Id love to have this bike and have been looking hard for it but can only find the Taff which isnt bad. I wouldnt care if you rode it and everything least you know it works
@@KevCentral You don't trash the bikes. To hell with those people. If they don't want to pay the price after you ride it, you have another project bike. Let them go find a better or equal price for the bike. Don't take a loss because you did a riding review. Hell for that matter, autograph it and sell it for more LOL
Just spoke to a senior manager at a local Walmart. She said at one point, employees did assemble the bikes. But its been a while now since they hired an outside company that's go to the stores & they assemble the bikes there at the store. I asked if they are actually assemble in the store, or are they delivered to the company, then they assemble them & then transport them to the store. She said they assemble them in the store.
Bought a walmart schwinn for one of my younger cousins a few years ago, immediately took the bike apart and greased everything, retensioned the spokes and made sure the rims were straight, made sure everything was lined up and tuned up. He rides it hard and it's really held up
Kev, with the shortage of bikes at Walmart right now, I don't believe that anyone would complain about it being slightly used, especially since you would have it properly setup for the lucky recipient.
My local Walmart was out of stock. I drove to another Walmart and National Assemblers Inc. was there in the lawn and garden putting together new bikes. I am a guy and the only version of the Aluma Comp they had was the women's version. It has the white frame with teal lettering. I love white and teal actually, more than the black and grey men's color scheme. I had a moment to ride it around in the lawn and garden section before buying. It rides great and the frame geometry is nice for standing over the bike at stop lights. Oh, it does have the microShift components too; the thumb triggers are great.
@@isisdaddy1 Okay, have been riding bikes starting when I was a small kid like so many others, but the difference being in my teens I got into expensive second hand garage sale niche company bikes. One was branded "Blazer" bike company, hand built racing BMX. Flat out one of the best BMX racing bikes from the 80's. Better than Haro, diamond back, GT, Hutch, Redline, etc. $1000 bmx bike back in 1986. Think of the movie "RAD" with Cru Jones; the absolute greatest BMX movie ever made and understand that was me when I was 15 years old in 1995; I have deliberately watched that movie atleast 20 times, smiling, riding a $1000 BMX racing bike I paid $45 from mowing grass, tearing up my small town of Lawrenceville, Ga. Now I put on my Puma Redon's and hit the sidewalk on a 2020 Schwinn Aluma Comp "female geometry". The bike geometry includes a small tight front triangle which the rear triangle is higher the front. I think it gives this particular hard tail design a low center of gravity and good handling and responsiveness. The frame geometry reminds me of new Specialized and Santa Cruz frame designs, but with a hard tail.
Just got a Al Comp on Friday with the microshift. Took it out for 3.5 mile trail ride on Saturday. First impression is the microshift takes some getting use to, has a different shift feel compared to the Shimano's. Wouldn't say it's a cheaper feel. Didn't have any issue's shifting. I did get pretty rough with it and didn't hear any chain slap like I've heard in your videos with the Tourney. Going on some longer rides this week and weekend so I'll see what the long term impression will be. The thicker rotors explains why I had to adjust the brakes right out of the box.
I agree with several of these comments. I say put it together and test it out. Then sell it to someone deserving. You can charge extra if you put a Kev sticker on it!
because of you I purchased a Schwinn Bondary. I watch all your Mountain Bikes videos and your reviews, which I value. I even watch other channels. I'm grew up riding Shhwinn while friends my had Huffy's. I love My Boundary .. I'm looking forward in watching your Boundary upgrade video..
Hey Kev, I just got it last week, I too was a little skeptical, but the MicroShift RD-M26C (basically an RD-M26L with riveted guide and tension pulleys instead of Allen screws) with the MicroShift TS38-7 Shifters work well. It does need to be dialed in a little, but the High and Low Stop screws were pretty spot on. All I needed to do was adjust the B-Tension screw a little, cause it was a little too far from the high cog and adjust the barrel adjuster to get the guide pulley lined up with all of the cogs. I think you should assemble it, dial it in and try it out. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You got nothing to loose and you can always sell it. People will pay for a properly assembled and set up bike.
