$150 MTB vs. Bike Park | GMBN's Cheap Bike Challenge - US Edition

[@wmkm7144]

I love videos that give me the justification to buy ridiculously overpriced bikes.

[@dvs620]

Walmart has their own brand that makes a decent hardtail. The Ozark Trail Ridge can be had for $398 and is a good jumping off point for beginners who aren't sure they'll like mountain biking.

[@gmbn]

😅😂

[@dannyphantom121]

@@gmbn Shouldve got a Schwinn or Huffy. Hyper is crazy ngl.

[@upstatecre8]

Come on! You walked by the red Schwinn Axum…for this ride you would have had 29 inch wheels(29x2.6), dropper post, I want to say 180mm front disks and 160 rear. As a MTBer that knows his stuff, why did you pull the trashiest bike off the rack? I know in the west it took a long time for these bikes with tapered head tubes to show up, but you walked right by at least one of them. I’d like to challenge you to pull off one of their bikes with a tapered head tube and do an honest “Walmart” bike review please.

[@simonm1447]

GMBN is very similar here to GCN, they ride their expensive bike and they ''test'' some very cheap ones. They typically do not really cover the class of decent beginner bikes. This may be the case since they have sponsors, which have an interest in selling their expensive bikes. Schwinn is not a GMBN sponsor.

[@upstatecre8]

@@simonm1447 Thank you for bringing this up. It’s worth noting. We all know that there are some amazing higher level bikes out there. I feel like this KZbinr did themselves a discredit by choosing the bike they did and I just really trying to say it as frankly and respectfully as I can.

[@KarstRats]

@@upstatecre8well this is a good moment for parents to realize they shouldnt buy the cheapest bike they can for their kids. Just the danger factor alone is enough to steer an unknowing parent that doesnt ride out of the way of the cheapest of the cheap. Theyll at least know what not to look for ya feel?

[@echobenav8]

Totally agree with your POV. The Axum is a great gateway into the sport without spending a lot of money. Not everyone can drop $2k on full sus "entry-level" bike. Would be great to see a proper review of entry level bikes at various price points.

[@bonzobanana1]

This is no different to the GCN video where they bought a Eurobike, a very overpriced entry level road bike when there were great quality entry level road bikes from other brands like the Carrera Virtuoso or offerings from Decathlon plus a few other decent options. Instead they chose the Eurobike. They are trying to manipulate the audience to avoid entry level or shop brand bikes and buy the more expensive models ideally from their sponsored brands. Most consumers aren't buying the worst possible option in the store they are looking at what is available and making a value judgement and that hasn't happened here they have selected the worst option to match their sponsorship agenda. The debt level of the USA and UK is staggering. It's something like $35 Trillion for the US for government debt or about $100 trillion for all liabilities. Consumers should be making sensible choices with their money neither entry level junk or overpriced premium products but sensible products between those two. Most bikes come from Asia and are simply rebranded to US or European brands. Here in the UK you can get good quality shop brand bikes for £400 that match the spec and quality of big brands at around £800-900.

[@JB50713]

"if you were thinking of getting some like this" lol That was funny Rich!

[@wantahertzdonut]

I'm amazed walmart can still sell a bike this cheap. They sold similar bikes for the same price 25 years ago! They're just as horrible, but still.

[@travelbug8244]

I'm just going to ride around the park on a level surface so the Walmart bike should be good for me right?

[@lawrencesally6189]

I would love to see a fresh bike of that model do a gravel course. I bet it would do ok....

[@the_blair_bike_project]

What's with the funky 70's p__n music?

