Mount a water bottle to the frame and stay hydrated for harder riding. I want high-level quality customer service to begin with, and I can control that in the US.. But if Viathon is going to have any real impact, its the next set of new bikes that will matter most. Doesn't really looks like a revolution to me yet. Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business. The Viathon M.1 is available in three complete build kit options, starting at $2,400 USD. Writing in 2016, Dunn wrote: Digitally native vertical brands (DNVBs) are maniacally focused on the customer experience and they interact, transact, and story-tell to consumers primarily on the web., Dunn added: The DNVB is born on the internet. The S-Works Epic only comes with an 11-speed groupsetthe Shimano XTR Di2so the Viathon wins in our books with the snazzy eagle. Were partnering with the bike industry to deliver so we dont mess it up, said Spinhirne-Martin. Not that Viathon is going mass-market anytime soon. Walmart is hoping to entice customers to Viathon with a no-questions-asked return policy. Blog postings are outsourced to cycling journalist Aaron Gulley. A 69.5-degree head angle and 73.6-degree seat tube angle are what many brands had a few years ago. At least they dont come with pegs. Get $1000 off Select Items ViathonBicycles.com w/ Coupon (Activate). has lg fixed their compressor issues 2020. I'd like to know how it rides, how well it's assembled, quality of the frame, etc. The parts kits feature quality components from premium suppliers. However, 29 wheels will make your bike react slower to obstacles you may encounter. machines ect. There are no whiz-bang spangles for instance, the MTB is a vanilla hardtail. I won't shop with them. February edition of BikeBiz magazine now available, Pros perspective: Olly Wilkins on DMRs new ODub Bars, MTB clothing brand Dharco aims to expand in Europe, The top five jobs in the bike trade this week 3rd March, German custom bike brand Velo De Ville to launch in UK at The Cycle Show 2023, Ribble Cycles launches new collective of riders, Squire releases its first range of wearable cycle locks, SRAM releases new Force AXS groupset, developed for WorldTour pros. This may have been mentioned already but Im not gonna read everything. He designed Turner and Cube bikes, the first Pivots, and Diamondbacks for 5 years. You think bikes v motos are bad, hell you can get a casio watch for 1000x less than a rolex. Same price as the Grail 7 AL right now, both have quite race-y aspects to them. Still, Viathon is getting a fair bit of press, with stories on a number of cycling-enthusiast and outdoor sites. 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 . 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. Viathon Bicycles made waves at its launch earlier this year as a premium bike brand incubated under an unlikely source. @I wonder how many ZX-6rs are produced and sold. The brake were the same Tektro brakes on a 2300 or Sora bike. Correct that 74 million. I would love to see good reviews on them, but KevCentral's just don't cut it for me for actual riding. bicycling The GVR is designed for the speed of race day and fast-paced action on pave and open fire road sections. The point is, a Viathon purchase does not include some intangibles that are benefits of buying in a traditional model. Viathon was his idea, springing from his background as a former pro rider, a one-time USA Cycling team mechanic and latterly a web commerce geek with Backcountry.com and before that Competitivecyclist.com. The GX spec would be tempting if the geometry and looks weren't reminiscent of my 2009 Stumpy hardtail. Maybe in this specialist market they've done a better job. 207 Nope: while the bikes its offering look to be good quality and competitively priced, the reason that Viathons entry turned heads is whos behind it: Walmart. WhatsApp. The difference is being wholly owned by US hypermarket chain Walmart. So take the roads less traveled, or the ones that don't even show up on the . 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. If the demand for an entry level bike is there, then they can produce enough units to make it financially viable. But Viathon is a Walmart corporatenot Waltonproject, intended to expand Walmarts current bike offerings to the specialty market. Did you have any issues with clearance between the spokes and rival caliper in the front? the stigma of owning a bike bought at Walmart. For now, no. We were not paid, nor bribed for this review. Viathon is hitting the market with three model families. 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. In 2017, Bonobos was sold to, you guessed it, Walmart. bike Bicycle Shop. The last time we posted on the Viathon G1 we mentioned that this bike might be the perfect candidate for the Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem. Tommaso Sentiero Gravel Bike, Shimano Claris Adventure Bike with Disc Brakes, Extra Wide Tires, Perfect for Road Or Dirt Trail Touring, Matte Black, Red Visit the Tommaso Store 60 ratings | 40 answered questions Price: $844.99 Color: Matte Black/Red Size: Select See more About this item Or assembled in store by Walmart employees???? Spinhirne-Martin says yes, and reiterated that he wants to grow the bike industry, not put other brands or bike shops out of business. All the frames are carbon fiber, and the gravel and road models fit solidly within current design trends that prize features like disc brakes and clearance for wider tires. The bikes are clean and simple, classy but without any fanfare. According to Spinhirne-Martin, Walmart is not currently planning store-based service departments. But the bikes are neither crap nor cheap. Dont squint at the pix, the forks face the right way. Having 29 wheels means that you need less fork travel, leading to a reduction of the pedal bob effect. Twitter. Bike MSRP vs. what people actually pay is a whole nother conversation. Managing editor Dean Yobbi told the story in BRAIN's May dead-trees issue and online as well. viAtHOntM is a systemic product. 