Meanwhile, the rear brake hose, which sits loose inside the down tube, had a tendency to rattle against the frame. MAYBE pick a test person that is more XC based, as it is an XC bike. Hardtail mountain bikes with front suspension, Viathon notes, are the second-largest category, according to NPD. The road bike is 200 grams lighter than the gravel bike, with more aggressive geometry, 28c tires, and a stiffer frame. All rights reserved. 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. 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Viathon G.1 105 First Ride Review | Road Bike, Cycling Forums The Best Black Friday Deals for Cyclists - Bicycling Sure, its no Evil Chamois Hagar, and its perhaps even a tad smoother than the Cervelo Aspero, but only just, and certainly not through the front end. Thanks to its featherlight framea mere 2.2 poundsthe Viathon was a dream to pedal. Earlier this year, Viathon Bicycles launched with a direct-to-consumer business model and a catalog of high-end carbon bicycles, taking an approach similar to the one Canyon has used. Best Bike Trails | ), while James wasnt stoked by the lack of a cable access hatch at the bottom bracket if you want to reroute or replace gear housing. 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. To find out, I snagged a Viathon M.1 | XO1 for a ride while out at Sun Valley. Releasing some fluid from the system remedied this, but we can only hope production bikes dont need the same treatment. 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. Did Viathon offer some bold new technology,jaw-dropping value, or an irresistible brand story? 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. Before being tasked with launching Viathon, Spinhirne-Martin was responsible for all online bike sales on Walmart's e-commerce platforms, which include Walmart.com, Jet.com, Moosejaw.com, and Hayneedle.com. And then theres the fact that the established brands the Giants, Treks, Specializeds and Cannondales of this world typically supply the bikes with components that are already damn close to being right for each respective size to begin with. Considering the great components you get in comparison to its rival, the S-Works Epic, this bike is a really great deal. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Like books, we cannot judge a bicycle solely on its coverin this case the graphics and business connection. Adult Mountain Bike, 21 Speed Shimano Drivetrain, 26 Inch Wheels, Aluminum Frame, Lock-Out . For many consumers, budget concerns are only part of the equation. Others are concerned about how this will undercut bike shops. Viathons G.1 gravel bike requires the same build. But Viathon is a Walmart corporatenot Waltonproject, intended to expand Walmarts current bike offerings to the specialty market. Home; Shop. And while low, Viathon pricing was at parity with any number of other name-brand carbon models, including Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and Canyon. As it is, other brands are becoming wise to consumer demands for affordable, high-end bikes, so Viathon has enough competition to make one wonder whether this new brand can stick with the big boys. In many ways, this is exactly what a good bike store would do for you when buying a bike. 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. Were not trying to undercut the industry; were offering our bike line at a solid price, not a ridiculously low price, said Spinhirne-Martin. The handlebars could have been wider, with a shallower drop, and an extra helping of bar tape would have also been welcome. So how does this high-value racer ride? The R.1 comes off a bit aloof. View specs and technical data for all Viathon Bike Models. "The negativity starts in-store with reports of forks installed backward. I weighed the M.1 later with a handheld scale. With a feathery weight, effective geometry, and componentry to rival the best bikes on the market, theM.1 is a relevant consideration for serious riders with a cross-country bent. Viathon M.1 XX1 Carbon Eagle Mountain Bike, Medium, Copper - Walmart by Rick Vosper. Viathon was created to shift consumers thinking. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. The GRX 600 is a 211, with a 50/34T up front, and an 11-34T cassette Viathon offers the GRX 800, SRAM Force, and AXS builds in a 1x configuration. And its partnering with shops, mobile shops, and more, as well as creating an online fit calculator. 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. Seriously, this is an impressive wheelset for a bike of this price. When you need the fastest road bike, mountain-climbing bike, or racing bike, look to Viathon. Turner Bikes - Titanium Mountain & Gravel Bikes The Viathon fulfillment center is in Carlsbad, California. About Us | But heres the kicker. Its a bike that in so many ways aligns closely to what the premium Santa Cruz Stigmata is, however, the Viathon adds a little more versatility through additional mounting options. 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.. So, what does Viathon say that the G1 is? Plan to post in the forums? With a trendy 25 mm internal width, the welded alloy rims are wider than they are deep. Viathons 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. Canyons Exceed CF is $6,500 and has a comparable spec. 