[@Emtbtoday]

Reminds me of the Saracen Raw orange n black one i had as a kid lol but Sr Suntour shocks that bike was same price back then but they were better quality than these chocolate bikes today! Even though they were old skool I'd rather put my kid on an older like saracen Raw or Saracen Havoc than that 2024 hunk o junk

[@Bear-Jew]

I would not want this bike, even if you paid me. And no, I am not some posh biker. I just like my teeth where they are right now. Very entertaining video, even if painful to watch. 😆

[@deviantgaming9726]

Walmart only honestly sells a handful of bikes I would say aren't actually dangerous. You missed the "not intended for offroad use" warning on the fork 😅

[@aether388]

Yep - my main ride is an Ozark Trail Ridge 29" - I've upgraded it a good bit tbf, but even out the door it was able to take on trails (well after a tune-up, at least). Awesome starting MTB for $400

[@deviantgaming9726]

@aether3885 that is literally one of the 4 I meant when I said that lol. I ride an axum and a friend rides an ardor. I like the trouvaille, but the frame was too cramped for my 6'2 frame

[@Accuracy158]

I've logged some mellow miles on a Schwinn Axum and the only real source of "excitement" is going to be the stock breaks. Might occasionally get a thorn going through a tire and inner tube and a chain drop or two is still going happen also.

[@deviantgaming9726]

@Accuracy158 it's not perfect by any means but it's a great place to start. A decent set of hydros and upgrade the drivetrain and its a proper beast. I run maxxis ardent 2.25 tires and an advent 9 xl 46-11 with a 32t oval chain ring. Still rocking a 120mm coil fork from an older project tho

[@Accuracy158]

@@deviantgaming9726 Yeah I don't think they're worth upgrading compared to just buying something nicer to start with. But I still ride it occasionally when I'm ridding varied trails with bit single track mixed in.

[@garavonhoiwkenzoiber]

4:16 wow, gear indicators, chainring chainguard, AND a kickstand? My £3000 bike has none of those! This bike is fully kitted out!

[@rusty2222]

I've got Sam Pilgrim on line one, he wants a word...

[@charliecook6909]

😂 throught the same thing , im sure iv seen this video before 🤔 oh yeah I have 😂

[@itsnot1673]

this is way more impressive

[@Celeon999A]

It is clearly flippable...so much is certain. But only some stairset doomage will show its TRUE potential and limits 😂

[@better.better]

if I recall Sam's bike was still rideable at the end so I think it might have needed some minor repairs

[@KP-ol3tc]

I believe Ryan Taylor hit us with this concept about 7-8 years ago but I don't wanna give him too much credit cuz he a weirdo lol

[@Silverhaze78]

Schwinn Axum , Ozark Trail Ridge or the Kent Trouvaille are the better options from Walmart.

[@komoonkh]

But the video wouldnt be entertaining, because those bikes can handle a basic trail no prohlem, actually pretty decent.

[@SavageGTI]

Just getting back into bikes since I was a kid. Picked up a 27.5" schwinn Al Comp hard tail from Walmart. But only have done some basic trails nothing like this video

[@Emtbtoday]

Ozark trails ment be their first real bike worth getting, berm peak done the walmart review last month

[@blackhawk65589]

My gf picked one of those up last year for her first mtb. Great entry level bike for the price and you can simply return it if it breaks

[@johndor1904]

I was/am thinking about that Ozark Trail 29er, but on the other hand I might be able to build off a used frame for less than it would be to buy the OT and upgrade it

[@donnovicki9771]

Giordano Valor or Intrepid. Good bike reasonable priced not 150.00. but some quality components. No need to upgrade right off.

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

Should have got the Ozark trail for $398 plus tax hardtail with a suntour fork.

[@antdod1]

The kickstand is so u can leave it any where and hopefully some one will nick it lol 😆

[@gmbn]

Chance would be a fine thing!

[@antdod1]

You should leave it outside gmbn headquarters and see if it gets taken lol 😆

[@corykayhoe1033]

As a American watching this i couldn't stop laughing, Walmart sells some suspect bikes 😂 , rich your one brave man .

[@Harkins02]

Arrives in Phoenix for Sedona bike fest and immediately does south mountain on a $150 bike! Now that’s what I call a good weekend!

[@michaelorlando3647]

What trails are you riding in Arizona? Is that South Mountain, Hawes or some other trail system?

[@Derekforeal]

South Mountain.

[@justinhays0827]

It's my opinion that since Walmart's founding hometown is Bentonville, Arkansas, which is now a Mountain Biking Mecca, they have exactly ZERO excuses to not offer decent biking options nowadays. This is a huge financial and ethical opportunity for them. It might even influence other retailers to follow suit and stop selling dangerously cheap bikes.

