Just to be clear, yes this is a video of eight reasons NOT to buy this bike, but I could have also made a video of 20 reasons you SHOULD buy this bike! Obviously it's a decent bike for the money, but I think plenty of other youtubers have already covered that point.
Always good to see the 'why to not get this thing' from a youtuber that isn't snobbing about department store bikes. I mean... you're the guy that biked to the keys on a $99 single speed. you hack things together all the time. You aren't someone who made their bones off of 'yea I normally review nine hundred dollar fixies but for a laugh i'll ride this walmart bike and trash it before it's even out of the box.' Plus even though I happen to like tan walls you made fairly reasonable arguments on why not this bike if you can help it.
@@kajkobI've had my eye on this bike for a while and I found the video informative in that it provided a comprehensive articulation of the bike's limitations. I had my own list in advance, and his commentary validated my own and provided even more. I don't think it's contrarian - I found it helpful and informative.
Talking about resale value killed me. Oh no! you could probably lose 150 bucks!! How much does he think he'll lose when he tries to resell his $2500 bike?
@@BruceChastain And by 'these guys' they generally mean 'marketing' Take the buffalo bike. There are a couple places on it that need a specialty tool but most everything is wrenchable. Make it lighter. Maybe sell it without the rack or fenders or with off the shelf tires instead of specialty tires. There you go there is the low end to aim at. Give us That.
@@DjangoPorter about 9 or 10 months ago I got that co-op gravel bike, at the time I felt it was a bit heavy too, but now after riding it all this time it actually feels really light and quick. I've been riding my heavier MTB too, so I think you really just get used to whatever you have to a large extent.
The matte green paint and the gumwall tires are sexy IMO and the reason I bought this bike. It's a sub-30lb. bike with internal routing, lots of attachment points, for less than $270 OTD, what a steal. Everything else is upgradable for a minimal budget.
@gfxman14 ,yeah same for me ,I love the color and the tires…I’ve got about 100 miles on it and I like it more and more,When the cheap things break ,I’ll upgrade that part…until then I’m riding it as is….well I replaced pedals and added a riser and shorter stem , perfect for me now.
Fuck yeah!!!! Already put 350 miles on mine!!! So far it’s been great!!! I will be reoalceing the break pads soon and maybe getting some road type tires am lore of a road type of guy!!! It’s been a great bike!!!
Resale value?? It's not a $2500 bike, it's a $250 bike. Buy it, try it, save your receipt. If you don't like it, return it and get your full $250 back, no questions asked. That's resale value! I have 140 miles on mine in the past month and couldn't be happier. I don't think I'll be selling back to Walmart
This is a great bike for people that just need a bike or are wanting to try out cycling before spending a bunch of money. Personally, I'd buy this bike if I was on vacation without my bike and would just donate it to somewhere that helped the homeless or somewhere like that. It would be cheaper than renting a bike for multiple days at a bike shop and if it gets stolen then you weren't planning to keep it anyway.
Enjoy it for what it is and learn from it. I like my bike after changing the cogset. Wouldl ike to try something else but like... *handwaggle* all in due time.
Consider this: Back in 1986 my brother bought a new Schwinn World Sport. Schwinn was a bike shop brand back then, not a big box brand. The World Sport was their entry level drop bar bike. Nothing fancy, just a solid entry level bike. When you compare the 1986 World Sport and the 2024 G1 side by side, the World Sport has better cranks and chain rings, but that's it. The G1 has it beat in just about every other area. The World Sport cost 230 dollars in 1986, the G1 cost 250 dollars in 2024. Think about that for a minute
I have Marin Nicasio, Marin Argenta, and Triban RC120. And this bike. The quality of this bike is not inferior to any of those I've ridden. It's just as good. Identical quality. This $250 bike rides as good as any $500-1000 bike.
Having seen your videos on the Kent Ridgeland you modded until it was practically unrecognizable, i have a little trouble taking this video seriously. LOL
I was thinking about doing that, but really, I already have a similar bike and just in general already have enough bikes. On the other hand if o happen to see one pop up really cheap I might get it.
That was not a review, it’s just things you see before even touching the bike. Especially the rear hub having a freewheel instead of a freehub is a major limitation. I know, i had a cheap mountain bike with the same Tourney 7 speed and a freewheel. You basically need to change the wheel. And unless you find something used, a new wheel, tire, cassette and miscellaneous parts, it can come up to $200 😮 these are all things a beginner doesn’t normally know and it’s good that someone is pointing this out. On the other hand, there was another channel where someone repainted and rebuilt this bike with a Sensah 1by groupset, changed the wheels and so on, basically had a $900 bike for less than $700 or something like that. But he knew what he was getting into. That’s the point of this video, to be informed
@HNedel lack of knowledge is not the sellers problem, and it's not like Wal-Mart is internationally trying to hide this information, it's all posted on there website, it all public information, and he even shows it the this video. And the shimano tourney TZ 500 derailleur on this bike is ment to be paired with the shimano megarange TZ 500. And of course, if you make a custom wheel it's gonna be expensive. That can be with any bike. On the other hand it can be done in expensively. Old tech don't mean bad tech, and there are many freewheels that have good climbing gears. I do own the bike, iv personally put over 10,000+ miles on this bike, and I'm fixing to do the GDMBR race with it on the 14th.
@@Testbug-dy6tj yes, it’s not a sellers problem, i never said it was an neither did the video. It’s a buyer‘s problem and he is trying to inform the buyer. Even though the information is there, if you don’t know what it means, it’s not gonna help you. Ain’t nothing wrong with giving information to viewers I was not talking about building a wheel, I meant buying a whole new wheel, from a store.
No kidding especially a $248 bike. Take it for what its worth. A decent starter bike for those wanting to dab into gravel riding without breaking the bank. He had 8 reasons for not getting this bike and 5 were literally about cosmetic and weight. Worse part is he doesn't even own the bike to do a "review." It was all for clicks.
Well I've sold enough bikes to know it's just not really fun getting so little back, not a big deal for sure, but it's just the truth these bikes don't hold their value.
@@mikewarman315 It depends on the bike and the brand, but decent bikes will hold their value better then these walmart brands. To be fair the G1 isn't even that bad because at least it has a low starting price. But at the end of the day, a good model of a good brand will still have some value after 10 or 20 years, honestly these G1s likely won't even be around by that time. I'm not wanting it to be that way or anything, I'm not mad at the Ozark, it's just the way it currently is. At least as I see it.
Buying cheap bikes like this are awesome in their own right. Being hands on and wrenching on your own bike helps you learn more about the bike your riding. Everyone should tbh. I've bought some nice used bikes that were NOTHING but PROBLEMS/TRASH dumping hundreds more just to be rideable/safe because people like to hide problems with them on marketplace Trek, Specialized, BMC to name a few. Love this Ozark it does it's job and I'm not out much money and I worry less about losing this one. I'd recommend it just to get people outdoors and having fun exploring... This bike truly isn't that bad at all. I'd buy a cheap used donor bike from marketplace to part swap with this one. Have fun with any bike as long as your shit-cutter can fit on it.
It's $248.That's it,that's the big deal.A 1/4 of the price and you get to save,have a good time and get better.$248.$248.That's not $1,000 for "entry" level.
Haven’t had an issue since I purchased mine a month ago. Only thing I didn’t like was the fact that it was already assembled and I couldn’t do it myself. Other than that, everything was fine.
Have you tried the Ozark Trail Ridge MTB? If so, I want to know which bike is better for casual rider. More on paved roads n maybe some gravel. I'm looking to exchange the Ridge for the G1. Lmk
Hey. I have 3 bikes, one of which is the Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer. I say that as each is used for their own purpose. My hardtail is for XC (cross country), my full sus is for jumping and gnarly trail riding, and the Ozark Trail is for the paved and gravel trails (training and exercise.) If you’re going to do paved and gravel trails, get the gravel bike which is the Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer. I’ve put 75 miles on it. Only issue I had with it is the saddle. It’s awful. I bought one from Amazon (Charge Spoon) and swapped it out. MUCH BETTER. Mine was assembled, it was fine. Just walked it out the door. I have some experience with wrenching on mtbs, it was assembled fine. I just had to adjust the front derailleur to stop the chain rubbing. This guy is hitting a lot of fine points that are for people that are not the target market. This is an entry level gravel bike. I’m not putting any money into this bike as far as upgrades. It’s works just fine for $250. The stock saddle is awful though, that’s only thing I would said needs to be changed. Edit: The used market sucks in my area. People are selling their mtbs for MSRP or pieces of junk. If you don’t know bikes, I’d be hesitant to look in the used market.