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. The Viathon G.1 is the gravel rig of the bunch. Its marketed as one of the lightest, fastest mountain race machines that money can buy, and that claim seemed hard to dispute by the end of my first week. It's been just about four months since a line of consumer-direct carbon road, gravel and mountain bikes premiered from a new brand called Viathon, emerging out of the bright Sea Otter sunshine like the goddess Athena springing full-formed from the forehead of Zeus. I pitched the idea to my management as a way to more quickly enter the market and change our perception, he said. Mountain - M.1. Viathon's brand manager is Zach Spinhirne-Martin out of San Bruno, California. 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. Theyll know youre copying them at a fraction of the price, and if theyre really savvy, theyll know their stuff is marginally better and the reasons why. Companies like Raleigh and DiamondBack have also embraced the model. Amazon Pick. The parts kits feature quality components from premium suppliers like Fizik, Hed, and Zipp, and the pricing is competitive with a number of brands. I ride over ladder bridges and into dense trees. We have incredible traffic on our site. Walmarts top-of-the-line M.1 hardtail mountain bike has 120mm travel with RockShox components, Stans wheels, Level Ultimate brakes, and Continental tires. All rights reserved. Updated, 4/9. [trail] Viathon Bikes launched to surprise, confusion and intrigue back in April, offering high-end carbon XC hardtails despite links to Walmart. For starters, despite its slim tube shape and dropped seat stays, the R.1 is definitely less compliant than expected. Enter the gravel bike. Speaking of rocks, the Viathons ride quality is certainly on the stiffer end of things, and those thin seatstays werent able to tame as much as the Salsa Warbird or even the Stigmata. This is the first bike weve had with Mercury wheels fitted, and the equipped G3C DISC is a quality US$799 item. Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. With the tire clearance limited to a 40c wide tire though, the G1 reminds me again that its intentions rest on dirt roads. A similarly specced Specialized Epic S-Works hardtail goes for about $3,000 more. Viathon is a direct-to-consumer bike brand owned by Walmart. Why Ultralight People Need to Chill Already, Kershaw Iridium Review: A Great Flipping Knife Under $100. With both, you get two great carbon bikes, that differ when you break down the components. Slowtwitch approved IT Band rehab? 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. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. For the M.1, its the generalist MTB enthusiast, Spinhirne-Martin said. It will be an uphill battle for a brand that could use a bit more personality. But that lack of local shop support is a risk of buying a bike through direct channels. 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. But when people saw these bikes here, it was like, 'Hey, these are real bikes! Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. Walmart.com, of course, is an internet behemoth with hundreds of millions of visitor sessions each month with peak holiday traffic topping half a billion, according to analyses by industry research firms SimilarWeb and Statista. A few things are apparent with Viathon. Of all the GRX bikes on test, this one shifted with the worst lever feel. Passers-by wont be able to spot the difference between the two, but those that own the high-end stuff will know. Or at least, hasn't happened yet. Thats exactly what we sought to answer with the high-value Viathon G.1, a carbon gravel bike thats backed by the biggest of big retailers Walmart. But thats not necessarily a bad thing. But rather than going out and buying the exact same flashy and high-end items, theyve sourced out the look-a-likes. Quan was with Cervelo from 2004 to 2008. Its difficult to separate the Viathon from its business connection to the retail giant Walmart. Its a bike that uses the exact same full-carbon frame as the more expensive Viathon G.1s in the range theres no tweak to the carbon lay-up, or cheapening of the fork for the various price points. I also grabbed a G1. A few things are apparent with Viathon. And really, we suspect a 700 x 45 mm will squeeze in if youre less fussed about mud clearance. However, theres also an element of simplicity we quite like. I just got a G1 1x Rival a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed on the the two rides I got in before the 12+ inches of snow last night and today. The 1019mm wheelbase keeps the handling snappy. . In that sense, Viathon hit the nail on the head.. So I have plenty of experience with frame geo and mechanics. $$$ Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company Privacy Policy Photos See all Videos See all 0:11 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. [, Re: Did Wal Mart pull the plug on Viathon? Walmart isnt a brand most turn to for upgrading their bike, but Viathon could change that perception. The $5,850 price tag for the Dura-Ace build is still a lot of money for many consumers. It lacks some of that impossible-to-define character that makes a climbing bike inspirational, especially when youre toiling away on a tough climb. I am a professional mechanic, and have a hand built over 175 custom frames from steel or Ti. The cables just felt like they were being dragged through molasses, and the full-length housing runs meant there was a fair bit of compression leading to a mushy feel at the lever. Best MTB Gear | I just noticed that as well (website pretty much gone). For sure we are also undergoing huge changes; times are tough now and likely to get tougher before they get better. That also translates to some good pep when youre climbing out of the saddle. 