Hi all Thanks for the reviews and updates. This is not meant to be in support or against Viathon or Walmart, but there's a few things people here are missing. The Club will ride Viathon's newly released carbon G.1 gravel bike and send a group of five Elite riders to key events like the Belgian Waffle Ride and Dirty Kanza, two of the most challenging gravel races in the world. Or did you have its sale / closeout pricing in mind ($1,599)? I'm guessing this is Plan B to get the bike seen by more people Will it actually be in the store or order online with instore pickup or delivery? Will hopefully bring the prices down across the board. Pretty sad that a brand new YZ250 cost thousands less than some of the bikes I come across in the wild. Bikes are getting more expensive because more expensive bikes and bike parts are selling better than cheaper bikes and bike parts. Dollar-for-dollar there are other carbon-framed high-end bikes out there that undercut the Viathon offerings. I spoke with him at the recent Outerbike expo in Idaho, the second public outing for the brand. 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. Although I 100% agree, I'm sure your comment will be downed by most here. 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. 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. price sold by type electric assist +. Ive already gotten questions for people internationally. we must also look at what it costs to produce in numbers. So take the roads less traveled, or the ones that don't even show up on the . How much is the bike when it has the XX1 components? The brand is starting with three models: the R1 road bike, the G1 gravel bike, and the M1 29er MTB. My surfing friends friends and others who are "action sports oriented" are super hesitant to bike at first due to the cost of entry, fear of injury, etc. Of course, you can always install a nice, compliant carbon post. Its name is Viathon. The simple answer is: because it can. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. It is aimed squarely at millennials and digital natives. Surprised it hasn't happened already or will it appear on tomorrow's front page! 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. Makes me think of the Walmart gaming pcs released a while back, which were so bad reviewers raised concerns about their safety, despite the presence name brand components. I can build proof of concept and then push over time into stores.. Kudos to them, but that story stretches back some 15 years and is still far from over. 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. As much as I agree with the general sentiment, there are some other factors that tend to get overlooked in this comparison: Wal-Mart has these pretzel bites with beer cheese for like $2 bucks, pretty freakin awesome after a ride. Viathon M.1 GX Eagle Mountain Bike Review | SRAM GX EagleI was amazed how light this bike was and how well it climbed!Viathon was kind enough to send me over. 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 last time we posted on the Viathon G1 we mentioned that this bike might be the perfect candidate for the Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem. Hes also the founder and part owner of Knight Composites. He designed Turner and Cube bikes, the first Pivots, and Diamondbacks for 5 years. The SRAM components and Zipp cockpit pieces are quality bits that should last the rider quite some time. Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. Since the news was announced last week, fans have been coming out and saying that this is what theyve been waiting for. Don't forget to donate a dollar for starving children. 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. And I suspect Viathon isnt relying on a deep tech story to market its bikes for a simple reason: the frames dont seem to offer clear innovation in design or materials. Very glad for your fair judgement and perspective. bicycles Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmarts current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiastbusiness. Brought on board to run Walmarts online bike sales, he pitched the idea of a standalone brand. Certainly, there are many Walmart shoppers among us, though likely few who have bought a bike there. 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. Viathon calls the full carbon frame optimized for light weight & efficient pedaling, claiming a frame weight of 870g a size 54 with all hardware. Viathon Bicycles announced today it will sponsor the Caffeine and Watts Club. Mountain bikes that rival the cost of motorcycles, silly parts that cost $30 for a $5 part, extremely expensive tools (because Park Tools is worse than Snap-On), etc. It doesnt need to get younger customers. 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. Dollar-for-dollar there are other carbon-framed high-end bikes out there that undercut the Viathon offerings. Climbing and racing bikes made of carbon are tough enough for tumbles and rough riding. 