I might consider buying it for the components. Viathon's goals seem to be crystal clear with the R.1: Build a race-ready road bike for a high-end audience without the high-end price tag. Its exploding right now because people are afraid of riding in traffic. But it is building out a platform not just with more and better bikes, but with video and editorial support. For less. Sold exclusively through Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles. yup. The frame looks eerily similar to a China carbon frame I bought recently for $400 (frame and rigid fork). ummm.I regularly pass the bikes in walmart on my way to the sporting goods section to buy fishing/hunting stuff and I don't know of these $500 walmart bikes you speak of$250 is about the top price going unless yall have some gucci walmarts wherever this story was based? You can buy the same frames on aliexpress for under $300, or if you're more risk-adverse you can buy them through this guy: Perhaps we'll see a revolution that surfing seems to be having. The bike uses a very rigid pivot/BB comprised of two MID-BB's inside one another. Its not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. The frame costs just the same as a TCR frame, without the TCR reputation. So they're definitely taking a loss on these.. In road bikes, the R.1 comes as a frameset ($2,000), as well as in three complete bike options, all with Shimano groupsets - 105 ($2,300), Ultegra ($3,575) and Dura-Ace ($5,850), each equipped with disc brakes. Ive already gotten questions for people internationally. Refunds can only be issued to your original payment method. First, this hardtail gets more than just the usual 100mm-travel fork. Viathon is backed by the big box retailer but has teamed up with industry veterans that'd designed frames for brands like Cervelo and Pivot. Browse. Walmart wanted Bonobos because it was a favourite of high-income urban millennials. Even a hot segment like ADV, sees a new from ground up model maybe every 5 years. I'm seeing an unbranded power meter, but no mention of it. I'll be honest if I ever worried about someone thinking less of me for buying a bike at Walmart I'd probably leave the bike wherever I was and get out of the hobby. I know you're talking frame only, but at least this one ships with tires that actually fit the frame (unlike the DV9, which has known problem with tire rub on the tires it ships with). bicycles Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business. It seems like it would be a good exploring bike for when you'd likely be riding lots of dirt roads as well as singletrack. I want to figure out how to use that customer base to grow the bike industry.. According to Spinhirne-Martin, Walmart is not currently planning store-based service departments. Cue the cheap-crap jokes. Who the fuck cares where it came from, so long as it is a good bike. GravelNut April 10, 2019, . And that is the point. With the backing of Walmart, we can scale very quickly.. Love lower price bikes and bringing the MTB sport to more people.. No dropper on the GX spec? Viathon is a new direct-to-consumer bike brand owned by Walmart that launched this week with a line of carbon bikes that sell between $2,300 and $6,000. Again- something we cannot make a call on. Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. It's not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. A Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem tamed the harsh vibrations coming from the Viathons beefy carbon fork. Also something to liven up trails that you ride regularly. The Viathon G1 has been ridden a couple of months now by Andy T, and so we are ready to give the final verdict on this Walmart distributed bike. The G.1, one of 3 models launched by Viathon, is a modern gravel bike with a 1,010g claimed 54cm frame weight with hardware. It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with. Read through the small print "Returns and Refund Policy: 60 days from date of purchase - new or used with proof of original purchase. The parts kits feature quality components from premium suppliers like Fizik, Hed, and Zipp, and the pricing is competitive with a number of brands. Unless they are basically making no money on the bikes, I find it hard to see how they could undercut their competition, especially considering the frames themselves don't really often anything out of the ordinary. View specs and technical data for all Viathon Bike Models. dont think people in the market for $2000-5000 bikes would even think to buy at Walmart let alone shoulder the stigma of owning a bike bought at Walmart. Filter bikes by year, weight, components, price, and performance. And while low, Viathon pricing was at parity with any number of other name-brand carbon models, including Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and Canyon. Someone posted an Outside magazine article above that details it. It is aimed squarely at millennials and digital natives. Walmart will sell bikes under this brand soon with price tags up to $6,000. On its own, Viathon strikes me as a modestly interesting enthusiast brand with some solid, value-oriented bikes that feature industry-standard design and technology. A year later, the bikes closed out for about $1,000 apiece, and I read at the time on various online consumer groups that sharp-eyed cyclists were snapping them up as preassembled build kits and flogging the framesets online for maybe a hundred bucks a copy. Its not a bad platform