Their mountain bikes are sturdy and robust, perfect for beginners and hobby riders, and are affordable models for all people. Kent bikes are generally known for being affordable, budget-friendly bikes. Compared to other bike brands, Kent bikes are typically priced lower and are designed to offer good value for money.
The wheel labeling is an important change for the company as it considers whether to enter the private label wheel building business. However, if you will ask me about Kent bikes, my opinion is mixed. Although it is a good brand, being a professional mountain biker, I felt the need for some improvements in Kent bikes.
But if I weren’t nervous about what we’re doing, there would be no point in doing it.” Ironically, twenty years ago, at the height of the outsourcing craze, Kent’s current building was occupied by MTD, an Ohio-based riding-lawn-mower operation that consolidated back to Ohio, shuttering the Manning plant and losing 800 workers. MTD also owned the Columbia Bicycle Company of Westfield, Mass., shuttered about 30 years ago.
“The prices there were just so low it made no economic sense to continue, so in 1991 we stopped production, sold off the equipment, shut the doors,” Kamler recalls. “We were never, ever going to manufacture again in the U.S. That was 23 years ago, our very final decision.”And then kent bike along came… Walmart. What Kamler is doing in bicycle manufacturing exactly parallels what transplant automotive producers engineered in the 70s and 80s. Kent Bicycles made headlines with its plans to produce 500,000 bikes annually in its new South Carolina factory in Manning.
These bikes are considered good entry-level bikes for beginners. The bikes are also built with simplicity in mind, meaning you’ll have to deal with less complicated stuff. Kent bikes also come with easy to follow manuals and step-by-step instructions so you can take care of basic repair and maintenance tasks, even if you’re not that much familiar with it. You can even customize your ride according to your specific needs. Whether you want to cruise around the town, commute on a regular basis, deal with city traffic, or take your adventure off-road, Kent bikes can be a great starting point.
Kent has a range of mountain bikes available in their arsenal. They are more like entry level MTBs designed to introduce the rider into the world of MTB. These bikes are perfect for beginners and occasional riders. Not only kent bicycless are relatively cheaper than other bike models, but they also provide convenience. From quick assembly to replaceable parts and accessories, this brand has taken all the necessary steps to ensure that riders can get maximum value out of their Kent bike. The kits and gears you find in Kent bikes are decent to drive in the comfort of everyone.
In 2010, as Chairman and CEO, Kamler was joined by his younger son Scott, whom he persuaded to sign on as Kent’s fourth generation. The younger Kamler is now president, second in line at an up-and-running factory with big expansion plans. When the Manning, S.C., plant opened October 15, 2014, with 48 workers, including management, the executive team foresaw 175 to 200 workers and more machinery by 2017. So, Kamler promised to go look, but he also planned to check out other sites. One of his friends, a Senior VP at Deloitte, put Kamler in touch with people who ran a division that helped businesses review possible sites and negotiate the best deals.
Your bike frame & fork are protected under our Lifetime Warranty policy. Bicycle labeling has a storied history in the U.S., with bikes being called “Made in USA” while assembled with Asia-sourced components. Or frames imported from China kent bikes and painted in the U.S. being labeled “Made in USA.” Kamler was unsure if the South Carolina-assembled bikes would qualify for the new label but applied anyway. Maybe I am feeling it because I have driven the comfiest professional bikes.