Three Reasons Why I Bought the $250 Ozark Trail G1 Explorer

These are my three reasons for buying the Ozark Trail G1 Explorer as my very first gravel bike. This Walmart bike performs well above its $250 price tag.
Check out this Facebook group of Ozark G1 Explorer owners who are actively upgrading their bikes.
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[@marvinkamei7007]

for everyone, its about the feel and emotions!! joy the ride!!

[@soldierboy425]

I have to admit. Bang for buck. I have not been disappointed once by any of the “Ozark trail” products. They really go out of their way to deliver an outstanding product, for a reasonable price.

[@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti]

I used a two burner stove from Ozark Trail for many, many years. Coleman and Ozark Trail stuff have both been good to me.

[@reeseprince8]

Its actually a really nice looking bike tbh

[@rlk_epitaph]

You're gonna love the gravel journey dude! It's a nice change of pace when you need it 🤙

[@MILTONATOR]

Already am, bro! Anxious to get back on the bike for an even longer ride 🤙

[@johnp8536]

Hey Milton, I can totally relate to this video. I'm a dirt boy too and recently discovered I enjoy riding my hard tail on the road, especially to my local Starbucks for a morning cup. Keep on pedaling my friend.

[@MILTONATOR]

Thanks man! Anything two wheels seems like 🤘

[@gfxman14]

solid review, I am loving my G1 it's a great budget bike and a steal for the price just to get out and get moving

[@MILTONATOR]

Thanks man!

[@jimjigga]

Awesome! I have a slate by cannondale. Love mixing it up. I sometimes just do road to a local trail system and hit it all up for the same, 22-23 miles from my front door and back. Good luck with it!

[@MILTONATOR]

Thanks man! Honestly didn’t expect to be this stoked on gravel. Love pedaling straight from my garage for a ride 🤙

[@markhay1664]

Going back to basics in liberating and challenging. Makes you a better rider knowing you you did that trail ect without all the suspension ect 😎👍

[@MILTONATOR]

Liberating is exactly it. Loving it. Thanks man

[@pentaxpro]

Back in the 1990s Walmart bikes used to suck. My derailleur went vertical when I was pumping the pedals over grass back then. I bought the same bike yesterday and took it out for 20 miles. It performed well. And now I don’t have to worry to much about it getting stolen when I park it for whatever reason unlike my Giant Talon bike. Edit: I’ve got to replace the breaks and the stem. Not sure what I want to do after that.

[@Robin_Hood381]

Hey there, I'm a MTBer and last year I had a wrist injury. Every time it would feel better, I would try to get back on the bike and the pain would return. I ended up buying a road bike because I still needed to ride and I started to fall in love with road cycling. This is coming from a guy who loves to hard charge down chunder on an enduro bike 99% of the time. I ride the road bike locally on weekdays and ride my MTB on weekends. It's also nice to have whenever you don't feel like packing up all your gear and having to travel to the trails. It's so fast and smooth on pavement; I'm even thinking about entering some criterium races in the future. PS: canyon descents on road bikes are amazing as well

[@MILTONATOR]

I hear you. Although just started riding this bike, I’m really liking riding paved roads as much as gravel. I’m already looking into joining a group rides

[@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti]

Wonderful video, boss. I just subscribed. Keep on keeping on, man. God bless you.

[@MILTONATOR]

@@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti thank you!

[@offshorebear]

I love this bike. I upgraded the brakes and pedals and added lights and it is the most sustainable workout thing I have ever done.

[@MILTONATOR]

Nice! I’ll be upgrading pedals and adding lights this week

[@royfernandez1124]

Amazing bike for the price , took it into a trek shop for a seat upgrade and seatpost upgrade . Charge seat and suspension seat post and it's phenomenal.

[@MILTONATOR]

Really is surprisingly good for the price. Looking to first similar upgrades as well; a new seat and seat post

[@AlbertBergen]

The only flaw - well, not the only flaw, but the only one not excused by the price point - is the freewheel. The marginal cost of using a 34 tooth freewheel over a 28 has to be almost nothing but makes a big difference in what this bike can do.

[@DearSX]

20% more power but 20% faster pedaling vs 28t. Big gear jumps.

[@marksandoval5361]

A few years ago I started riding gravel but I didn't buy a Gravelbike. I had an old full-sus 2009 Specialized Epic XC bike and I installed some 700x43 Panaracer Gravel King SK tires. I really enjoyed it. Recently, I bought a full-sus 2023 Specialized Epic Evo Comp XC bike, which was on sale for 35% off, and installed some 700x47 Specialized Pathfinder Pro Gravel tires. Even more fun than my previous full-sus XC-Gravelbike. If your not into riding a full rigid bike with dropbars, I can strongly recommend the full-sus XC-Gravelbike. Just as fast as a regular Gravelbike on pavement and gravel but much more capable on singletrack. And so comfortable, having suspension makes gravel more fun.