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. Does a rising tide lift all boats? $200 Off. Without the curiousness of the Walmart link, I wouldnt even be writing about Viathon. Complete builds start at $2,300, and top out at $3,500 for the gravel models and around $6,000 for the road and mountain bikes. I understand the reviewer had limited time on the bike, but there is no real detail on how the bike rode. Viathon aims to find out, and its got a good product to perform that experiment. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park. The bike has a bit of a disjointed ride feel due to the stout front fork which is stiff in contrast to the forgiveness exhibited by the rear stays. At this writing, the various models are listed at "Summer Sale" prices on the Viathon website. & Viathon is wholly owned by Walmart. For a new, and relatively small brand, Viathon stirred the pot with their debut. But the company has connections to the industry, including the support of trail networks notably, the network around Bentonville, Arkansas, near Walmart headquarters. Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowskis view. Certainly, there are many Walmart shoppers among us, though likely few who have bought a bike there. . Sadly the provided stem length and seatpost setback werent an ideal fit for the bike, or us. All of this is in line with long-standing issues of buying bikes online. Viathon builds a quality bicycle at a competitive price. Viathon Is Walmart's New High-End Bike Brand - Outside Online Ten minutes of testing was enough for me to spin around and swap in my preferred Specialized Phenom. IMBA Epics | Viathon G.1 GRX 600 gravel bike review: Carbon at alloy pricing At its inception, Kevin Quan Studios assisted in designing frames. [natethomas] This latter element is certainly somewhat surprising when you consider Viathon R.1 road frame uses a PF30 shell, and that the use of a threaded shell arguably inhibits the available width for tyre clearance. Viathon G1, Rival, 56cm, Disc, 700C, Matte Black/Silver - Walmart Shop Nitrous Shop Cyclosys QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE Since 1994 these are the words that continue to resonate within us. Getting this bike moving fast was intimidating. Re: Did Wal Mart pull the plug on Viathon? Walmart hopes its own expensive bike will be proof of concept to attract mainstream brands to that marketplace brands that previously opted out, like Evil and Niner, which are both sold at Walmart-owned Moosejaw.com. The Viathon G1 Gravel Bike: Fast and Affordable, with a Little Room for So were considering lateral stiffness, vertical compliance, weight, ride feel, cornering stability, and even the finish. And every single article, including this one, focuses on the Walmart ownership. Having spent some time in the saddle, I have to agree. You can bet that when the product managers behind Viathon called manufacturers and name-dropped Walmart, the pencil was sharpened to a dangerously pokey point. We tested the brand's top-end M.1 Mountain Bike for 6 weeks to gain an. Those interested in this bike should also take a close look at the Canyon. Not surprisingly, its something we got along with well on the Santa Cruz. Singletracks Merch | Ok Fishes, here is the interview we were all waiting for!! And failing. Viathon's G.1 carbon gravel bike is Walmart's attempt to capture some of the high-end, direct-to-consumer bicycle market. Since the news was announced last week, fans have been coming out and saying that this is what theyve been waiting for. The R.1s trail figure measures 59.7mm, which is quite long for an all-around bike. While this might be true for the climb up, it would be a stretch for going downhill. Gravel bikes can generally be ridden from home at a lower risk level than mountain bikes. Terms | Privacy. Viathon Bicycles made waves at its launch earlier this year as a premium bike brand incubated under an unlikely source. Viathon Bicycles | Find Your Way Not recovering IT Band Friction Syndrome!! Copper Harbor grants massive descents on rocky hills. That bit of information, incidentally, is not something youll find on Viathons website. And while the bikes may be sold on Walmarts website at some point, theres no mention ofselling in stores, which would put the bikes in front of a broader audience. Viathon takes pride that every model indeed, every finished bicycle is at the top of its class for weight, technology, and quality. The M.1 is among a small 2019 line that includes road and gravel models, as well as two additional high-end mountain bike builds specced lower and with prices starting at $1,998. If youre looking to buy a high-end carbon XC bike and would like to save $2,000which you could put