I don't know what's with the "bad service" posts, but both Kevin & his wife have been extraordinarily kind to me when I've gone in, about half a dozen times now. They've done great work on both my bikes & sold me locks at excellent prices. I definitely recommend this shop. As far as some of their products (such as the bikes themselves) being expensive, they are a small business that doesn't make what WalMart makes - considering they have to pay their rent & taxes too, I'm sure they aren't inflating to "rip off" their customers, but to stay afloat (like nearly all independent businesses in Merced - a city which of course isn't known for its great economic success). And as for anyone who has posted here saying Kevin or his wife didn't sell them the "right" product or sold them different shoes than they later found out they were supposed to get - here's a tip: RESEARCH WHAT YOU BUY BEFORE YOU BUY IT. Clearly you have access to the internet - USE it. Find out what you need before you go into ANY shop and throw your money down. But most of all, take some personal responsibility when you fail to do so instead of issuing blame on small businesses. read more

Nothing like being an invisible customer. Walked in and had the man behind me helped first. Waited....finally cleared my throat looking at the three men behind the counter. Both times I've been there I've been in a some what emergency situation. Not helpful. Not friendly. Won't be back. Rather shop at Walmart.....and I hate Walmart. Sad and mad all at once. read more

I've been sitting on this review for a long time. I want to love this place. I've tried to love this place. But my service here has been exceptionally bad so many times. I've used this location for years and I feel like the only time they were genuinely nice to me is when I shelled out $250 on a brand new bike (which was over 10 years ago an example of how long I've been a customer) there was one associate that was SUPER nice and helpful but he is long gone. Over the years, I've gone in for various odds and ends like tire changes and tune ups or to order parts and didn't have much incident... but especially in the more recent years the customer service is really suffering. A couple years back I had gone in and ordered fenders for a beach cruiser. I pay upfront and get a small ticket slip which I guess is their standard procedure. When I come back to pick up my fenders, assuming that my payment is noted (I brought ID but misplaced the ticket) am greeted with much suspicion and basically the man and woman not giving me my fenders KNOWING that I paid. The woman tells me 'oh yeah you've been coming here for years I believe you' but wouldn't give them to me. I just couldn't believe it wasn't somehow marked in the work order that I had paid... this was before banking apps so I had to go home and get my statement and finally found the little ticket. It wasn't even the hassle that bothered me as much as the fact that they totally made ME feel suspicious like I was trying to steal from them and lying about having paid when I'd been a loyal customer for so long. When really they were the ones withholding what I paid for. So recently I went to buy a basket and they didn't have what I wanted. I try to buy local when I can... The guy said he could order one. I explained my bad experience and said I would order only if I could pay when I actually picked it up, not wanting to be accused of trying to steal again. I laughed and said don't worry I don't blame you, I blame the managers. After I said that, the associate got kind of rude and short with me. It was just awkward. These people make me feel like a scumbag. To top it off the last time I brought my bike in for a tune up one of the tires was dragging, I got it back in the same exact condition and had to figure out how to fix it myself... so what exactly did I pay for? Bad business but sadly the only bike shop in merced. I'll pay the gas and take my bike to rubber soul in Fresno if I really need it, or order my parts online thank you. read more

Nice shop, knowledgeable staff. I am usually the one who has to bring in my husband's bike for repairs/purchases due to his work schedule and they have been nothing but helpful, especially as I have no clue about anything bike related. Kevin himself also unloaded/loaded the bike from my car for me, which was I was grateful for, as I am kind of a wuss with lifting things. read more

We kept having trouble with flat tires on my bike and finally brought it to the professionals at Kevin's Bikes. Kevin not only pointed out that the bike tube another vendor (Sports Authority) replaced, was the wrong size but also he inspected the tire and found a pin lodged in the tire which was the reason for all the flat tires. Thanks for the thorough work and attention to detail. read more

All employees are courteous and friendly...did not try to upsell me, and found a used part in stock to fix my bike. Owner was kind and patient with my small children and me :) best bike store around!! read more