What is the rear hub spacing on this bike? If it's 135mm, which I think it is, it will make upgrading wheels with more gears tougher. No one has stated the max clearance for tires. Can the wheelset be hacked to hold tubeless tires? I do like the quick release over thru axles for tire maintenance. I'm with you on the internal cable routing and they should of gone with the same 1x8 as their 29 inch wheeled mountain bike for simplicity. I do like the color, matte green, but matte anything looks good to me. The closest to this is the Poseiden X which is at least another $500, that I can think of.
yeah I believe it would be 135mm. I think you could go up to 11 speed with the right hub, might be wrong. I've seen one person post a photos of 50mm tires fit in, which is good because then that opens you up to some narrower MTB tires too
That's a awesome looking bike,,, its a beautiful color,,, nice and light,,, great wheel set,,, bullet proof gear-set thats very affordable too replace... take about a great price point for what you get on a bike that will take you around the world and last for 100's of years...
I appreciate the fair criticism. Just so the cons are understood. It is meant for a beginner/someone without $1000+ to spend. No difference than the Axum or ozark for mtb.
Oh yeah, you scored big with that Co-op. But you have to be patient and consistent in order to get those deals. I too wanted a nice used Miyata or Fuji, but at the end, I got tired and went with Walmart's Kent/Genesis Bohe, which is the same caliber as the G.1. At this point, people are getting the G.1 out of curiosity and it might achieve a cult following. Some people say they gonna keep it stock for as long as possible and some others are curious to see how maxed up they can get. Me I am curious to see how it might feel as small frames are so unusual for this types of bikes. In terms of cycling, $250 is nothing....there are helmets more expensive than that. There are outfit kits more expensive than that. The thing is that with such a "cheap" bike you don't mind putting a milk crate to carry stuff (groceries) on it and locking it at the local supermarket bike rack. You ride it for fun and for errands and are not worries about locking it up anywhere.
As a second hand advocate what new or used bike would you recommend for similar money to the G.1 that gets a tuneup (~$400) that everyone could grab regularly?
Unless you get lucky and buy a used gravel bike from a professional or semi-professional bike mechanic that has tuned it up, you can't. That's why this bike is causing 'waves'
that's a really fair question. I don't think there is anything better for new bikes for this kind of money at the moment. Personally I would go used, but then there is not single bike that stands out.
i don't have this bike but it is absolutely a fine bike for dirt roads or wherever, and especially for the price: aluminum rims, disc brakes, braze ons, and 14 speeds, and all steel ! you can't ask for more. go back in time to the 70s and 80s and compare those department store bikes, and this one is amazing. i had more fun dirt road riding on a department store bike than any one of my other top of the line bikes i had back then. if this walmart bike was transported back to the 80s it would be held in awe. i think in the creep of time since the 80s to now folks have lost perspective and have become spoiled.
I appreciate you bullet pointing the cons of the Ozark Trail bike, and I agree with your two conclusions (you can get a better used bike, but rly this one's ok). Thing is, some of your cons are really pros for most people. Like, a rigid steel fork, as opposed to what, carbon? I'll take steel, even hi ten, even though strength to weight is way suboptimal, adding many minutes onto my century rides. (That last part's a joke.) Steel is a virtue for the vast majority of utilitarian bike users, for several reasons. As for the seven speed cassette and shifter, that used to be a deal breaker for me, just because it signals an overall lower quality "department store bike." But rethinking it, maybe it's just the thing. Sure, it's proportionally heavier and clunkier and lower tech than a serious component group, but I'll bet it's robust and easy to clean and adjust, and parts are just everywhere, very cheap or free if you scrounge. The thing that would put me off this bike is if it had non standard parts or was assembled in such a way that you couldn't wrench on it. Like, the bottom bracket has gone crunchy, and oops, it's a weird proprietary size. That would suck.
yes I know about and like steel too, in fact I have a group ride today on a steel vintage road bike. But at the end of the day I don't want a heavy bike, I mean it depends on how you ride and where you ride I suppose. Actually know what would make me like it a lot more, is if it were all steel, even if it's just basic non-butted 4130, but with narrower tubes of course. Still also with the standard fitting components. As far as standard parts, the only problem I've seen so far is that no one sells a derailleur hanger. There is one that is almost the same, but does require some filing to get it to fit. That's just a indicator of what the manufacture really thinks about the bike, they assume when someone breaks it, they'll just throw it away. And in reality, that's probably is more common then not.
@@BruceChastain yeah if something as dumb as a derailleur hanger meant I had to trash the whole bike, I'd be angry. Most cheap things are designed to go straight to the landfill, and I hate that.
I generally agree with this video although I am ok with how it looks. I would only buy it if you can live with it as is otherwise find a better used bike. Once you spend another $200 to upgrade all kinds of nicer bikes used bikes are available. I have a retro gravel DIY build using a 7 speed 14-34 sunrace freewheel, about $22 on Amazon a couple months ago. One big problem is there is not a large size to fit me.
Lol there's a lot of things that you said that I have no clue what you mean... With the whole "1by," range, 2x and cassettes and stuff like that ... I'm just getting this for basic cardio exercise. The matte green is very clean tho but I hate the gum wall tires though... However, I'll just take them off and spray paint them black for a quick fix before they wear out and I get a new set of tires that are going to be black of course.
then get it and have fun! Although not sure I'd suggest spray painting the tires, you can probably get new tires for about $40 each, but I'd just live with the gum wall myself.
You have to check every fastener on the bike if you get one. lol My rear derailleur hanger had one of the screws totally backed out. Front derailleur needed to be straightened, adjusted, and the plastic spacer on the frame clamp wasn't installed properly. Rear derailleur also needed tuning. Front wheel needed to be trued and the caliper adjusted to stop rubbing. Left brifter would rotate on the bar, hard to get it any tighter. I definitely agree with the recommendation to buy used bikes over these.
thank you! good seeing you again Ferguson! As far as recommendation, to be honest I'm a second hand bike guy. On the new side the good stuff is too expensive and the cheap stuff isn't good.
@@BruceChastain oh ok , well I have my Trek 930 Singletrack but I was thinking about getting another bike , like I really need one , lol , but thanks for replying , I still can’t understand why you don’t have thousands of followers , I really enjoy your videos .
@@fergusonto-2032cause of pointless videos like this. He gave a horrible review on a budget bike that he hasnt seen, touched or rode. Then when asked whats a good entry alternative, hes unable to give any suggestions. Throw the video away 😂
@@Thereservist45 keep in Mind he’s just an amateur bike enthusiast & he makes that very clear , I just like bicycles so that’s why I enjoy his videos , each to his own .
In 1978 I bought a 29lb Nishiki Olympic 10 brand new for $200. It served me well over the years - more so than a few other bikes I've owned . So that fact that this bike bruised this guy's aura doesn't make a favorable impression regarding his expertise.
$275. This bike is alright. The real negative is the brakes. So far I have had it like 3 weeks. I ride it hard up the local mountain bike trails. I think I’m braking my left handed shifter. So I can’t give an opinion yet. But I’m riding this bike hard on everything. And it’s fun. If you’re a beginner, for safety purposes be careful on mountain bike trails. In AZ we don’t have flowing single track where I’m at. It’s all rocky trails with additional rock gardens. It’s fun, but I think I’m getting close to breaking the shifter. I hope I don’t.
Plus the shifting is really smooth. Incredible smooth. No chains popping off smooth. Get the bike, pay to get the brakes and shifter professionally adjusted. And go have fun!
I get how people say do not buy. Again. It’s a Walmart bike. Has budget parts. The bike snobs. Look down on it. Because it cheap. Nit picking a budget bike I own two of the Ozark gravel bike. Yes it heavy. But it’s a wal mart bike. For 248. It worth it. For someone who wants a gravel bike this can start them into the sport. Do you own one ? If not why quote on it. Ride the thing and see it. I own intense cycle bikes and more high end bikes. I understand the haters but do not knock it til you try it
Ok well you can buy a city bike from giant and it comes with a plastic bottom bracket at 800usd. And a fully plastic microshift drivetrain. Its a good thing tektro brakes happen to be both cheap and effective but the rest of the bike is getting deore asap
What everyone should have done is bought the first Revolt that came out like I did for $800. Has been trouble free and I wouldn't trade it in for the new $4000 Revolts if they paid me. Hydro brakes, same hub as the new ones. Everyone called me sucker but I'm laughing now. Since you brought up Giant I had to crow a little 😂. Yea, man if you are interested in gravel riding, go get a good one, I wouldn't even buy toothpaste from Walmart even if it meant going without brushing.
@@bloodycrepe no, way dude nobody who buys this bike is gonna invest 1k into upgrades.. I'll tell you why I would buy this bike, not because I can't afford a 1k bike ,or even a 600 buck bike USD it's because if I park my 1k or 600 USD bike on the street in my local city it's gonna get stolen or someone who knows about bikes sees me riding a higher end bike is gonna try to jack me up.. Bike jackings is very common where I live so if that happens I'm gonna have to throw hands or shoot the Jacker.. so yeah, in this day & age we can't be riding around with high tech bikes & high Tech E bikes that cost in the 1000's of dollars.. I would just buy this bike ,& maybe over time change out the breaks & that's about it .
