Viathon "believes that great bikes make riding more fun. The spec matters a whole lot on a bike like this, and really, its a significant part of Viathons value proposition. by Rick Vosper. The history of the bicycle business is, in one sense, a history of powerful outsiders coming in to teach us dumb yokels how things are done in the Big Leagues. Walmart Slashes Prices on Viathon Bikes for Pre-Black Friday Sale Viathon Is Walmart's New High-End Bike Brand - Outside Online That tyre clearance is far, far more generous than the 700 x 40 mm (or 650B x 53 mm) wide numbers that Viathon claim. 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.. YT Szepter first-ride review: a gravity MTB brand goes gravel, Ridley Grifn first ride review: Blurred lines. And the two price points for Dura Ace and Ultegra place the Viathon alongside some of the budget-friendly racing bikes from Canyon that feature equally impressive component specs. According to Spinhirne-Martin, Walmart is not currently planning store-based service departments. Considering the Walmart shopper and what bike theyre on now, the answer is probably yes. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! 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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. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. NAHBS photos: Show winners and their bikes, Cervlo S5 review: A truly exhilarating superbike, Technical FAQ: Mips vs. loose helmet strap, bike weight, hydraulic brakes at altitude, Di2 mix/match. New MTB Brand Hudski Bikes Launches with 3 bikes, all Based on a Single Frame, 15 Products to Make Riding Gravel Less of a Grind, Moots Updates the Routt Gravel Bike for 2021, Focus Atlas Alloy Gravel Bike Looks Equally Affordable and Well-Equipped for Adventure, Knolly Cache is the Gravel Bike Made by Mountain Bikers [Review]. 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 didnt expect much from the Bokens, but they were predictable on dirt with a fast rolling speed. Its certainly not severe, and despite riding the G.1 in some rocky, tight, and twisty terrain, it rarely presented itself as an issue. In so many ways, the Viathon is like the middle manager whos tried to mimic their boss style on a tight budget. Who makes Viathon frames? Some of that is a function of the homogeneity of the modern bike-enthusiast business. Spinhirne-Martin says yes, and reiterated that he wants to grow the bike industry, not put other brands or bike shops out of business. Question: When Will Viathon Bikes Go On Sale - BikeHike I understand the reviewer had limited time on the bike, but there is no real detail on how the bike rode. Also the statement of light as a feather.is that compared to your Enduro bike? Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - Cyclocross Magazine JRA with the Angry Asian: How much does 'soul' matter for bike brands Theyre quality products, but neither really belong on this bike. Our sample had no foam liner to silence it, but again, Viathon assured us production bikes do. Gravel as a discipline also seems to be a little more straightforward than mountain biking, where there are countless sub-genres of bikes. Last April, when we saw them at Sea Otter, they dropped the G1, R1, and M1 all at once, dipping their toes into the gravel, road, and mountain bike pool. 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. But if Viathon is going to have any real impact, its the next set of new bikes that will matter most. For the hardtail mountain bike, thats a $2,000 frame, $2,400 GX Eagle build, $3,500 X01 build (which comes without a dropper), or a $6,000 XX1 option. Walmart is also the largest grocer in America and possibly the world. How long to recover from a calf heart attack. It confidently climbed over gravel, roots, and rocks. In many ways, this is exactly what a good bike store would do for you when buying a bike. Equally, I found the Selle Italia Novus Boost saddle and unpadded Fizik bar tape odd choices. View specs and technical data for all Viathon Bike Models. All rights reserved. With both, you get two great carbon bikes, that differ when you break down the components. Are Your Trails Ready to Ride for the Season. Viathon's brand manager is Zach Spinhirne-Martin out of San Bruno, California. The savings come from consumers completing the final assembly and cutting out local retailers' costs, but at the expense of their expertise, service . And winner winner: theres a threaded bottom bracket shell. A couple weeks ago it seemed like they were blowing out all the bikes on the website, last week they all showed sold out, and today I noticed the Viathon site is gone (does not even show up on google if you search for it) They still have a landing page on Walmart site. The brand also released a blog outlining the six reasons to get a hardtail. Not surprisingly, its something we got along with well on the Santa Cruz. If you think the pricing for the big mainstream brands is out of control, you'll be happy to hear that the Viathon's direct-to-consumer business model means an R.1 with all the fixings. The Viathon G1 comes in five sizes ranging from 52cm to 60cm in 2cm increments. 