just getting back and forth to classes. It's a bike you won't cry over if someone cuts your locks and steal it or leave outside because you're not allowed to leave it in your dorm.
It looks like alot of bike for the price. Even though we may not be fans of those big squishy saddles, they're great to keep new riders riding. In my experience, it takes at least a season of riding to get used to a proper mtb saddle. How are those tires though? The shininess makes me think they're super hard. Another swap I've done on friends and families bikes is throw a softer, low resistance tire on like a Kenda Kwick. New/infrequent riders are much more confident when they are rolling smooth and straight.
Standard cheap - wear out quickly tires usually on lower priced bikes l.
Thanks for the video as always. I bought my wife this same bike to get her into cycling. Once she enjoyed cycling we upgraded to a del sol bike. This is a perfect bike to just try cycling on a small budget
Agreed. Funny you mentioned a Del Sol. In my local area the other day, some lady advertised on Craigslist that her customized Del Sol had been stolen. I'd never heard of that particular make before this.
@@ThatClassic70sGirl so far it has been reliable with no issues
I borrow one of these from my sister for mountain biking in Park City. $Free.99. Replaced the grips, and glued the brake lever I broke, let me tell you: you CAN hit the trails on these! Great for getting the skills necessary, without beating up a $1000 bike. I’m looking at used bikes for a replacement, but until then, this is the best value bike I’ve ever ridden! Can’t complain!
I would like to see it after 1000 miles and how many repairs/replacements done
I would be shocked to see it last one century ride.
@@jacquelinewaters9558 A century ride? Better have lots of Aleve/Advil on hand....
So... The day after you did the piece on the granite peak I went to my Wally's and the price was 89 guess it works with the piece you did on prices climbing. Interesting. thanks for the videos.
Such a wholesome video, thank you!
On a recent trip to the US i had the ‘ pleasure’ of riding the Mens version of this bike. I covered 160 miles over two weeks. I admit that initially i hated it. The thing weighed at least twice if not more than my Soecialized chisel and rattled its way along the bike trails. But i got used to it and actually accepted its flaws and just got on with riding it. I left the bike with fond memories as i as without it i would have not be able to explore all the areas i did. Taking it off road is a gamble but on the road and bike paths its just fine. Just accept its a heavy MTB with not great gears and you’ll have fun.
Accept the pain.
My wife has been riding a pacific Walmart MTB for over 10 years. Minor adjustments and new tires this year are all it has ever needed. She loves it. I agree, it has been a perfect bike for her. The best $49.99 I have ever spent.
wow that's amazing it's been going for so long, that's great. any idea how many kilometers she puts on a year?
@@BruceChastain Probably 400-500 miles. She works 40-50 hours a week, not much time or energy.
If they can't get forks on right half the time, I would not expect tires in the right direction. Last week our Walmart had all the Rear stickers on the forks facing forwards.
Quality first!
but at the end of the day probably would have rode file with the backward tire.
great video kevcentral, a few years ago i needed a new bike because i cracked the hub on my old bike i think it was a mongoose hatchet and i went to walmart and bought a genesis V2100 and it worked well the fork had problems then a few years later i start doing stuff it was not made for and broke the rear axle and then one of my neighbors was throwing away there specialized rockhopper and i got the bike free and i love the bike and it worked for some of the more crazy stuff i do on a mountain bike and now im building a 2008 iron horse mkIII and brand x ht01 and i look back and think about when i started mountain biking and it all started with that walmart bike
Greatly looking forward to more reviews of budget women's bikes. Most videos on youtube about women's frames focus on the $1500+ price range, and often far above that.
Bought my daughter this bike. Can confirm seat is like riding on a 2x4 ouch!
Ditto. When I got mine (in early/mid-December online for $59), that was the first thing I replaced! :)
I just bought a replacement ....love the cheap bike for occasional rides....but seat was Awful...hope the new one helps me to ride further
Who says that family bike rides don't happen that much anymore? I rode with my parents growing up and now when I go home to visit them on holidays I always try to ride with them as well. I went from a Burley trailer, to a trail-a-bike, to my own bike.
Bikes aren’t as popular with kids as they used to be. At the local bike shop there was a scout troop visiting and the shop owner was shocked when he asked how many of them knew how to ride a bike. I can’t remember the exact number, but something like half of them had never ridden and didn’t own a bike. And these weren’t poor kids. Why bike when you can game with your friends from home? That was the logic.
