Buying a Bike on Amazon: Pros and Cons

Buying a bike on Amazon is a convenient and affordable alternative to buying a bike at a bike shop. Amazon offers a wide range of quality bikes that ship straight to your door. Usually with free shipping and easy returns. They offer convenient assembly options as well. That said, there are some major drawbacks to consider. This guide outlines the pros and cons of buying a bike on Amazon. We’ll cover pricing, quality, reliability, the purchase process, assembly, returns, and more. I’ll also list a few things to look out for when shopping for a bike on Amazon as well as share some bike recommendations.

Are Amazon Bikes Any Good?

Amazon offers a wide range of bikes including road bikes, mountain bikes, kids bikes, folding bikes, hybrids, and more. Prices range from under $150 to well over $1000. Quality varies widely. Some models offer an excellent value while others aren’t worth buying.

In terms of quality, the average Amazon bike is generally below what you would find at a bike shop and above what you would find in a big box store like Walmart. Average prices range from around $300-$500. At this price point, you’ll get a decent bike equipped with name-brand components.

These Amazon bikes are reasonably reliable and durable. They will be a bit heavy and slow. The fit and finish may not be perfect. At this price range, you will get a solid value for your money. These bikes offer an affordable option for those who are just getting into cycling as well as those who just need a cheap bike for transportation.

The most expensive Amazon bikes cost around $1000-$1500. These are equivalent to mid-range bikes you would find in your local bike shop. In fact, Amazon even offers some name-brand bikes such as Raleigh, Diamondback, and Schwinn. If you can’t or don’t want to buy from a local bike shop, Amazon offers a great alternative.

Amazon’s cheapest bikes sell for less than $200. These mass-produced bikes are usually cheap junk and are best avoided. At this price range, the fit and finish are poor. The components are low-end and wear out quickly. Reliability and safety can be an issue as well.

Amazon doesn’t offer high-end bikes. If you’re looking for a premium model, you’ll have to buy it at a bike shop or at another online shop that specializes in bikes.

How Are Amazon Bikes Sold?

You can buy a bike on Amazon just like any other product. Simply shop for the bike you want and add it to your cart. There are plenty of options to help you narrow your search. After you find your bike and pay, Amazon will ship it to your door. The purchase process is painless. Most Amazon bikes come with free shipping and easy returns.

Amazon ships their bikes partially assembled in a large bike box. Most models come around 85% assembled. Before riding the bike, you’ll have to attach the pedals, seat, handlebars and stem, and front wheel. You might also have to make some adjustments to the derailleurs and brakes. Sometimes the wheels will need to be trued. You also need to air the tires up.

Some bikes require more work than others before they’re ready to ride. If you’re handy, you can assemble the bike by yourself. You can also take the bike to a bike shop to have it assembled and tuned by a professional bike mechanic. Amazon also offers assembly options in many areas. I’ll talk about these more in-depth later on.

Pros of Buying a Bike on Amazon

There are a number of good reasons to buy a bike on Amazon instead of at your local bike shop. In this section, I’ll outline the most significant benefits.

Amazon offers a wide selection of bikes

Amazon offers something for everyone including mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrids, city bikes, single-speed bikes, folding bikes, fixies, e-bikes, kids bikes, women’s bikes, fat bikes, BMX bikes, recumbent bikes, and more. They offer bikes in every wheel size including 12”, 16”, 20”, 24”, 26”, 650b, 700c, and 29er. Most Amazon bikes are also available in a range of frame sizes for riders of different heights. Whatever style and size of bike you’re looking for, Amazon offers a suitable option.

Amazon offers affordable bikes

If you’re on a tight budget, Amazon is an excellent place to buy a bike. Prices are significantly lower than what you would find at your local bike shop. For example, the cheapest Amazon bikes cost less than $200. For around $250-$300, you can buy a decent entry-level bike with name-brand components. Shipping is included with most bikes.

Many bike shops don’t carry bikes in this low price range. It’s not profitable for them. At most bike shops, entry-level mountain bikes start at around $500. Entry-level road bikes start at around $600.

Amazon is able to cut costs and sell bikes cheaply in a number of ways. First, they order enormous quantities of bikes from the manufacturer and store them in their warehouses. Economies of scale allow them to buy bikes cheaper than local bike shops. They can sell these bikes cheaply and undercut bike shops. They can also sell cheaper bikes that wouldn’t be profitable for small bike shops to sell. In addition, Amazon doesn’t have to pay someone to assemble the bikes. They are shipped in their original box. They also don’t have a storefront where they sell bikes.

Amazon is able to cut costs and sell bikes cheaply in a number of ways. First, they order enormous quantities of bikes from the manufacturer and store them in their warehouses. Economies of scale allow them to buy bikes cheaper than local bike shops. They can sell these bikes cheaply and undercut bike shops. They can also sell cheaper bikes that wouldn’t be profitable for small bike shops to sell. In addition, Amazon doesn’t have to pay someone to assemble the bikes. They are shipped in their original box. They also don’t have a storefront where they sell bikes.

Amazon offers an excellent return policy

If the bike is the wrong size, arrives damaged, or you’re simply not happy with it, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund in most cases. Amazon accepts returns pretty much no questions asked. Their return policy is painless, in my experience.

If you bought the bike from a 3rd party seller on Amazon, the policy might be slightly different. Some sellers may say that they don’t accept returns unless there is a defect. You’ll want to be sure to check the return policy before you buy if you’re buying from a 3rd party. If the 3rd party seller doesn’t want to accept a return, Amazon will usually step in and help you out. They are very buyer-friendly. Amazon requires that sellers accept pretty much all returns within the first 30 days.