'Box-store bike' takes on a whole new meaning as Walmart launches Viathonn, a private high-end cycling brand. The G.1 RED eTap AXS that is the subject of this review is Viathon's newest gravel model and will be available sometime in September. Those interested in this bike should also take a close look at the Canyon. Check Out Continue Shopping. Walmarts top-of-the-line M.1 hardtail mountain bike has 120mm travel with RockShox components, Stans wheels, Level Ultimate brakes, and Continental tires. Currently, the bikes are not available in other markets. He noted, Ive ridden and owned basically everything they sell over that time: Yeti, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Ventana, Pivot, Open, Pinarello, Wilier, Cervelo, Ridley.. Some cyclists are extremely brand-loyal, willing to pay a premium for pride in heritage brands like Bianchi or Pinarello. Ok Fishes, here is the interview we were all waiting for!! Turner Bikes - Titanium Mountain & Gravel Bikes Support us! All this went down in April and May of this year. With a trendy 25 mm internal width, the welded alloy rims are wider than they are deep. So how does this budget-friendly racer ride? Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. The same, except a 2 mm shorter offset fork (50 vs 48 mm) results in an ever-so-slightly-slower 68 mm trail figure. Good question, Dan, and one we'll come back to in just a minute. Is swimming safe? Im in GearJunkies Minneapolis office, a small blade in hand, ready to unbox a bike. With a network of green-rated trails down the street from my house, the G1 came into my hands at the right time. The question is, what sets it apart from other high-end bikes at this pricepoint or higher, if anything? [, Re: Did Wal Mart pull the plug on Viathon? Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. These are just my opinions. At the GearJunkie office, we cut zip ties and packing tape. Seriously, this is an impressive wheelset for a bike of this price. The brand is starting with three models: the R1 road bike, the G1 gravel bike, and the M1 hardtail mountain bike. $6,000 Walmart Bike: Box Store Launches Premium 'Viathon' Cycles Download the app. Hed been with the online retailer for 10 years. The RockShox SID RLC 120mm fork was a great choice, and I appreciated that Viathon opted for more travel in comparison to the S-Works Epics 100m fork. Sadly the provided stem length and seatpost setback werent an ideal fit for the bike, or us. All Viathon bikes come with a 2-year warranty. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. That also translates to some good pep when youre climbing out of the saddle. Lets look at the numbers. 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. Terms of Use 1X drivetrains feel great, if youre riding your gravel bike exclusively on the trails. The G1 itself, judging by its cover, looks like a tailored gravel race bike, where carbon matters in terms of stiffness and power transfer, and a more racy geometry means better aerodynamics, and less playing around. 20% Off. Reports of a top-end race build with a $6,000 price tag cast a cognitive dissonance across the office. My 54cm Viathon G1 without pedals weighs 19.6lbs. Per my more enduro-focused background, Id also opt for a shorter stem. Viathon G.1 105 Highlights. Were not trying to undercut the industry; were offering our bike line at a solid price, not a ridiculously low price, said Spinhirne-Martin. You could, of course, upgrade your cockpit to achieve that svelte, hidden-cable look, but you wont get it with the stock model. Review: Viathon G.1 Carbon Gravel Bike - cxmagazine.com 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). The Viathon G1 is one of the more affordable carbon, gravel bikes that's well suited to riding sketchy roads. This is pretty similar to the BMC URS, and realistically those under 5 6 (170 cm) are likely out of luck here. However, what cant be argued with is that the law of diminishing returns certainly plays a large role in premium products, and Viathon has done a damn good job of showing that. Viathon Bikes - Walmart.com Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | In this