@@KevCentral Wow, that's crazy and sad. Maybe it's due to the fact that when I was a kid my parents were of the generation that experienced the bicycle boom of the 70s when they were college aged, whereas kids now have parents from a decade later once it died down? Still, I see a lot of kids doing "ride outs" on 29" BMX bikes; it's not really a family activity, but it's kids riding bikes and kids in urban areas that traditionally weren't into cycling.
I believe that's true the decline of cycling among kids. I have a little baby now and we're already riding with her in the baby seat, even in winter. But on the other hand I think more adults than ever are riding, at least it seems so.
You buy a Trek Roscoe yet?
Good video. My wife has a granite peak and it does just fine on rides through the neighborhood.
Nah. That will likely be a while
24" Women's GP here. The welds are really nice.
Another great video! I’m counting the days until I can ride again.
Another great video by Central. Keep doin what you're doin. : )
What tool did you use on the freewheel? I've got a 26 inch women's bike with TD1 system and only 40 miles, but something is not well in the bearings. I'm new to bikes and only figured out my old Falcon system a few months ago.
Oh, and thank you for the pedal idea, I wore out the cheap Magna MTB pedals and have no idea what ones would make decent replacements for a commuter.
My idea of a cheap budget bike would be rigid forks, a freehub on the rear, semi-slick tyres, basic cassette 12-32 and a single smallish front single chainring maybe 42T. That would save a lot of money on the weak suspension forks, front derailluer, front shifter, triple chainring to pay for the freehub rear wheel. I'd keep to the 26" wheels although if possible have double wall rims on the rear only. It would still be heavy and maybe a bit harder going up hills but would be strong and reliable and a good workhorse bike. It's not just about that front suspension being heavy and not needed but it could be very dangerous too if it fails in traffic etc.
New bike rider here. Can you please explain the TD one shifters and how to use the gears. I'm lost
What a great video. 59$ wth!!! I just ordered a basic sram shifter for my son's bike to replace grip shifter and it cost half of that bike. I think as you said this bike at this price serves its purpose. To get people out. I still can't figure out how they can put a bike together and make profit at that price.
You keep making great videos man! I hope to be that smooth on my videos one day. I am planning on doing a family biking while camping video and will reference your channel for people to get back into riding together!
Nice review kev. Great idea to review wsd bikes! Looking forward to your next vid
Hmmm, after having two bikes stolen while parked at work, this could be a good choice for simple commutes. I wonder if a women's bike is less desirable for bike thieves? But at $59 it is less than a monthly bus pass to get to work.
I bet a womans type frame like this wood indeed be a bit less desirable for some thieves. But others just want to ride for a bit and dump.
@@BruceChastain Ride and dump bikes are the unlocked or weakly locked bikes. Cutting through U-locks with a grinder in a public place is a job for a bike that has immediate perceived cash value. I've had two bikes that look like decent mountain bikes (they weren't) stolen that way. I now make sure my bike is the ugliest on any rack now. A women's bike might have less perceived value? I dunno but I might go that route if my current ride goes AWOL.
@@newttella1043 Do I presume correctly that you work in a large city? I have a relative in Baltimore (a crime-heavy section, to boot). I'd love to get her a bicycle, as (similar to Kev's sister) she hasn't ridden since she was a teenager; plus she currently has no other means of independent transportation. I'm guessing however that it wouldn't last long in her particular neighborhood. :\
@@ThatClassic70sGirl I work in both a large city and do contract work in a small city, but that small city has a crazy opioid crisis and bike thefts and car prowlings are higher there than anywhere I've lived. I would always assume that a nice bike will get stolen. My strategy has been to buy old used bikes and cover them in stickers or spray paint over any brand name. Get the best U lock that I can afford, a $75-$80 ABUS. Then, most importantly, lock it next to a nicer bike that is using a crappy cable lock. The thief will have a choice, either my crappy bike that is hard to steal, or the nice bike that is easy to steal. At $59 the Walmart bike sounds half decent to maintain and ride and won't make me cry if it disappears. Give these tips to your friend and I hope she ends up loving the bike ride into work as much as I do and meet others that ride because we want to.
Newt Tella That happened to me too! 2 bikes stolen! My boss gave me a cruiser her brother (a sport cyclist) was not using and that he was looking to whom give it away, and she let me keep it inside our office at work.