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. You can race and ride it at the highest Mtb level. Walmart (and the greater MTB community, tbh) would be better served by selling an aluminum hardtail trail bike w/ decent components, a dropper, and moderate/slack geometry that is trail ready out the door for $800-$1200 (a pricepoint unobtainable currently in the new bike market) so that new riders AND riders who are cash strapped have somewhere to get started that isn't going to fall apart on them after a few rides. Viathon will benefit from the supply side muscle of Walmart, it may even one day be sold in Walmart stores, but it wont ever market itself as offering Walmart bikes., Australian MTB lifestyle brand Dharco has officially opened its European subsidiary, and has plans to, The BikeBiz jobs board helped filled over 740 positions in 2022, and listings are still, German custom bike brand Velo De Ville is due to launch in the UK and, Ribble Cycles has just announced a new collective of sponsored ridings, competing across various disciplines., Historic lock brand Squire has launched its first range of wearable security equipment for the, SRAM has released the latest development in its Force AXS groupset, including a new shifter. In an interview last week at Sea Otter, a bicycling industry gathering in Monterey, Calif. I came to Walmart to grow the bike industry. 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 don't know what site you are on but thats all there. "SHIMANO 105 FC-R7000, HOLLOWTECH 2, 50-34T". They don't know from Canyon et al. But when people saw these bikes here, it was like, 'Hey, these are real bikes! 1. I think bikes are priced high and I think the margins are higher than in other enterprises. 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? Thats a challenge. Hyper Bicycle 26" Men's Havoc Mountain Bike, Black 417 Pickup +2 options $248.00 Kent 26 In. The G.1 is the direct-to-consumer brand's competitively priced gravel bike. Others seek innovation above all, eager to check out the latest suspension tech from Trust Performance or Yeti. Hed been with the online retailer for 10 years. A slacker/longer hardtail in the Chameleon/Honzo mold, with carbon frame for $2k might get people looking. There are no whiz-bang spangles for instance, the MTB is a vanilla hardtail. Right now, Viathon sits on the value end of the spectrum, alongside other house brands like Scattante or the now-closed Foundry: perfectly fine, but not particularly compelling. Waiting for Whole Foods to offer MTBs. Meanwhile, the Waltons have put Millions? The R.1 is available in five stock frame sizes (52-59cm), and three complete bike build in addition to the $2000 frame & fork. Its exploding right now because people are afraid of riding in traffic. Its not a bad platform though, and for the right situations, it would serve the rider spectacularly well. Should brick-and-mortar or other online retailers worry? Are bike shopsscary, elitist, and unwelcoming? Some cyclists are extremely brand-loyal, willing to pay a premium for pride in heritage brands like Bianchi or Pinarello. Your email address will not be published. Dont squint at the pix. Now with over twenty years under our belt we know more than ever how important the ride really is. Get Free Shipping Storewide ViathonBicycles.com w/ Coupon (Activate). And other direct-to-consumer brands like Canyon have a big head start on Viathon in terms of reputation. As technical editor Dan Cavallari pointed out in our sister publication VeloNews, "Viathon ticks almost all the high-end boxes for a bike with a lower pricepoint. Huh, no one wanted to buy a $6k hardtail that has no track record? Schedule a free call. The company's launch includes three bikes: the G1, R1 and M1 for, aptly, gravel, road and mountain biking, respectively. Good question, Dan, and one we'll come back to in just a minute. Then theres the idiots who think they can get 1500 for their POS 1988 cr125. Be good if they build some good stuff as oddly it seems they will give back. @alex There are better bikes in regard to front end compliance than the Viathon. "We're trying to build a culture, building an education," Jordan said at the introduction. Pinterest. So, that limits demand. Walmart thinks so, and the retail juggernaut is betting its customers do too. Pleased to see this. Um that copper color scheme on the pre-order bikes is also quite loveleh. Note: Viathon sent over the Rival 1 G1 bicycle for test and review at no charge to Riding Gravel. There is very little flex since your BB is both on the swingarm and the front triangle. 1 - Walmart didn't buy Viathon. A few things are apparent with Viathon. Viathons carbon bikes retail online for between $2,300 and $6,000. Read more. Y'all talk a big game about wanting more low-priced options but no one is out there actually buying them - I do P&A analysis for a bike distributors, I would know. VIATHON M.1 MOUNTAIN BIKE PROMO VIDEO: M.1 | XX1 Eagleproduct description: One of the lightest, fastest mountain race machines that money can buy, the top-line M.1 delivers a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain for race-proven, single-ring shifting performance. what happened to viathon bikes Be here, Virtually. Absurd that things with engines are cheaper than pedal bikes. I dont shop at Walmart anyway since they decided to blame guns for violence. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts I like his channel and all but want to see people ride bikes like I would or better. I won't shop with them. I'm seeing an unbranded power meter, but no mention of it. . View specs and technical data for all Viathon Bike Models. Calling all PB keyboard warriors: to the watch forums! For now, no. Prices of big brand quality mountain bikes jumped the shark years ago. Giant Stance, pretty close to fitting this bill at 2k! 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 FD was 105 as was the 10 sp cassette. Gwin was smoking everyone on a very close to stock YT tues high end build. 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. 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. @MDZ Thanks for checking out Riding Gravel and for that feedback. Second, the designers chose to mount a dropper seatpost as standard equipment on the M.1. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. Love lower price bikes and bringing the MTB sport to more people.. A long wheelbase and dropped chainstay design supports wide rubber and rough riding conditions. Walmart is the largest retailer for bikes in America by a good margin. Of course they will be. 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. At any rate, the Viathon G1 is an interesting option that we hope to see developed into something more refined in the areas of rider comfort, versatility, and geometry in the future. Not just kooks either. In effect, Viathon is a pop-up bike brand, and just as quickly as it has appeared it could just as easily disappear again, no skin off Walmarts very large nose. Viathonbicycles.com has more info. The tire clearances are a bit on the restrictive side as well. Its not the products: a three-frame range of MTBs, and gravel and road bikes. Hopefully they turn over some % of these bikes into more trail advocacy. The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. Shop our Buy Direct collection for a new ride they'll love! I followed with an opinion column about Viathon's unique formation, business model and value proposition. If These guys could take a similar (or slightly better) spec and cut $200 off of it, and I'd bet it'd be a huge seller. The bike uses a very rigid pivot/BB comprised of two MID-BB's inside one another. I have my doubts. We got bills to pay and we work our asses off for you ya jergoffs. Certainly, Walmart has the resources to overcome that, if it chooses, and it also has a reach like few other companiesWalmart sells more bicycles in North America than any other retailer, according to industry analyst Jay Townley. There hasn't been a new supersport motorcycle design from ANYONE in like over a decade. Both are well-qualified bike industry veterans, but its not a riveting founder story like, for instance, that ofAllied. 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. Not a fan of Walmart. Order today! If you're making more of something, you can afford to invest in tooling and equipment and processes to make it cheaper. "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. Never blame a person, blame a tool, people are never to blame only the tools they choose to use. Who makes Viathon frames? I think it's time for a Field Test review on this bike to dispel or confirm all the controversy. Long, low, slack? 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. Thanks for your site. Read through the small print "Returns and Refund Policy: 60 days from date of purchase - new or used with proof of original purchase. bikeit! All Viathon bikes come with a 2-year warranty. Their investments are totally separate from Walmart even though Steuart is on the main Walmart board.. Posted Oct 2, 2019, We dentists don't shop at Walmart. bikes Shoppers will have four build choices per model. Viathon has chosen a RockShox SID RLC with 120mm of travel. Point being it comes with a lot more and substantially more development. here is a whole range of styles with bikes for children all the way up through adults. 0. khao lak, thailand tsunami 2004. Someone shopping for a high end bike is never going to go to Walmart for it. Does a rising tide lift all boats? They knew about it prior to launch only because I happened to meet Steuart in our office in January so I was able to show him a couple of pictures. All rights reserved, an opinion column about Viathon's unique formation, Workers at REI Cleveland store vote to join union, Hi-Torque closes Road Bike Action and Electric Bike Action magazines, Top Executives Tackling Biggest Bike Industry Challenges at the 2023 Bicycle Leadership Conference, Suplest shoes now available in North America through Blacksmith Cycle, NY City Council passes lithium-ion battery safety package. The frames are engineered and designed in partnership with Kevin Quan, a longtime designer whos responsible for well-known bikes from well-known brands like Cervelo, Parlee, and Pivot. FWIW, Ibis quietly raised the price on the DV9 to $1250 about ~6 month ago. Movelo Electric Bicycle for Adults 27.5In 350W Mountain Bike with 360Wh Removable Li-Ion Battery-Blue 27.5" Exclusively angular frame Not available 26" 350W Electric Bike for Adults Mountain eBike w 48V Battery Dual Lights Black Not available 26" Hyper Easy Rider Multi-Speed Bike 26" Hyper Easy Rider Men's Cruiser (29) Not available online The Viathon M.1 is available in three complete build kit options, starting at $2,400 USD. But Viathon's G.1 GRX 800 is light, fast, and sporty, and costs much less than its competitors. Viathon's staff is made up of bike industry veterans, and the company has partnered with Kevin Quan Studios for its design and engineering. 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. The bikes are clean and simple, classy but without any fanfare. The S-Works Epic only comes with an 11-speed groupsetthe Shimano XTR Di2so the Viathon wins in our books with the snazzy eagle. c'mon. can i return it after thrashing it for a season? Frame weight is a claimed 1,010 grams for size 54, including derailleur hardware and bottle cage bolts. Viathon is a standalone direct-to-consumer brand that, by rights, shouldnt exist. ($1k frame only pricing). The frame looks eerily similar to a China carbon frame I bought recently for $400 (frame and rigid fork). We cannot predict, or really have a way to know, when, or by how much, a brand is going to discount a product. Someone posted an Outside magazine article above that details it. Spesh's Fuse 27.5 comes to mind, costing ~$1200. 