towards another bikethe Viathon might be a good fit for you. That tyre clearance is far, far more generous than the 700 x 40 mm (or 650B x 53 mm) wide numbers that Viathon claim. The Viathon would make for a great training steed, long-distance gravel grinder, or your next ultralightbike packing rig. 3 for online traffic after Google and Amazon. Are Your Trails Ready to Ride for the Season. Fast as a road racer, rugged as a mountain bike, and priced beyond compare.. Is Viathon's new mountain bike the real deal? I want to figure out how to use that customer base to grow the bike industry.. The answer? And in this case, all of these added up to make the bike feel like it was a size or two larger than expected. For cycling-specific recommendations, check out our favorite tech deals at Walmart too. Brand manager Spinhirne-Martin said a search of similar Trek, Specialized, or Canyon bikes will net a conclusion that they are all significantly more expensive for a similarly specced product., Spinhirne-Martin came to Walmart after 10 years working in the industry at Competitive Cyclist. RELATED: Walmart Launches Gear Site with Moosejaw. Viathon R.1 Red eTap AXS review: Great performance, but with Walmart But if Viathon is going to have any real impact, its the next set of new bikes that will matter most. I loved how this bike rides, said Spinhirne-Martin about the previous generation Stigmata. With both, you get two great carbon bikes, that differ when you break down the components. Now it has a toe in the high-end market and the chance to show that itscapable of making quality stuff. Teton Gravity Research Despite having all the good Shimano shifty bits, the full-length and low-cost Jagwire cables that connected them didnt do them justice. The Viathon G1 is a bike that is a high performance machine with a good set of components out of the box. The Fizik Tundra M3 saddle was not comfortable in the slightestespecially on longer climbs. The S-Works Epic only comes with an 11-speed groupsetthe Shimano XTR Di2so the Viathon wins in our books with the snazzy eagle. Buyers have 60 days from purchase to return the bike, and it can be new or used. Viathon made the G1 with certain features in mind: Thru-axles, flat mount disc brakes, and dropped seat stays for compliance. All these numbers are pretty well proven, and create a bike that walks the tightrope between controlled and quick. This is pretty similar to the BMC URS, and realistically those under 5 6 (170 cm) are likely out of luck here. 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. Viathon Bikes On Sale | Best Walmart Bikes The frame features are exactly what youd expect of a modern frame. Viathon says it wants to bridge Walmarts current low-price offerings to the bike-enthusiastbusiness. 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. 1999-2023 Slowtwitch, Inc., and Slowtwitch.comReproduction of material from any Slowtwitch.com pagewithout written permission is strictly prohibited. Andy reports that the bike has razor sharp handling and when one puts the pressure on the . In the meantime, Viathon offers the . If nothing else, we've been surviving in this business for decades and we know the "easiest way to make a small fortune" in it a lesson which even the best-heeled outsiders have yet to learn. Usually, they can change the bar width, stem length, and crank length, but Viathon hasnt been able to do this during the pandemic because of supply chain issues, and its not clear yet when theyll be able to offer this option again. The dropper post was pretty finicky as well. Viathon swears its the latter. Per my more enduro-focused background, Id also opt for a shorter stem. A torque wrench is included to help the customer tighten screws appropriately. The big-box retailer is trying to cater to cycling enthusiasts with a line of three new carbon rides. 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. And that really summarises the G.1 quite nicely. Its what you want in a more race-focussed gravel bike, and in this sense, it gives up very little compared to the likes of the higher-priced Stigmata or Aspero. Need a Doctor in the LA/SD area who specializes in Endurance Athletes Platelet-Rich Plasma injections (PRP Injections), High Hamstring Tendinopathy Rehab Protocol. Calf muscle pull or tear? Sports Hernia/Inguinal Disruption Surgery. I asked how it was all going and how many bikes have been sold. 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. The Viathon G1 comes in five sizes ranging from 52cm to 60cm in 2cm increments. At the end of the day, we bike people live and work in a quirky, parochial and, more than occasionally, incestuous little industry, one with its own set of business realities. For those riders hoping for a super-reactive bike that follows your every twitch, I suggest you look elsewhere. Its worth mentioning that I myself am an enduro-style focused mountain biker, and Id be lying if I didnt say that it influenced my overall impression of the bike. 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. My 54cm test bike has 382.8mm of reach, coupled with a 110mm stem. As I rode the G1 down some green- and blue-rated trails, the straight and narrow bars stuffed my wrists into an uncomfortable position.
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