I've only dealt with marcus by email. ordering wheel parts that were hard to get. I've found that other bike enthusiants in Chicagoland know of him and like his stuff, read more

Marcus is the real deal. Lives & breathes bikes. He's built a couple high end custom bikes for me over the years & does awesome work. His shop is like no other. If you've never been there, you owe it to yourself to check it out! Marcus is always ready to help out a fellow biker, and has a loyal following, but he is a one man shop, so keep that in mind. read more

I purchased a bike here in 2010 after my first bike was damaged in an accident. Marcus hooked it up. For $600 I got to pick the frame and components that I wanted. I ended up with an Origin-8 and added on pinhead locking skewers. Picked the bike up and had some issues with it: handle bars were not at a comfortable angle and the rear axle was slipping. Brought it in and was taken care of on the spot without an appointment. Cool shop and he is a master at his trade. read more

Yojimbo's Garage - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The head honcho Marcus has over 2 decades under his belt helping people put wheels under theirs so they can fly around Chicagoland. Knock loud and come in! read more

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Marcus is sweet as hell. I've never known him to be mean to anybody but a drunk SUV driver. Kids who messenger know him to be a savior because he'll lend you a bike if yours is too trashed to ride for work. There isn't another shop anywhere in Chicago that'll do that for a messenger. It's only been a few years since he hired his "staff" of 2 other people, but they've got the same attitude and same kindness. I agree about the wheels. They're a bit expensive, but he hand builds them himself and they are the most solid and durable wheels you'll ever ride. Works of beauty that people from across the country order. The bikes he builds are also amazing. Whether you're souping up a specialty NJS-certified Keirin bike or you're just bomb-proofing your beater, these rides are tight and just simply beautiful. He's also a wealth of knowledge regarding cycling history and science. Some shops will teach you "how" to do things, and he'll teach you "why" if you ask. Before you go to this shop, sign up with the Chicagoland Bicycling Federation and present your membership card for a discount. If for some reason you're part of Triple X racing or a messenger and haven't been here, present proof of that and receive 10% off per membership. Discounts are compounded here so if you're a bike messenger who races for Triple X and is a member of the CBF, you get 30% off items (not labor). read more

Ive never gone to this place and seen them OPEN. I thought it was an abandoned building. Have they finally got their act together or are they only open an hour a day? What am I missing..... I know what they are missing, my $$$ because the operation is shoddy at best, (I spend around $5-10K a year on cycling related purchases for self, friends and family). Go to a real bike store, one that has a store front, a window on the front door and clearly posted hours of operation, (like it really matters if they did). read more

Absolutely 5 stars, no question. I'm in love with this shop/garage and I don't even ride a bike. Seriously. I wanted to buy my boyfriend a new messenger bag. I first called Yojimbo's to see if they had what I wanted in stock. They did, and they were closing in 30 minutes BUT the guy offered to keep the shop open for me if I was going to run late and I needed the bag that day. This was right before Christmas and I really appreciated that he offered to do that. I thanked him and told him not to worry about it, I'd come later on in the week during their regular hours. I drive over there again. This time I pull up and realize the time. Omg. They're CLOSED! (I thought... they have different hours on different days so I wasn't really sure). Shit! I decided to park and call them on the phone to see if anyone was there. Turns out they did close already, but he didn't even realize and that he would keep it open as long as I needed. SO NICE! I ran outta my car and into the shop and I thanked him profusely for helping me out. When I got inside, I was pleased to see a grey cat walking around the coolest bicycle garage I've ever seen (I haven't seen too many, but this place is really neat!). When the owner (I think it was the owner?) asked me if I rode a bike I was a little embarrassed to tell him no, but he was so nice and gave me tons of information on blogs, online forums, etc. for the bicycling community in Chicago. I left here extremely pleased with the customer service and the fact that I was able to support a Chicago business like this. I will definitely be coming back here and when I'm ready to start riding, I hope I can get a bike from here. OH ALSO.. I forgot to mention this. The bag ended up costing me $50 less than I found it for online. read more

