[RETROROCKS]

I was in a local bike shop recently and was looking at the 1100$ diamondback atroz.
I rode one earlier and was stunned by just how low end a 1000$ ++ bike is.
Shimano square taper cranks?? They still make those!!
A suntour fork that clunked when I did a curb hop!!
a 2x9 setup with Shimano Altus components.
The rear shock was an exa290.
I looked up the shock online its a 30 to 40 dollar shock.. retail!!
So for 1100$ you get a simple single pivot suspension, a fork that makes you nervous doing curb hops,
and bottom feeder parts.
Ive seen some wally world bikes with Acera components and Altus cant be much better.
DB seat and post no name hubs.. tires were ok!
The only thing I see adding any value is the DB name on the side!!
So what do you think, if this bike were in wally world it would in my opinion be a high end $500 or so bike.
I know the big box stores get volume discounts but im really seeing what to me looks like a high end wally world bike!!
thoughts??

 

[Skeeno]

Bro, Diamond Backs are wally world bikes, unless you get their high end bikes.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[*OneSpeed*]

Maybe you're just out of touch with how crappy Wally world bikes are? I agree those seem like low end components for that price point but it is leagues better than what's on department store bikes.

Edit: I forgot this was a full sus bike, actually doesn't sound terrible for the money. Speaking of which I'm not sure what you're really expecting from a $1,100 full sus bike? Realistically they don't really get "decent" till $2,500-$3k. Even then you're looking at some crappy components.

Now imagine trying to build a bike (as a manufacturer) that's 1/3 that price. Doesn't really leave any room for quality components.

 

[OldSchoolMBer]

I don't keep up with new bike prices but in the current market $1100 for full suspension seems pretty low if you're looking for something decent. I'd go with a hardtail for that money or bump your budget to 1800ish and look at something like the Vitus Mythique.

 

[dysfunction]

Wow, someone sells an $1100 full suspension bike?

 

[rideit]

It's an Atrozity!

 

[RETROROCKS]

I don't keep up with new bike prices but in the current market $1100 for full suspension seems pretty low if you're looking for something decent. I'd go with a hardtail for that money or bump your budget to 1800ish and look at something like the Vitus Mythique.

im not looking in that range just examining them really and they seem maybe one step above a wal mart bike

 

[127.0.0.1]

you are actually getting a lot of bike for the coin. so they
cut corners but not as bad as wally world bottom end

and a square taper sealed cartridge BB is not that bad at all.

raced many thousands of miles on them back in the day. about faultless really
[and better than my current frickin pressfits except for heft]

 

[bingemtbr]

Bike shops are known for their relationships with customers, support of the local cycling community, product knowledge, and service. That being stated, bike shops can sell whatever level of bike they want. However, that sale comes with service, knowledge, support, and a long term relationship.

Big box stores (Walmart, Costco, Amazon...) can sell whatever they want as well. I've seen $5k mtbs at Costco from very well known brands. However, big box is about price and being cheap. No relationship, no support, no product knowledge, and no service.

Edited to add: Walmart (corporate location) does deserve recognition to their development and continued support of mountain biking in northwest Arkansas. Walmart plays (and pays) a huge roll in the NWA mtb scene.

 

[slapheadmofo]

I was in a local bike shop recently and was looking at the 1100$ diamondback atroz.
I rode one earlier and was stunned by just how low end a 1000$ ++ bike is.
Shimano square taper cranks?? They still make those!!
A suntour fork that clunked when I did a curb hop!!
a 2x9 setup with Shimano Altus components.
The rear shock was an exa290.
I looked up the shock online its a 30 to 40 dollar shock.. retail!!
So for 1100$ you get a simple single pivot suspension, a fork that makes you nervous doing curb hops,
and bottom feeder parts.
Ive seen some wally world bikes with Acera components and Altus cant be much better.
DB seat and post no name hubs.. tires were ok!
The only thing I see adding any value is the DB name on the side!!
So what do you think, if this bike were in wally world it would in my opinion be a high end $500 or so bike.
I know the big box stores get volume discounts but im really seeing what to me looks like a high end wally world bike!!
thoughts??

You get a whole lot more for your money now than you did bitd, that's for sure.
Think about what a grand got you back in the 90s, then account for inflation, etc.
Really not that bad.

I'll take a square taper over a press fit any day as well fwiw.

 

[Harold]

A $1000 FS bike has always given you roughly the same parts you would get on the cheapest hardtails you can find in the same shop. usually in the $400-$500 range or so.