though, and for the right situations, it would serve the rider spectacularly well. By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to GearJunkie's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). I won't shop with them. And the bikes look good! Viathon Bicycles announced today it will sponsor the Caffeine and Watts Club. FWIW, Ibis quietly raised the price on the DV9 to $1250 about ~6 month ago. @alex There are better bikes in regard to front end compliance than the Viathon. Almost all carbon frames come from Asia, and different brands often subcontract with the same large producers. Viathon Bicycles Promo Codes, Coupons & Deals for February 2023. And yes, while the argument of "buy used" is a good one, most newbies simply don't know where to look, don't know what to look for, and are overwhelmed by the whole used buying experience that they just throw in the towel and go back to the sport they are familiar with. Bikes cost more than motos, makes no sense at all. Oh that bike would make a good gift for my grandchild, so he stops playing mine craft and go outside a bit. Quan was with Cervelo from 2004 to 2008. I will also say again that for the extra money, a RedShift ShockStop stem cures that front end issue. The issue with Walmart isn't how the founders choose to spend their billions, but the effect that Walmart has on local economies. The mountain bike is the perfect companion to discover new things off the beaten track. 1600 Pearl St., Ste 300Boulder, CO 80302This website copyright 2023. Viathon made a big splash when it announced its presence to the bicycle world back in April, leveraging the cost-efficiency muscle of its parent company, Walmart, into a line of carbon bikes that . Be here, Virtually. Walmart thinks so, and the retail juggernaut is betting its customers do too. But Im a little mystified that the mountain bike is a cross-country hardtail 29er, a style of bike thats pretty out of fashion at the moment. Its to do with the fact that you can get 200kg of world rounding desert crossing Yamaha Tenere T7 2019 for less than a lot of mtbs now. houses for sale hervey bay $250,000 to; gwinnett county gun show 2021; eagle point elementary school staff; super shuttle sanford airport If they add a similarly specced and priced short or mid travel fs bike, those things will sell like hot cakes. Wouldnt be caught dead buying one of their bikes but competition in any industry is a good thing. By James Smurthwaite Its one of the biggest online merchants in the world, No. Viathon is for riders who appreciate uncontrived quality, demand craftsmanship but recognize value, who pedal for health yet savor the ride. Our Fezzari Bicycle experts are here to help you find the perfect bike. New bike brands come and go, but its rare that one makes as big of a splash with its debut as Viathon, a new direct-to-consumer marquee that launched this week. How much is the bike when it has the XX1 components? Bike is not returnable if damaged or not fit for continued use (Please see Warranty and Crash Replacement policy) ", i wouldnt buy the mountain bike but their gravel offering is interesting for sure at 3k. Thanks to a dropped chainstay design, the G1 clearance for 700c x 40mm or 650b x 2.1" tires and a maximum chainring size of 50t, according to the viathonbicycles.com website, while walmart.com boasts 700c clearance up . At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. Many people are the same, I guess the rebranding isn't for nothing. we must also look at what it costs to produce in numbers. Blog postings are outsourced to cycling journalist Aaron Gulley. The history of the bicycle business is, in one sense, a history of powerful outsiders coming in to teach us dumb yokels how things are done in the Big Leagues. ($1k frame only pricing). Damn. Viathon's staff is made up of bike industry veterans, and the company has partnered with Kevin Quan Studios for its design and engineering. Except none of that happened. Absurd that things with engines are cheaper than pedal bikes. Well, so much for that. Your email address will not be published. I'm a kiter, and that industry is even worse. There is certainly a fair amount of seat post extension to work with there., explained Andy T. Hes right too. Despite this pedigree, Tom and Steuart Walton had no hand in launching Viathon. What is this, a bicycle for ants?? Whether this will serve as a "halo product" to introduce more affordable (or approachable) mountain bikes from the brand in the future is yet to be seen. "The negativity starts in-store with reports of forks installed backward. Even more interesting was Jordan's underlying premise that at least some of those hundreds of millions of Walmart customers would for reasons unknown and perhaps unknowable leap at the opportunity to purchase a full-dress carbon bike with a price tag northward of $3,000 precisely because they didn't have to go into a brick-and-mortar bike shop to purchase it. We tested ways to dial out that feeling, like installing a ShockStop stem, and even to the point of using ridiculously low tire pressures, but as is, this bike is on the harsh side. Andy T described the handling as stock as being razor sharp, so from that standpoint, riders looking for a more road racing leaning gravel bike should be satisfied with the G1. Time for competition to drive down the absurd prices on bikes. viAtHOntM is a systemic product. According to the designer and engineer, Kevin Quan of Kevin Quan Studios, Viathon manufactures frames at the factory, making the best bikes you can think of.. The tire clearances are a bit on the restrictive side as well. The impetus for the brand was therefore personal, not corporate. The wheels were Shimano RS100 or whatever is the wheelset that sells for about $100. Dave Rome Apr 2020. 