>>1699630Walmart bike:
- sold in the "Toy" department
- built to last a year (if you're lucky)
- expected to be replaced completely when the chain wears out or tires go bald
- every part made of chinesium that will bend or snap if you crash or hit a particularly deep pothole
- outdated or obscure standards mean hard to maintain even if you tried
- heavy as fuck
- put together by wagey high schoolers
Bike shop bike
- built to last basically forever by people who actually know what they're doing
- probably has lifetime frame warranty
- components should last years and years (at $800 they might cheap out on the brakes and crankset but they should still last and you could upgrade if you wanted)
- wheels won't randomly taco underneath you (unless you truly abuse them)
- much lighter
- modern parts mean even the most stoned ex-con bike mechanic will be able to fix your shit
- also means tools and resources are readily available if you want to DIY
That said, the best warranty in the world is Walmart's "Yeah that sort of looks like something we used to sell, here's some money" return policy.
