I just test rode the Wilde Rambler SL ($3,200) and I am obsessed with it. My friend thinks it’s overhyped and overpriced. Not sure why I am set on a steel frame which limits my options…
What are ur thoughts on the price for Wilde bikes?
by 102MEP
I just test rode the Wilde Rambler SL ($3,200) and I am obsessed with it. My friend thinks it’s overhyped and overpriced. Not sure why I am set on a steel frame which limits my options…
What are ur thoughts on the price for Wilde bikes?
by 102MEP
38 Comments
Not overhyped. Excellent machines. And v sexy.
Lots of bikes are over hyped. Ride what makes your heart sing.
Not over hyped, very well made steel frames. Jeff is a legend.
Everyone has their opinions. I think they’re neat. The one person I know who has one likes theirs a lot. If YOU like the bike, get that thang
You can’t take money with you when you die, so I guess you should spend it on bikes that make you stoked
I don’t think so, personally. Well built bikes, with good frame specs, and the frame cost is right in the US$1400-1700 neighborhood that most Taiwan-made steel frames hit. I haven’t looked at their build kit, maybe that’s overpriced, but it’s on my list of steel frames I’ll buy when I finally decide to.
(Ritchey, Rodeo Labs, Otso, and a few others are comparable in my mind for US, Fairlight would be awesome without the hassle importing it)
Everything is over hyped.
NDS pics are overhyped
If you liked it that much after test riding it, it’s not overhyped.
To me the price seems +- in line with other steel gravel bicycles from smaller brands. Both for frameset and for complete like this. And they seem well thought out and designed, by people who have some experience in the field.
But I have no in person experience with them and have never really seen one in the wild. I didn’t find them listed for sale on any European e-shop, unfortunately.
Btw, if you want a steel frame… I feel like there is actually lot of options, to me it seems more like that it’s hard to choose just one bicycle, from all that is available. So many cool brands and designs.
Very overpriced. Some steal or alloy tubes welded together are technically worth maybe 400 dollars.
If you are going to do this, I would just buy the frame and get the rest of the parts myself as you can do better than the markup for the full bike and actually get what you want.
If it were super pretty I might consider it. For this kind of money I would buy a Mason because they are pretty and actually made in a high cost country (Italy/UK).
Yes
that’s a lot of spacers combined with a positive rise stem- perhaps you might benefit from a frame with more stack?
Companies like Trek and specialized are ordering thousands of frames from these factories in Taiwan. I imagine they get big-time discounts just because of the quantity of bikes they are getting made. Jeff Frane is running a small company and is certainly not getting rich off of it. Go follow him on Instagram @bikejerks . But yeah, I think they are probably priced as low as possible. I might be a little biased though, as I have a space horse (another Jeff Frane creation) that I am in love with haha.
Overhyped? Does that mean something different now than when I was young?
Wilde is not a brand that I think of as even buying hyped, much less overhyped.
It’s a small brand with limited marketing and distribution.
That’s like the opposite of overhyped.
They are expensive for what you get, but not insultingly so. They just definitely aren’t a bargain priced frame or bike.
How much it weights? Frame is really thin so I think it can be as heavy as carbon fiber
Did your buddy test ride it too?
A friend has a Wilde and I think it’s extremely rad. Weird-light for a steel bike.
Solid bikes. Lots of fun and steel doesn’t limit you. I’ve got multiples in various materials alloy and carbon and the steel ponies are by far the most comfortable over time and distance. Would never sell or trade them.
Your bud might just have bad taste in bikes and prolly likes ugly ass plastic bikes.
I don’t think it’s overhyped but you’re definitely talking about two totally different purposes. You’ll definitely get more stares and looks for purveying bike porn with a steel bike than with a carbon race oriented bike so I guess it comes down to what your intentions are. To me, a steel frame is just more elegant looking and makes me want to enjoy a long day in the saddle while a carbon bike, especially with dropped seat stays, makes me feel like I want to just ride hard. Both great experiences but different in their purposes.
Back around 2012 I built a Lynskey R330 with 105 everything, Enve 2.0 fork, and Cane Creek 110 headset for the same money this bike costs.
The Lynskey got sold due to lack of tire clearance. I have not checked the spec but this thing looks like a solid deal at first glance.
If it turns you on and you can afford it, buy it and enjoy it.
I have never heard of them or seen one so I am saying no they are not over hyped.
I’ve been to some of their demo events at Angry Catfish. Jeff is a nice dude and they’re beautiful bikes. I think you’re better off building your dream bike with them than going with what a perceive to be overhyped brands like Enve or Allied. At the end of the day, whatever inspires you is what you should put your money into.
They’re expensive for sure, but I’m sure they will be good bikes. Pretty paint jobs, good design and attention to detail will be there.
Personally, I went with something cheaper, a Jamis Renegade. It’s not as fancy, but it gets the job done.
I remember an interview with Jeff Frane explaining the difficulty of sourcing materials when you’re a small company and how many prototypes go into a production model and how a lot of Taiwanese manufacturers won’t even talk to you if you’re not ordering a certain amount of units. I think it’s def not hype, it’s just the cost of supporting a really cool boutique brand when they’re trying to get something new going. I mean think down the road knowing you helped what is essentially the new all city get off the ground.
It’s basically a new version of an All City, but now by a totally independent dude (Jeff Frane who was the mastermind at All City but under QBP the massive distributor) who genuinely and truly loves bikes and the culture.
Are you paying a premium for a steel frame? Kind of, but you don’t have to give your money to Specialized.
I wish they had more color and drivetrain options
It’s a bike by a company run by a cool dude who is passionate about the business. It’s a highly maintainable bike with no bells and whistles. Not much to hype but they have great support and I would buy from them over any other brand.
It’s a dope bike design, I’m a fan of all the all city’s and this
I’ve got two All-City bikes. A flat bar super pro and a space horse. I love both of them. When the time comes to upgrade my mountain bike, I’ll be getting a Wilde for sure.
$2300 gets you a custom steel frame and pay another ~$2000 to choose your group set and wheels. I wouldn’t lust after an off the shelf steel bike because one of the main points (for me) with that material is that it’s easy to make custom. Probably a nice bike but you could spent a lil more and get a dreamy custom bike from one of many many builders, probably someone local
Never heard of these before, but those frames certainly move me. Love a good steel or Ti frame. Geometry looks awesome as well.
Yes, $3200 for a steel frame/carbon fork complete with apex group is little pricey for what you get. However, the higher end bikes like the Earth Ship are worth it. Hopefully volume picks up to lower the prices. Also I think they are made in the US so that obviously increases the price a bit too.
Never even heard of that brand
Cool bike I’m sure but I’d be looking at Titanium for that price bracket
Overpriced, yes. But idk about overhyped.
If you’re okay with the price premium and like the way it rides I don’t see any major reason not to get it.
Wilde makes their money by taking the ideas of others and putting their name on it. The Wilde Super Tramp is a ripped-off Sklar Super Something. The Wilde Mean Jean is just another regurgitated All-City. Wilde even made a Rivendell that they called the Jeffendell. There is a fine line between homage and a knockoff, and they are on the wrong side. Overhyped? Absolutely.