'Box-store bike' takes on a whole new meaning as Walmart launches Viathonn, a private high-end cycling brand. yup. can i return it after thrashing it for a season? what happened to viathon bikes. No dropper on the GX spec? In fact, the only example I can think of where a large outside brand has achieved even modest success is Dorel Industries, with its serial purchases of Pacific, Cannondale, Schwinn, GT and related brands. Um that copper color scheme on the pre-order bikes is also quite loveleh. 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. I'd love to buy a rigid carbon 29er single speed for about $1300 Viathon. The issue with Walmart isn't how the founders choose to spend their billions, but the effect that Walmart has on local economies. 2 - You can't buy these bikes at a Walmart. At least 30-50% of surfers at my local breaks are on $200 Wavesorms and other "foamies" from Costco and the like. Someone shopping for a high end bike is never going to go to Walmart for it. 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. 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. I like his channel and all but want to see people ride bikes like I would or better. We got bills to pay and we work our asses off for you ya jergoffs. Or is the front-end harshness that pronounced? installing vinyl sheet flooring on wall . They want tech, they want new features, they want new stuff. The R.1 is a true road racing bike, the G.1 is for gravel and the M.1 hardtail is for cross-country riding. I think bikes are priced high and I think the margins are higher than in other enterprises. Im sure you can find wheels that wouldnt clear, depending upon hub design, and wheels that would be just fine. 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. Dave Rome Apr 2020. A torque wrench is included to help the customer tighten screws appropriately. https://bikepacking.com/routes/arkansas-high-country-route-northwest-loop/. The rolex is just a bunch of metal gears and springs where the casio has a better computer in it than what got us to the moon! Walmart are best known for their $300-$500 bikes that. 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. Both are well-qualified bike industry veterans, but its not a riveting founder story like, for instance, that ofAllied. I did hear you and Andy mention 2300 on podcast 65. 12-speed, electronic shifting, handlebar diameter changes, four piston brakes, blah blah don't need. here is a whole range of styles with bikes for children all the way up through adults. Like was stated, much of the pricing for this sport is utterly absurd. Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. It has longer, slacker geometry than its road bike cousin and different tube shaping. The bike uses a very rigid pivot/BB comprised of two MID-BB's inside one another. One could even go as far as to install Redshifts own ShockStop Seat Post for the ultimate smoothness out back. Walmart will sell bikes under this brand soon with price tags up to $6,000. tony dokoupil ex wife the bachelorette. We highly recommend retaining the original shipping box & protective packaging for future use. 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. Now it has a toe in the high-end market and the chance to show that itscapable of making quality stuff. Walmart is also the largest grocer in America and possibly the world. Buyers have 60 days from purchase to return the bike, and it can be new or used. The bikes look pretty good on paper, and the price points are very slim for what you get. I want to figure out how to use that customer base to grow the bike industry.. Doesn't seem like anyone is really sold on Viathon though. Discussion of everything bicycle related. 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. In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head.. Who does this serve?! It's like the lineup are marketed just like any other Walmart products, and the bike prices don't make sense. In effect, the brand is a sortie into a high-end scene, allowing Walmart to test the waters of a rarefied market. It has more clearance and a modern, slack trail geometry that keeps things loose no matter how tough the terrain gets. Plus, Viathons graphics are a little bland, in my opinion, the pricing isnt so aggressive that its clearly better than bikes from established brands like Canyon or Giant (or Remot, for that matter), and the product marketing so far feels spare to the point that its pro forma. I might consider buying it for the components. Very glad for your fair judgement and perspective. bikeit! It is being released alongside a carbon road bike, the R.1, and a carbon gravel bike named, you guessed it - the G.1. And Kawasaki employs a lot more people in R and D and production than a typical bike company, thats my guess. Viathon riders, like every other bike customer, will need service. Im guessing thatwithout the connection to the largest retailer in the world, Viathon wouldnt be getting nearly this level of attention. Atomik/Berd Ultimate Gravel Wheels: At The Finish, The Riding Gravel Pedal Round-Up: Time Pedals Wrap-Up, Showers Pass Hi-Line SS Shirt and Cross Country Shorts: Quick Review, Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS: Getting Rolling, Episode #64 Waffle, GORE, Touareg, Hunt Wheels & More, WTB SG2 Gravel Tires: Resolute Checkpoint , Bontrager Circuit WaveCel Helmet: Quick Review, Gravel Grinder News: Shimano Introduces CUES New Mid-Level Group. Waiting for Whole Foods to offer MTBs. By running razor thin margins at insane volumes. 3 - OP linked to the Walmart site, which had little information. They also have their own brands, among which there's their B-Twin brand of bikes and bike accessories brand. But if Walmart must have some data that shows theyll sell some of these. You do not get the benefit of having a face-to-face resource for things like minor adjustments, tune-ups, or advice, as you would in a bike shop experience, but maybe that doesnt matter to some of you? Who makes Viathon frames? Sure, some R and D for that motorcycle has come from up and down the lineup, but the same can be said for the bike companies. No mention of any real pertinent specs that you'd expect when buying a bike. And while low, Viathon pricing was at parity with any number of other name-brand carbon models, including Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and Canyon. People talking about this being good for "the industry" have no idea what they're talking about. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. But like you say: prices and perceptions of value vary. Maybe. 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? Bike shops could benefit from more riders on more bikes. Browse our range of in stock and ready to ship road, gravel, mountain, hybrid and electric bikes. So, that limits demand. 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. Order today! Its also important to note whats not in the current lineup: womens bikes, utility bikes, and e-bikes. That said, the lineup doesn't make sense. Spinhirne-Martin doesnt need to fret about shipping: he outsources that to industry veteran Richard Wittenberg of Lucidity-Podium Marketing, who has been involved with in-house logistics for brands such as Ridley, Cannondale and Factor. 1 - Walmart didn't buy Viathon. Department-store bikes look a lot better than they used to. 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. Climbing and racing bikes made of carbon are tough enough for tumbles and rough riding. 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. Brilliant, someone commenting who clearly has no idea how much it costs to actually make a bike. So far, Viathon isnt saying much about what makes its bikes different, nor is it telling much of a brand story. And that right there is the problem with any form of cycling, "my bike is better than yours" bullshit mantra. 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). Also if you make that thing for many years, it further amortizes the investment. Its one of the biggest online merchants in the world, No. http://www.walmart.com/cp/viathon-bikes/8471299? Also something to liven up trails that you ride regularly. c'mon. But to drive the demand, there needs to be a product in place to capture attention. 5G for Dura. Mountain bike companies (and all sporting goods, for that matter) shoot themselves in the foot by changing their product every other year. Our Fezzari Bicycle experts are here to help you find the perfect bike. Someone posted an Outside magazine article above that details it. The shifters and RD were DA and that was it. Moto shops are fine with 35% margin where most bike shops wouldnt talk to you without keystone margins (50%). If they add a similarly specced and priced short or mid travel fs bike, those things will sell like hot cakes. Although I 100% agree, I'm sure your comment will be downed by most here. Get 40% off Select Items ViathonBicycles.com w/ Coupon (Activate). 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.. With the backing of Walmart, we can scale very quickly.. Good question, Dan, and one we'll come back to in just a minute. Years ago a friend of mine bought a carbon fiber Dura Ace bike. However; on crushed rock and rough surfaces, the overly-stiff front fork can be a liability when it comes to rider comfort. With Walmart backing this brand, we can engage in a bike segment other brands wont touch.. 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. Like Remot, Viathon debuts with three offerings: one frame each in road, gravel, and mountain, with three levels of build kit. what happened to viathon bikeshtml5 interactive animation. How much is the bike when it has the XX1 components? Or at least, hasn't happened yet. What is this, a bicycle for ants?? That's a hell of alot of awesome MTB trails read about it here Do Steu and T-Dubs ride Viathons? Viathon G1 Bike: At The Finish by Guitar Ted with Andy T. 