@@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow I understand your position but I am not speaking for someone like you. Read over the budget bike forums. There are countless of people who buy them only to put over $1k in upgrades. At the end of the day, they are never happy with the results they get. These are the people this video is about. Not you.
He was reaching pretty hard to find valid things wrong with this bike. I guess if one is really worried about this bike holding up is get one of those two year protection plans. Of course you really can't do that for this bicycle because as you said it is out of stock. I checked.
I have one and so far have beat the snot out of it. The only issue i have are the brakes. They work but are loud. Other than that, you cant beat it for that price. Ots probably the best bike ever sold at walmart.
Read the pinned comment haters. Sheesh. Smh! Aye Bruce, I'd think it would be cool if you did buy it and upgrade it. Fresh paint, drivetrain and all. I don't have bike co-ops or swap meets near me. My location (Central Indiana) doesn't offer much as far as resale deals. I also found out most of these bikes, high end or low end, are owned by large Shareholders that use the same factories in Beijing. Especially in the outdoor space. But dude I think you of all TH-camrs could make a sick build out of this one!
There seems to be a lot of upside to this bike that has already been covered, always good to know what the downside is too. If $250 is all you have, this could be a great way to go but it is worth knowing what the limitations are. 👍
I think you might of by accident stumbled across a new series of videos. You reviewing Facebook marketplace bikes. I would watch a 10-15 min video of you doing this.
I agree on the used market but keep in mind that a newbie has no clue what they are looking at and it is very difficult for them to gauge a fair price. They need a lot of help. My buddy would have bought a foldable “mountain bike” from Amazon if I didn’t help him out. Lol
I don't see the point in downgrading a 2x to a 1x other than for less maintenance, the weight difference between the two is going to be hardly noticable if you even notice it at all, going with lighter wheels would be a lot more noticable than going from a 2x to a 1x chainring. I have rarely seen a well tuned front derailleur causing a chain to bind (proper derailleur height from the chainring, inner and outer limits properly set, the alignment set properly, and the shifter cable adjusted properly) unless everything is worn out. I've seen worn chain rings, worn chains, and even stretched cables, but rarely have i seen a front derailleur wear out unless the front derailleur is out of adjustment and chain is constantly rubbing against the guide. now if you have tens of thousands of miles on the bike i can see a chain wearing into the chain guide of the front derailleur, I've seen high milage bicycles before and the front derailleur is usually fine because they usually choose a single chainring to be in and remain on that ring for the majority of the miles. My bicycle has a 3x8 drivetrain (22/32/42, 11-34) and I wouldn't change the 3x out for a 1x for any reason.
Sorry, 248 plus 30 bucks for 3 year Wal Mart warranty to upgrade this however I want is way better than a used bike at the same price…😂Are non-hard core cyclists allowed to get exercise? You sound like an elitist….Its not about resale. Bikes ten times more expensive are not ten times better than this. Sorry. Its just a bike to ride and get exercise. Better than being on the couch. I have it and put in few hundred extra bucks of upgrades…and I’ll take it over any 1000 dollar retail bike.
@@bloodycrepe You missed the point. Its a 248 dollar bike to get exercise….Not win gravel races on 😂 In what market? The months you spend looking for 600 dollar used bike with a way higher point of failure because you don’t know how it was abused is time you could be exercising😂🤡
@@IHatePikeys again, you fail to comprehend a very clear message. This video is not for people that can't afford a $600 bike. This video is for those who buy $248 then dump $1k into it in upgrades. Don't take everything so personally.
@@bloodycrepe its you taking it personal to make sure people having fun are wrong..what is your problem? How is it different from you elitists who spend 5K on a bike and dump 2K more in parts?Its not up to you to tell someone how to enjoy the fun of bicycles
@@IHatePikeys you really have some comprehension issues. Take a big breath, read again, respond on topic. All your assumptions are as wrong as it gets.
It’s a gateway to somebody who wants to try cycling in general. If you’re someone who knows more than basic about bikes - don’t buy it. If you’re zero, you cant go wrong. Just don’t upgrade any component. Learn and know what you want and buy the next bike and maybe return it to walmart for a full refund. All 7 of your points are all subjective.
@@felicetanka If there ever was a Walmart bike that had its fork break it would be big news. I've personally never seen a bike fork break riding on the streets or on simple trails. There's no way the bike fork would be unsafe unless you're doing drops on it.
DIY gurus just see this bike for the frame not necessarily the bike as whole unit because we know big box store bikes aren't flawless. Ozark Trail does view these videos to an extent because they slightly updated their 27.5 MTB Vibe based on the things that were pointed out. In a few months I can see this bike getting updated as well or another version such as the G2 gets released. If the person isn't mechanically inclined then I definitely would steer them away from bikes from the big box.
that's true, that would be amazing if they fixed just one or two things. Can you imagine a 1x with a wide range 8 speed for $250?! I think I wouldn't be able to even make a video like this at that point.
Is there an alternative option anywhere on the market in the same price range? This video just seems like a "Why you dont buy a bike from a Dpt Store".. This bike is a prime example of getting what you pay for, but maybe a little more... I looked at one of these OT bikes and considered buying it just to do an affordable upgrade series.. Another $300-400 bux and I still havent found another option outside of a used bike (Which is what I would buy instead).... That Niner and CO-Op "Deals" were actually STEALS! You must be a genius at the Marketplace.
These are precisely the reasons I want to get one of these. I can’t make people make stupid videos like this. I mean come on!!! Even if it falls off in a year, it was only $250. It’s a terrific bike for that price.
Also when buying used, i never see actual gravel bikes on Marketplace anywhere near me. MTB? Sure. Hybrids? Sure. But not gravel bikes. And on the rare occasion you do its almost always the higher end ones still worth $1000+. Plus buying used can be an issue for someone that doesn't know bikes well to know if things look or operate right.
You are correct...bike is garbage. Front forks misaligned from factory....these were NOT bent in shipping....clearly welded improperly at point of manufacture.
I don't understand bikers concerned about weight of bikes? 30lbs isn't that heavy I lift 35lb dumbbells no problem and I'd imagine tons of you rode really heavy bikes when you were younger without complaints. Like when I was 15 I bought a 1970s bike with a coaster break and that thing weighed a ton and It was my favorite bike only reason I got rid of it was because it used like 26inch fractional tires so getting tires was basically impossible
well preferences like this are going to be subjective, but overall a lighter bike is going to be faster, the most noticeable will be getting started and go up hills. But more then that, for most people, a lighter bike will just feel nicer to ride. I don't like the feeling of having to pull along a heavier bike, it's really just the feeling. But that said, few pounds here and there don't really make a big difference, but a 20 pound to 35 pound bike will feel hugely different.
Spot on. Yeah, it might suit a few folks but I agree there are better options. Also, regarding the freewheel, depending on how much larger a replacement is, the rear derailleur may need to be replaced also.
It definitely should not be a 1x, 2x makes much more sense for a gravel bike. Who buys a walmart bike thinking about flipping it for its resale value? Any bike even from any LBS has to be gone over thoroughly before riding. An 8 speed cassette will fit on the same freehub as a 7 speed cassette. The odds of someone who buys this bike upgrading it are about zero anyway.
The REI CTY 2.1 bike of 2024 also weighs 30.4 pounds and it is $799.00. I didnt watch much further into this video because right from the start the man has no argument.
I'm glad to see this video. I'm blown away bike all the positive videos. I don't want to crap all over the bike, but everything you say is spot on. If someone has one and they love it and it's working great for them, that's amazing and I'm happy for them. Another shortcoming is the narrow size range. It's good they offer a small and medium frame, but where's the large? If Walmart ever figures out how to offer competent assembly on their bikes, that would be a huge step forward. I think if they had regional assembly centers that did nothing but professional bike setup (maybe exclusive to the Ozark Trail bikes which they could then position as a premium product), they could really get a lot of butt on saddles and actually offer a better experience for people.
I'll give you a ninth reason. This bike is actually a rebranded Phoenix bicycle. Phoenix is a famous low-end bicycle manufacturer in China. It's considered low-end even in China, imagine that. it's somewhat of a meme bike in China because no serious cyclists would ride it. The equivalent model's retail price at Phoenix is around $100 before being rebranded as Ozark Trail. So, yeah, I don't think anyone has mentioned this or even found this before, but it's the truth. I'm so tired of Ozark Trail glazing. Y’all think it’s cheap and well worth it only because of how dysfunctional the low-end bicycle market in the US is, and how much profit these companies are making.
thanks for the comment but that is for sure not true. For the $170 Co-op I bought, I met at the woman's house, she's middle aged, married and has small kids, nice neighborhood, she bought it new from REI, so I'm pretty sure it's not stolen.