I just had repairs done, so what our bike are cheap Big-5 bikes, we like them. I paid for them to replace a broken spoke and true the rear wheel, the wheel is still wobbly, they moved my wife's seat way up about 6" and damaged the tail light, they did not put the reflector back in place after replacing the spoke. I also asked them to install "no flat" tubes in my wife's bike, now I wonder if they did that? I have had work done here before an they did a good job.......what happened? Just be careful to check their work.. $110+ for low quality service. read more

Always great service! Kevin has vast knowledge and experience, and his a master at finding those annoying creeks and squeaks that develop over time. His prices are fair and his bikes are quality (unlike the Target, Walmart and Costco stuff). I would definitely recommend Kevin's Bikes for all your cycling needs. read more

Reading the other reviews, you can tell, sometimes people have an ax to grind. It's as simple as that (you can usually tell which ones they truly are). I had a bike emergency (for me), my chain broke, my derailleur arm broke in two, a couple of spokes broken... Long story short, I really thought I was in for a long wait and a lot of scratch out of my pockets. I knew of Kevin's Bikes, but I always thought it was too pricey for me. I called at 5:20PM, knowing they close at 6:00PM, and it's a 10 minute drive. Figured I'd get it back in a week or so anyhow. I walk in with my injured bike, one of the workers told me the derailleur arm would need to get ordered. Kevin comes out of no where, says he might have one. 30 minutes later, chain fixed, derailleur arm replaced, spokes replaced, wheels trued, everything calibrated and in perfect condition. At about $50 under what I expected. If you don't get good customer service, you're probably in the wrong place (Did you accidentally stop in the Sav-Mart next door?). Every time I've been in Kevin's, it's a really relaxed environment, everyone is nice, customer service is excellent, prices are a bit steep, but don't fool yourself, it's really that way anywhere in the quality bike industry. You do get what you pay for, and here you're getting a bargain with world class customer service. read more

Have purchased quite a few bikes from Kevin's over the years have never been disappointed definitely the place to go for a high end bike friendly customer service absolutely know how to work on bikes and get them running smooth very glad Merced has I shopped like Kevin's bikes!! read more

I'm going to keep this short. The shop is nice, everything is well lit, and It's more than likely that they have what you need if it isn't something obscure for your hipster French bike. Some items are overpriced, while others are not. Their services like tune up's, wheel truing, and other things are very fairly priced. Considering that their the only shop within a 30 mile radius. I always come here at least once or twice whenever I'm back in Merced visiting family. read more

I went to UC Merced for five years. Often went to Kevins Bikes for repairs, tune ups, to buy a bike and for general advice. All of the staff were always super genuine and friendly. Great place to take your business to. If I was still in Merced I would highly recommend supporting this local bike shop. read more

I have been here a few times and usually get good service. Their merchandise prices are pretty fair compared to online or other bike shops. Their prices on repairs however are a bit high. read more

Bad customer services and arrogant owner. Especiaily the owner is very very unfriendly and arrogant. He seems to think he can behave like that because there are no bike shops in Merced other than his own. I bought an expensive bike just two weeks ago, and got flat tire on tires for only third ride with very weak and small thorn. They refused to fix it for free service while they guaranteed something like 30 day free services or check-ups. They said I needed to install liners. I was just told that Merced is fraught with those small thorns. But they never mentioned it when I bought the bike. If I got that information, I must have installed the liners, but they never said that before. Then I got the flat tire and spent money for it. Anyway, I had to purchase the liners and have the store install them, because I had no other option while I badly needed my bike for school. I think if they care about customer satisfaction, they should told the customers about the thorns and liners or they should fix minor flat tire problems for free for the new bike they just sold. I am not just talking about the dollars for the flat tire but about the services. Besides, the workmanship was really really bad too. The Bolts and nuts and those stuffs are loose and not tighted after they fixed it. Also, they lost one of my bike parts. I am afraid, they would refuse to fix it or they would deny they lost the part tomorrow when I go there. General, you would be very annoyed if you make any transactions from this bike shop. This is actually what I was told from other people. read more

They stayed open late for me and fixed my flat tube with more than just a change of tube. They recommended a good liner and a thicker tube of rubber. I always bought bell and my tire was constantly flat. I use my bike to commute to school so this really helped. read more

Kevin's is a very nice bike shop. They are always very helpful and friendly. I have bought two bikes from here, they've got a great selection to choose from no matter what your interest may be. I've been in for different little tools or parts and they've been free of charge! read more