[@MILTONATOR]

Interesting that you mention suspension gravel bikes. Was on KZbin today looking at YT’s Specter gravel bike with 40mm travel fork (short) Considering demoing it. Definitely hooked on this feeling

[@marksandoval5361]

@@MILTONATOR Check out the Dylan Johnson KZbin Channel. He just took 10th place at the Unbound Gravel Race using 29x2.2 Continental Race King XC tires and a 30mm travel Lauf fork. He does an entire video on the reasons for his bike build. I tend to agree with him. I think wider tires at low pressures and at least a suspension fork is the way to go. Many of the racers at Unbound are using wider tires, 50mm.

[@MILTONATOR]

@@marksandoval5361 will do! Thanks for this 🤜🤛

[@todd92371]

Friend of mine picked up one of these. Blown away with the value. I adjusted some things for him today and it's a nice bike.

[@MILTONATOR]

Really is a good value bike.

[@Wannaridebikes]

I finally got one. For the 248 I spent. The perks on the bike give someone a chance to ride a universal bike like. Gravel yeah. But again a Walmart brand. And that price makes people buy it because it a nice bike. Maybe update some parts as to group set and add hydraulic brakes. I seen a video one add a 29 tire 2.1. And it fit. Still not a bad buy for a bike. It ok update yes. But still a bang for the buck. I can see me updating mine and using it more n more.

[@derekdavis6508]

I have a nice jamis coda 1x9 that I upgraded, I'm thinking of selling the jamis and getting one of these upgrading seat, seat post and pedals, I worked at a bike shop, so I do all my own tune ups upgrades, oh and maybe brakes or brake pads I think those stock ones squeak.

[@tenza7545]

I’m waiting to see if they come out with a G.2 like they did with the ridge.

[@Dempsey222]

You should do what Skills with Phil did and take the Walmart bike to a bike park and ride it down. Phil's Huffy Rampage video is a classic.

[@MILTONATOR]

Haha! Not a bike park, but there is a single track I’ve got in mind for sure

[@Dempsey222]

@@MILTONATOR kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZywn56Vmqh3h7c

[@barriewylde5915]

We love Temecula it’s a great city love it wonderful wine wonderful people best holiday ever.😎❤️🚴‍♂️👏👏👏👏👏❤️🇨🇦

[@MILTONATOR]

🇨🇦 🍻

[@Emergefit]

I’m sold on the bike, and probably will buy one, even though I have some higher end gravel bikes. Just want to check it out. Curious, though, I’m a Fallbrook guy and I ride in Temecula all the time. What roads were you on…? Would love to know, and check them out. Thank you!

[@MILTONATOR]

It’s an intriguing bike for sure. My long term plan is opposite to yours; buy a higher end bike for me and will keep the Ozark as a spare for anyone wanting to give gravel a try. As for the roads I was on, mainly around the wineries. I’ll see if I can post my Strava on the description

[@marvinkamei7007]

Almost all bicycles are on/road gravel bikes even a skinney tire bike. all in the fun!

[@tEch-01]

yup bested all the mtb @250bucks. 👍 maybe try the divide tour in 2025? can you put the aero bars?

[@Will-tm5bj]

Ohhh man I used to live in Temecula when I was a little kid. In the Carolinas now

[@MILTONATOR]

@@Will-tm5bj love Temecula! Lived in NC for a year many years back. It’s nice 🙁

[@Will-tm5bj]

@MILTONATOR I'm from Charlotte, but live at the feet of the mountains. Love it here, love it there too though

[@MILTONATOR]

@@Will-tm5bj it’s beautiful country out there. I’ve got family in Concord and my one year there was up in Greensboro ✌️

[@EMTBAFV]

Ozark trail though they are pretty good bikes even thier mtb hard tail

[@waktosha7378]

I would bet that this bike will go up $80 - $100 within the year. Yes this is a good bike. This is an awesome bike for the 💰!

[@ryancragg2907]

Is there a good video for adjusting the shifters? I'm having a heck of a time getting the front derailleur set up properly.

[@MILTONATOR]

This is probably the best one I know of kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5y9qYN_j5ahnbssi=10EMrHo0VXtTDLVw

[@Charlie-wt7ct]

FYI. According to a commenter on another review of this bike (I can't remember who) At the 2024 Bentonville Bike Fest, Ozark had a protype of an MTB version of this bike to be available sometime this Fall. (Flat handlebar and 1x8 Drivetrain) Hopefully, it will happen. We will see.

[@MrStingraybernard]

If it was a flat bar I’d buy 1 ,don’t like having to move my hands to brake especially in emergency situation

[@bengt_axle]

This is the product of Steuart and Tom Walton (grand children of the Walmart founder) who are bike fans and who also own controlling stakes in other companies like Rapha. I think they produced this brand (Ozark) to sell it at their Walmart stores, but also to increase the popularity of the sport. Maybe they are taking a loss on these bikes, but that loss probably pales in comparison to how much they are losing on Rapha. I think this is a good bike for the money and could be easily upgraded or converted to a good commuter bike just by switching to slicker tires.