And yeah, looking at the parts by themselves, there's usually some overlap between the cheapest stuff available at your LBS and the most expensive dept store bikes. Especially when you're looking at the actual big box sporting goods places that are usually a step above places like walmart and target and such. As others have mentioned, you get more service and support from the small shop. But also, and probably more critically, you know the bike at the small shop is going to be assembled MUCH better than the box store bike.

 

[wolfmw]

yes. It's the glorification the shop adds that makes it worth buying from them.

No but really, at the lowest end parts are parts but the way they are assembled and tuned can make a BIG difference in performance and longevity. That's the value of a decent shop.

And as others point out, $1100 doesn't get much of anything these days, sadly. If you've got some time to kill, shop around and try to build a bike for <$1100 using the bottom of the barrel cheapest parts you can find. Good luck.

 

[*OneSpeed*]

Maybe you're just out of touch with how crappy Wally world bikes are? I agree those seem like low end components for that price point but it is leagues better than what's on department store bikes.

Edit: I forgot this was a full sus bike, actually doesn't sound terrible for the money. Speaking of which I'm not sure what you're really expecting from a $1,100 full sus bike? Realistically they don't really get "decent" till $2,500-$3k. Even then you're looking at some crappy components.

Now imagine (OP) trying to build a bike, as a manufacturer, that's 1/3 that price. Doesn't really leave any room for quality components. Your expectations are way too high.

Edited

 

[slapheadmofo]

yes. It's the glorification the shop adds that makes it worth buying from them.

No but really, at the lowest end parts are parts but the way they are assembled and tuned can make a BIG difference in performance and longevity. That's the value of a decent shop.

And as others point out, $1100 doesn't get much of anything these days, sadly. If you've got some time to kill, shop around and try to build a bike for <$1100 using the bottom of the barrel cheapest parts you can find. Good luck.

You can score a killer lightly used 26" bike for that kind of money.
But then dudes on the internet would totally judge you.

 

[wolfmw]

You can score a killer lightly used 26" bike for that kind of money.
But then dudes on the internet would totally judge you.

yep! I literally gave away an older full XTR Scalpel with a carbon Lefty and 26" CrossMax wheels a few years ago. Couldn't sell it. Not cool anymore but it was still plenty fast.

 

[Bikeventures]

I found it funny on recent Pinkbike podcast they were discussing ways to save money on MTB. All the parts they listed, while on low end of the "core" mtb spectrum, still added up to a lot of money.

Parts like Fox Rhythm forks, Deore drivetrain, PNW droppers, etc, still add up to a $3k to $4k bike. I think the industry really has a misaligned view of what beginner budget really is.

 

[p0is0n0ak]

You get a whole lot more for your money now than you did bitd, that's for sure.
Think about what a grand got you back in the 90s, then account for inflation, etc.
Really not that bad.

I'll take a square taper over a press fit any day as well fwiw.

Interesting. I want to take this idea and see where it goes. In 1996, I bought a Cannondale Super V 400, their lowest end full suspension, for $999.99.

For components, it had a Fox Vanilla shock and a basic head shock--I still think the headshock while limited in travel, was a great suspension format for the time. It was super responsive and tracked better than any of the other suspension fork options of the era. The bike was notoriously pogo sticky, but once I figured out how to tune the Vanilla, I could get it to ride pretty well. It had a pretty full compliment of Coda stuff: cranks, bars, stem, seat post, wheels, all of which left a lot to be desired. I can't remember the shifter brand, but they were 7 speed grip shifters. I do seem to remember an XT rear Derailleur and an SLX front, but may be misremembering. It also had Tektro V-brakes, which were more powerful than anything else I had used up till then.

I rode that bike well into the 2000s and upgraded it to full a 3x9-speed XTR drivetrain, 5 position air sprung head shock, Kore stem+ go fast handle bars, Thompson Elite post, Selle Italia saddle, Avid Single digit V-s, and custom built wheels on XT hubs.

In all, I'd take the '90s Cannondale bang for the buck over OPs DB.

 

[Bikeventures]

^^ With inflation, that bike would be priced $1700 today.

Not many $1700 full suspension bikes out there. You can get a Giant Stance. Looks ok on paper.
Stance (2021) | Men Trail bike | Giant Bicycles US

 

[Darth Lefty]

Industry does a lot to upsell you. You can get a lot done on that Atroz. Better if you install some damping. But the price point hasn’t been 1000 bucks for a base model full suspension since… Well look at that guy above with the Cannondale

 

[jeremy3220]

It's an Atrozity!

This is literally the Atroz's nickname.