Went here for two years while living in Merced. Incredibly helpful and kind. Brought my bike in for repairs. Bought a bike for my partner. Had them box up my bikes for shipping away. No regrets (other than not living by them anymore)! read more

I needed a head set for my Bianchi. I was going to have it replaced at a LBS in the Sacramento Area. They were going to charge me $110 and it was going to take 2 weeks. Kevin did it on the spot for $45 including parts and labor. I never thought I was going to be able to ride my bike home. Talking with him while he was working on my bike, he told me a little bit of his bio. He was a pro-BMX racer, semi-pro mountain bike racer, and still rides his road bike 3-4 times a week. He worked as a mechanic for the Sierra Nevada Pro racing team for a season about five years ago. His labor prices are fair - if not cheap. His prices are a reasonable, but higher than some online shops - this is probably due to his suppliers and the fact that he has employees to pay, as most small business have the same mark-up. The store is a gem - i hope it doesn't change as the city continues to grow with the influx of UC students. This store is as good as it gets for any small city. I will never take my bike to another shop. read more

I Purchased a Raleigh English-Style bike from Kevin's. The bike is great and was assembled without any scratches or major problems at the store. They have an initial 30-day free bike tune-up on bikes purchased at Kevin's. I took it in and they corrected a couple of minor problems (loose shifting cable & a kickstand length problem) re-adjusted the bike for initial cable stretch and everything came out working just swell - No charge. A big plus is that the bike came out of their maintenance environment with ZERO SCRATCHES on the paint. Other shops have not been so kind to my bikes. While Kevin's may not major in Glad-hand, slap-you-on-the-back salesmanship, they seem to run an honest "get-er-done" kind of shop. While I was picking up my bike, my wife started "fawning" over a Diamondback so I imagine I'll be back to take care of that. read more

In San Francisco, I usually like to support the LBS, but here at Kevin's in Merced, it's a different story. I've been here a few times and all time I had horrible service. Most of the workers here just hang out in the back and talk away without even offering service. I only come here because it's the only bike shop in Merced that sells road sized tires/tubes. The first two times I came, it took at least 10 minutes for them to offer me any kind of service. The third time I came, I bought a cog and asked Kevin to install it for me because I didn't have any of the tools necessary to do so. I warned him that if he did not tighten it well, the hubs will strip, he said he "warrants his work" so I trusted and let him do the job, assuming that he knew what he was doing. I got home and found the newly bought cog and my current chain incompatible, I went back, switched it for the right sized cog, went home, practiced skidding on my bike when all of a sudden, the cog stripped off the hub, I lost my balance and fell off with my clips still in. The hubs stripped due to poor installation and lack of experience with fixed gear bikes. I took my bike back to Kevin and all he did was give me my money back. I thought he said he "warrants his work".. well his "work" cost me a brand new rear wheel and injuries all over my body. I had multiple bruises all over my body and was sore for literally 3 days. That shop is lucky I don't want to file a lawsuit, those injuries could have been very serious or might have later effects in the long-run. Kevin said the stripping was due to a cheap lockring and hubs. Well I've switched cogs on that same hub over 10 times in the past year and I've never EVER had a problem with it. The difference was in the experience, none of which Kevin nor his shop has. Selection: I don't know what's up with all the Giant bikes in there, but they're obviously carrying too much of those. We need a variety. As for fixed gears, they're all the same in terms of being overpriced and looks. Price: Their fixed gears are overpriced, their other bikes are a bit on the expensive side, and their components and other parts are fair (This is all relative of course). Service: sucks! Bottom line: if you're looking for awesome service or expertise in bike knowledge, drive out to Turlock, Modesto, or Fresno, it's well worth the drive. read more

They have terrible customer service. They aren't friendly...or patient. I called them and the guy on the phone was rude and sounded annoyed.

