[reneestapleton1]

My review is for those of you new to bikesdirect.com and not especially skilled in bike mechanics.

First, bikesdirect.com isn't the cheapest. After purchasing my bike from bikesdirect.com, I found the Diamondback Metric 1 available at diamondback.com for the same price, *with professional sales reps available on the phone. In fact I spoke with a helpful rep today.

Second, adjustments to assembly are necessary if you want to do right by your bike. Be prepared to spend at least $100 more at a shop after assembly. Don't be mislead by "See how easy" assembly is in large type on bikesdirect.com's home page. Assembly is easy, but adjustments are not, and they ARE part of assembly on the website's fine print.

My bike arrived with front breaks unaligned, tires needing truing, gears needing adjusting, etc. Are you skilled at these fixes? Do you have time to learn these skills? Is all that you need to learn available in video?

Most importantly, I found bikesdirect.com's customer service deplorable and inexcusable. They came across as non-inclusive, as though only seasoned bikers are worth treating with respect. Additional to reaching out to brands directly, I recommend reaching out to a local bike shop upfront. Ask them about the bike(s) you're interested in. See what they have to say about anticipate adjustment costs on a boxed bike. Ask about their opinion of bikesdirect.com. Spend your time and money with people who treat all levels of bikers with courtesy, enthusiasm, and respect.

 

[Lombard]

As with many online retailers, they lure you into thinking you are saving wads of $$ by bypassing brick and mortar shops. They are able to offer free shipping by padding the price of the item.

Even with parts, I can often go to my LBS and see if they can get what I want. If their suppliers have it, they can order it and have it in a couple of days at close to the price of many online retailers. I only go online if my LBS can't get something I want.

 

[Grog McCog]

I got a roadish bike for my kid from them, and overall it was ok, but my experiences were similar to those of the OP. If I wasn't set up to do some significant bike wrenching, it would have been unrideable. My expectations were calibrated, and I don't think I paid more than $300, so I didn't grumble, but it isn't an experience I would recommend to a newbie.

FWIW, I never bothered to contact customer service, but the attitude described by "as though only seasoned bikers are worth treating with respect", if true, doesn't seem at all sustainable, since few "seasoned bikers" would want to buy from them.

 

[BlazingPedals]

As I've warned some friends, the BikesDirect sales model dispenses with the shop - which means no setup help. The people who are most attacted to this are first-time buyers, who like the idea of saving a few bucks - but who are least able to do the setup themselves. Unless you're competent at doing your own maintenance, go through the shop! The service they provide is well worth the extra cost.

 

[DaveG]

My review is for those of you new to bikesdirect.com and not especially skilled in bike mechanics.

First, bikesdirect.com isn't the cheapest. After purchasing my bike from bikesdirect.com, I found the Diamondback Metric 1 available at diamondback.com for the same price, *with professional sales reps available on the phone. In fact I spoke with a helpful rep today.

Second, adjustments to assembly are necessary if you want to do right by your bike. Be prepared to spend at least $100 more at a shop after assembly. Don't be mislead by "See how easy" assembly is in large type on bikesdirect.com's home page. Assembly is easy, but adjustments are not, and they ARE part of assembly on the website's fine print.

My bike arrived with front breaks unaligned, tires needing truing, gears needing adjusting, etc. Are you skilled at these fixes? Do you have time to learn these skills? Is all that you need to learn available in video?

Most importantly, I found bikesdirect.com's customer service deplorable and inexcusable. They came across as non-inclusive, as though only seasoned bikers are worth treating with respect. Additional to reaching out to brands directly, I recommend reaching out to a local bike shop upfront. Ask them about the bike(s) you're interested in. See what they have to say about anticipate adjustment costs on a boxed bike. Ask about their opinion of bikesdirect.com. Spend your time and money with people who treat all levels of bikers with courtesy, enthusiasm, and respect.

If you are not a decent mechanic, BD is probably not the best choice. I bought a mountain bike from them and I am happy with it, but I have built up a few bikes from scratch and can handle the setup.

 

[No Time Toulouse]

The irony is, BD only makes sense if you are an experienced bike mechanic, but those who ARE experienced find little at BD which appeals to them...

 

[Lombard]

The irony is, BD only makes sense if you are an experienced bike mechanic, but those who ARE experienced find little at BD which appeals to them...

Pretty much.

I have a friend who bought a Motobecane road bike from bikesdirect. He then paid an LBS $200 to assemble it. I think the bike lasted him 2-3K miles before things started breaking and he decided to buy a good bike from an LBS.

 

[DaveG]

Pretty much.

I have a friend who bought a Motobecane road bike from bikesdirect. He then paid an LBS $200 to assemble it. I think the bike lasted him 2-3K miles before things started breaking and he decided to buy a good bike from an LBS.

I don't understand that. Other than the frameset, BD bikes are built up with Shimano or SRAM components and other standard parts that aren't unique to BD. What is breaking?