[@trevorturkin9411]

I will say, they do have some decent offerings now that could be considered mountain bikes if they aren't already, like to ozark trail ridge, and the kent trouvaile, or even the schwinn axum. I was kind of hoping he would pick that schwinn taff, cus he would have actually probably had a decent experience with it for like $300.

[@DaveCM]

They have a few bikes that aren't too bad in the scheme of things. But, they can't support really good bikes as that would require mechanics They wouldn't want to pay.

[@saitoman]

Bentonville, Arkansas.

[@Wolit51]

Walmart ethical? lol

[@gmbn]

Don't get us wrong, there are some great bikes and solid brands available through their stores. We set out to find a mountain bike shaped object which just isn't up to task for some of the areas wildest trails!

[@Salty_Shredz]

Gotta try the Ozark trail ridge! That’s the only Walmart bike I’d honestly recommend! Definitely worth a rich/blake GMBN review!

[@Jimburgess1977]

A $181 bike turns out to be a death trap on the trails. Who’d of thought 😅

[@CoachLo3]

Walmart does have some good bikes now. Ozark Trail and Kent have good ones. Would love to see a video on those instead.

[@RAZ423]

These videos make me smile, but in all honesty the bikes are fine for most who buy them. They will be brought out once or twice a year to be ridden around the neighborhood sidewalks. The adventurous will tote round an entire family's worth hanging off the back of an RV and toodle around the campground loop during family vacation. In fact I have more respect for them than the narcissist with the 4X4 carrying $10K MTBs that never leave the pavement either.

[@FirestormAA]

Gosh is seriously dangerous heading down hill with a Walmart cheap bike..... lol

[@VFXBishop]

Honestly, I think that cheap bikes like these are important not from a hobbyist/enthusiast perspective, but from a general mobility perspective. They may serve as a gateway for people who are intersted in cycling as a hobby, but really their strongest suit is getting people around on generally smooth surfaces and having a good look for people who like the style. I don't think many/any of the bikes at Wally World are actually meant to be real MTBs with the exception of a couple of their "Most expensive" models.

[@InitialP_Photography]

You were smashing it into stuff, hammering the forks into drops etc, stuff, you wouldn't do on a bike you cared about if you treat your bike like that, things would fail, not saying it's a good bike but was obvious you didn't give a shit about it.

[@isaacyip7168]

I love this type of video. Keep making these GMBN

[@Velo1010]

Same here

[@gmbn]

Which countries supermarkets should we sample next?

[@lilbruin]

Canadian Tire. No groceries, but any number of suspect bikes. having said that, I rode them for years for just pootling.@@gmbn

[@JonCannings]

This reminds me why I love big supermarkets so much. They literally sell everything and you can spends hours inside them just wandering and wandering!

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Is this still a thing in the UK? (Seems it is in the US). In my area, the last one will close at the end of the month. Here in Germany, supermarkets that have more than food are getting rare.

[@johndor1904]

@@chrisridesbicycles in america we call them department stores, and there was a time when walmart didnt sell groceries, just every other random thing on the planet. At one point walmart opened stores that only sold groceries, and im not sure they are around anymore

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@@johndor1904 Interesting that they came from that side. The store I wrote about was a Walmart from 1997 to 2006 before they left the German market. Before that, it was some regional chain but it always sold everything from groceries to toys to bikes.

[@bibasik7]

V brakes aren't dreadful if they're good quality and set up correctly... ...which explains why the ones on this bike ARE dreadful.

[@Jan-bf2ht]

Thanks I did wanted to say exactly that. V Brakes are in no means "dreadful" and a set of decent v brakes (that are properly adjusted) will do perfectly fine, especially in these dry conditions … If the pads are good, performance of V Brakes is really good.

[@adamweb]

8:15 This scene cracked me up, they should just make the entire frame one huge warning sticker/owners manual combo 😂

[@riccardonotari9701]

The Garmin on the handlebar costs twice the whole bike... 🤣🤣🤣

[@gmbn]

🤔What is the cheapest bike you've ever bought? How long has it lasted? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

[@nicklowe536]

Raleigh Mantis £200 back in 91 got.me.into mountain biking had three great years together till passing it on to my dad

[@nakitojimo2001]

2021 Genio Scappa steel gravel bike with Sensah Reflex 2x8 groupset for less than $150. Surprisingly it's a bad-ass, it can even handle steep single tracks!