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! The frames are customized for REI's product line and highly durable. 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. Hopefully the forks won't be on backwards. The bikes will be available to order within weeks. @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. Go to the shop Go to the shop. Bikes come equipped with well-recognized components such as SRAM, Zipp, and Stans' No Tubes, on a good/better/best three-point pricing structure, with all models starting below $2500. The bikes themselves, it was agreed, were competently designed and engineered, and marketed by respected industry professionals with big-brand credentials. The brand is starting with three models . The impetus for the brand was therefore personal, not corporate. Unbelievable a$$holes, TLDR: "successful family chooses to enjoy their success while remaining frugal to ensure long term multigenerational wealth". At least 30-50% of surfers at my local breaks are on $200 Wavesorms and other "foamies" from Costco and the like. He employs six engineers and designers at his Toronto-based studio. 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. has lg fixed their compressor issues 2020. Manufacturing costs vary inversely with manufacturing rate. 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. If they add a similarly specced and priced short or mid travel fs bike, those things will sell like hot cakes. 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). That said, the lineup doesn't make sense. All models are available exclusively at Walmart in-store and online. Even a hot segment like ADV, sees a new from ground up model maybe every 5 years. Bayside Women's Cruiser Bike, Rose Gold 1385 Pickup 2-day shipping Best seller $648.00 Hyper Bicycles Electric Bicycle Pedal Assist Mountain, 26 In. (if they care about value, they'll go YT or Canyon, etc.). 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. 1600 is still not going to mitigate the way this bike rides, and that is maybe something some folks wouldnt be willing to compromise on at any price. I built the brand without them knowing about it at all, reveals Spinhirne-Martin. Wouldnt be caught dead buying one of their bikes but competition in any industry is a good thing. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. I want high-level quality customer service to begin with, and I can control that in the US.. https://bikepacking.com/routes/arkansas-high-country-route-northwest-loop/. And the company currently sells more bicycles in the United States than any other retailer. But Ive never seen the numbers. 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. It'll take ONE major company (looking at you. When used in conjunction with good cultural management practices and as part of a complete disease control program, viAtHOntM will control/suppress specified diseases associated with almond, barley, corn, grasses grown for seed, onions, peanuts, pecans, pistachio, soybeans, walnut, watermelons, and wheat. Viathon is a start-up carbon bike brand with a difference. America's low price leader served up a single no-name (and possibly open-mold) model with full mechanical Ultegra group, complete with wheelset, at a very low price point. Also something to liven up trails that you ride regularly. 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. However; on crushed rock and rough surfaces, the overly-stiff front fork can be a liability when it comes to rider comfort. They have dumped millions into cycling in AK, even helping to fund the Arkansas High Country Route. In 2017, Bonobos was sold to, you guessed it, Walmart. ViathonBicycles.com newsletter codes, Viathon Bicycles reseller codes, Viathon Bicycles competitor coupon codes. According to Spinhirne-Martin, Walmart is not currently planning store-based service departments. Walmart's return policy is insane and the employees there generally DGAF. 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. 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. With the backing of Walmart, we can scale very quickly.. 3 - OP linked to the Walmart site, which had little information. But there aren't enough spec details to tell what we're looking at. 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. Shop all Genesis Bikes with sizes ranging from 18" to 700c, in kids and adults sizes. And its partnering with shops, mobile shops, and more, as well as creating an online fit calculator. a buddy of mine, bought the g1 gravel bike to keep at his lakehouse (insert dentist joke, he's actually a cpa). Refunds can only be issued to your original payment method. The finishing kit and drive train on the G1 option of the Viathon gravel bike is decent and should be seen as a good value. And I want to get more people on bikes. Viathon equips the M.1 with two clever features that challenge the common definition of an elite cross-country bike. You cannot buy a Viathon bike from one of Walmarts 4000 plus US stores (or from Asda supermarkets in the UK). I just pay the numbers. Who am I kidding. Could be interesting. At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. I want to figure out how to use that customer base to grow the bike industry.. Right. My point is, the greater MTB industry is set to explode, but the issue of entry level cost is still a major concern for people who simply are not willing to dish out >$1000 for a bike, and unfortunately, for anything less than that, you are crippled with lousy geometry, fall-apart components, and a not-so-fun early experience.