When I search on yelp, my motivation is to find the best. If you search for "bike repair" Yojimbo's is on top. Considering it's rating and how close it is to my apartment, I decided to give it a look. I walked my broken bike about a mile and half to seek out the the great Yojimbo and hopefully get some good advice about how to make some affordable upgrades on my road bike. I arrived at a locked shop where I had to knock to get in. I was finally let in by an unmotivated man in his 50s who kind of ignored me and my friend. After waiting 20 minutes (there were only 2 people in the shop) I asked if he would at least take a look at my bike in order to give me some suggestions on improvements and upgrades that I could make for the summer season. He coldly replied that he couldn't look at my bike. Understanding this is a busy time of the year, I very politely asked if there was any time of the year that I could come back and have him take a look at my bike. He said that he had many projects that he was working on, and that after that, he would be doing a lot of paper work, so that he wouldn't ever be able to look at my bike. I asked if he was the only guy that worked at this store, and he said that he was. So, now that you know the awkward conversation that i had, my assessment is that this IS NOT A BIKE REPAIR SHOP. Do not waste your time walking your broken bike all the way to this store in order to receive expert attention, because there is a chance that the guy there will not even look at it. As a store, this is fairly functional place. There are many averagely priced fixed gear bikes, as well as many bike parts. If you ride a fixy and do most of your own bike work, this is the place to come get parts. But... if you don't fit this profile strictly, you are wasting your time. I'm rating this store as a bike repair shop rather than store. If it was just a place that sells bikes and parts I would rate it a 3. read more

I can't believe that a reviewer refered to Marcus as mean! What? He is one of the most serene and thoughtful people that you will meet in or out of a bike shop. There may be a little uncomfortable silence as Marcus listens to what you've just asked and formulates a response, but that is just Marcus. This is a high performance bike shop. This isn't the shop for you if you are looking to go in and buy a 150 dollar bike. The lowest cost complete bike in here is probably around 500 dollars. There is a particular emphasis on fixed gear and track bikes. There are very few shops like this in the country, and we are lucky enough to have one in Chicago. He also sells and services road bikes, but by and large the shop leans towards fixed gear bikes. As it has been said before, Marcus is a master craftsman. His wheel builds are legendary. He can do anything you need done to your bike... just don't expect "while you wait" service, particularly in the busy months. Be prepared to give Marcus some time to do the work, he is a one man show. It will be worth the wait. This place is hard to see, it's unassuming and the door is always locked... so knock loudly, wait for the door to open and be prepared to enter the best bike shop you have ever been to. read more

Google this place. I swear by the time I pulled up on a rainy afternoon I thought I was going to be kidnapped. Or that I needed a secret password just to enter a secret club (read the door, it says to knock so remember that!). But in all honesty this is a really cool place. As soon as I walk in I'm greeted by the mechanic, who happened to be tuning a bike while jamming to Pearl Jam on the radio. Place looks like a dude's messy garage, but it's loaded with good bike parts. Don't expect clean racks, nicely arranged bike parts and all that jazz. Come on, didn't you enter the same door I did and expect a dust-free lab did you? This guy looks like he was here before Cabrini Green got it's reputation, and kudos to him for sticking around and to his roots. Very cool selection of bikes, a lot of parts, and some vintage stuff too. If you're looking for fixie/track/singlespeed parts, this is the place to go. When I'm ready for a set of custom-built wheels, I know just the place to go. read more

Hey guys at Upgrade...look what happens when you're not an a-hole know-it-all to those that look to you for information. People end up liking you and your business. Strange world we live in. Picked up some new tires from here for a good price. Cool space for a bike shop. The owner is friendly and willing share what he knows with clientele. read more

Marcus is fantastic. Super helpful, down-to-Earth, and totally set me straight about what I needed (and didn't need) for my build project. Yojimbo's Garage is a specialty bike shop (and fixed gear parts Mecca) targeting track, fixed gear, and urban riding and commuting. If you're a lugged steel fan you'll know how hard it is to find knowledgeable advice and good (or any) selection of parts at most mainstream bike stores that emphasize family-friendly comfort bikes or extravagant carbon racers (and haven't sold a straight top-tube bike since '91.) But if you're looking for Quill stems, hubs, cranks and chainrings in all configurations (and colors) Yojimbo's is your candy store. read more