The private security at the place told me they do not watch the bike racks.
Hi kev, love your videos
I have one for my wife as a city ride bike. It was free but new now after 3 months. Brake levers flex. The forks wiggle and fork rubber seal slides away. The back wheel started to wiggle. And beware of the cables. Water explode the cable and freezes it to the hose now I tightened up back wheel and tried my best at the fork. But however for just a warm and dry place it might be just a bike to be a short ride to the store. I'm not bad mouthing the bike. Maybe just a bad bike I got. I did get a new one. And this one is still going.
Thanks for commenting.
Anytime. I dig what ya do I like seeing the budget bikes because I deal with them a lot. I get free bikes if they need fixed I fix them then donate them to kids or adults. I've seen a lot. Of misguided bikes.
Bought a similar bike, threw some different brake levers and added some lock grips...like it so far
I just bought this bike from Walmart. Great review!
59 dollar ride and happy, healthy family... priceless
A happy healthy family is worth more than all the money printed in the US
You just can't beat happiness.
the best bicycle youtuber thx kev
Great review! Where did you get ~your~ front basket? Love the larger cargo options.
Thanks. The rack is from Priority Bicycles. It’s their Porteur front rack.
I'm truly amazed that a bike can be made and sold at those prices !
i'm the only one in my family who regularly rides bike or for anything outdoor related.
Always good to have another person riding.
Great review! 👍
Not everyone wants to spend $1000's on a bike.
Thanks for the video, Kev. I was wondering if you could recommend a comfortable female or unisex saddle that is moderately priced, in case I might want to buy one of these bikes and just change out the saddle right off the bat?
Sorry. Don’t have any experience with female saddles.
Walmart's got some on sale ATM.
Hello there. I have an opportunity to purchase this same bike that you bought your sister; I'm only 5'2", will be bike be too tall for me? I had this problem with the last bike I got, it was way too large. Thank you.
I would love of you could review the se bikes like the blocks flyer, big ripper, so cal flyer, etc
Never heard of them
@@KevCentral ,really? I'm guessing it's because your a mountain bike kind of guy.
@@KevCentral their really well-known search them up their easy to find
I started riding a bike again after 12yrs... out of necessity. I had no other form of transportation, not having much money I bought a big box Schwinn. It lasted 2yrs until I got hit by a car. I replaced it with another Schwinn which got hit by another car. Having little $ I bought a Hyper bike it fell apart after 1 yr of daily use. I now have a much more expensive LBS specialized bike which I love! Granted it's good to get back into riding it connects you to your community and neighbors. I just wish I had started with a better bike in the first place. I enjoy biking more now than ever before! 😁
Thanks for sharing. Keep dodging those cars!
Congrats to Sis... The seatpost might go up a bit, and Walmart sells Schwinn saddles... I can't believe I watched a review of a Roadmaster bike
Question: On the cheapest bikes (Say,, Under$100) Do you think the quill stem is better (More robust and secure) then the cheap components in a threadless setup?
I don’t think it really matters unless you want to start upgrading parts.
Back in the day I didn't care if it was made for a dog I rode it anyways...I got one in off facebook market for $20 I know how to repair bikes so I renewed the bike made it faster smoother and our 14 yr young man loves it ...I like the low frame that will help him recover a fall quickly as I rode dozens of bikes all used for doing tricks. It was just something we got for him last minute til we buy him a bigger one and new. It's a very good bike for the money. I'd buy it new but now we can save to get him alittle smoother quality.
I recently bought a gt ricochet from dsg and I literally did everything including flipping the stem because it was upside down and the bottom bracket was loose, the couldn’t set the derailleurs for anything and the brakes were hands down terrible
I dont see any real issue with the front tyre facing backwards, its how i always (maybe with some exceptions) fit my front tyres
Can the handlebars be adjusted?
How are you not popular yet dude your awesome!
I’d like to see a test of the Schwinn Ascension, it’s $300 at Target and has a shimano Tourney derailleur, a threadless headset, a decent zoom fork, and a lifetime aluminum frame. It’s also a 29er.
That’s the bike my local Target likes to assemble with the fork backwards.
Great video by the way, but are you going to put a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke in the cranbrook
I have a 2-stroke sitting in a box waiting to be installed.
@@KevCentral Cool, how much CC
Supposed to he ah 80, but most are significantly less. This one should be no exception.
