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. can i return it after thrashing it for a season? Walmart's Viathon G.1 gravel bike might be the most - Bikerumor A torque wrench is included to help the customer tighten screws appropriately. i gave it a spin. Take YouTuber KevCentral, for example, whose channel reviews bikes available at Walmart and Walmart.com and how to upgrade them. Were partnering with the bike industry to deliver so we dont mess it up, said Spinhirne-Martin. 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). Its exploding right now because people are afraid of riding in traffic. The mountain bike is the perfect companion to discover new things off the beaten track. But if Walmart must have some data that shows theyll sell some of these. bicycles Discussion of everything bicycle related. what happened to viathon bikes - sexygeeks.be Or on the other hand, that lower price may be just the ticket to smooth out the ride. There hasn't been a new supersport motorcycle design from ANYONE in like over a decade. He designed Turner and Cube bikes, the first Pivots, and Diamondbacks for 5 years. The FD was 105 as was the 10 sp cassette. We highly recommend retaining the original shipping box & protective packaging for future use. Who does this serve?! The SRAM components and Zipp cockpit pieces are quality bits that should last the rider quite some time. Managing editor Dean Yobbi told the story in BRAIN's May dead-trees issue and online as well. The tire clearances are a bit on the restrictive side as well. While you could swap to 650B wheels, and the bike can carry a front rack, there isnt a lot of versatility built in here beyond that. Viathon is for riders who appreciate uncontrived quality, demand craftsmanship but recognize value, who pedal for health yet savor the ride. Spinhirne-Martin says yes, and reiterated that he wants to grow the bike industry, not put other brands or bike shops out of business. Katie Compton. Viathon Bikes - Walmart.com. Second, the designers chose to mount a dropper seatpost as standard equipment on the M.1. The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials. 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. 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. They were puzzled by it, because the market for a pure XC race bike is pretty small compared to more general modern geometry hardtails that are built for "fun.". The bikes are clean and simple, classy but without any fanfare. Walmart is the largest retailer for bikes in America by a good margin. 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. Therefore we have nothing really to go by but the suggested retail and maybe current internet pricing at the time of publishing a piece. 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. Viathon is run as a digitally native vertical brand, a phrase coined by Andy Dunn, founder of US menswear brand Bonobos. And just like any other reality, outsiders ignore ours at their peril. All rights reserved. @roma258: The development and progress is exciting but the concern is that the bike industry is nothing but development and process - all icing no cake. Viathon: Walmart's $6,000 Mountain Bike Put to Test Lots of things coming from different directions can sometimes become out of whack enough to cause a problem. Walmart launches upscale Viathon road, gravel and mountain bike brand Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - Cyclocross Magazine The Viathon M.1 is available in three complete build kit options, starting at $2,400 USD. The road bike is 200 grams lighter than the gravel bike, with more aggressive geometry, 28c tires, and a stiffer frame. In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head.. PDF HeLenA cHeMicAL cOMPAny - Amazon Web Services If it's the latter, I hear the bikes will be spec'd with negative-51mm offset forks Another thing to note is high-end mountain bikes is still a tiny market when compared to motorcycles/cars/etc. We wanted to create a non-intimidating platform, said Spinhirne-Martin. Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. You cannot buy a Viathon bike from one of Walmarts 4000 plus US stores (or from Asda supermarkets in the UK). What's the point? Since the news was announced last week, fans have been coming out and saying that this is what theyve been waiting for. Kudos to them, but that story stretches back some 15 years and is still far from over. Love lower price bikes and bringing the MTB sport to more people.. 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. All Genesis Bikes | Kids & Adult | 18 inch to 700c | Kent Bicycles By July, barely 90 days from its glitzy premiere, Viathon had announced via direct mail and on its website that it was dropping prices on all models by as much as $1,000 per bike, to as low as $1,998. 