Mine lasted a day before the derailer broke, I think the bike looks good, it’s just the ride quality is crap, it beats the hell out of you even on paved roads, the gearing is also wrong, it’s slow AF.
I'm going to have to hard agree with you. Given the realities of department store bikes? Ditch any 'features' that are claimed as they're..... liabilities at the low end. They're there to sucker in people who don't know any better. Get as dead simple of a bike as possible. And expect it to need tinkering. For some of us the tinkering is part of the fun, but to be blunt? Edit: list of youtube channels for those that foundthis by looking for Ozark Trail reviews. Kev Central : Guy tends to specialize in lower end/department store bikes. Park Tool :Tutorials on how to fix and adjust anything on a bike. They assume you have the whole kit n kaboodle with the stand, tools, etc. RJ The Bike Guy : Guy fixes and works on second hand bikes. Often assumes you DON'T have all thefancy tools. There are a few other one off videos, like this one indian guy that taught me how to dismantle a freewheel cogset because i wanted to make a single speed and keep my chainline, but those three are the big ones. /Edit If you're getting a bike for commuting save up money if possible. If this is all you can aford this is all you can afford. No frills no gimmicks. look up youtube videos on how to do the basics suchas brake and shifting adjustment, get a cheap stand so you're not working on it flippedo ver, and... be prepared to make mistakes. Misakes are part of the learning process, but to be blunt? Depending on where you live you might not have a bike shop, or the bike shop is full of snobs that will tell you to go away. Plus learning how to fix your ow nbike is an important skillset. Case in point: Replaced the stock flat face deraileur with something... a notch or two up so I could also put a 13-34t cogset on, replaced the front stampedm etal crank with something that lets me swpa chain rings out whcih i've done to take it from a 44 to a 32t. I am not going to win any awards ever on this thing. However I've learned and I continue to learn with it. Andit's honestly fun. Case in point: Botched when I went ot swap deeraileurs out. Didn't have any spare shifter cabling. Wanted to ride. So wit ha bit of hacking and praying i took all but one cog off the freewheel. Used the spacers that existed plus made another spacer out of a piece of woven wire fence, resized the chain, and for a few weeks i had a redneck single speed. i'dh ave kept it a single too if it wasn't for the hills around here.
@@BruceChastain Put an edit on my comment to add a few channels to look up for people just clicking through for bike reviews. Stuff to point the way for keeping a bike going if you're a newbie (hell. so am I.)
at 14 minutes you stun us with evidence that $400 and up can result in a higher quality bike at $249. maybe the buyer then takes it to a bike shop, $100 more. so for twice the price of an item one might be able to obtain a superior item. this economics is wild stuff to think about…..
Review something you don't even have. Genius! Of coarse its not going to be up to the standards of Niner, Orbea , Ridley etc..... but that's not who this bike is for anyway.
I don't know about 30-ish reviews(YT) including some "100 miles later" that say you're just a Walmart snob critiquing the wrong product, aimed at a certain demographic, for the wrong reasons. eg. "resale value"....really? Yeah I commonly worry about resale value when I buy a Walmart toaster too 😂😂. OK you got your clickbait got your interaction even mine, but dude of all your stuff that was not a legitimate useful viewpoint whatsoever especially since you had no practical hands on experience with it. Disappointing.
I dont think you all watched to the end. Half the stuff was opinions like the paint job. Not relevant to functionality. It felt like satire more than a hostile review. If he has to be nitpicky with the paint job, then it has to be semi decent
@bloodycrepe it has nothing to do with feelings, it's all subjective. And the majority disagree with his opinions. It's like Art or music, not everyone likes the same picture or band.
@bloodycrepe majority opinion does not mean herd mentality. Majority opinion can sometimes be referred to as "objective reality". Perhaps a primer on logical fallacies.
@brucechastain here’s a real reason not to buy it. Descending a gravel hill my front wheel came off sending me OTB. th-cam.com/users/shortsQGblMHyo9Gg?si=QLuV0-ZP1ti0ByBT
@@BruceChastain of course, the bike is designed with “lawyer lips” but they are meant to accommodate a bolt on wheel. So they are completely ineffective at retaining the wheel with a skewer. I can email you pics and vids. The dropout on the fork faces rearward so when you pull the brake, there’s nothing at all to prevent the wheel from being dislodged and since dropout faces rearward the wheel pops right out. My thumb is still messed up from the crash almost 3 months ago. I reached out to Walmart with zero response.
@@BruceChastain if you wanna make a video out of it, hmu and I’ll send you all my pictures of the aftermath and better vids of the wheel coming off, fork design ect. I just want to raise awareness so nobody gets hurt since Walmart isn’t responding.
![แฉกลโกงงานวัด 2024 [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.106 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/taC5dpP3HXA/mqdefault.jpg)
Just to be clear, yes this is a video of eight reasons NOT to buy this bike, but I could have also made a video of 20 reasons you SHOULD buy this bike! Obviously it's a decent bike for the money, but I think plenty of other youtubers have already covered that point.
Always good to see the 'why to not get this thing' from a youtuber that isn't snobbing about department store bikes. I mean... you're the guy that biked to the keys on a $99 single speed. you hack things together all the time. You aren't someone who made their bones off of 'yea I normally review nine hundred dollar fixies but for a laugh i'll ride this walmart bike and trash it before it's even out of the box.'
Plus even though I happen to like tan walls you made fairly reasonable arguments on why not this bike if you can help it.
@@singletona082 yes sir, in fact on my strava you can see just yesterday I did a really fun little spontaneous adventure ride on my $170 gravel bike.
So in other words the idea for this video was be contrarian for the sake of it? Strange
@@kajkobI've had my eye on this bike for a while and I found the video informative in that it provided a comprehensive articulation of the bike's limitations. I had my own list in advance, and his commentary validated my own and provided even more. I don't think it's contrarian - I found it helpful and informative.
@@DKStanford glad to hear it helped you out
It's a $248 bike. What do you expect.
Talking about resale value killed me. Oh no! you could probably lose 150 bucks!! How much does he think he'll lose when he tries to resell his $2500 bike?
Douche bag doesn’t understand who or what the bike was designed for…
he said the video is kind of a joke at the end,
because at the end of the day its still a good bike for the price
Lol I know I feel sorry for the engineers, sales and marketing people. They're like "damn these guys just want more and more!"
@@BruceChastain And by 'these guys' they generally mean 'marketing'
Take the buffalo bike. There are a couple places on it that need a specialty tool but most everything is wrenchable. Make it lighter. Maybe sell it without the rack or fenders or with off the shelf tires instead of specialty tires. There you go there is the low end to aim at. Give us That.
Eight reasons I'm getting one tomorrow. 🙂
Nice!
I was thinking the same lol. I was looking at the Poseidon Redwood and I was going to upgrade most of the same things anyway haha
I love the. Paint color and shape of bike.
It is a little heavy is my only complaint so far
@@DjangoPorter about 9 or 10 months ago I got that co-op gravel bike, at the time I felt it was a bit heavy too, but now after riding it all this time it actually feels really light and quick. I've been riding my heavier MTB too, so I think you really just get used to whatever you have to a large extent.
Good. Post though Thanx for the good info
The matte green paint and the gumwall tires are sexy IMO and the reason I bought this bike. It's a sub-30lb. bike with internal routing, lots of attachment points, for less than $270 OTD, what a steal. Everything else is upgradable for a minimal budget.
hey of course looks are totally subjective no issue man, glad you like your bike!
@gfxman14 ,yeah same for me ,I love the color and the tires…I’ve got about 100 miles on it and I like it more and more,When the cheap things break ,I’ll upgrade that part…until then I’m riding it as is….well I replaced pedals and added a riser and shorter stem , perfect for me now.
Especially second hand.
Shimano 7 speed freewheels are more durable than freehubs.
Fuck yeah!!!! Already put 350 miles on mine!!! So far it’s been great!!! I will be reoalceing the break pads soon and maybe getting some road type tires am lore of a road type of guy!!! It’s been a great bike!!!
Resale value?? It's not a $2500 bike, it's a $250 bike. Buy it, try it, save your receipt. If you don't like it, return it and get your full $250 back, no questions asked. That's resale value! I have 140 miles on mine in the past month and couldn't be happier. I don't think I'll be selling back to Walmart
agreed ! same here
This is a great bike for people that just need a bike or are wanting to try out cycling before spending a bunch of money. Personally, I'd buy this bike if I was on vacation without my bike and would just donate it to somewhere that helped the homeless or somewhere like that. It would be cheaper than renting a bike for multiple days at a bike shop and if it gets stolen then you weren't planning to keep it anyway.
After fixing the poor assembly, I'm totally happy with this bike.
Enjoy it for what it is and learn from it. I like my bike after changing the cogset. Wouldl ike to try something else but like... *handwaggle* all in due time.