1. Viathon is a standalone direct-to-consumer brand that, by rights, shouldnt exist. Good, we need more of this competition. @roma258: There's no fear - we're just doing what the majority of buying customers are asking for. milford regional lab franklin, ma. I'd be interested in something like this (depending on where I lived) but it would likely be a third or more mountain bike for me and that seems unlikely. 3G for Ultegra, double the 105 model. Were partnering with the bike industry to deliver so we dont mess it up, said Spinhirne-Martin. Crickets. I'll bet. this will fail big time not just a little. And Kawasaki employs a lot more people in R and D and production than a typical bike company, thats my guess. Does a rising tide lift all boats? bike Complete builds start at $2,300, and top out at $3,500 for the gravel models and around $6,000 for the road and mountain bikes. VIATHON BICYCLES SPONSORS CAFFEINE AND WATTS CLUB. One of the podcasts I listen to (maybe Singletracks?) What's the point? Viathon Bikes - Walmart.com. Shop all Genesis Bikes with sizes ranging from 18" to 700c, in kids and adults sizes. The crankset was square taper FSA even though Sora was already using HT2 by this time. And the company currently sells more bicycles in the United States than any other retailer. Or assembled in store by Walmart employees???? So take the roads less traveled, or the ones that don't even show up on the . The company's launch includes three bikes: the G1, R1 and M1 for, aptly, gravel, road and mountain biking, respectively. That's a common argument in PB comments and everyone blows up saying you can't actually get a good mx bike for that price so why did I see one like you mentioned for 6k at my dealership? Press J to jump to the feed. I think it's time for a Field Test review on this bike to dispel or confirm all the controversy. 12-speed, electronic shifting, handlebar diameter changes, four piston brakes, blah blah don't need. @I wonder how many ZX-6rs are produced and sold. Moosejaw now sells cycling gear on their website and has a retail bike shop in Birmingham, MI. He designed Turner and Cube bikes, the first Pivots, and Diamondbacks for 5 years. The average person is a Walmart shopper, he says. Thats a call youll have to make. It doesnt need to get younger customers. Industry watchers may remember the last time Walmart tried to get into the carbon bike game, which as I recall was about ten years ago. The frames are customized for REI's product line and highly durable. But when people saw these bikes here, it was like, 'Hey, these are real bikes! Not that Viathon is going mass-market anytime soon. Little info you may want to know about the Waltons. Bikes. Its also important to note whats not in the current lineup: womens bikes, utility bikes, and e-bikes. That makes sense. 99% of Americans walk into a Walmart store every week. He proposed a private-label project, and hes bringing it to fruition. Will people buy them? Most people won't even bother looking or once they see every new bike worth buying is >$1100, they quit. Spesh's Fuse 27.5 comes to mind, costing ~$1200. The tires were Schwalbe Lugano which sell around $10 each. The website has no we-can-offer-keenest-prices-because-were-Walmart spiel. When you're at this level, you may as well just buy direct from manufacturer through Aliexpress, They need to build a 130/140 travel trail bike for 2k with GX eagle then I am in lol. Same price as the Grail 7 AL right now, both have quite race-y aspects to them. I would love to see good reviews on them, but KevCentral's just don't cut it for me for actual riding. MTB, Black 648 3+ day shipping Best seller $91.14 16" Marvel Spider-Man Bike for Boys' by Huffy 435 Andy T fitted the ShockStop stem and immediately felt the benefits. as all the other big brands. . The bike thats getting the most attention is Viathons new hardtail mountain bike, though Walmart is also launching with road and gravel options. Bike industry seems super healthy (at least outside looking in), coming from the moto world. Its almost impossible for Walmart to develop premium offerings with the Walmart name, which is synonymous with keen pricing and out-of-favour out-of-town malls. Likewise, this doesn't mean that the UK will see high-end road and MTB bikes retailed from Walmart-owned Asda (not least because Walmart is off-loading Asda in a deal with Sainsbury's if the CMA allows it But Ive never seen the numbers. Let's see the salaries of engineers at Specialized giving us all these "advancements" in recent years that 90% of people riding mountain bicycles on trails don't need. Will hopefully bring the prices down across the board. Meanwhile, the Waltons have put Millions? Giant Stance, pretty close to fitting this bill at 2k! Don't need. Both are well-qualified bike industry veterans, but its not a riveting founder story like, for instance, that ofAllied. The writer, Sarah Moore, found the connection when looking up the trademark on the name, which isregistered to Walmart. Its easier and faster for me to expand our bike offering online than it is to go into stores. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. Order today! But the bikes are neither crap nor cheap. In 2017, Bonobos was sold to, you guessed it, Walmart. Mountain bike companies (and all sporting goods, for that matter) shoot themselves in the foot by changing their product every other year. Another new direct-to-consumer brand, Remot, alsolaunched this week with far less buzz, despite being owned by American Bicycle Group, the holding company for established high-end brands Litespeed and Quintana Roo. Walmart didnt opt to adopt more modern geometry, possibly because its current customer base will have to take a few steps to catch up to the rest of the bike market. They also have their own brands, among which there's their B-Twin brand of bikes and bike accessories brand. Of course they will be. I like his channel and all but want to see people ride bikes like I would or better. Right? And failing. Muley Freaks Erik Van Woerkom Charged With Felony Possession of Trophy Mule Deer, Get Up to 60% Off at REIs End of Season Clearance Sale, The Biggest Improvement to My Camp Kitchen Is a Mini Pizza Oven (But Not for Pizza), VanDOit Moov Builds on Adventure-Ready Ford Transit Trail, Avalanche Outside British Columbia Resort Buries 10, Kills 3 Heli-Skiers. its true, For everyone else. There is very little flex since your BB is both on the swingarm and the front triangle. Then theres the idiots who think they can get 1500 for their POS 1988 cr125. Therefore we have nothing really to go by but the suggested retail and maybe current internet pricing at the time of publishing a piece. So how much cheaper are these complete builds? Like Remot, Viathon debuts with three offerings: one frame each in road, gravel, and mountain, with three levels of build kit. Maybe. And who cares what other people think? Nowadays, a search for Viathon bikes on the Walmart website (see here, here and here) returns a notice that the item is no longer available; the image from the final link (also shown above) displays another brand and model entirely. Viathon Bicycles made waves at its launch earlier this year as a premium bike brand incubated under an unlikely source. Posted Oct 2, 2019, We dentists don't shop at Walmart. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. So far, Viathon isnt saying much about what makes its bikes different, nor is it telling much of a brand story. And then you have a full Dura disc model for 5G. They said it's, basically, a pure XC race bike. At first it was seemingly impressive for $2500. Why would pile-em-high-sell-em-cheap Walmart be interested in such a high-end part of the bicycle market when the market-dominating retailer is already Americas biggest seller of keenly priced bicycles? Ive heard quotes saying a pros super cross bike runs around 100-200k. You could get a 450 for the same as a well optioned V10. They travel by private jet, stay in luxury hotelshave huge parties And never tip anybody anything EVER. what happened to viathon bikeshtml5 interactive animation. Yeah I'm in Australia and I know this, along with they do a bit for some mtb community's and trails. Now, if Viathon frames were suddenly produced in the USA my American hands, with progressive geometry and class leading weights, that might be a different story - but a Taiwanese sourced frame that is pretty much identical to a Hong Fu or Workswell or whatever isn't really a selling point, especially when it costs a few grand. It doesnt have to adapt to the future, it is the future. So we have the greatest potential to reach a larger subset of the American population than any bike shop, or any other brand, he claims. And I want to get more people on bikes. And its partnering with shops, mobile shops, and more, as well as creating an online fit calculator. But Viathon is a Walmart corporatenot Waltonproject, intended to expand Walmarts current bike offerings to the specialty market. Boost? By building via consultants and going straight to the consumer without any immediate plans to be available in Walmart stores enabled Spinhirne-Martin to get the brand up and running quickly. Viathons carbon bikes retail online for between $2,300 and $6,000. Moto shops are fine with 35% margin where most bike shops wouldnt talk to you without keystone margins (50%). It was a carbon fiber frame, and it had DA, but on close inspection it was only DA only where the DA logo was prominent. Certainly Viathon's not to that point yet, but time will tell. Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. Hopefully they turn over some % of these bikes into more trail advocacy. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. Maybe you don't, but I do. Could be interesting. But don't count the traditional players out yet, on either the supply or retail ends of the supply chain. Its not the frames: they arent open-mould no-names, all three shapes were CAD designed by the legendary Kevin Quan Studios of Toronto, Canada. Shit, I'd probably buy one to beat up/lend out. Good question, Dan, and one we'll come back to in just a minute. Also if you make that thing for many years, it further amortizes the investment. When everyones selling a $3,500-ish Shimano Ultegra disc-equipped carbon gravel bike with an oversize headtube, asymmetric rear triangle, and scads of tire clearance, its a little hard to stand apart from the crowdeven when there are real differences. It has more clearance and a modern, slack trail geometry that keeps things loose no matter how tough the terrain gets. It's been just about four months since