I am going to bite my tongue on commenting about some of these low starred reviews about Yojimbo's. Marcus is fantastic. read more

Marcus takes all my Money. And I give it to him. My lady friend says I am actually in love with him. I may be. Yo Jimbos is the spot... read more

Marcus built me some touring wheels. Nothing fancy, just Sun CR-18s laced to Deore LX hubs. A few months later I hit a pothole at ~40mph on the Blue Ridge Parkway while carrying 35 pounds of gear. The wheels didn't even go out of true. So I can't complain! FYI he built mine at really high tension. I once took the bike to another shop and the mechanic was taken aback by the spoke tension. But they've been very reliable after a year of hard use, so I'm a happy customer. read more

Yojimbo's is a unique shop and there are a couple of things to understand before trying it out. First of all, it is mainly higher end stuff, and the selection is not going to be massive. They probably aren't going to be interested in tuning up your Huffy. It is a specialty shop that focuses on track bikes, and some road bikes. Yes, their website it two years out of date, and the hours are a bit odd, but once you get in the shop Marcus is extremely knowledgeable. They do have some moderately priced equipment, and he is more than willing to help you find it. Even if you are clueless, you can always ask him questions and he will be happy to help you out. Marcus just really likes biking. This is a great store that does a lot for the cycling community as well. They are one of very few (maybe the only) stores to offer a discount on frames or complete bikes with the Active Transportation Alliance as well - if you are going to buy a bike definitely look into getting a membership, it can pay for itself in one trip. Finally, this is the only store I have ever been in where the proprietor ran out to my car to give me money. I bought some pedals that were missing the cleats (I told him I had extras and didn't mind), and Marcus made sure to run out and meet me to give me a discount. read more

I recently was in need of a new bike and stopped over at Yojimbo's Garage to see if they had anything I might like. The selection wasn't terribly big, some nice bikes though. And it seems like Marcus does a lot of custom builds. I didn't end up getting anything here because I didn't really want to go through a custom build process, but meeting Marcus and seeing the shop makes me feel like this place would be excellent for any future repairs and parts. Marcus was super helpful, answered a few repair questions I've been having about my old bike and even recommended some places I might go in the city to pick up a used bike on the cheap. Really seems like he just loves bikes and is a very amicable dude. Even though I didn't end up buying anything here, I could see myself coming back. read more

Yojimbo's is great! Today was my second trip. I came in this morning with a flat tire, and they sold me a rim strip and a patch kit for a total of $4.50. Not only that, they were super helpful, not giving me any trouble about borrowing a wrench and even assisting me with their leaky floor pump. Wonderful, friendly folks at Yojimbo's. I won't be going anywhere else. read more

I ordered a bike online, then brought it to Yojimbo's for assembly. I called around to several bike shops and Yojimbo's offered me the best price. I dropped off the bike with Marcus and he assembled it for me. He is the nicest guy in the world! The shop is such a cool place. I will go back there for my future bike needs, and I will recommend Yojimbo's Garage to my friends. read more

Where do I start!! This is one of my favorite places to visit on payday. I have to tell you yelpers out there that Marcus runs one great shop! If he does not have something in stock he is tenacious in finding it for me. Keep up the good work! read more

Getting wheels built? Marcus!!!! The man knows everything about bikes. It's great to pick his brain. Wish he wasn't so busy sometimes. Just want him and the store to myself! marcus sponsors a track racing team for young adults/kids. Amazing. Ok. Not cheaper than the internet. But marcus knows more than the internet! Amazing? yes. True? yes. Buy a membership to chicago bike federation for a yojimbos discount. Memorize his hours. show up.. have a donut. read more

Great place. Marcus is the bike encyclopedia. Lots of racing knowledge. He has some of the most beautiful bikes I've seen. I want a bareknuckles frame. LOL. A little pricey but worth it cause most of what he has is hard to find outside of the Internet. Even if your not going to buy anything stop in and check out his stock. Don't be afraid of the storefront. Its whats inside that matters. read more

