Vilano Blackjack 3.0 29er Mountain Bike MTB with 29-Inch Wheels

I don't write reviews often, but I had to write one about this bike. My son loves it and rides it every single day!We live in a hard-to-access part of rural Alaska (only boat and plane in and out) and a lot of mail comes bumped or banged around a bit, mainly because of the hard journey it takes to get here. So we were disappointed (but not surprised) when the bike came with a damaged back wheel and bent fork. It was too bad to assemble, much less ride.I contacted customer service, and to my surprise, they offered to send us *another back wheel* - and a new fork! The new bike wheel came very quickly, but unfortunately we never received the fork, even though we waited several months. That may be chalked up to the challenge of getting packages here (and occasionally one disappears). However, we were able to use a neighbor's tools to open up the fork just enough to slip on the wheel, and suddenly, my son had a brand new working mountain bike! He rides over snow, ice, mud, tundra. The bike is beautiful, sturdy, and the 29" wheel size is just right for a long-legged young teen boy.I can't say enough good things about this bike!

**UPDATE** 12/20/19I became obsessed with finding out what kind of forks came on the bike. The lockout knob is branded “Partner”. After a good amount of research I think they’re made by a company called Guangzhou Partner Suspension Fork industry Co.,Ltd. They look almost exactly the same as their model 688. You can find detailed pictures on their website or alibaba. Regardless, I replaced them with a Rockshox Recon RL. HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!!! I also installed 760mm bars and aluminum bar ends. I removed the rim decals which peeled off super cleanly. This bike is a beast now!! Pics have been updated.Original review below:This is an excellent entry level 29er hardtail mountain bike! I recently got back into mountain biking after a few years off due to relocating to a new state. After searching amazon I had my sights set on either a Vilano Blackjack 3.0 or a comparable Diamondback costing twice as much. I decided to go with the Vilano knowing that I would be upgrading it to suit my needs. This proved to be an outstanding decision! It arrived on time in a large box that I had no trouble moving around without any help, it was roughly 40lbs. It took me probably 1-2hrs to setup but I really took my time and triple checked everything. If you are a handy individual with basic tools you could probably power through the installation in 30-60 minutes. I immediately took it out for a ride around the neighborhood and was pleasantly surprised with the ride, below are some of my initial Pros and Cons:Pros:Weight - very light for a budget bike, easy to maneuver despite large wheels.29” Wheels - you really have to try a 29er on trails to understand how awesome they can be, you just roll over everything.Brakes - yes they are cheaper tektro mechanicals but they work very well with minimal adjustment needed.Handle bars - large with a slight rise giving you better control around corners.Brake lever/shifters - definitely not top of the line but they worked just fine, no major complaints.Cons:Crankset - junk, junk, junky crankset! It’s a square taper, internal bearing design with riveted chain rings. This is fine for road and light trail use but I would strongly recommend upgrading if you’ll be hitting some more serious trails.Seat - my caboose and lower back are sore after every ride, I strongly recommend upgrading.Pedals - I really don’t like the stock pedals, I replaced them before my second ride. I was constantly sliding off and readjusting mid trail.Front suspension - definitely not hardcore trail worthy, they will absorb small bumps and pebbles but that’s about it. With no rebound adjustment there is a clear thump as they quickly snap back after lifting off the ground.As you can see in the pictures, I’ve modified the bike a bit to suit my needs. Below are my modifications:IFX crankset w/external bearing bottom bracket32t chain ringCheap but amazing seatWake bar stemBontrager pedalsRemoved front derailerReplaced front derailer/brake lever with single leverAfter these modifications the bike is amazing on some pretty hard trails and light jumps! I have less than 100 into the bike so far, add that to the purchase price and you have a decent low budget trail worthy bike. Are the higher priced bikes worth it? Probably but I have zero regrets going with the Vilano!!

I am quite selective about which products I review, so the fact that I am even doing this means the product is worth the time and my opinion.There is simply not another bike that matches the value of this one. Key points:*24 Speed*6061 Aluminum Frame*29" wheels*Wide Handle Bar*Front Suspension with Lockout*Front and Rear Mechanical disc brakes (Good Performance)*Cassette Rear Sprocket*Paddle Shifters*Steel Pedals*Metal Brake Handles*Kickstand Included*Water Bottle Mount*High-End derailersSome bicycle owners are purists and scoff at mechanical disc brakes. That is not completely unreasonable. There are varying degrees of quality. These are not the first mechanical disc brakes I have owned, so I know from personal experience that these are of a much higher quality than others you might see on lower end bikes. They work very well and I have full confidence in them. Granted, hydraulic brakes arguably have better performance, however, the reason I prefer a good mechanical disc brake over a hydraulic system is that mechanical brakes are inherently more reliable. No chance for leaks, and no need to service the hydraulic fluid. But please keep in mind it is personal preference. I just want to make it clear these are solidly good performing brakes and I have no trouble slowing down or stopping.Everyone has unique preferences, so people who adjust their review based on the seat or other minor concerns are missing the bigger picture. Bikes almost always include cheap seats. However, for many of us who ride bicycles routinely, our rear end muscle tissue is well adjusted, so the seat felt fine to me. If you do not like it, simply replace it. This is still a five star bike.As for the fork angle, that is a matter of preference and need as well. The fork is steep and not shallow like a Trek or Diamond Back. I have no interest in traversing the off-road at 30 MPH, so the steep fork angle of this Vilano is suitable for those of us who prefer more control over the front wheel, making low speed turns easier.There are other many details to consider, but I have already been quite wordy. Just understand that this bike uses higher end parts, whether the derailers, shifters, rear sprocket, higher end mechanical disc brakes, or a tunable front suspension fork. Trust me, this bike has all the right parts. I almost bought a Trek, so that is saying a lot.As for as assembly, no one can tell you if you should do it yourself or not. It is easy, but I have been working on bikes for years, not as a professional, but as an experienced bicyclist. I can align the brakes (which requires much more patience on this bike), tune the gears, and properly tighten everything myself. You could too, simply by viewing some videos. Frankly, even if you must pay a local shop $75 to professionally assemble this bike, you will still be paying less than you would for a "higher end" bike that already shares many of the same quality components, and you will still be supporting your local economy.Just get this bike, and do not fuss over minor details. $300 shipped to your door for quality components. I challenge you to find an alternative.As of writing this review, I have already ridden ~50 miles. I bike hard, and it has been less than two weeks. No issues.