Consider this: Back in 1986 my brother bought a new Schwinn World Sport. Schwinn was a bike shop brand back then, not a big box brand. The World Sport was their entry level drop bar bike. Nothing fancy, just a solid entry level bike. When you compare the 1986 World Sport and the 2024 G1 side by side, the World Sport has better cranks and chain rings, but that's it. The G1 has it beat in just about every other area. The World Sport cost 230 dollars in 1986, the G1 cost 250 dollars in 2024. Think about that for a minute
I been riding mine for 8 months now and I luv this bike
I'm probably going to get one too, when I can find a deal.
What size did you get and how tall are you
A decent starter bike.
Learn to work on it.
I have a Fuji, but can't set it up for bikepacking.
This one might be for me.
I have Marin Nicasio, Marin Argenta, and Triban RC120.
And this bike.
The quality of this bike is not inferior to any of those I've ridden. It's just as good. Identical quality.
This $250 bike rides as good as any $500-1000 bike.
Having seen your videos on the Kent Ridgeland you modded until it was practically unrecognizable, i have a little trouble taking this video seriously. LOL
lol got me :) Thanks for sticking around.
Perhaps you should go get the bike first, play with it, try different parts on it, and then come back with a review. We'll be waiting.. good luck.
I was thinking about doing that, but really, I already have a similar bike and just in general already have enough bikes. On the other hand if o happen to see one pop up really cheap I might get it.
That was not a review, it’s just things you see before even touching the bike. Especially the rear hub having a freewheel instead of a freehub is a major limitation. I know, i had a cheap mountain bike with the same Tourney 7 speed and a freewheel. You basically need to change the wheel. And unless you find something used, a new wheel, tire, cassette and miscellaneous parts, it can come up to $200 😮 these are all things a beginner doesn’t normally know and it’s good that someone is pointing this out. On the other hand, there was another channel where someone repainted and rebuilt this bike with a Sensah 1by groupset, changed the wheels and so on, basically had a $900 bike for less than $700 or something like that. But he knew what he was getting into. That’s the point of this video, to be informed
@HNedel lack of knowledge is not the sellers problem, and it's not like Wal-Mart is internationally trying to hide this information, it's all posted on there website, it all public information, and he even shows it the this video. And the shimano tourney TZ 500 derailleur on this bike is ment to be paired with the shimano megarange TZ 500. And of course, if you make a custom wheel it's gonna be expensive. That can be with any bike. On the other hand it can be done in expensively. Old tech don't mean bad tech, and there are many freewheels that have good climbing gears.
I do own the bike, iv personally put over 10,000+ miles on this bike, and I'm fixing to do the GDMBR race with it on the 14th.
@@Testbug-dy6tj yes, it’s not a sellers problem, i never said it was an neither did the video. It’s a buyer‘s problem and he is trying to inform the buyer. Even though the information is there, if you don’t know what it means, it’s not gonna help you. Ain’t nothing wrong with giving information to viewers
I was not talking about building a wheel, I meant buying a whole new wheel, from a store.
@HNedel could you please leave a link the video you mentioned in your previous comment..
Who the hell buys a bike for it's resale value? Utterly ridiculous and pointles review.
No kidding especially a $248 bike. Take it for what its worth. A decent starter bike for those wanting to dab into gravel riding without breaking the bank. He had 8 reasons for not getting this bike and 5 were literally about cosmetic and weight. Worse part is he doesn't even own the bike to do a "review." It was all for clicks.
Well I've sold enough bikes to know it's just not really fun getting so little back, not a big deal for sure, but it's just the truth these bikes don't hold their value.
No joke, people did that during the bike shortage. Same attitude as house flippers.
Yeah I didn't buy a bike for its resale value, that bike is going to remain with me until it or I can't ride anymore.
@@mikewarman315 It depends on the bike and the brand, but decent bikes will hold their value better then these walmart brands. To be fair the G1 isn't even that bad because at least it has a low starting price. But at the end of the day, a good model of a good brand will still have some value after 10 or 20 years, honestly these G1s likely won't even be around by that time. I'm not wanting it to be that way or anything, I'm not mad at the Ozark, it's just the way it currently is. At least as I see it.
Buying cheap bikes like this are awesome in their own right. Being hands on and wrenching on your own bike helps you learn more about the bike your riding. Everyone should tbh. I've bought some nice used bikes that were NOTHING but PROBLEMS/TRASH dumping hundreds more just to be rideable/safe because people like to hide problems with them on marketplace Trek, Specialized, BMC to name a few. Love this Ozark it does it's job and I'm not out much money and I worry less about losing this one. I'd recommend it just to get people outdoors and having fun exploring... This bike truly isn't that bad at all. I'd buy a cheap used donor bike from marketplace to part swap with this one. Have fun with any bike as long as your shit-cutter can fit on it.
First time visit to your channel. Boy… what a Debbie Downer! I think it has a great deal of appeal and potential for $250.
It's a great buy for someone to learn about maintaining the bike and to upgrade for fun.
It's $248.That's it,that's the big deal.A 1/4 of the price and you get to save,have a good time and get better.$248.$248.That's not $1,000 for "entry" level.
I kinda felt like he was just coming up with pointless reasons to make a video. The color is nice, so color palette is subjective.
You clearly miss the point of this bike.
What is the point then?
@@BruceChastain Cheap ;D
I love the paint 🎨 and tires makes the bike i want to go with a army look
Haven’t had an issue since I purchased mine a month ago. Only thing I didn’t like was the fact that it was already assembled and I couldn’t do it myself. Other than that, everything was fine.
Have you tried the Ozark Trail Ridge MTB? If so, I want to know which bike is better for casual rider. More on paved roads n maybe some gravel. I'm looking to exchange the Ridge for the G1. Lmk
Hey. I have 3 bikes, one of which is the Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer. I say that as each is used for their own purpose. My hardtail is for XC (cross country), my full sus is for jumping and gnarly trail riding, and the Ozark Trail is for the paved and gravel trails (training and exercise.)
If you’re going to do paved and gravel trails, get the gravel bike which is the Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer. I’ve put 75 miles on it. Only issue I had with it is the saddle. It’s awful. I bought one from Amazon (Charge Spoon) and swapped it out. MUCH BETTER.
Mine was assembled, it was fine. Just walked it out the door. I have some experience with wrenching on mtbs, it was assembled fine. I just had to adjust the front derailleur to stop the chain rubbing.
This guy is hitting a lot of fine points that are for people that are not the target market. This is an entry level gravel bike. I’m not putting any money into this bike as far as upgrades. It’s works just fine for $250. The stock saddle is awful though, that’s only thing I would said needs to be changed.
Edit: The used market sucks in my area. People are selling their mtbs for MSRP or pieces of junk. If you don’t know bikes, I’d be hesitant to look in the used market.
@@TheTruth175644 thank you!
@@TheTruth175644 100% on point response man! Equally so with the seat, it was not a joyride! lol
What is the rear hub spacing on this bike? If it's 135mm, which I think it is, it will make upgrading wheels with more gears tougher. No one has stated the max clearance for tires. Can the wheelset be hacked to hold tubeless tires? I do like the quick release over thru axles for tire maintenance. I'm with you on the internal cable routing and they should of gone with the same 1x8 as their 29 inch wheeled mountain bike for simplicity. I do like the color, matte green, but matte anything looks good to me.
The closest to this is the Poseiden X which is at least another $500, that I can think of.
yeah I believe it would be 135mm. I think you could go up to 11 speed with the right hub, might be wrong. I've seen one person post a photos of 50mm tires fit in, which is good because then that opens you up to some narrower MTB tires too
I'm the opposite end of the spectrum with the conversions. I want to buy one and put some regular mountain bike bars on it.
oh man, down here near the Miami/ Fort Lauderdale area, i see a few going for less then $160, so its an absolute steal.
That's an amazing price, I'd pick one up for that
That's a awesome looking bike,,, its a beautiful color,,, nice and light,,, great wheel set,,, bullet proof gear-set thats very affordable too replace... take about a great price point for what you get on a bike that will take you around the world and last for 100's of years...
I appreciate the fair criticism. Just so the cons are understood.
It is meant for a beginner/someone without $1000+ to spend. No difference than the Axum or ozark for mtb.
yeah very true
Oh yeah, you scored big with that Co-op. But you have to be patient and consistent in order to get those deals.
I too wanted a nice used Miyata or Fuji, but at the end, I got tired and went with Walmart's Kent/Genesis Bohe, which is the same caliber as the G.1.
At this point, people are getting the G.1 out of curiosity and it might achieve a cult following.
Some people say they gonna keep it stock for as long as possible and some others are curious to see how maxed up they can get.
Me I am curious to see how it might feel as small frames are so unusual for this types of bikes.
In terms of cycling, $250 is nothing....there are helmets more expensive than that. There are outfit kits more expensive than that.