If Schwinn starts putting the Advent on the Auxm that would be a very interesting move. A clutch 9 speed would go a long way to making that bike a little more trail ready.
I agree with the other comments. It would be great to see you review it and then move it on. They get a properly assembled bike with their own Kev video to boot!
People complaining about shifting remember that it has to be adjusted right and have a straight derailleur hangar for the rear. Lots of how to videos on RU-vid.
Before riding ,Bring it to a LBS! I do my own ,for most things ! It,s worth every penny for safety and performance ! Have a pro do it,it could save you $ with un needed wear from loose components !
I have used those shifters on a 2019 Aluminium Comp and they work great. I say do a review, because I like watching your videos. After the review sell it, because we need more people to enjoy bicycles.
Go nice guy.... I'm working on a 2019 AL upgrade got it in April for $229.00. There were 2 bikes left for adults the Taff felt too large... Its been a challenge getting parts but have been riding the whole time...it has been a great way to reacclimate to a sport I really enjoy. I'll send more info/pics when done.
It really comes down to quality because the compatibility comes up with the cassette and the shifters, not the derailleur. The derailleur is just a long-throw spring that moves towards and away from the hub. Where it stops is determined by the shifter on this kind of equipment.
I do not believe its just Schwinn which are coming with substitute parts on them, at my place only work some of the bike are also coming with microshift components. Must be a supply and demand issue with shimano parts, expecially on the lower price end of the market.
Hi. I can't speak to the flat bar components but last January I built a drop bar 2x10 road bike from a new old stock frame. I used Microshift R10 combo shifters, an R8 front derailleur and an R9 rear derailleur (oddly the numbers on the derailleurs seem to be unrelated to the gears). At any rate, so far the Microshift components have worked with no problems at all.
I just bought an Al Comp the other day. That Walmart had like 10 of them, half had tourneys half had 26c’s. Of course I got the one with a 26c. Took it out in factory form at a local blue trail. I couldn’t believe how well it stood up to it. This is right after I returned my Mongoose Durham for being pretty much garbage. The freewheel failed on my driveway and fork bottomed out on slight street bumps.
I have the rear brakes on the left hand of my bike ( I ride motorcycles). I upgraded my bicycle's left cable brake and Shimano ez trigger shifter (integrated) to hydraulic disc brakes by purchasing a separate left hand Shimano ez trigger shift and a separate hydraulic master cylinder. It was a piece of cake.
I got mine last week with the Microshift parts. Both the front & rear derailleurs needed to be adjusted but they are now working fine after some tinkering. The factory crank set is hideous so I swapped that out with a Shimano 3x unit from my old bike. The saddle on these get uncomfortable quick but still, this is one of the best values around.
Loooove the attention Schwinn gives to the build quality, not as many funky welds or weird flexing from their frames. For the price, worth building on for sure.
The AL Comp is back in stock at Walmart! Just had a delivery last week. It has the MicroShift but the brake and shifters are two separate components on both sides of the handlebars.
I've been working at the ride bicycle shop for about 3 years and I have installed a lot of microshift I'm honestly got to say I like them better than the Shimano tourney
I received this bike and ended up taking it back. the front derailleur does not seem to match up with the front trigger and the chain was skipping if you really cranked on it hard. I don't know if was skipping on the back of front chainring. I tried adjusting it in but couldn't get it dialed in. So really think you should review it.
You can add your email on the Walmart website to be informed when a bike is back in stock. I've never seen this Al Comp in a store, but I managed to get one shipped to me because I ordered it just as soon as they sent me an email stating it was in stock. If you wait to long after getting that email you probably won't get one as they go fast.
Make a video on the huffy oxide, I want to buy it but am unsure If it’s the bike for me, I think it’s a great bike and would make a good video and please take note it’s not in stock often, but please take a look
I bought a 2020 sidewinder (26”). It came with disk brakes in both front and back, unlike the previous models. It also sports the tapered head tube. It has the shimano gears though, not these.
Love your vids. I thought I wanted an AL Comp but then you had me convinced I wanted a Boundary. And THEN you swayed me again with the AL Comp project bike. But none of it matters since these bikes don't seem to makeit to FL.