[@keithwestwood4640]

94 giant boulder shock from Deganwy cycles £250 in a sale ,thought it was the bee's knee's back in the day.

[@simonm1447]

My cheapest bike is a Cyclewolf teenager bike which was thrown away a couple of years ago. I found it during a scrap metal collection and refurbished it, however it's still working fine and it did not need a lot of things replaced. It does not have the safety hazards of the bike in the video

[@tims_builds]

You did walk past some of the better options at Walmart, pretty sure I spotted a couple Schwinn Boundaries in there. If you were going for sub $200 though I guess this'll do...

[@gazziboy]

and now for our next trick, we are returing the bike for a refund

[@better.better]

definitely go over this shit with a fine tooth comb and a torque wrench before you get on it. remember it wasn't a mechanic (of any sort) that assembled this.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Yeah sure Rich could have looked for a "better" Ozark trail or Schwinn at Walmart but Hyper has a DH entry so it's legit 😂😂😂

[@saltyp123]

This has been done 1000 times already...if you're going to go down to the walmart level...atleast get that Ozark Trail hardtail for 300 bucks.

[@mrman26]

I love it when the British lads come out and ride in the western US! I would only consider a Walmart mountain bike if you plan to stay on paved paths. I would also consider adding a couple hundred dollars to the budget and getting a much more-capable “Ozark Trail” bike. I like that people with smaller budgets can at least get something.*

[@davidmcdermott3415]

The assembly is the biggest question. It was unboxed by the same guy that stocks the underwear.

[@peroMajdandzic]

Why choose a stupid bike at Walmart that you know is not fit for purpose (it says so on the warning stickers) why not choose another Walmart bike like a hardtail that is capable of doing light trails. I live in Australia so I jumped on Walmart's website and they have several bikes that I think could do the job safely........... Why not encourage beginners on a tight budget to have a look at those bikes, at the least it will get people onto the trails and out of the house.

[@papagodzilla5465]

with all the lack of materials in the world and the environnemental problems, this is one of these things that shouldn't exist anymore and have laws against de production of these crappy things. Trek has some basic bikes that are cheap and sturdy made for a budget. Their kids bikes are surprisingly well made.

[@NelsonSherry]

Yeah, you gave it way too much credit. I'd suggest that the failed fork put it over the top of, not safe, don't ever ride. Before the fork, it should be only safe to ride on relatively flat gentle conditions in dry weather.

[@lilbruin]

That bike on that cliff edge?!? One of the scariest things I've seen on the internet for a while. You're a brave man (or the other thing…)

[@gmbn]

Potentially a bit of the other thing 😅😉

[@pauljackson5326]

How narrow are those bars though?

[@Jusdin057]

Right 😂, I almost thought he grabbed off a Dirt Jumper

[@chinabicycle]

Well, I asked you not to show my first bike, now everyone will laugh at me

[@clarencehowell1986]

As much as a didn’t want to watch another one of these. You nailed it! 😂

[@mommamooney]

I’ve been looking forward to this video. It did not disappoint! Hopefully Rich found his teeth and eyeball after this ride

[@steve2084]

Amazzzzzzing soundtrack and ride position!!! 😅😅😅 I had a department store bike right thru until 14 and the difference is obvious! Entry level bike store bike costs $250 CDN more than the “equal” counterpart at Walmart and is worth EVERY cent of it…unless you like rotating handlebars and wobbly cranks!!!! Great video. Really loved it! Those bars were what? 550mm wide? Hahahahaha. Epic. Thanks for doing it!

[@Ignore_This_Account.]

I'm surprised it had that many problems so fast, I have one of those, I've went up and down 7 different mountains in Colorado with that damn thing, it's still fine lol.

[@Ignore_This_Account.]

Like the exact same model as the one in the video.