Damn. I Gotta get back on my bike and ride with my friend around my neighbourhood
Could the seat be swapped out for a nicer one?
I just subscribed. When are you going to give us an update on all the generators?
I’ll likely post an update on my other channel: KevReviews
Maybe in Feb.
got this cheap bike for fun occasional rides...but the seat is like riding on a concrete block...just ordered another seat....hope this helps me ride longer with more enjoyment
Love the cheap bike videos! I completely agree with wanting to set up my own big box bikes instead of receiving it prebuilt. It just takes the error factor out from someone who doesn't care as much as I do.
For 16 months I've had the menswear section it is a secondary bike and it's used very lightly and very well pampered I've replace the seat I've got some aluminum blue brake levers that I will install over the winter months it's had one brake adjustment in the front only Ivory place to see when my KHS receives some new pedals those old pedals will go on the granite peak my only real gripe about the bike is the shifters are slow I don't really plan to upgrade this much I think it will have a long and pampered life due to the fact that it's only a second bike I used to swim my primary bikes are down without waiting for its and that is the case as far as looks at gets a lot of compliments and I do think it looks sharp for a inexpensive bike
I can’t go fast how do I handle the gears ???
My moms bike got stolen about a 2 years ago and we never make time to ride... thanks for reviewing this bike cause i might buy it if it goes for sale
Bicycle thieves are the lowest of the low, IMO. They're like the creeps who kidnap other people's pets: there's so many pets out there homeless and available for adoption (or even on the streets), you'd think they could get one of their own. :\
your neighbourhood looks very nice
Sister’s neighborhood, but thanks
Can you review the Schwinn Circuit? I've seen it at Target, looks fun to ride.
Maybe. If things go well this year I would like to add a few target bikes.
@@KevCentral Thank you Sir
I would recommend anyone with a cheap bike like this to change out the knoby tires for a pair of a slick tires. I have an old clunker MTB I got from a big box store many years ago and replaced the old tires with a pair of Kenda City slick tires recently. The ride quality is amazing for cruising around the neighborhood and parks. I highly recommend you check out slick tires for budget bikes. Happy New year!
Yea I read sheldon brown's mini rant about it and it makes sense - slicks for concrete all the way. Even potholey, unmaintained asphalt - that just needs bigger, tougher tires, not knobbier ones!
I agree in general but if you're buying a $59 bike I guess you're not going to want to spend another $30 or so on new tires. And truthfully the knobies will work fine too. But when they're worn out, for sure get something smooth, maybe 1.8" wide or whatever.
@Bruce
Depends on how you view it. Changing tire types can give a definite and noticeable improvement in ride quality and potential longevity - cheap soft knobbies are significantly less stable on pavement, and you want a bike like this to crash as few times as possible. The other major "upgrade" to a bike like this is a proper setup - professional or DIY - to remove debris from manufactuing and properly grease all the bearings.
Either way, the sticker price on a bike is never the full cost and imo risking rim or spoke bending is worse off than an easy replacement with some quality tires.
yeah for sure you can put good tires one it. I'm cheap so I'd ride the crap ones until their threads start showing.
@@Aubreykun definitely agree. My mtb is 17 yrs old and it had and old pair of Maxxis Skelter tires (26'X2.4). The bike is not trail worthy by today's standards and there's no point in upgrading any major components either. So rather than throwing it away I decided to give it a tune up by adjusting the brakes, derailer, crankset, lube, and a good wash. With the addition the Kenda slicks this bike is brought back to life! Tires really do make a difference in the ride quality of anything on wheels. For those with a mtb that is not really meant to be shredding trails, a $40 pair of slicks is a great investment.
Looks allot like the bike I found with a bent fork along the side of the trail this past summer.
Do you recommend the warranty, pricepoint being not a factor?
I don’t make recommendations, I can only share my experiences and opinions. In my opinion, if money isn’t a factor then it adds a bit more promise to the ownership experience
Hello Kev, I came across your channel when trying to get in to trail biking with my wife. And I wanted to thank you for all your videos, they helped a lot. Yet I am still looking to buy two bikes for me and my wife and I came across WHIRL WIND 26” Geneses Women Bike at Walmart that I really liked for my wife. It cost 148$ but I can’t find any dissent review on it. I wanted to ask your help in this choice. And if you already had this bike tested, can you please send me the link so I can view it before purchasing. Thank you once again))!! You are grate))!
