Shimano "equipped" Target bikes VS. Profesional bike store bike??

Whats the difference? I saw a schwinn MTN bike at Target that looked pretty good (schwinn makes good bike right?) It had "aheadset stem", hardtail with front suspension and its said that it was Shimano "equipped". Now whats is the difference b/w that bike from Target and another bike in roughly the same price bracket ($130-40 maybe a little more) at a professional bike store? And does shimano "equipped" mean the same thing as something with shimano from a bike store?

Thanks

Shimano has many variations of their product lines from discount versions to top of the line pro versions. Schwinn and other brand names are the same. A cheaper department store bike is exactly that, a cheap version with professional name. If you are a casual rider, the Wal-Mart specials will do, but any kind of real off road biking requires a brand name "bike store" bike. You won't likely find a bike at a professional store for $140 either.

Shiman equipped doesn't really mean alot. There are different levels of shimano components, just like Nike shoes, you can buy a pair for $50 or as much as $200. The front suspension on that bike also isnt going to be as good as the ones at a bike shop. It really depends on what kind of riding you will be doing though. If you are going to ride casually around the neighborhood or something the Target bike would probably be good. If you plan od doing any kind of serious mountain bikinbg though you probably want to go to a bike store. you can get a pretty good entry level mountain bike for around $500. It will last alot longer and most bike shops offer free adjustments to the bike.

Shimano make truck loads of group sets for a range of different bikes. The pro bike stores usually carry bikes with group sets weighted toward the top end of the Shimano range.

Cheaper bikes are priced that way for a reason. It's not just economies of scale affording a cheaper deal. Cheaper bikes usually have group sets that are less reliable, less adjustable, and quite a bit heavier.

If you want to actually get into riding, you should keep in mind that parts wear out and need to be serviced and or replaced.

A bike that is serviceable will have a longer life and cost less in the long term than an unserviceable rig.

Cheaper bikes are typically equipped with a smaller range of serviceability. eg: you can't replace chain rings but have to remove and discard the whole crank set and probably the bottom bracket too. . . costly!

The bikes in the big chain stores usually don't have Shimano accredited mechanics assembling and servicing them.

There is no free lunch.

There are 2 kinds of Schwinn bicycles. The Chinese made junk at the department stores AND the professional line made in Taiwan - sold in bicycle shops. Very different machines indeed. I own one of the later.

Shimano too has a whole hierarchy of equipment. They have stamped steel derailleurs, brakes and cranks for the low end bikes -- why not? it's high profit mass production -- and the carefully forged aluminum alloy high end stuff. Some of their technology trickles down to the lower, but, "you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear." (if you don't know the expression -- ask your mother)

In a way I like that Shimano makes the lower high profit items, it keeps the high end affordable as the corporate profits feed research and development. Auto racing comes to mind as another example. Goodyear for example makes high tech racing tires and low end passenger car tires. The high volume passenger car tires pay for the racing tire. So can you race on the pedestrian Goodyear -- of course not!

So is a department store bicycle any good? No - Not unless price is your only -- ONLY -- determining factor. Even then the bike isn't good only the price is justified.

Look at Shimano's site. http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/pr...
You will see the professional groups. If you see those model of Shimano on a bike -- that's the good stuff.

On a lighter note, if you see a department store bike with Campagnolo Record on the derailleurs and crank -- buy it!!!
(you won't that was humor)

Edit: Yeah, mirage, I remember. That's why I specifically said Record. Was just keeping it light.

Edit2: firecracker, I catch your analogy except it is flawed. In Automobiles Toyota = complete reliability, how about wal-mart = Yugo?

I'm assuming you're talking about the Schwinn Ranger that Target sells for $139.99.

You might be able to get an entry level mountain bike from a professional bike shop on year-end clearance for a little over $200, maybe, but they generally start more around the $300 mark. Why? Because a professional bike shop just won't sell you a bike that's built with components that will wear out quickly or fall apart.

But not necessarily either. I mean, if you only ride it a couple of miles at a time around town, don't subject it to abuse, jumping curbs, bad weather, etc., that Schwinn could be just fine and last a very long time. My stepdaughter has a Huffy she uses just to go for rides with us and grandbabies on nice summer weekends. She's had it 5 years and it's in perfect condition. So it really all depends.

But no, that Schwinn sold at Target bears no resemblance to the Schwinn of the past that was sold exclusively at Schwinn Bike Shops, and the Shimano "equipped"? Yeah, I think that's just the derailers, not the rest of the gear set, and not the better derailers at that.

There's a big difference between Target bikes and one purchased at a professional bike shop.

Looks isn't everything. Some of the best looking and poorest performing bikes are found at places like Target and Walmart.

Comparing a $140 bike at Target with a $140 "similar" bike at a bike shop is going to be almost impossible since the department stores have the bikes specially made up (SMU) just for them to meet a price point. I deal with this on an almost daily basis- respeccing good bikes to meet the price expectation of the customer.

Very VERY few bike shops are big enough to have SMU bikes, and when they do they usually reflect higher value, not lower.

EDIT: McG... back in the 70s Campy Gran Sport and Valentino was common on bikes available in the mass market- especially when they were made in Germany or Italy... at least in the US.

all the answers you got are correct but im gonna simplify it
walmart= Toyota
bike shop= Lexus

I had a Schwinn from Target that lasted only 28 days before the rear axle/chain/rear derailer/rear triangle broke. I babyed the bike, never jumped it, no mud. They wouldn't give me my $ back nor store credit even though I had a receipt and is was within their 30 day return policy. They "repaired it" but it wasn't back to original condition.

Maybe other thing that you should look at that no one has mentioned so far is fit. It's important that the bike fits you.

Usually, Target and such only get one-size-fits-all bikes. It might be that you fit the bike perfectly, but if you're taller/shorter or have longer/shorter legs than the average person that the bike was designed for you might get an ill fitting bike.

A bike shop will likely offer bikes that come in different sizes, and they might even change stem if you need a little different than the closest one.

Also, a bike shop will likely adjust the bike perfectly before selling it to you, while generic shops will likely not. I've seen bikes where the fork was installed backwards, in more than one ocasion. So, another benefit for a bike shop.

Maybe another consideration is that most probably a bike shop will offer you a free tune up, where Target probably won't.