[@artvandelay1720]

The point of a URT suspension is that it throws you over the bars, so the bike was working as intended

[@dallasangler]

Let's see.. Mongoose...no, Shwinn ...na wait a tick Havoc! That's the ticket.

[@AHappyZeebra]

You may have missed out on the best video potential by RETURNING the bike to WalMart

[@gmbn]

That would have been funny, but we used the bike for far more than it's intended purpose 😬

[@brianorourke4530]

Get what you pay for. Great funny video!! 😂

[@nvanpraag]

You're a VERY brave man. 😆

[@TheFuel89]

That looks like a Carraro I had as kid. Though I'm pretty sure mine was better, but that might just be my fond memories.

[@brentmitchell427]

Strip it to the frame/triangle then build it back up with decent components and see if the frame can take it

[@allanfoster6965]

Fun video. But i think Walmart sell more serious kit on line.

[@erictrelz3519]

Rich, please DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN! The video made me cringe. I think you were not aware of how close you came to snapping that fork in two. If that had happened, you would have had little time to react and would face and inpalement risk. Your health is far more important. I hope to meet you someday and let you know how much I appreciate your videos and work.

[@mtbrallday3209]

Still in Phoenix area? You should hit the McDowell Mountain area

[@GF-cb8rr]

Hawes is a favorite. ...I would hope he went to the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival.

[@raimg1816]

Go back and buy 400$ bike and do same, then review it.

[@simonm1447]

I thought the same. For 400 they offer some decent hardtails which are fine for beginners

[@fud1376]

Rather you than me..Ha !..That things a deathtrap...!!

[@JeffRevell]

Congratulations, you purchased a kids bike that is meant for riding on dirt and gravel roads. I didn't see one but there are almost always stickers on these bikes warning that they are not suitable for off-road trails. There are much better budget bikes available from Walmart that are actually off-road/trail rated with larger wheels, disc brakes, coil forks, better geometry, and sized for adults.

[@MieleTouchtronic]

That thing is a certified 2 wheel abomination - I was embarrassed for you just watching you wheel that out of the store. I would have had to wear a hoodie and sunglasses in case someone I knew saw me buying something like that haha 😂🤣😆

[@ripapa6355]

The shot from behind whenever you're sitting and peddaling has some serious mario kart vibes. 😂😂

[@gmbn]

Couple banana skins from Rich is more than likely!

[@stefslyfe]

I personally think that cheap bikes force you to learn how to actually ride as you don’t have the luxury of allowing the bike to do all of the work. That said, there is a limit and some bikes are rubbish, but you don’t have to have a bike that’s priced in the thousands to have a good time out on the trails. I’m running a 2016 Giant Talon 4 that I copped used for $175 (originally a $700 bike) and I crush dudes that I see on $5000+ bikes 😂😂😂😂😂

[@jamesdickerson4207]

Well.... Considering it's less than $200 and you put that thing through the ringer, I'd say it's not a bad buy.. I own the same bike. Bought it new. Keep it in it's lane as a mild mountain bike and you're fine. Small modifications over time and it'll be good.

[@theferrouslife]

I got my Mongoose Dolomite ALX from Wal-Mart and I love every second on it

[@mtbmadman187]

Rich with the cannons out for the like!

[@woozertoo]

I must say: I’m really diggin’ the 70s funk soundtrack 📻

[@robertmoore119]

Thats the way I started the hobby of MTB riding. I grew up riding bmx as a kid. I had a Dyno Detour and Sonic as my favorite bmx bikes. An ex co worker and I say a Nissan commercial around 2002 with the sport ute that they put mountain bikes on the top of. We thought, that looks like fun! He had a bike, but I didn't. Off to Walmart for an mtb. My second MTB cost about $3400. For $150, they do the job of getting people started in the hobby! Those work best on sidewalks or a beginner trail.

[@technikstein8974]

Better choose a fully ridged bike vor better durability

[@mmodtomic7119]

C'mon, buying a cheap Walmart bike and beating it on an inappropriate trail? This has been Done To Death....5 Years Ago! Do better GMBN.