I went in for a birthday present for my husband. I spoke to Kevin and explained to him that my husband has a hybrid road bike and he would like pedals cleats and shoes to make biking easier. Long story short the interaction went well. But when my husband saw the shoes he immediately realized that I pay 3x market price for the same thing. On top of this, Kevin sold me shoes that are meant for a mountain bike not the hybrid I told him we have. The store refused to refund our money. Kevin purposely sold a product that was over priced and we ended up paying a restock fee of 10%. It must be nice to earn 10% commission by cheating your customer. I plan on reporting this to better business bureau. DO NOT do business with Kevin. He's a crook!!!! If I can I will rate him a negative 10. read more

Stopped by to see about getting two old bikes fixed up for Burning Man. The guys were honest with me and said I would be better off buying new bikes. The prices were on-par. read more

I stopped in because I just wanted to look at price estimates and I wanted to see what all they could do to help me out. They were straight up about the pricing and the costs for everything. I asked them questions and they answered them honestly. I am not going to say that it was all that cheap but the owner takes care of his customers. I walked in wanting just some petals, to take home and put on myself instead of paying any service fee, and the man did it for me, waved the fee, and gave me a discount. For being one of the only bike shops in the area, the man is good at what he does. He knows what he is talking about too. Now the employees on the weekends, they really are iffy- no lie, they wanted to charge me the service fee for the pedals- so if you go, I suggest weekdays if you can go before the high school lets out. Good shop, everyone else that said the shop was clean and well lit are telling the truth. It is what it is, a bike shop. They sell parts and do some decent repair jobs. read more

This is in response to Lana L's review. First, there is no such thing as "hybrid" bike shoes. All bike shops carry road or mountain shoes with varying degrees of sole stiffness. A bike is either road , mountain, or hybrid. Riding a hybrid means wanting more comfort than a true road bike provides and on average mountain shoes provide that. Second, all bike shops use manufacturers list prices or a percent above that. It is the cost of convenience and the experienced advice they DONT charge for. Buy online if you want cheap. I have been going to Kevins for two years Now and have found Kevin to be very knowledgeable and his staff very pleasant and helpful. He is an honest local businessman. read more

Great bike shop, we have bought road bikes, bmx bikes, and a mountain bike from Kevin. Always good service.

Just want to say thank a bunch for the fast service on the sale of the sears muscle bike

I was looking for a component set for my road bike. I went to Kevins because it is the local bike shop and I try and shop local. The prices were reasonable. You can always find a better deal online but you do not get customer service online and you do not support YOUR local economy. I read a few reviews about having to wait for service. I myself had to wait but that was only because there were multiple customers before me. I myself have a small business so I understand everyone always seems to rush in around the same time so I was patient. Overall I was happy with my experience and will be returning. read more

Great group of individuals to work with. I had a few bikes that needed to be repaired and they were very responsive to my needs and were able to take care of me very quickly. read more

i took my specialized crossroad in a few months back to get it repaired, it cost $160 in the end and took 2 weeks to get back to me but it runs like a champ! im going back today to get new tires! a lil pricey for today's economy but u get what u pay for! read more

Went in today to get new tires and tubes. I've been in maybe 3-4 times over the past 3 years for minor repairs while a student at the UC. They have the best selection of bike parts/accessories/tools in Merced. They have a comfortable atmosphere, good service even though they were a little busy (4 or so other sets of customers in the shop). This is a local business worth supporting. read more

Not a friendly or helpful bunch, but they do have the nice bikes. They will charge you an arm and a leg but you will get the good stuff.

My wife and I both purchased bikes from Kevin's Bikes a couple of weeks ago. I was having a problem with mine (through no fault of theirs) and they were very good about taking care of it. I believe they went above and beyond what I would have expected in dealing with my problem. I would definitely recommend them to anyone wanting a quality bike. read more

was taking the train with my bike, and they were so kind as to make sure there was a bike box for me. a much appreciated courtesy. Good people here. read more

kevin's bike would have been well supported by the locals. products are fine and the wife is very pleasant to customers. the only downfall is kevin himself, his shop is very expensive and he doesn't give you any discount even a buck. i offered to pay cash and he just doesn't care if you make business with him or not. it's his way or the highway. at lease that's how i feel. if you are willing to pay $2000 for a mountain bike then maybe he will love you for it.. but he thinks he's the only bike store that people can go too. i went to turlock and bought the bike for 80$ less than he's price tag. road bikes brand new and has shimano 105 component for 1200$ in cycle world in turlock better deal than this guy... read more