Amazon Offers Free Shipping on Most Bikes

One advantage to buying a bike on Amazon rather than at another online shop is that shipping is usually free. Many bikes are eligible for Prime 2 day free shipping. Most 3rd party sellers also offer free shipping to stay competitive.

When you buy a bike from other online shops, you often have to pay for shipping. This could cost anywhere from $100- to $300+ depending on how far the bike has to travel. If you’re buying the bike from someone in another country, shipping could even cost more.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you may have to pay return shipping if you need to return the bike. Whether or not you have to pay return shipping depends on who sold you the bike and the reason you’re returning it.

Most bikes sold by Amazon come with free returns. If the bike was defective, return shipping should be free. If you simply don’t like the bike or if you bought from a 3rd party seller, you may have to pay return shipping. In this case, you’re looking at spending around $75-$100. You’ll also want to check this before you buy.

Buying a bike on Amazon is easy and convenient

You don’t even have to get dressed or leave your house to buy your bike. You can sit in your easy chair at home and shop at your convenience. Once you find the right bike, Amazon will ship it to your doorstep. In some cases, they can even ship it directly to a local bike shop, which can assemble the bike for you. I’ll talk more about this service later on.

When shopping for a bike on Amazon, you can also sort through more bikes more quickly than you could in person while visiting bike shops. You can use Amazon’s search function to narrow bikes down by brand, size, number of gears, weight, tire size, suspension, price, and more.

This allows you to easily sort through hundreds of bikes to find the right one for you. This is much more convenient and less time-consuming than driving around town to multiple bike shops and talking to a bunch of salespeople.

You don’t have to deal with salespeople

When buying a bike on Amazon, you don’t have to talk to pushy salespeople. You can shop at your leisure without anyone bothering you or rushing you. Nobody tries to upsell you on things you don’t need. Nobody is spewing marketing talk at you. It’s a much more relaxing shopping experience.

To me, this is the biggest benefit of buying online. I really don’t like talking to salespeople. Particularly at bike shops. Constant up-selling exhausts me. In some cases, bike salespeople can be a bit condescending as well. For example, I once had a bike salesperson tell me that my bike was junk and that I should just buy a new one rather than getting it repaired.

Of course, not everybody feels this way. Some people prefer the experience of shopping in person. There are also some really helpful and knowledgeable bike salespeople out there.

The bike will be brand new

When you buy a bike on Amazon, you’re getting a brand new bicycle. You don’t have to deal with the hassles or uncertainty of buying a used bike. The bike won’t have any dents, scratches, rust, or wear and tear. You won’t have to replace or upgrade any components. You won’t get a lemon. The bike will arrive in ready-to-ride condition. The paint will be pristine and shiny. If something is wrong with the bike when it arrives, you can return it, as outlined above. For many, buying brand new bring peace of mind.

The bike will be brand new

When you buy a bike on Amazon, you’re getting a brand new bicycle. You don’t have to deal with the hassles or uncertainty of buying a used bike. The bike won’t have any dents, scratches, rust, or wear and tear. You won’t have to replace or upgrade any components. You won’t get a lemon. The bike will arrive in ready-to-ride condition. The paint will be pristine and shiny. If something is wrong with the bike when it arrives, you can return it, as outlined above. For many, buying brand new bring peace of mind.

You can easily compare different models and their components

When shopping for a bike on Amazon, you can take your time reading through the product descriptions and components lists. If you’re unsure about a particular component, you can take a break from shopping to do some research online.

For example, maybe you’re not sure whether you want a steel or aluminum frame or disc brakes or rim brakes. Take some time to read some guides or watch some videos to help you decide. Maybe you see a term in the product description that you’re not familiar with. For example, maybe you’re not sure what thru-axles are. You can just open a new tab and look it up on Google.

When shopping at a brick-and-mortar bike shop, you could pull out your smartphone to compare bikes and research components. This isn’t quite as comfortable as comparing bikes in the comfort of your home. Particularly when there’s a salesperson pestering you or trying to explain something you don’t understand.

Amazon can help with assembly

Amazon bikes arrive partially assembled in a bike box. If you’re not comfortable assembling the bike by yourself, Amazon offers a couple of options. They can ship your new bike directly to a local bike shop, which will assemble the bike for you. You pick up the assembled bike. Amazon also offers mobile bike shop assembly. In this case, Amazon ships the bike to your home and a professional bike mechanic comes to your home to assemble the bike for you. All you need to do is make an appointment.

Prices for these services vary depending on the bike. These services are not available in all markets. If you need help with assembly, you’ll want to check on the cost and availability of these services before you order your bike. I’ll talk more in-depth about assembly options in the next section.

Replacement parts are easily available

Amazon bikes use standard-sized parts that are easy to find. Amazon sells pretty much any part you could possibly need for your new bike. When your tires, brake pads, chain, grips, cassette, cables, or tubes wear out, you can simply buy replacements on Amazon. If you want to upgrade your pedals, handlebars, or seat, replacements are available. You can also buy accessories like lights, fenders, luggage, and more on Amazon.

Whatever you need for your new bike is easily available. Prime shipping allows you to get the parts you need in a couple of days. With a few simple tools and some basic bicycle knowledge, you can install your new parts by yourself at home.

Amazon bikes offer good value for your money

In terms of quality, most Amazon bikes fall in the lower end of mid-range. They are a step up from Walmart and big box store bikes but a step down from name-brand bike shop bikes. If you’re on a tight budget, you can buy a decent quality bike on Amazon for $300-$500. For your money, you’ll get a decent steel or aluminum frame with a lower-end Shimano or Sram groupset. The bike won’t offer the best performance or the lightest weight but it will be reliable and durable. You’ll get good value for your money.

Have you bought a bike on Amazon? Share your experience in the comments below!