a line of consumer-direct carbon road, gravel and mountain bikes premiered from a new brand called Viathon, emerging out of the bright Sea Otter sunshine like the goddess Athena springing full-formed from the forehead of Zeus. Um that copper color scheme on the pre-order bikes is also quite loveleh. http://www.walmart.com/cp/viathon-bikes/8471299? Its almost impossible for Walmart to develop premium offerings with the Walmart name, which is synonymous with keen pricing and out-of-favour out-of-town malls. It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with up to 51mm tires. what happened to viathon bikes. Not just kooks either. Mount a water bottle to the frame and stay hydrated for harder riding. Surprised it hasn't happened already or will it appear on tomorrow's front page! Did Viathon offer some bold new technology,jaw-dropping value, or an irresistible brand story? 2 - You can't buy these bikes at a Walmart. Viathon is run as a digitally native vertical brand, a phrase coined by Andy Dunn, founder of US menswear brand Bonobos. Compare prices, components, suspension, reviews, images and more on current and past MTB's. You can even share reviews, comments and questions on mountain bikes. Does REI make their own bikes? If they somehow get interested in riding they will take what Wmart has to offer, and if they have a lot of money and want the "best", Wmart is now there for them. The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. Thanks for your site. The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials. $$$ Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company Privacy Policy Photos See all Videos See all 0:11 39w. In Europe there's this large French sports goods chain called Decathlon. An s-works bike off the floor performs at a pro level. Does it seem like a no-brainer to spring for Viathon for people interested in that? Prices of big brand quality mountain bikes jumped the shark years ago. In an interview last week at Sea Otter, a bicycling industry gathering in Monterey, Calif. I came to Walmart to grow the bike industry. But Walmart. can i return it after thrashing it for a season? A torque wrench is included to help the customer tighten screws appropriately. Well I'm kinda torn here. refresh results with search filters open search menu. Oct 2, 2019 by James Smurthwaite Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. The M.1 is the first mountain bike from Viathon, and from the sound of things, it won't be the last. Walmart.com, of course, is an internet behemoth with hundreds of millions of visitor sessions each month with peak holiday traffic topping half a billion, according to analyses by industry research firms SimilarWeb and Statista. Hi all Thanks for the reviews and updates. Apt analogy. Brought on board to run Walmarts online bike sales, he pitched the idea of a standalone brand. But does it have enough soul and personality to compete with more established brands offering quality bikes at a similarly low price?". Doesn't seem like anyone is really sold on Viathon though. 1 - Walmart didn't buy Viathon. Equipped with a SRAM XO1 Eagle drivetrain that shifts seamlessly, Stans 29 carbon wheels, and an FSA K-force carbon handlebar, this thing was designed to climb. (not sure exactly) into building up a mountain bike mecca in Bentonville, Arkansas. If nothing else, we've been surviving in this business for decades and we know the "easiest way to make a small fortune" in it a lesson which even the best-heeled outsiders have yet to learn. That's a lot to love. Brand manager Zack Spinhirne-Martin doesnt see it that way. Manufacturing costs vary inversely with manufacturing rate. And that right there is the problem with any form of cycling, "my bike is better than yours" bullshit mantra. Two many folks here getting a bit specific. Who does this serve?! The R.1 is available in five stock frame sizes (52-59cm), and three complete bike build in addition to the $2000 frame & fork. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts It's not the frames: they aren't open-mould no-names, all three shapes were CAD designed by the legendary Kevin Quan Studios of Toronto, Canada. This move isn't all too surprising. A Viathon representative told me that Walmart simply wanted the story to be more about the bikes than the company behind them. ! 439mm size large w/ no XLactually dont care, but love an opportunity for a Zoolander quote!! https://bikepacking.com/routes/arkansas-high-country-route-northwest-loop/. Since 1994 these are the words that continue to resonate within us. Go to the shop Go to the shop. Hed been with the online retailer for 10 years. They have dumped millions into cycling in AK, even helping to fund the Arkansas High Country Route. Gwin was smoking everyone on a very close to stock YT tues high end build. And while the bikes may be sold on Walmarts website at some point, theres no mention ofselling in stores, which would put the bikes in front of a broader audience. Walmart is long known as the home of low cost bic. Cue the cheap-crap jokes. I dont think people in the market for $2000-5000 bikes would even think to buy at Walmart let alone shoulder the stigma of owning a bike bought at Walmart, right or wrong as that is. As it is not a pinnacle that can be reached, it is an ongoing process of always honing, evolving, & refining the way our bikes feel. It has longer, slacker geometry than its road bike cousin and different tube shaping. Pleased to see this.