Marcus is awesome. Not only does he sponsor a lot of alleycats but he is super helpful. If you are a first time rider or a seasoned pro this shop is the best. I've even gone here just to hangout. read more

I went on a Tuesday after work. I thought it was Monday so I thought they were open until 7pm. On Tuesdays they're open only until 1pm. I walked in and I got some strange looks. I guess there was going to be a biker's meeting. However the staff was friendly and still willing to help me get some brake cables. I'm not hardcore bikor, but I will drop by again for my more specialized bike needs. Friendly indeed! read more

Marcus is a bike God! He brought my 80's red Bottechia back to life with parts only a true master bike mechanic has and knows how to fit and install. Damn, my bike looks like a red Ferrari now but done on a Fiat budget. Going to Marcus is like going to a great architect - tell him your vision, he listens, jots down notes, and he wows you with making you a bike masterpiece. The man loves what he does so let him pursue his passion for you. read more

My wife and I went in to check out bikes for her and some chain lube for me. The place is really geared more towards racers but the employees were SUPER nice, even when us lowly commuter bikers arrived 15 minutes before closing on a Sunday! They even demonstrated how to lube the chain and told stories about how one of their buddies got her finger caught in the cogs while lubing, ouch! It's also the first shop I've been to where an employee encouraged buyers to work on their own bikes; "it's probably cheaper for you to buy the tool than for us to work on it". Yojimbo's is definitely our go-to place for all things bike related. read more

marcus is great. Ive been in many a times usually slightly spacey and he has taken time to help me with the parts i needed. i love that its tucked away in a non discript building. I love that i have to KNOCK loudly to get in like a secret club. thanks again marcus for telling me about the northbrook velodrome. cant wait till spring! read more

Mr. Marcus Moore is one of 3 people in this city that I would have build me a wheel. been a while since I've stopped by, but his shop was a bastion of ill parts & frames with established credit plans for messengers back in the day. mad props for Marcus, his spot really does deserve to blow up into a manageable and lucrative shop. Q read more

If I could give Marcus more than 5 stars, I would. He is THE BEST. It's not your average bike shop. Don't expect fancy displays or multiple salespeople trying to upsell you on everything. Expect to get the best mechanic around. Expect to get the highest level of bike knowledge I've ever seen. Expect to get someone who cares about bikes, cyclists, and the bike community. Expect to get someone who actually remembers you, what you ride, what you use on your bike(s). We've bought parts here, had bikes worked on, and had Marcus build some wheels for us. Everything has been superior service, always more than expected. And and Active Trans membership discount too. Every time I'm here, I leave with a smile on my face. There's nowhere else that even comes close. And he has a shop cat, Grace, that is just adorable. read more

Skip the Big chain Bike shops with the bad attitudes. This place has everything you need. After 1 visit, Yojimbo's Garage is my favorite bike shop. EVER. Heres why: I needed a crank puller. a Box End and Pin Spanner Crank Wrench (36mm), FR-6 - Park Tool, a Lock Ring Spanner, & FR-4 ... After calling Cozy's, Upgrade ((always rude)), & Village Cycle Center ((steve is nice))... Yojimbos was THE ONLY shop that had 4/5 of the tools I needed. None of the other stores even came close! & once inside, How can I argue with a vintage HUFFY team track frame, & an 80's p-10 (w/ pedigree) hanging above entrance ??? seriously. I WILL ALWAYS GO HERE FIRST. THANK YOU p.s. It's fun to ride there too. Something different. read more

My bike got a flat halfway home on my commute and I had to scramble to see if there were any bike shops nearby since I didn't have tools on hand. Marcus got me fixed right up and did a thorough inspection of my tire to make sure that the same debris didn't cause another flat. Fair price, quick fix, glad to know this gem is there! read more