 

[Kerry Irons]

The irony is, BD only makes sense if you are an experienced bike mechanic, but those who ARE experienced find little at BD which appeals to them...

My daughter and her husband bought bikes from BD. Decent quality and decent prices. I consulted on which bikes to get and then I set them up. One of the bikes had loose spokes in the back wheel after a few hundred miles. No big issue - I trued the wheel and got the spoke tension up to where it should have been. I agree that BD is a questionable choice for inexperienced folks, but then so are many bike shops, unfortunately.

 

[Lombard]

I don't understand that. Other than the frameset, BD bikes are built up with Shimano or SRAM components and other standard parts that aren't unique to BD. What is breaking?

Not sure the answer to this as I don't recall the exact conmponents, wheels, etc., possibly low-end budget.

 

[WaynefromOrlando]

Pretty much.

I have a friend who bought a Motobecane road bike from bikesdirect. He then paid an LBS $200 to assemble it. I think the bike lasted him 2-3K miles before things started breaking and he decided to buy a good bike from an LBS.

I purchased a Motobecane Immortal Pro in 2010 and it has lasted to this day and is currently attached to my smart trainer where it still works perfectly after well over 15,000 road miles. I bought another Motobecane to replace it on the roads, a Le Champion CF Disc and had it built up at my local bike shop. He told me he couldn't get within $1,000 of that price with any bike brand he sells. I have since put about 300 road miles on that bike and plan on a lot more this year. Not saying what your "friend" experienced is not true, but it is not the only experience with BikesDirect. They have done right by me, and I am not a bike shop worker, just a long time bike rider.

 

[No Time Toulouse]

BD sometimes makes sense, but really only on their top-end equipment

 

[PBL450]

BD sometimes makes sense, but really only on their top-end equipment

If you know what you are looking at it can make sense. If you do your homework you can save some money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike Overly]

I found lots of things to correct on the mountain bike I bought from them. Easy fixes if you're experienced, but a nightmare if not. Periodically they offer some neat stuff for cheap -- enough to keep them on my radar.

 

[duo7]

I don't understand that. Other than the frameset, BD bikes are built up with Shimano or SRAM components and other standard parts that aren't unique to BD. What is breaking?

good question, kind of hard to break a frame, at least i haven't. there is an athlete on the net that recommends BD, he has 1.6 million views. check out what Funzie has to say. i never have bought a BD bike but would consider them ok since i generally do my own maintenance.

 

[ridesmasterx]

A lot of generalizations against BikesDirect in this thread. Any bike that you buy online that comes in its original packaging requires a bit of mechanical ability to assemble. If you feel incapable of, or choose not to understand the mechanics of a bicycle, purchase locally and pay the retail price.
i just purchased a “Motobecane” road bike with SRAM Rival etap from BikesDirect and couldn’t be happier about saving the $1200-$1500 that I did. If you choose to learn wrenching, you’ve chosen the path that you can do all of your own adjustments and servicing.

 

[mrtahiti80]

Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Gravel Bike Cross CX Bikes - Motobecane Mulekick 853 Reynolds High Grade Steel Shimano GRX Gravel Specific Hydraulic Disc Brake Gravel Bike Cross CX Bikes

Save Up to 60% Off Gravel Road Bikes - The new Motobecane Mulekick 4130 Reynolds High Grade Steel Disc Brake is just the bike for the rider wanting the performance of an Reynolds High Grade Steel frame, coupled with the comfort of a carbon fork with Hydraulic disc brakes plus WTB TCS tubeless...

www.bikesdirect.com

 

[mrtahiti80]

that looks interesting. Seems like a good bang of your buck. I have a carbon hardtail motobecane and I've had nothing but awesome times with his bike In fact, I'm about go to ride her today. I have around 1000 miles on her by now. Never let me down. It's my only bike so I'm thinking about purchasing that gravel bike, maybe down the line buy some good road wheels for the roadie days and then buy me an enduro and I'll be covered in all areas.

 

[ridesmasterx]

In response to mrtahiti80. The quote didn’t attach.

I have a Motobecane Century Team AXS with SRAM 11 Speed. The Century Team is a Gravel/Road bike. It’s no longer available but in looking into the frame design, it appears to be nearly identical to the Scott Addict which costs $$$$ more. I couldn’t be happier with the ride quality and component spec. I ride mainly on the road but there is clearance for up to 40mm tires for gravel riding If I so chose. Its cheap to have a spare set of gravel tires kicking around. This is my third BD road bike and all have performed flawlessly.

 

[mrtahiti80]

Yeah, I have a carbon motobecane hardtail and after 1000miles on her, I'm surprised she's still going. I've taken her down some nasty southern california downhill. I did replace the wheels and that made the biggest difference. I also added a dropper post.

This is the bike I'd go for in green. Anyone ever ridden steel?

Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Gravel Bike Cross CX Bikes - Motobecane Mulekick 853 Reynolds 853 Steel Shimano GRX Gravel Specific Hydraulic Disc Brake Gravel Bike Cross CX Bikes