case, carbon doesnt work entirely to its benefit, and the G1 is a little overly stiff, and calls at least for a more compliant set of handlebars. For anyone familiar with the beer industry, this is like Anheuser-Busch creating Shocktop, not Anheuser-Busch buying Goose Island or Elysian. A handlebar with any degree of flare through the drops would be nice as well to widen the riders stance going downhill. On its own, Viathon strikes me as a modestly interesting enthusiast brand with some solid, value-oriented bikes that feature industry-standard design and technology. It can take 650b wheels with up to 2.1-inch tires, or 700c wheels with up to 51mm tires. However, theres also an element of simplicity we quite like. Does spending more get you a faster gravel race bike? Viathon swears its the latter. So, what does Viathon say that the G1 is? I asked about the response to the brand launch from customers and the bike industry. 3 for online traffic after Google and Amazon. Statins: experience training and racing on them, Swimming-Related Injuries: A literature review and injury risk screening, New Tacx Neo Smart vs Wahoo Kickr trainers, school me on finding correct pressures with tubeless. Almost all carbon frames come from Asia, and different brands often subcontract with the same large producers. | I also wanted all of my bikes to perform when pushed hard, said Spinhirne-Martin of the frames stiffness. Photo by Josh Patterson . To be fair, that latter element is fairly common on a number of high-end bikes and isnt much of an issue, but it does point to a simpler frame construction. As I rode the G1 down some green- and blue-rated trails, the straight and narrow bars stuffed my wrists into an uncomfortable position. In the meantime, Viathon offers the . But Viathon's G.1 GRX 800 is light, fast, and sporty, and costs much less than its competitors. Walmart isnt currently targeting the kind of customer who wants the latest carbon layup or the greatest new geometry, nor is it targeting customers who self-identify as cyclists. Thats not to say this bike is cheap. Review: Viathon R.1 Road Bike - VeloNews.com Noting the stiffness, and feathery weight of the G1 again, its an excellent climber, and the Shimano GRX 600 worked flawlessly for me. ''', And indeed they were. The handlebars could have been wider, with a shallower drop, and an extra helping of bar tape would have also been welcome. The only thing that caught my eye was the cable routing gathered around the head tube, which looks a little messy. August. Its a private brand being managed within the e-commerce merchandising team based in San Bruno, California. The Viathon adds mounts at the fork, mounts for a rear rack, and space for an additional bottle cage beneath the down tube. And just like any other reality, outsiders ignore ours at their peril. Many see this as an exciting window of opportunity - by tapping into Walmarts extensive consumer base, the sport might have a chance to grow as a whole. Bike shops could benefit from more riders on more bikes. Whats it like to be an American cyclist living in France? He designed Turner and Cube bikes, the first Pivots, and Diamondbacks for 5 years. For those people, being able to buy a high-quality bike online means they dont have to go into a potentially scary, elitist, unwelcoming bike shop where theyll be uncomfortable and possibly judged.. Theres a low 69mm of bottom bracket drop, making for increased stability and cornering, and a 74 seat tube angle and a 71.5 head tube angle. Meanwhile, the rear brake hose, which sits loose inside the down tube, had a tendency to rattle against the frame. Heading out the door? And every single article, including this one, focuses on the Walmart ownership. Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmarts current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiastbusiness. Gravel bikes can generally be ridden from home at a lower risk level than mountain bikes. Viathon G1 Bike: At The Finish - Riding Gravel The writer, Sarah Moore, found the connection when looking up the trademark on the name, which isregistered to Walmart. From its sleek frame on up, the M.1 cuts few corners: Stans Crest CB7 carbon wheels, FSA carbon cockpit, Fizik saddle, Ergon grips, and a RockShox dropper post. I just noticed that as well (website pretty much gone). And that really summarises the G.1 quite nicely. By July, barely 90 days from its glitzy premiere, Viathon had announced via direct mail and on its website that it was dropping prices on all models by as much as $1,000 per bike, to as low as $1,998. The GRX 600 build also has Mercury G3 wheels, with a 25mm internal width, and IRC