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. No dropper on the GX spec? Could be interesting. It's not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. It turns out that Walmart bike buyers, as much as theyre dismissed or even ridiculed, include some passionate fans. Frame weight is a claimed 1,010 grams for size 54, including derailleur hardware and bottle cage bolts. The wheels were Shimano RS100 or whatever is the wheelset that sells for about $100. If we stopped inventing new shit the whole circus might just collapse in on itself overnight. Maybe in this specialist market they've done a better job. And Kawasaki employs a lot more people in R and D and production than a typical bike company, thats my guess. Thats a challenge. Returns only available to original purchaser. The crankset was square taper FSA even though Sora was already using HT2 by this time. They are direct to consumer from the website, just like Canyon. This move isn't all too surprising. 'Box-store bike' takes on a whole new meaning as Walmart launches Viathonn, a private high-end cycling brand. Certainly Viathon's not to that point yet, but time will tell. Viathon, like Bonobos, goes against the fundamental tenets on which Walmart was built. If successful, Viathon can be rolled out widely, claimed Spinhirne-Martin.With the backing of Walmart, we can scale very quickly., Im focusing on the US right now. The frame looks eerily similar to a China carbon frame I bought recently for $400 (frame and rigid fork). Doubt they are taking a loss, even at these prices. I can build proof of concept and then push over time into stores.. (The Walmart connection can be found only on the sites copyright line.) 1. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.walmart.com/cp/viathon-bikes/8471299, https://www.viathonbicycles.com/products/road-bike-r1-105. Browse our range of in stock and ready to ship road, gravel, mountain, hybrid and electric bikes. It does all those things a really good racing bike should do. As we continue to build out the platform, we welcome other brands, said Spinhirne-Martin. Things have moved on. Browse. Dollar-for-dollar there are other carbon-framed high-end bikes out there that undercut the Viathon offerings. which would be why the mtb would cost more, not enough numbers to drive down the productions costs, mould costs. 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 Hes also the founder and part owner of Knight Composites. @roma258: It's a catch 22. The value from Viathon is good- not a spectacular deal but decent. It has more clearance and a modern, slack trail geometry that keeps things loose no matter how tough the terrain gets. The multi-tier distribution model of sporting goods companies doesn't help either but it's a reality that's likely not going to change. And does it matter, because the nut is now unusable? The bikes look fine. Seems like an easy decision there. Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business. Not everybody has great trail access, but almost everybody has access to dirt roads.. Viathon is a standalone direct-to-consumer brand that, by rights, shouldnt exist. At The Finish: So, what we have here is an interesting sales model and a fine bike for those who crave the ultimate in efficiency that carbon fiber can bring to the table. The bike uses a very rigid pivot/BB comprised of two MID-BB's inside one another. If they add a similarly specced and priced short or mid travel fs bike, those things will sell like hot cakes. With Walmart backing this brand, we can engage in a bike segment other brands wont touch.. But Ive never seen the numbers. This line of thinking reflects a massive gap In understanding about top line Mtb (for example s-works) and the stock YZ250. We were not paid, nor bribed for this review. But Viathon is a Walmart corporatenot Waltonproject, intended to expand Walmarts current bike offerings to the specialty market. Vitus Bikes Time for competition to drive down the absurd prices on bikes. I'm honestly surprised by how many people don't realize the Walton family is already waist deep in the cycling industry. Spinhirne-Martin tells me to look around the Laguna Seca Raceway, which is teeming with fans, baggy shorts-wearing bros, and Lycra-clad racers with rippling muscles. I wanted to make bikes that I would want to ride, says Spinhirne-Martin. Sign up today. Does a rising tide lift all boats? Years ago a friend of mine bought a carbon fiber Dura Ace bike. The gravel scene is important for that. The load is transmitted through four large bearings and a large 19mm chunk of steel. Giant Stance, pretty close to fitting this bill at 2k! Two Walmart heirs, Tom and Steuart Walton, are themselves highly enthusiastic riders who have invested in cycling companieslike Allied Cycle Works and Rapha, and they directed the trailbuilding grants that have helped transformWalmarts home base of Bentonville, Arkansas, into a world-class mountain-bikingdestination. Viathon Is Walmart's New High-End Bike Brand - Outside Online Turner Tech But Quan is the only person mentioned in a team of top bicycle industry veterans with decades of collective experience. The only other real face behind Viathon is brand manager Zach Spinhirne-Martin, who spent nine years with the online retailer Competitive Cyclist before joining Walmart as its bike category manager. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. Its name is Viathon. Maybe they could pump out some sultans for turner? They travel by private jet, stay in luxury hotelshave huge parties And never tip anybody anything EVER. what happened to viathon bikes bicycling The impetus for Viathon didnt come from Tom and Steuart Walton, avid riders, Walmart heirs responsible for the trail network in Bentonville, Ark., and investors in Rapha and Allied Cycle Works. Walmart is also the largest grocer in America and possibly the world. At these prices you can buy if for the components and off the frame. Your email address will not be published. Viathon Bikes - Browse Models & View Specs It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with. As mentioned, this is the lowest-cost complete bike in Viathon's G.1 range, but that doesn't mean the parts are low-cost. Walmart is long known as the home of low cost bic. And that right there is the problem with any form of cycling, "my bike is better than yours" bullshit mantra. We will strive to give our honest thoughts and views throughout. what happened to viathon bikes Byjunho 3, 2022 At Viathon, we believe that great bikes make riding more fun. The writer, Sarah Moore, found the connection when looking up the trademark on the name, which isregistered to Walmart. You could get a 450 for the same as a well optioned V10. Although from a bike industry perspective, the geometry is a few years outdated even for a hardtail. Buyers have 60 days from purchase to return the bike, and it can be new or used. Viathon Launches New Direct-to-Consumer G1 Carbon Gravel Bike 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? For the last update and a link to the introductions, Click Here. This segment of the gravel bike market has fierce competition for your attention, and Viathons G1 doesnt strike us as being outstanding from much of what is offered now. That wont set it apart in a highly competitive market or bring high-end tech to a new market of people. Viathons carbon bikes retail online for between $2,300 and $6,000. We have incredible traffic on our site. Having 29 wheels means that you need less fork travel, leading to a reduction of the pedal bob effect. The motorcycle comparison is nothing to do with whether its top spec blaa blaa blaa. Good. First they took our jerbs, and they're taking our guns! A long wheelbase and dropped chainstay design supports wide rubber and rough riding conditions. Press J to jump to the feed. 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? Whole Foods sells the Yeti decals to place over 'Viathon'. 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. Cue the cheap-crap jokes. what happened to viathon bikes - daxasys.com Like was stated, much of the pricing for this sport is utterly absurd. So this is competing against the Ibis DV9? It's funny - as a surfer, I'm seeing a lot of people who typically spend mediocre wave days in the water scrapping for a lousy ride now turn towards mountain biking as their go-to activity when the waves are garbage. 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. I'm seeing an unbranded power meter, but no mention of it. So, that limits demand. Someone in the Walmart family must be a mtb enthusiast as they also fund the Bentonville Arkansas trails which I believe is where their HQ is located. Look for Viathon bikes online at ViathonBicycles.com in mid-May, and soon after at Walmart.com. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. Should brick-and-mortar or other online retailers worry? Turner Bikes - Titanium Mountain & Gravel Bikes I've bought many clothing items from them, trekking boots etc and I was perfectly happy with the price/quality ratio. Spinhirne-Martin wouldnt reveal sales targets but, reading between the lines, he likely doesnt have to sell many for the brand to be considered a success. For sure we are also undergoing huge changes; times are tough now and likely to get tougher before they get better. He doesnt have a marketing team: he outsources that to Idaho-based Cranktank, the PR and marketing outfit led by Adrian Montgomery, ex of Scott, and Scott Montgomery, ex of both Cannondale and Scott and who is also the current president of Reynolds Cycling. Someone shopping for a high end bike is never going to go to Walmart for it. And failing. A First Look at Viathon, Walmart's new Mountain Bike At the end of the day, we bike people live and work in a quirky, parochial and, more than occasionally, incestuous little industry, one with its own set of business realities. But it is building out a platform not just with more and better bikes, but with video and editorial support. Now on to the final word on this carbon fiber crushed rock roller. what happened to viathon bikes. Hyper Bicycle 26" Men's Havoc Mountain Bike, Black 417 Pickup +2 options $248.00 Kent 26 In. 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.. But what was remarkable about Viathon was the identity of the brand's owner: Walmart. I like his channel and all but want to see people ride bikes like I would or better. Discover our range of MTBs | ROSE Bikes Not just kooks either. At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. 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. philadelphia bicycles - craigslist The initial feel is that of being a disjointed one- the front being very stiff while the back is not so much, at least on gravel.