The thing is that with such a "cheap" bike you don't mind putting a milk crate to carry stuff (groceries) on it and locking it at the local supermarket bike rack. You ride it for fun and for errands and are not worries about locking it up anywhere.
As a second hand advocate what new or used bike would you recommend for similar money to the G.1 that gets a tuneup (~$400) that everyone could grab regularly?
Unless you get lucky and buy a used gravel bike from a professional or semi-professional bike mechanic that has tuned it up, you can't. That's why this bike is causing 'waves'
‘second hand” is still overpriced. you put in 500 bucks of semi used and new parts off ebay and sales and have a better value.
that's a really fair question. I don't think there is anything better for new bikes for this kind of money at the moment. Personally I would go used, but then there is not single bike that stands out.
i don't have this bike but it is absolutely a fine bike for dirt roads or wherever, and especially for the price: aluminum rims, disc brakes, braze ons, and 14 speeds, and all steel ! you can't ask for more. go back in time to the 70s and 80s and compare those department store bikes, and this one is amazing. i had more fun dirt road riding on a department store bike than any one of my other top of the line bikes i had back then.
if this walmart bike was transported back to the 80s it would be held in awe.
i think in the creep of time since the 80s to now folks have lost perspective and have become spoiled.
that's actually a good perspective.
I appreciate you bullet pointing the cons of the Ozark Trail bike, and I agree with your two conclusions (you can get a better used bike, but rly this one's ok). Thing is, some of your cons are really pros for most people. Like, a rigid steel fork, as opposed to what, carbon? I'll take steel, even hi ten, even though strength to weight is way suboptimal, adding many minutes onto my century rides. (That last part's a joke.) Steel is a virtue for the vast majority of utilitarian bike users, for several reasons. As for the seven speed cassette and shifter, that used to be a deal breaker for me, just because it signals an overall lower quality "department store bike." But rethinking it, maybe it's just the thing. Sure, it's proportionally heavier and clunkier and lower tech than a serious component group, but I'll bet it's robust and easy to clean and adjust, and parts are just everywhere, very cheap or free if you scrounge. The thing that would put me off this bike is if it had non standard parts or was assembled in such a way that you couldn't wrench on it. Like, the bottom bracket has gone crunchy, and oops, it's a weird proprietary size. That would suck.
yes I know about and like steel too, in fact I have a group ride today on a steel vintage road bike. But at the end of the day I don't want a heavy bike, I mean it depends on how you ride and where you ride I suppose. Actually know what would make me like it a lot more, is if it were all steel, even if it's just basic non-butted 4130, but with narrower tubes of course. Still also with the standard fitting components.
As far as standard parts, the only problem I've seen so far is that no one sells a derailleur hanger. There is one that is almost the same, but does require some filing to get it to fit. That's just a indicator of what the manufacture really thinks about the bike, they assume when someone breaks it, they'll just throw it away. And in reality, that's probably is more common then not.
@@BruceChastain yeah if something as dumb as a derailleur hanger meant I had to trash the whole bike, I'd be angry. Most cheap things are designed to go straight to the landfill, and I hate that.
I generally agree with this video although I am ok with how it looks. I would only buy it if you can live with it as is otherwise find a better used bike. Once you spend another $200 to upgrade all kinds of nicer bikes used bikes are available. I have a retro gravel DIY build using a 7 speed 14-34 sunrace freewheel, about $22 on Amazon a couple months ago. One big problem is there is not a large size to fit me.
Lol there's a lot of things that you said that I have no clue what you mean... With the whole "1by," range, 2x and cassettes and stuff like that ... I'm just getting this for basic cardio exercise. The matte green is very clean tho but I hate the gum wall tires though... However, I'll just take them off and spray paint them black for a quick fix before they wear out and I get a new set of tires that are going to be black of course.
then get it and have fun! Although not sure I'd suggest spray painting the tires, you can probably get new tires for about $40 each, but I'd just live with the gum wall myself.
What’s a decent weight for a gravel bike?
I guess it depends, it's subjective, but for me, I'd say over 30 pounds is getting pretty heavy. I think around 23 to 26 lbs is a nice weight.
I guess you'd have hated the Costco Intense 951 that was on sale for $1600 (usually $2500) -- it also has a dull grey paint.
I mean I don't think I'd hate it, but flat paint isn't my thing.
8 reasons not to buy it but you would recommend it if someone asked!? I want my 16 minutes and 11 seconds back.😂😅
Sorry man, just pointing out some reasons you man not want it, but in the end it's not too bad.
You have to check every fastener on the bike if you get one. lol
My rear derailleur hanger had one of the screws totally backed out. Front derailleur needed to be straightened, adjusted, and the plastic spacer on the frame clamp wasn't installed properly. Rear derailleur also needed tuning. Front wheel needed to be trued and the caliper adjusted to stop rubbing. Left brifter would rotate on the bar, hard to get it any tighter.
I definitely agree with the recommendation to buy used bikes over these.
Great review , what bike would you recommend for a gravel bike ? Low end as far as price but preferably lighter than this one .
thank you! good seeing you again Ferguson! As far as recommendation, to be honest I'm a second hand bike guy. On the new side the good stuff is too expensive and the cheap stuff isn't good.
And the cheap stuff can be so bad sometimes it can take a lot of joy out of the sport. Even old and used but nice at the time is still nice now.
@@BruceChastain oh ok , well I have my Trek 930 Singletrack but I was thinking about getting another bike , like I really need one , lol , but thanks for replying , I still can’t understand why you don’t have thousands of followers , I really enjoy your videos .
@@fergusonto-2032cause of pointless videos like this. He gave a horrible review on a budget bike that he hasnt seen, touched or rode. Then when asked whats a good entry alternative, hes unable to give any suggestions. Throw the video away 😂
@@Thereservist45 keep in Mind he’s just an amateur bike enthusiast & he makes that very clear , I just like bicycles so that’s why I enjoy his videos , each to his own .
Seems like a potentially nice commuter bike. Add a front/rear rack, fenders and change out the bars for an upright riding position.
In 1978 I bought a 29lb Nishiki Olympic 10 brand new for $200. It served me well over the years - more so than a few other bikes I've owned . So that fact that this bike bruised this guy's aura doesn't make a favorable impression regarding his expertise.
Just bought one… I’m cheap and it’s transportation 🤷🏻♂️ rides great
$275. This bike is alright. The real negative is the brakes. So far I have had it like 3 weeks. I ride it hard up the local mountain bike trails. I think I’m braking my left handed shifter. So I can’t give an opinion yet. But I’m riding this bike hard on everything. And it’s fun. If you’re a beginner, for safety purposes be careful on mountain bike trails. In AZ we don’t have flowing single track where I’m at. It’s all rocky trails with additional rock gardens. It’s fun, but I think I’m getting close to breaking the shifter. I hope I don’t.
Plus the shifting is really smooth. Incredible smooth. No chains popping off smooth. Get the bike, pay to get the brakes and shifter professionally adjusted. And go have fun!
I get how people say do not buy. Again. It’s a Walmart bike. Has budget parts. The bike snobs. Look down on it. Because it cheap. Nit picking a budget bike I own two of the Ozark gravel bike. Yes it heavy. But it’s a wal mart bike. For 248. It worth it. For someone who wants a gravel bike this can start them into the sport. Do you own one ? If not why quote on it. Ride the thing and see it. I own intense cycle bikes and more high end bikes. I understand the haters but do not knock it til you try it
Ok well you can buy a city bike from giant and it comes with a plastic bottom bracket at 800usd. And a fully plastic microshift drivetrain. Its a good thing tektro brakes happen to be both cheap and effective but the rest of the bike is getting deore asap
What everyone should have done is bought the first Revolt that came out like I did for $800. Has been trouble free and I wouldn't trade it in for the new $4000 Revolts if they paid me. Hydro brakes, same hub as the new ones. Everyone called me sucker but I'm laughing now. Since you brought up Giant I had to crow a little 😂. Yea, man if you are interested in gravel riding, go get a good one, I wouldn't even buy toothpaste from Walmart even if it meant going without brushing.
people who buy this bike can't afford a 600 plus UDS dollar bike just to ride around town.. bikes are very expensive now..
Many people that buy this bike plan to put about $1,000 in upgrades. Just buy a better bike instead.
@@bloodycrepe no, way dude nobody who buys this bike is gonna invest 1k into upgrades.. I'll tell you why I would buy this bike, not because I can't afford a 1k bike ,or even a 600 buck bike USD it's because if I park my 1k or 600 USD bike on the street in my local city it's gonna get stolen or someone who knows about bikes sees me riding a higher end bike is gonna try to jack me up.. Bike jackings is very common where I live so if that happens I'm gonna have to throw hands or shoot the Jacker..
so yeah, in this day & age we can't be riding around with high tech bikes & high Tech E bikes that cost in the 1000's of dollars..
I would just buy this bike ,& maybe over time change out the breaks & that's about it .