I’m not familiar with that bike, but it has a rear rim brake and the usual parts. I wouldn’t take it into MTB trails. Bike paths should be fine.
Will you be willing to make a full review on it?
Hey Kev, you mentioned in one of your older videos that Nishiki Colorado might be tubeless ready as some of your viewers mentioned... Any way to confirm this? Another great video and still patiently waiting for the stories 🙂
It’s not tubeless ready. There are a few people that have commented that they were able to make it tubeless with the factory wheels and tires, but it wouldn’t be a proper (and potentially dangerous) setup, IMO.
About how much does this bike weigh. I need to lift it into a van or onto a carrier.
Oh and swap out the saddle to. Pick her up a nice serfas saddle. The more comfortable it is for her the more she is going to want to ride it.
Hello my height is 5'0 do you recommend me the 24 inches or 26 inches?
You should do a review on the trek marlin 5
i have the trek marlin 6. the 6 at least is a good bike, lots of fun. can't say anything about the 5 though. don't think i even saw one at my bike shop.
Ya they should be close right 🤷♂️
@@dirtroadwhatifs8816 yes, the number is a measurement of the quality of the components.
The Marlin 5 is a pretty nice bike for the money. With Hydro disc and the Marlin frame its sweet.
ive got a 2019 TREK marlin 5, its pretty decent. upgraded the crank set to a 1x7 and put manitou forks on it, and it does me well on the trails.
Be careful with the quillstem. I got a roadmaster around 2011 and the quillstem stripped out while I was riding and my brake lever went right into my leg and I have a bone contusion cause of it. When I took it to my bike shop, they said that the bike was all bent from the crash. The metal in the quillstem turned into dust and metal peices. That was common with roadmaster quillstems, from what they said. The rest of the bike is good for a cheap bike.
damn i run that chain on my 1k street bike
Any significant difference between this bike and the Granite Peak men's?
Other than the frame style and colors, no
Another great video, Kev! How do you get notified about flash sales? I couldn't find anything on the Walmart website. I have registered on the site and signed up for all the marketing stuff, but there is no option for flash sale notification. P.S. I am still watching the Hyper Carbon X, but they have raised the price again to $419.00. I would love to get it on sale.
I check daily. Since the first of the year I’ve seen increases on quite a few bikes. I suspect we’re finally seeing some effects from the tariffs.
@@KevCentral Thumbs up on your reply, but thumbs down on the price increase!
How much does it weight?
Cheap bikes aren't bad, you just need to know how to choose the good ones. And if you're limiting your budget to $60 or so, avoid suspension forks and multi-speed. A single speed bike with a rigid fork will give you a much better service and won't cause you trouble if you keep it clean, lube the chain once in a while and keep the tires well inflated. But you probably want a better saddle, better grips and smooth tires to really enjoy it. I upgraded a really cheap bike with good components and I actually really liked, specially the aluminum brake levers (originals were plastic) and aluminum brakes. I still wonder why budget retailers haven't realized what most people would be happy with.
Great review as always Kev! I suspect the twist shifters are less of an issue on a women's bike than a men's one. This is mostly due to women having smaller hands than men, making it less likely to accidentally shift. Additionally, I'm always surprised that the step through design is considered a woman's frame. It seems like that style is way more practical for commuting, regardless of gender, due to the ease of getting on and off the bike.
There are a lot of people around my city that get oddly offended when I ride the Sladda or when they see a guy on a bike that doesn’t have a flat top tube (like the Trek Dual Sport.) They go on a rant about how it’s a plot to weaken men by making us ride women’s bikes. Sadly, I’m not kidding.
@@KevCentral That must be why the Sladda was recalled. Enough people in your town realized that by riding a bike with a diagonal top tube rather than a flat one, Ikea was trying to destroy masculinity.
Lol.
that's interesting Kev, I've actually heard people get slightly annoyed when someone calls a step through frame a womans bike. I do occasionally ride my wife's step through frame city bike to get groceries, it is nice when the bike is loaded with food to not have to do a ninja kick to get on and off.
Wow, $59 for that bike. I have grips that cost more than that.
Lol, those are some nice grips!
How do grips get over $35? Lol
@@christiandruan You don't want to know and don't get me started. It's ridiculous.
do you change the pedals on your walmart bikes when you review them
All first reviews are with the bikes in their factory configuration. Parts are only changed in upgrade videos.