[@jedunboxing4127]

After trying gravel ,then I realized my mountain bike is still the most versatile bike

[@evanm.2300]

Try a lauf since u come from mtb. Its like a hardtail when u want it to be and road/gravel bike when u want it to be as well. Plus no fork rebuilding. The base model with e13 casset is what i have and no regrets. The sram cassette isnt good at all compared to e13 in my opinion (1 tooth lower/1 tooth higher and 100grams lighter) and lauf offers it to u for $100 off - $200 ish total. I slso have wolf tooth oval 38 tooth(stock is 40t). If u r more picky on gearing uphill or top speed then mtb casset of urr own or the one they sell with t type transmission will be alot better. P.s. fork factory made for ur weight range. Anda bike is cushy for a hardtail especially with berd wheels(rope spokes)

[@MILTONATOR]

I’ve gotten a handful of Lauf recommendations and their ad keeps popping up on my feed. Will be checking them out this week for sure

[@DjangoPorter]

What size of tires. Are these o have hhe same bike. Hiy hkar tires want ho replace. 700c. ... And what else is it called ?

[@MILTONATOR]

700x40c

[@MissingLinkMTB]

Just talked to WalMart customer service and they confirmed a large model is going to be available. Hopefully he understood what I was talking about because I really want to get one. I don't mind upgrades, but I do mind a $1500 price tag to normally get your hands on a gravel bike.

[@MILTONATOR]

I hear you. This bikes makes it easy to try out gravel before committing hard earned cash. For reference, these are my Geo measurements on the Ozark compared to a Diverge 56c (respectively) WB: 1041 | 1042 Reach: 370 | 392 Stack: 570 | 610 Chain stay: 433 | 425 Stand over: 750 | 779 Top tube: 550 | 515

[@MissingLinkMTB]

@@MILTONATOR thanks! Is yours a large frame? If you mentioned it I totally missed that.

[@jandoxbsbnx]

what's the difference between a gravel and mountain bike ..

[@WeOutside.liveaf]

so 250 for the bike 200 in upgrades and you have a 1500 dollar bike is the way i see it. i have an expensive xc bike i dont need a gravel bike but i want one i was looking at a canyon for 2k but like yeah its ten pound lighter but i can upgrade this as i use it more IF i enjoy it! thank you for this

[@trailpimp6369]

Looks sick my bro. Next time you go to Walmart get the rotisserie chicken and Dutch apple pie too it is my fav.🤘🙏💯

[@MILTONATOR]

Nah homie, Sam’s Club got the best rotisserie chicken on this planet lol 🤘

[@trailpimp6369]

@@MILTONATOR I am going to try it 🙌

[@RecluseBootsy]

I bought the only model right off the shelf. No box, no manual. What are all the switches for? 😂

[@MILTONATOR]

Lol

[@mattcox846]

Dang bro what trail is that ??

[@MILTONATOR]

The mtb trail? That’s out here in Murrieta Ca

[@egraham5718]

How tall are you? Is 6 ft too tall?

[@MILTONATOR]

@@egraham5718 5’ 9” It only comes in SM and Med but at 6’ I think the medium is still a good fit

[@jafet81]

POSEIDON bikes !!!!

[@MILTONATOR]

🤘

[@evanm.2300]

Lauf or go home ✊🏼

[@normalizedaudio2481]

I didn't care for this bike. No 26 inch frames. Worth looking at though.

[@peterbedford2610]

Flat bars and $250....great commuter bike

[@MILTONATOR]

@@peterbedford2610 💯

[@killjoy8914]

Only if it came in a 56cm or 58cm frame. 😦

[@MILTONATOR]

That’s right. I think only 50 and 52 cm

[@cdavid119]

Iirc they use seat tube for that number. I believe the 50cm has an effective tt length of 56cm. And the 44cm was more like a 54cm. Double check the geo charts but to my knowledge that’s correct.

[@IowaNinersFan]

Once you go gravel, you don't go paved.

[@MILTONATOR]

😂

[@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti]

If that's a Shimano freewheel, it'll last. They're stronger than freehubs, especially if you stick with the 14-28(if that's what it has).

[@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti]

A man who descends on the hoods and not in the drops hasn't yet learned how to ride. It's an expensive lesson to learn unless you learn from the experiences of others.

[@MILTONATOR]

@@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti I’m a noob at this for sure

[@THEALCOHOLICdAYTRADER-vd5ti]

@@MILTONATOR no, you're not. I just stated my opinion strongly. It's easy to hit a bump hard enough for your hands to fly off the hoods, which could result in a crash. That's kinda the downside of drops for me on rough terrain. Getting in the drops is super fast and super aero, with your face down closer to the ground. It's great for long paved mountain descents. Better handling in the drops and tons more speed. Being in the drops also gives you maximum braking power. I've always felt sketchy on gravel if I can't sit up and get back a little bit while still covering the brakes. As for experience, you may have much more experience than me. I don't know.