@@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow I understand your position but I am not speaking for someone like you. Read over the budget bike forums. There are countless of people who buy them only to put over $1k in upgrades. At the end of the day, they are never happy with the results they get. These are the people this video is about. Not you.
Reason 9: it’s out of stock 😂
He was reaching pretty hard to find valid things wrong with this bike. I guess if one is really worried about this bike holding up is get one of those two year protection plans. Of course you really can't do that for this bicycle because as you said it is out of stock. I checked.
I woke up at 5 AM, and it took until 2 PM, 5 Walmarts later who had one in stock.
Worth it though.
C'mon, would you tell ppl not to buy me just because I'm ugly and heavy??
I have one and so far have beat the snot out of it. The only issue i have are the brakes. They work but are loud. Other than that, you cant beat it for that price. Ots probably the best bike ever sold at walmart.
Bought it if you know how to fix and upgrade bikes its a pretty good deal once i got extra pocket money i will be buying a new fork for it tho lol
nice. knowing how to fix things is a big help.
Read the pinned comment haters. Sheesh. Smh! Aye Bruce, I'd think it would be cool if you did buy it and upgrade it. Fresh paint, drivetrain and all. I don't have bike co-ops or swap meets near me. My location (Central Indiana) doesn't offer much as far as resale deals. I also found out most of these bikes, high end or low end, are owned by large Shareholders that use the same factories in Beijing. Especially in the outdoor space. But dude I think you of all TH-camrs could make a sick build out of this one!
If I find one really cheap I may do that. I did see one for $100 the other day but it was a couple of hours away.
Your #1 reason is the glossiness of the paint. Lmao
Definitely not ugly compared to Schwinn or Hyper bikes.
this is true!
There seems to be a lot of upside to this bike that has already been covered, always good to know what the downside is too. If $250 is all you have, this could be a great way to go but it is worth knowing what the limitations are. 👍
I think you might of by accident stumbled across a new series of videos. You reviewing Facebook marketplace bikes. I would watch a 10-15 min video of you doing this.
that's a fun idea! Might just do that!
I agree on the used market but keep in mind that a newbie has no clue what they are looking at and it is very difficult for them to gauge a fair price. They need a lot of help. My buddy would have bought a foldable “mountain bike” from Amazon if I didn’t help him out. Lol
Seeing a $300-$400 mountain bike for sale at $100 would make me suspicious that it’s stolen 😯
Take it apart. Look at the steerer tube, bottom bracket and general workmanship and quality control
I don't see the point in downgrading a 2x to a 1x other than for less maintenance, the weight difference between the two is going to be hardly noticable if you even notice it at all, going with lighter wheels would be a lot more noticable than going from a 2x to a 1x chainring.
I have rarely seen a well tuned front derailleur causing a chain to bind (proper derailleur height from the chainring, inner and outer limits properly set, the alignment set properly, and the shifter cable adjusted properly) unless everything is worn out.
I've seen worn chain rings, worn chains, and even stretched cables, but rarely have i seen a front derailleur wear out unless the front derailleur is out of adjustment and chain is constantly rubbing against the guide.
now if you have tens of thousands of miles on the bike i can see a chain wearing into the chain guide of the front derailleur, I've seen high milage bicycles before and the front derailleur is usually fine because they usually choose a single chainring to be in and remain on that ring for the majority of the miles.
My bicycle has a 3x8 drivetrain (22/32/42, 11-34) and I wouldn't change the 3x out for a 1x for any reason.
Sorry, 248 plus 30 bucks for 3 year Wal Mart warranty to upgrade this however I want is way better than a used bike at the same price…😂Are non-hard core cyclists allowed to get exercise? You sound like an elitist….Its not about resale. Bikes ten times more expensive are not ten times better than this. Sorry. Its just a bike to ride and get exercise. Better than being on the couch. I have it and put in few hundred extra bucks of upgrades…and I’ll take it over any 1000 dollar retail bike.
You missed his point by a mile. $600 gets you 4 times better used bike. But you do you.
@@bloodycrepe You missed the point. Its a 248 dollar bike to get exercise….Not win gravel races on 😂 In what market? The months you spend looking for 600 dollar used bike with a way higher point of failure because you don’t know how it was abused is time you could be exercising😂🤡
@@IHatePikeys again, you fail to comprehend a very clear message. This video is not for people that can't afford a $600 bike. This video is for those who buy $248 then dump $1k into it in upgrades. Don't take everything so personally.
@@bloodycrepe its you taking it personal to make sure people having fun are wrong..what is your problem? How is it different from you elitists who spend 5K on a bike and dump 2K more in parts?Its not up to you to tell someone how to enjoy the fun of bicycles
@@IHatePikeys you really have some comprehension issues. Take a big breath, read again, respond on topic. All your assumptions are as wrong as it gets.
It’s a gateway to somebody who wants to try cycling in general. If you’re someone who knows more than basic about bikes - don’t buy it. If you’re zero, you cant go wrong. Just don’t upgrade any component. Learn and know what you want and buy the next bike and maybe return it to walmart for a full refund. All 7 of your points are all subjective.
The frame is heavy because it uses straight gauge tubes. It's NOT double butted. And the fork almost unsafe.
Yeah I think or thought that's what I said, maybe I misspoke. But what's wrong with the fork?
@@BruceChastain cheap steel there is probably a warning on the bike.
@@felicetanka If there ever was a Walmart bike that had its fork break it would be big news. I've personally never seen a bike fork break riding on the streets or on simple trails.
There's no way the bike fork would be unsafe unless you're doing drops on it.
For the price it ticks all the points that matter. It literally couldn't be any better specced at that price.
DIY gurus just see this bike for the frame not necessarily the bike as whole unit because we know big box store bikes aren't flawless.
Ozark Trail does view these videos to an extent because they slightly updated their 27.5 MTB Vibe based on the things that were pointed out.
In a few months I can see this bike getting updated as well or another version such as the G2 gets released.
If the person isn't mechanically inclined then I definitely would steer them away from bikes from the big box.
that's true, that would be amazing if they fixed just one or two things. Can you imagine a 1x with a wide range 8 speed for $250?! I think I wouldn't be able to even make a video like this at that point.
Is there an alternative option anywhere on the market in the same price range? This video just seems like a "Why you dont buy a bike from a Dpt Store".. This bike is a prime example of getting what you pay for, but maybe a little more... I looked at one of these OT bikes and considered buying it just to do an affordable upgrade series.. Another $300-400 bux and I still havent found another option outside of a used bike (Which is what I would buy instead).... That Niner and CO-Op "Deals" were actually STEALS! You must be a genius at the Marketplace.
These are precisely the reasons I want to get one of these. I can’t make people make stupid videos like this. I mean come on!!! Even if it falls off in a year, it was only $250. It’s a terrific bike for that price.
Also when buying used, i never see actual gravel bikes on Marketplace anywhere near me. MTB? Sure. Hybrids? Sure. But not gravel bikes. And on the rare occasion you do its almost always the higher end ones still worth $1000+.
Plus buying used can be an issue for someone that doesn't know bikes well to know if things look or operate right.
yeah lower end gravel is sort of newish I guess, I also don't see a lot of them. I think over time there will be more.
Pretty much who ever buys this should just keep it stock
You are correct...bike is garbage. Front forks misaligned from factory....these were NOT bent in shipping....clearly welded improperly at point of manufacture.
just a bike snob, snobbing
Yep that must be it
I don't understand bikers concerned about weight of bikes? 30lbs isn't that heavy I lift 35lb dumbbells no problem and I'd imagine tons of you rode really heavy bikes when you were younger without complaints. Like when I was 15 I bought a 1970s bike with a coaster break and that thing weighed a ton and It was my favorite bike only reason I got rid of it was because it used like 26inch fractional tires so getting tires was basically impossible
well preferences like this are going to be subjective, but overall a lighter bike is going to be faster, the most noticeable will be getting started and go up hills. But more then that, for most people, a lighter bike will just feel nicer to ride. I don't like the feeling of having to pull along a heavier bike, it's really just the feeling. But that said, few pounds here and there don't really make a big difference, but a 20 pound to 35 pound bike will feel hugely different.
Spot on. Yeah, it might suit a few folks but I agree there are better options. Also, regarding the freewheel, depending on how much larger a replacement is, the rear derailleur may need to be replaced also.
very true!
It definitely should not be a 1x, 2x makes much more sense for a gravel bike.
Who buys a walmart bike thinking about flipping it for its resale value?
Any bike even from any LBS has to be gone over thoroughly before riding.
An 8 speed cassette will fit on the same freehub as a 7 speed cassette. The odds of someone who buys this bike upgrading it are about zero anyway.
The REI CTY 2.1 bike of 2024 also weighs 30.4 pounds and it is $799.00. I didnt watch much further into this video because right from the start the man has no argument.