I've been to Yojimbo's for parts and to shop. I really enjoy knowing that my purchase is a direct injection of commerce into our local economy. Marcus helped me choose the best option to fit my need, and he is nice as can be. His vast knowledge and patience a bonus. My next bicycle purchase will be from Yojimbo's, and I can already review the purchase: great experience, quality product, fair price. Keep up the good work Marcus. Businesses like yours make me love this city. read more

Yojimbo's is the only bike shop that I will recommend unreservedly to anyone for any bike service. Marcus is a sole proprietor and he listens to what your wants and needs are and offers great advice, perfect work, and quality goods. It may take a while for him to to get to your bike but he will tell you what the wait will be up front, and how much the work will cost. Absolutely no reservations about recommending him. read more

Though I'm not too sure I can add anything of value that's not already listed in the positive reviews of Yojimbo's, I like this shop so much that I want to leave my "2 cents worth." This is an incredibly unique shop that, as the (very few) negative reviews suggest, might not be for everyone. That being said, if you love bicycles and bicycling, please do yourself a favor and check it out. I wish there were more businesses like this. And I wish there were more people like Marcus in business. read more

Yojimbo's Garage is a high performance bicycle shop with the service and personality of a local bike shop. Marcus, the owner, provides an excellent selection of products geared towards track bicyclists (and thus, fixed-gear riders). I've purchased several quality components from Yojimbo's and trust the sage advice of Marcus, when in doubt on a purchase or bike-related decision. The store also gives a Chicagoland Bicycle Federation discount to all members. All in all, I rate Yojimbo's Garage as the finest bicycle shop that I have ever entered. read more

In the Shadow of the Old Cabrini Green projects is Chicago's Bike Culture Mecca, Yojimbo's Garage. Go there and you'll figure out what I'm talking about. There truly is no other place like this; it is a craftsman's shop. Stepping in here is like stepping into the Chicago guild of cyclists. I have been to many of the bike shops in the area, but after having come to this shop I rarely venture out to any others. Marcus has much knowledge and does not fit the "bike shop guy" stereotype (you know: condescending, gear-headed etc.). Not only have a picked up top advice here, I have also picked up solid components an d have had many interesting conversations. Many messengers have their bikes serviced here. His two shop companions Garry and Gracie are the best. If you love bikes (especially if you're interested in fixed gear/track cycling) stop into Yojimbo's Garage. It is a true Chicago experience. read more

Marcus (and recently Brean) have created the ideal race/messenger/track store in Chicago. For the new, Yojimbo's can be slightly intimidating, with the atypical hours and having to knock to get in. But the store contains a wealth of parts and bikes for every type of rider, from the commuter looking for a single speed, to the roadie installing campy 11-speed on their cervelo. Additionally, Marcus and Brean work extensively with Chicago youth via their Yojimbo's Track Cats program to get kids in to track racing. For this and for so many other reasons, Yojimbo's is the best bike store in Chicago for the racer/messenger/daily rider market. read more

On the essentials, like prowess of the mechanics, knowledge etc. this place is stellar and you will find very few shops in the city that can match it. In regards to inventory their specialization is great. As other folks have remarked, much of what's in there you can't find anywhere else in the city, and sometimes not even on the internet. The fact that it's in the ghetto, has odd hours, lacks a storefront, requires that you knock to gain entry, is oriented high-end, has a racing team, etc. is exactly what's so awesome about this place and what makes it unique and fun do business with or visit. And it keeps the douche bags away, like Mr. "I spend 5-10K a year on bikes . . . they don't have windows . . . " I suppose all businesses should be exactly alike. Banal and boring as that prick. A fucking plus. read more

By far, the best bike shop in the country. Marcus is an artist. Have him build you a set of wheels and you will never want to ride anything else. Marcus is the consummate pro-level mechanic. Knock on the door and they will open it up for you. Be prepared for the bike eye candy. When it's time to leave. DO NOT TOUCH THE DOOR. They will open it for you to leave. They have manners. Oh how I miss Yojimbo's Garage. read more

I agree with everything here and just want to add that you don't need to be a messenger to get great service from Marcus. He and the staff are bike fanatics and give everyone honest and competent service. read more