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. He proposed a private-label project, and hes bringing it to fruition. Trail systems even in coastal areas are getting so well-built (and relatively easy due to limited elevation, at least on the US east coast) that a lot of people can easily get into the sport if they have a bike. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? Considering the Walmart shopper and what bike theyre on now, the answer is probably yes. If you're making more of something, you can afford to invest in tooling and equipment and processes to make it cheaper. I'm seeing an unbranded power meter, but no mention of it. And who cares what other people think? Viathon Bikes - Walmart.com. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts How long do Walmart bikes last? Oh that bike would make a good gift for my grandchild, so he stops playing mine craft and go outside a bit. Yea 10k is a lot for a bike, but its also top tier in the Mtb world. Someone asked above how can they sell for this much cheaper? Well I'm kinda torn here. @roma258: It's a catch 22. 3G for Ultegra, double the 105 model. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. Which raises the question who is the brand aiming to reach? Little info you may want to know about the Waltons. Unbelievable a$$holes, TLDR: "successful family chooses to enjoy their success while remaining frugal to ensure long term multigenerational wealth". I don't know what site you are on but thats all there. "SHIMANO 105 FC-R7000, HOLLOWTECH 2, 50-34T". Or did you have its sale / closeout pricing in mind ($1,599)? Their investments are totally separate from Walmart even though Steuart is on the main Walmart board.. Will people buy them? $$$ Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company Privacy Policy Photos See all Videos See all 0:11 milford regional lab franklin, ma. ($1k frame only pricing). Stock yz250 is a joke compared to what actual supercross athletes ride. But the move that really set the cat among the industry pigeons was the Viathon sales strategy, which at least strongly hinted at distribution via Walmart.com. Thanks for your site. Walmart takes their terrible gun selection out then adds this ballbuster. 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. "Of course, there was some backlash with the Walmart connection,'' said Mark Jordan, whose CrankTank marketing group staged the Viathon launch and was quoted in Yobbi's original article. $2000 is still steep for an entry level hardtail, especially without at 27.5+ option. Thats a call youll have to make. It's why car companies like BMW don't come out with a new 3-series every year, but more like every 7. Schedule a free call. I was recruited two and a half years ago to raise the game and show what Walmart can deliver in terms of bikes, Spinhirne-Martin tells me. A few things are apparent with Viathon. I spoke with him at the recent Outerbike expo in Idaho, the second public outing for the brand. Dollar-for-dollar there are other carbon-framed high-end bikes out there that undercut the Viathon offerings. Still others are simply doing their best to sort through the marketing-speak to make a performance-to-value calculation on the best tool to get on the roador into the woods. There are no whiz-bang spangles for instance, the MTB is a vanilla hardtail. Viathon is for riders who appreciate uncontrived quality, demand craftsmanship but recognize value, who pedal for health yet savor the ride. 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? Could always ride it and return it! This is not meant to be in support or against Viathon or Walmart, but there's a few things people here are missing. Walmarts top-of-the-line M.1 hardtail mountain bike has 120mm travel with RockShox components, Stans wheels, Level Ultimate brakes, and Continental tires. The tires were Schwalbe Lugano which sell around $10 each. Pleased to see this. Just go to Bentonville, ride those trails, a lot of which is paid for w/ money from Wam-Lart, and I think you suddenly like the idea of their bikes a lot more. But Viathon's G.1 GRX 800 is light, fast, and sporty, and costs much less than its competitors. Now with over twenty years under our belt we know more than ever how important the ride really is. They don't know from Canyon et al. Apt analogy. what happened to viathon bikes Byjunho 3, 2022 At Viathon, we believe that great bikes make riding more fun. But Ive never seen the numbers. No mention of gearing. By James Smurthwaite Hes also the founder and part owner of Knight Composites. we must also look at what it costs to produce in numbers. 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. Walmart thinks so, and the retail juggernaut is betting its customers do too. Walmart buying Rapha would be the latter. Almost all carbon frames come from Asia, and different brands often subcontract with the same large producers. I mean, they still have to make the same deals with sram, rockshox, shimano etc. Good. In the meantime, it seems Walmart isn't quite sure what they've created or who . The XX1 bike is around 21.5 pounds for a size M. The weight is competitive with other hardtail cross-country bikes in the same price range, and the price isnt wildly low. (if they care about value, they'll go YT or Canyon, etc.). 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.". I read an article that estimates the bikes the top pro supercross riders use would cost somewhere in the range 100k-200k.