Bikesdirect is an online retailer that has been around for ages and sells bikes direct to consumers, often at super low prices than other bike shops.
But are their deals too good to be true? Is Bikesdirect a legit company to buy from?
They are a 100% LEGIT! And they have thousands of reviews online.
In this post, I’ll do a thorough review of BikesDirect to help you make an informed choice.
About Bikes Direct
Bikesdirect was founded in 1999 by brothers David and Phillip Barron. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company’s original vision was to sell affordable bikes directly to consumers by cutting out the middleman retail stores.
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In the early 2000s, they focused on sourcing bikes from Asia and selling them at huge discounts compared to traditional bike shops.
As e-commerce grew, Bikesdirect saw increasing success and expanded their own in-house brands like Motobecane and Gravity.
Over the past two decades, Bikesdirect has become one of the largest online bike retailers in the US and they sell over 100,000 bikes every year!
And their prices are always far below normal retail.
Is Bikes Direct A Legit Website?
Bikesdirect currently has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which means they are legit. A scam site cannot last for 24 years!
If you look at customer reviews on sites like TrustPilot and SiteJabber, Bikesdirect seems to have a ton of great reviews.
Customers rave about the amazing deals they’ve scored – some even saying they got a $1,000 bike for $500.
There are also many positive reviews from previous customers about how their bikes are doing now or how long they lasted.
Other reviews highlighted value for money, fast shipping, and smooth ordering process.
However, they’ve also had some complaints lodged against them in the last 3 years.
Many cite issues with damaged parts, difficulty getting a refund, and problems contacting customer service.
Overall, reviews seem to suggest you can get very cheap bikes from Bikesdirect, but quality control and support may be lacking. It’s a mixed bag.
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How Are BikesDirect Prices So Cheap?
The number one question many customers have is – how can Bikesdirect offer bikes so much cheaper than big brands like Trek or Specialized?
Often, it comes down to frames and components.
They work directly with factories in Asia to manufacture many of their bikes. This allows them to control costs and offer wholesale pricing to customers. Labor and materials are cheaper overseas.
And remember, they sell bikes online directly to customers, cutting out bike shop middlemen and don’t invest in physical retail spaces. This eliminates markups and overhead costs.
Most bikes from Bikesdirect use lesser known proprietary components made specifically for them at lower costs, rather than Shimano or SRAM.
Since they don’t have a retail presence, they don’t spend heavily on advertising or bike shop displays. Their marketing costs are low.
Plus, bikes arrive partly disassembled, allowing BikesDirect to save on final assembly and quality control steps. Customers handle the final tuning themselves.
Finally, as one of the largest online bike sellers, BikesDirect benefits from economies of scale and bulk order discounts that further reduce costs.
Potential Cons Of BikesDirect
Now that we know they are legit and they offer great bikes – there are some drawbacks you need to be aware of.
Buying Online Means No Test Rides
One of the benefits of buying from a local bike shop is getting a test ride and having your bike professionally assembled.
With Bikesdirect, you buy solely based on specs and photos online.
This means you won’t know how a bike truly fits and handles until after it arrives at your doorstep. And any small assembly mistakes made by the consumer can add up.
You may need to bring it to a shop for tweaks.
Many customers say the initial setup and tuning of their Bikesdirect bikes cost $50-100+ at a bike mechanic. So some of the upfront savings get eaten away.
Proprietary Parts Make Repairs And Upgrades Difficult
Like I said, in order to offer lower prices, Bikesdirect uses a lot of proprietary or house-branded components. This includes things like the frame, wheels, drivetrain parts, and brakes.
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They aren’t from major mainstream brands.
This could make repairs and upgrades tricky in the future. Your local bike shop may not have parts in stock or know how to service these generic components.
Some customers say they had wheels taco or bottom brackets fail, only to find out replacement parts were backordered for weeks.
You may face more downtime if something needs fixing.
Warranties And Resale Value
Bikesdirect bikes generally only come with a 1 year warranty. And it may only cover the frame, not components.
Compared to a lifetime frame warranty from mainstream brands, the coverage feels limited.
Resale value also takes a hit. Since these are generic bikes with off-brand parts, you likely won’t recoup much value trying to sell it used later.
These aren’t bikes most collectors or enthusiasts covet.
Verdict
At the end of the day, Bikesdirect is a legit company and their bikes are awesome.
If you inspect the bike closely after delivery and are comfortable doing some fine tuning and basic repairs, you can likely get years of use from a Bikesdirect bike.
And the savings can be substantial.
But quality control is clearly not their forte, and assume no customer support aftersale.