[@keebaeklim]

Thats how I started with mtb, crapo walmart bike. Crashed hard, almost lost a few teeth and decided I needed a proper bike, so ended up with the Specialized Camber FSR in 2013

[@RideShagbark]

There are halfway decent bikes available.... And you choose that POS. I'm quite disappointed. You could have clearly showed that a nice budget hardtail could be used for growing one's skills at local trails, but it would come up short at the bike park. Good options to get out riding while they save for a nice full suspension (insert sponsored plug here). Schwinn Axum, Ozark Trail 29er, Kent Trouvaille, Hyper 29 Carbon, And even a full sus if that's what you "needed" in the Mongoose 29 Ledge X2.

[@JeffMTBinVA]

Walmart bike, just no, only fit for children and gentle riding. #ASKGMBN Video idea, do you really need a DH bike for DH riding? Compare a DH bike, vs a super Enduro with say 170/160 travel vs a light Enduro/heavy Trail 150/140 travel that many have as their all rounder. Not just timed runs but capability. Maybe have one of the presenters give their take and one of the camera persons who isn't an ex pro.

[@dirtshart]

Man I miss both my 2000 and 2001 CR250s those were the best bikes I raced never could get the hang of a 450. And would still love to have either one of those year even though I no longer race MX. They would make awesome off-road bike they had gobs of low end power especially with a fmf fatty pipe, porting and v-force reeds.

[@tamasimrei]

This video should have a DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME label on. This guy is a pro with many, many years of experience and a ton of skills, suffering from the start. Those bikes are not meant for this.

[@vetrakr]

I recently got one of these, took it to the hardest, most technical trails in my area. Can confirm, it does want to throw you over the bars, but both I and the bike survived. A little tune up to tighten the nuts and bolts, it'll be ready for another romp. If you know your limits, and the bike's it's a perfectly fine beginner bike. It will die, hopefully by then you've found the resolve and had enough fun to justify spending more on the hobby.

[@kushblunts2920]

You should do a video on entry level bikes £800-£1000 and see how long they last... I took a cube hard tail down some easy going trails (bike value £999) I killed it off in 2 hours. Broken frame & a cracked rim 😂😂 seems like they are for riding around streets/roads and not much else. Big waste of money if you ask me.

[@8364687]

Good stuff, this showcases why you should step it up even,100$ more and you start getting to modern MTB builds . I like it .

[@RanilWijeyratne]

I'm sure you can find a decent 10-12y full suspension bike for 250.- or better yet a nice old XC hardtail... much better off! Still a fun video though 🙂

[@simonm1447]

While this bike represents the bottom line of mountainbikes (well, it is not really one) Walmart has some decent hardtails meanwhile. From around $400 on you get usable hardtails with Suntour forks (basic compared to what GMBN is used to ride, but still without safety hazards and they will offer at least 80 mm travel), disc brakes and decent tires. On a hardtail you can also add a dropper post, even if it's not standard on a bike which costs as much as 2 or 3 Sram 12 speed chains. Simpler hardtails can still be good, cheap fullies are never really good. If somebody has not the money for a good fully he should rather stick with a hardtail, where you get usable ones for not too much money

[@dennish9519]

Would never buy a bike form Wally-world! Have you ever seen the people who work there, they are the ones who assemble the bikes! The cheapest bike that I have bought was a $300 MTN bike form a sporting goods store. That was like 20 yrs ago when I wanted to try Mtn biking to see if it was for me. It ended up working for me for about 10 yrs. Not the greatest bike or components but was a world better than what you could get at wally-world!

[@IanMaddock]

Pity we don't have a Walmart in the UK to water down the cheap bike market as Halfords seem to have a monopoly. Also the Walmart bikes are not seen in the UK at all, although the brands are imported it's usually as kids bikes only and the adult bikes don't come to the UK. There is also some good channels on KZbin such as Kev Central and Wolftick who buy bikes from Walmart (usually avoiding anything with a quill stem) and upgrade them into trail spec bikes for just a few quid. Ideal for someone on a tight budget who can buy a bike cheap and when they get a few spare quid & upgrade in bite size chunks rather than paying out a fortune in one hit.