For anything non-racing, and most of life is non-racing, I like clean and simple and I am still happy with grip-shifters on my flat-bar commuter. So my vote would have to be for those Microshifters, at least insofar as appearance. But c'mon, Kev, you got us to watch so now you have to assemble it and test it. No putting it back in the box and calling it a day. Then you could sell it as Kev Assembled and Approved and make somebody happy :)
Received the new AL Comp with the MicroShifter set up. Shifts great but under heavy pressure going up steep rugged hill the chain would skip teeth. I also have the 2020 Boundary. The AL Comp is going back for a return as even though the Boundary is a tad large I actually do much better on it, plus expense to go 1x by up front on the AL Comp is too pricey while the Boundary already has it. Do love the bike though, just dont need both.
Man we are dying for you to ride that bike so we can see what you think of that derailleur. We have not had the best of relationships with that particular derailleur. To answer the other question, we would take that setup because we would replace the groupset and brakes anyway and save the $25 dollars haha. Thanks for the video man, your fans missed you. 👍🚵♂️
Hey Jeremiah, I can honestly say I really like the RD-M26C with the TS38-7 Shifters on the New 2020 1/2 Al Comp. I got everything dialed in and it was a breeze. The guide pulley is spot on with every cog and it has a real hanger.
"Better components" for cheaper price was my first thought but upon seeing it.. Meh. Why did they go with that composite RD when MicroShift sells better ones that are still cheaper than Tourneys. That shifter is totally a keeper compared to big S ones. My daily driver has second cheapest 3x7 MicroShift shifters and they work like a dream. Also, I didn't know the shortages were this bad. We've been having problems getting Shimano stuff at work. Few bikes waiting for parts, who knows for how long if this is the case. Bike business is booming and stuff just can't be ordered. Such a bummer to make half of the customers turn on their heels.
I vote assemble and review. A potential buyer then at least gets better assembly than Walmart usually provides. Plus how often will you get a chance to test out a production "oddity". I'm just hoping that Schwinn isn't planning to switch over to microshift. I'm certain that's who produces the Axe and Pro Rush drive train parts. And the Axums are experiencing shattered cassette cogs.
My bike shop owning friend sells micro shifts as a budget option and he seems to say they work pretty decent. It's always better no matter what for sperate system controls. Having to upgrade bother the group set and the brakes at the same time when you really can only afford one is no bueno. I hope Schwinn keeps that even after the shortage. As for what you should do with the bike. I think you should build it stock, ride it a little to get as many bugs out as possible, then decide if and who you'll give it to. If I needed a bike, I would care how hard who ever was giving one to me rode it first. That's awesome that you would even consider gifting it.
I signed up for Wal marts email alert, didn't get an alert. I went online last night and there was 1 In stock at my local Walmart, and the only aluminum comp in all of west Texas. Store was closing by the time I got there last night. Woke up early this morning and made a B line to the store. Didn't find it on the rack. Hunted it down in the garden center and there it was boxed up. Took it home and it had the shimano gearset on it. Well, this is going to get all the Bafang BBS02 parts swapped over from my Trek 800 and be the new donor for my ebike.
looks like I am not as original as I thought - I agree with the masses - put it together, try it out, make sure it's road ready then pass it on. That microshift plastic connector kind of worries me - I have had derailleur hangers snap on me a couple times and that can be pretty scary - plastic in a spot where I have broken metal turns me way off....
My Schwinn hybrid 700c I got from target about 2 months ago got the same microshift too. You should do a review comparing the microshift to a non-microshift, as I don’t know if there are any advantages. Thereafter, give me the bike 🚲 plastered with KevCentral decals
I am with most others. Do both, the review with video. Very few people can say there is a video of their exact bike. Plus, said person can always use the video as a reference when troubleshooting.
I needed some budget shifters replacement because I went for 1X speed configuration and went for these exact MicroShift. TBH, I like them way better than the break-integrated shifters.
I just bought one, the Microshift is trash. missing gears, impossible to get the gears shifting correct. The back is fine but the front 3 cog derailleur is junk. I tried adjusting it to no avail. Returned. If your going to change out to a 1X don't hesitate but if you keep it the way it is the front derailleur is horrible. Also, shoutout to Kev, great channel. Thank you for all the videos and knowledge!