My road tires cost as much as this bike
yeah. I felt like be scammed because of youtuber on this bike. The drop bar is too low, and measurement is off on the size.
I'm glad to see this video. I'm blown away bike all the positive videos. I don't want to crap all over the bike, but everything you say is spot on. If someone has one and they love it and it's working great for them, that's amazing and I'm happy for them.
Another shortcoming is the narrow size range. It's good they offer a small and medium frame, but where's the large?
If Walmart ever figures out how to offer competent assembly on their bikes, that would be a huge step forward. I think if they had regional assembly centers that did nothing but professional bike setup (maybe exclusive to the Ozark Trail bikes which they could then position as a premium product), they could really get a lot of butt on saddles and actually offer a better experience for people.
Its a 248 dollar bike.
that's actually a huge point about the assemble. If they could fix the assembly issues that would be a major step in the right direction.
I'll give you a ninth reason. This bike is actually a rebranded Phoenix bicycle. Phoenix is a famous low-end bicycle manufacturer in China. It's considered low-end even in China, imagine that. it's somewhat of a meme bike in China because no serious cyclists would ride it. The equivalent model's retail price at Phoenix is around $100 before being rebranded as Ozark Trail. So, yeah, I don't think anyone has mentioned this or even found this before, but it's the truth. I'm so tired of Ozark Trail glazing. Y’all think it’s cheap and well worth it only because of how dysfunctional the low-end bicycle market in the US is, and how much profit these companies are making.
interesting, could you post a link to that bike?
@@BruceChastain dude my comment keeps getting blocked prolly because I’m sending the link. I’ll dm u
Email me bruce.chastain.yt@gmail.com
You have convinced me to not buy this bike. Used has been a bust so far for anything in this price range, so I thought this might be the answer.
well as I was saying at the end, it's not a bad bike if you want to just get started, just know there are some compromises at that price, that's all.
Nearly all of those "great deals on FB marketplace" are stolen. You realize that, right?
thanks for the comment but that is for sure not true. For the $170 Co-op I bought, I met at the woman's house, she's middle aged, married and has small kids, nice neighborhood, she bought it new from REI, so I'm pretty sure it's not stolen.
Mine lasted a day before the derailer broke, I think the bike looks good, it’s just the ride quality is crap, it beats the hell out of you even on paved roads, the gearing is also wrong, it’s slow AF.
I'm going to have to hard agree with you. Given the realities of department store bikes? Ditch any 'features' that are claimed as they're..... liabilities at the low end. They're there to sucker in people who don't know any better. Get as dead simple of a bike as possible. And expect it to need tinkering. For some of us the tinkering is part of the fun, but to be blunt?
Edit: list of youtube channels for those that foundthis by looking for Ozark Trail reviews.
Kev Central : Guy tends to specialize in lower end/department store bikes.
Park Tool :Tutorials on how to fix and adjust anything on a bike. They assume you have the whole kit n kaboodle with the stand, tools, etc.
RJ The Bike Guy : Guy fixes and works on second hand bikes. Often assumes you DON'T have all thefancy tools.
There are a few other one off videos, like this one indian guy that taught me how to dismantle a freewheel cogset because i wanted to make a single speed and keep my chainline, but those three are the big ones.
/Edit
If you're getting a bike for commuting save up money if possible. If this is all you can aford this is all you can afford. No frills no gimmicks. look up youtube videos on how to do the basics suchas brake and shifting adjustment, get a cheap stand so you're not working on it flippedo ver, and... be prepared to make mistakes. Misakes are part of the learning process, but to be blunt? Depending on where you live you might not have a bike shop, or the bike shop is full of snobs that will tell you to go away. Plus learning how to fix your ow nbike is an important skillset.
Case in point: Replaced the stock flat face deraileur with something... a notch or two up so I could also put a 13-34t cogset on, replaced the front stampedm etal crank with something that lets me swpa chain rings out whcih i've done to take it from a 44 to a 32t.
I am not going to win any awards ever on this thing. However I've learned and I continue to learn with it.
Andit's honestly fun.
Case in point: Botched when I went ot swap deeraileurs out. Didn't have any spare shifter cabling. Wanted to ride. So wit ha bit of hacking and praying i took all but one cog off the freewheel. Used the spacers that existed plus made another spacer out of a piece of woven wire fence, resized the chain, and for a few weeks i had a redneck single speed. i'dh ave kept it a single too if it wasn't for the hills around here.
100% singleton! Simplify. But I will say this bike and the Ozark MTB are moving in the right direction.
@@BruceChastain Put an edit on my comment to add a few channels to look up for people just clicking through for bike reviews. Stuff to point the way for keeping a bike going if you're a newbie (hell. so am I.)
at 14 minutes you stun us with evidence that $400 and up can result in a higher quality bike at $249. maybe the buyer then takes it to a bike shop, $100 more.
so for twice the price of an item one might be able to obtain a superior item. this economics is wild stuff to think about…..
Review something you don't even have. Genius! Of coarse its not going to be up to the standards of Niner, Orbea , Ridley etc..... but that's not who this bike is for anyway.
I don't know about 30-ish reviews(YT) including some "100 miles later" that say you're just a Walmart snob critiquing the wrong product, aimed at a certain demographic, for the wrong reasons. eg. "resale value"....really? Yeah I commonly worry about resale value when I buy a Walmart toaster too 😂😂. OK you got your clickbait got your interaction even mine, but dude of all your stuff that was not a legitimate useful viewpoint whatsoever especially since you had no practical hands on experience with it. Disappointing.
Come on really the paint being matte instead of gloss and you don't like gum wall tires?????
Starting with the pettiest reason out of 8 is not a smart way to start the video, instantly lost my interest
It is not at all heavy by E-bike standards.
Haha true
FIY this is not an ebike.
Run full housing with zip ties. Easy routing fix.
He's just saying it's not the bargain it's made out to be. It's a limited entry platform
I dont think you all watched to the end. Half the stuff was opinions like the paint job. Not relevant to functionality. It felt like satire more than a hostile review. If he has to be nitpicky with the paint job, then it has to be semi decent
yeah I mean it's just a counter point to all the positive review out there.
bruh i weigh 103 that bike is like 1/3 my weight no way i'd be riding that junk even the welding of the metal pieces looks like Sh-1t
What do you actually want from a $250 bike? Please show me a comparable bike at the same price point.
lol I want more more more! No I don't think there is anything I've seen on the market better for the lower price
Easy - don't buy it.
Get a load of Mr. I don't like it!!!! Over here
Are you on drugs ? 🤔 How can you do a review when you don't even have the bike , and just looking at it on the website. Your hilarious !!! 🤣
I was thinking the same thing...
I've put over 10,000 miles on OT G1, it's a really great gravel bike.
Easy. He was comparing specs of this bike to something better you can buy used. Did he hurt your fragile feelings?
@bloodycrepe it has nothing to do with feelings, it's all subjective. And the majority disagree with his opinions.
It's like Art or music, not everyone likes the same picture or band.
@@Testbug-dy6tj herd mentality is not a valid point. Look at the ops message. It has everything to do with his hurt feelings
@bloodycrepe majority opinion does not mean herd mentality. Majority opinion can sometimes be referred to as "objective reality". Perhaps a primer on logical fallacies.
@brucechastain here’s a real reason not to buy it. Descending a gravel hill my front wheel came off sending me OTB.
th-cam.com/users/shortsQGblMHyo9Gg?si=QLuV0-ZP1ti0ByBT
for some reason the link isn't working for me
EDIT: I did find the clip. But did you not have the quick release locked down?
@@BruceChastain of course, the bike is designed with “lawyer lips” but they are meant to accommodate a bolt on wheel. So they are completely ineffective at retaining the wheel with a skewer. I can email you pics and vids.
The dropout on the fork faces rearward so when you pull the brake, there’s nothing at all to prevent the wheel from being dislodged and since dropout faces rearward the wheel pops right out. My thumb is still messed up from the crash almost 3 months ago.
I reached out to Walmart with zero response.
@@BruceChastain if you wanna make a video out of it, hmu and I’ll send you all my pictures of the aftermath and better vids of the wheel coming off, fork design ect.
I just want to raise awareness so nobody gets hurt since Walmart isn’t responding.
@@travisanderson4263 wow. Could you send me what you have showing the problem, I'm curious! Bruce.Chastain.TY@gmail.com
@@BruceChastain email didn’t work. Is it supposed to have the periods in it, or is that just a workaround so YT won’t block your reply?
It’s a free hub not a cassette.
Hello!?
It's a $248. bike! Keep it real life
Resale value is a joke ... not a collector item, why in world would it increase??
Didn't say it should increase, but it's nice getting some money back when you're ready to upgrade right?
You think it's ugly?!? LMAO. I would hate to see a bike you like the looks of
His final point is "is perfect a Kona"... Well WTF you reviewing a bike you haven't touched yet for?!? Go get a Kona me money bags!