Boken 700x40c tires, for a setup that should provide a wide footprint. It appears the newswas first mentioned in a Pinkbike story. My final complaint is the comment about the 70mm stem feeling twitchy and switching it out to a short stem. We tested the brands top-end M.1 Mountain Bike for 6 weeks to gain an understanding and some first-person perspective on singletrack trails. All throughout the ride, I found the Rockshox Reverb Stealth pretty slow to react, which is, unfortunately, a notorious problem for this dropper (the most current version promises to fix this). And when you have fun, you ride more." Everyone knows that Black Friday is this week, but Walmart and Viathon can't wait until then to. . Its noon on Michigans Upper Peninsula, where I came to ride Copper Harbor and the IMBA-ordained network in and near Marquette. Well, its a lot like the Santa Cruz Stigmata it was modelled after, just not quite as refined. Hes also the founder and part owner of Knight Composites. But the collaboration shouldnt come as a surprise. So far, Viathon isnt saying much about what makes its bikes different, nor is it telling much of a brand story. The bike thats getting the most attention is Viathons new hardtail mountain bike, though Walmart is also launching with road and gravel options. In reality, thats probably enough to realise any manufacturer defects, and Viathon does also offer a crash replacement policy, but its something to consider nonetheless. 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And while its far from a silky-smooth ride (Ill come back to this), frame compliance was a design factor. It's a full carbon gravel bike with modern geometry, an understated look, and a price that's refreshingly affordable. None of the standard specs were an issue for me in terms of fit, and even the Selle Italia saddle wasnt problematic for me at any point. As to the inventory, we are out of bikes and can't restock at this time as a result of delays from our suppliers caused by the pandemic. With that in mind, it seems appropriate that Walmart is finally sinking its teeth into producing a line of proper bikes. Viathon seems to have taken a conservative aesthetic approach on all of their bikes, including the G1. Plan to post in the forums? Personally, given the sporty nature of this ride, Id have preferred to see the larger 48-31T chainring combo used. So the supplied contact points of the bike werent a good fit for us, but paying customers will at least be given the option to fix this. In some cases the customers know exactly what they want, but if they dont then the service agent can help determine whats best by running through a few questions about the rider and desired riding position.. I will start by saying I am a long time bike industry employee. 2023 All rights reserved. All three are made of carbon fiber,. My 54cm test bike has 382.8mm of reach, coupled with a 110mm stem. Two days later, Im pedaling steep singletrack above Lake Superior. Viathon ships high-end carbon bikes from a Walmart - Bikerumor Preventing Iliac Artery Endofibrosis - Cycling Overuse Injuries. Racers? Brothers Tom and Steuart Walton are passionate cyclists, and the Walton Family Foundation has helped build the Bentonville area into a world-class destination for mountain biking. It has longer, slacker geometry than its road bike cousin and different tube shaping. The IRC Boken tires and Mercury wheels were a good match for the Viathon as well. For now, they only offer a hardtail, but Spinhirne-Martin isnt opposed to someday expanding their line to include a full-suspension bike. Others are concerned about how this will undercut bike shops. Does a rising tide lift all boats? Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. Viathon again drives a hard bargain with the G1. With a feathery weight, effective geometry, and componentry to rival the best bikes on the market, the M.1 is a relevant consideration for serious riders with a cross-country bent." For $2,300 (at Walmart.com), the G1 has a new Shimano GRX 600 groupset, an entry-level, gravel-specific drivetrain, with a hydraulic brake set. We are not focusing on the connection but not hiding it either, Spinhirne-Martin said. Others seek innovation above all, eager to check out the latest suspension tech from Trust Performance or Yeti. On top of the frame features, the G1 comes with a pretty respectable build kit. That's a fine goal, but let's not kid ourselves: $2,300 is both a lot of money and also. Support us! But it gets the job done. Hardtail race XC bikes seem to be going away in favor of short-travel, full-suspension options.

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