I purchased a 2020 AL Comp earlier this year and made some suggested upgrades watching your videos. If you feel as though you’ve already made the best possible version of this bike with the prior 2020 AL Comp. What would you do with two of the same bike in your collection but with different temporary non-upgraded components? That’s kind of a yawner unless you upgrade those parts as well. However, since they are now out of stock for good on the original fork, what you would choose
You know, Kev, I have to agree with most of the comments here. I think you testing it is always worthwhile, not to mention being put together properly. Follow that by finding someone deserving of a big box comp that is ready to go.
Mictoshift makes good stuff. I've never heard of this model, but definitely don't count it out. Now if they spent the extra $10 and equipped an HG compatible 8/9 speed rear cassette the upgrade paths would seriously expand. Not blaming them for not doing so as the chances even 5% of prospective buyers have any clue what I just said would be extremely optimistic. I continue to be very impressed with both the Claris and SRam x4 entry level groupsets. They just work and keep working, having those as easy upgrades would be awesome on a department store bike and I've heard really good things about the MicroShift Advent stuff which is also in the entry level category.
I received mine from Walmart this past Saturday. I'm not a fan of plastic considering the environment these bikes will be used in. I've already changed to a 1x and will soon update to either a 10 or 11 speed soon. Right now, I'm still debating on either leaving as a true MTB or change it to a Monster-Cross setup since I do a lot of road cycling and love the drop bars with a rigid fork.
I got mine for $199 and should be arriving tom or next day. Then i found 5 units at a local branch, still inside box so not sure if they came with the micro or shimano. Ill comment again once mine arrives and take for test ride. I have 2 other bikes one with Shimano tourney and 1 with micro on a mongoose bike.
I recommend getting rid of the front derailleur and getting a Shimano Altus replacement, preferably in the rear too, but definitely in the front. Cheap front derailleurs are just way more problems than they are worth. They are one of the main sources of trouble for a dept bike, that and the non-indexed shifters.
As someone who has upgraded brakes and drive train, I prefer them to be separate. With that said there are bikes like the Priority Apollo Gravel that have the shifter integrated into the brake levers. The biggest difference between bike shaped objects and higher end velocipedes is the quality of the components. So the Apollo Gravel is 7x the price of this bike with much higher quality parts (gate belt drive, alfine 11 speed internally geared hub, custom frame.) So really it depends on the quality of parts if the shifter should be integrated into the brakes. Bottom bracket parts should have separate brakes and shifter allowing the rider to upgrade later on. As things like usage, sun and weather exposure will degrade the plastic over time. If the rider crashes there is a much higher risk of breaking plastic components as opposed to the possibility of bending metal ones. If you compare the microshift components on this bike compared to my recumbent trike (17x the cost of the BSO), the tolerances are better and they will last longer as very few corners are cut because of the cost. On a side note, did you preorder the Priority Apollo Gravel?
Both. You should do both. Get a ride review, then sell it to a local viewer for $150-175. Unless you completely stack it on the ride the buyer gets a properly sorted and shaken down bike, and you surely make back any difference in price via ad revenue. Winners all around.
@kevcentral pass it on. They are likely worst performing than the the shimano ("tried and true"). The big difference is the microshift brake/shifter are two separate equipment and easier to upgrade one thing at a time.
Yes the old one had the crap front derailleur. I still have the old Tourney set up on mine. Getting pretty wore out. The middle of my 3x is literally getting shredded. My rear tire is bald also. Brakes are holding up ok. Have pry 750 miles so far.
1) how did you come across the "newer" Al Comp? I signed up for their email notifications, and haven't gotten any on the Al Comp 2) Would you rather go with the Al Comp, or the Hyper Explorer HT? (I've gotten 2 or 3 email notifications regarding the Hyper) 3) I kind of like the bounciness of a DS. What are some DS budget bikes that you would recommend, wait, you don't recommend, you (forgot what you say, lol)…….what would you inform someone to look at?
I would like to see a review of this variant. It would be interesting to see how the Microshift components compare to the Shimano ones, especially in an offroad environment.