[@ExhumedToConsume]

I'm honestly really, really surprised that Walmart still sells bikes like this. Give how much the Waltons do for mountain biking in Bentonville, you'd think they'd at least quit selling such dog shit and focus more on their Ozark Trail line of bikes. I give you all the credit in the world Rich, surprised you blew the suspension out before you taco'd a rim.

[@williamkujanpaa4318]

Are you insane Rich? 😂 No one in the US would buy a Walmart bike to go Mt biking. That thing is only good for riding around a campground. 😅 I’m glad you didn’t face plant with that thing.

[@sherab2078]

That was a funny video to watch. But it was pretty clear just from looking at the bike it wouldn't make it. I would appreciate it if you would compare a still affordable bike - maybe from not mainstream, best-known developers, but of better quality, adhering to modern standards. Because I think that in many cases we may be paying mostly for the logo on the frame, but actual quality and performance may not be that far apart. A somewhat similar story goes for entry-level vs high-end bikes. Don't take me wrong - those high-end bikes are better, but quite often they gave only marginal gains that count for pros in racing, often at the cost of durability and maintenance intensity.

[@jantandrup1986]

If you put on some better brakepads, tyres, and a better fork. You actually have an okay starter MTB. We have these bikes in Denmark to, there name is just Greenfield. And I have rebuilded a LOT of these bikers, and upgraded them

[@danielb6472]

Just last weekend I took my son on his first real mountain bike ride on one of these... (it was a gift, his other, better, bike got left outside at his grandparents for a winter and is a rust bucket now). Im pretty sure that the child sized version of this thing weighs close to 40lbs (~18kg). I was actually shocked that you said aluminum frame, I'd have guessed lead at minimum. At least that would explain the cancer warning. Needless to say he didn't have a great time and I need to get his other bike going.

[@PHOTODILETTANTE-ol7sy]

You'd be better off spending the money on a pair of walking boots rather than this human-mincing-machine abomination. "Will I be safe on this?" "No sir, you are already dead."

[@jriff21]

my only question: did you have to tighten anything because it was loose? or did you Trust that the walmart assembler properly torqued everything?

[@gregstevens2917]

So, let's put an mtb racer on an entry level bike, take it out and do things that it was never intended or designed to do..and then be surprised that it can't. Great. Many families can't afford 7,000 dollars for a mountain bike and just want their kids to get on two wheels and enjoy themselves, be happy, and maybe develop a lifelong habit of riding bikes. It may not be an awesome bike, but it solves at lest part of that problem. Plus, Walmart has plenty of higher/high end bikes if you look for them.

[@iamjessieray]

I had one of these when I was in college just to get around town and... yeah it did it but I always has issues with shifting and the brakes are HORRID. Recently decided I wanted to get into trail riding/mountain biking and was looking for an entry point that doesn't make my wallet cry, thank you for reminding me how bad this one is lol

[@kennethcampbell7263]

Not surprise they are the bikes that time forgot, they're a very long way from professional standards. Good to see that you're showing the affordable can also be epic. Surprising, or predictable that the v brakes are screaming at you by the first corner. I'm voting Predictable. Certainly not the place you want to otb but I am waiting for it every time Rich goes down a rocky decent. There it was 11:10 Put a lock on it and by the next day it won't be there... Bit in a bit more needs to be replaced with lot, the walmart/Big W bikes are good for on road of gentle dirt.

[@MTBr-of-SoCal]

That's just crazy! I'd be wearing a full face, pads and perhaps up my life insurance policy!

[@malcolmbaden2240]

It's definitely funny...but the $150 bike topic is getting a little old now...They have done this few times already..

[@jimm244]

I understand cheap. But dangerous is not acceptable. The fork bit is scary and given the litigious environment of USA, I’m surprised this one is on the shelf.

[@johndor1904]

that is a bike shaped kids toy, meant for riding up and down the driveway, or maybe you call it a car park? I grew up in Tucson, and have ridden the stuff around, back in the golden age of vbrakes. That's a more mild trail, and i think you're lucky you didn't kill yourself, it would be suicide to ride that on anything else

[@BeyReaper]

Cheap upgrade time? Also, I had this exact bike. Literally gave it to a guy I was selling a minibike to for free. Said he was doing me a favor by taking it from me.