If you are shopping for bikes for yourself or your family, you may have stumbled across the budget brand Kent, which is a company that sells all different kinds of bicycles in the USA.
For those new to cycling, this may be the first time you’ve encountered this brand.
This article will discuss the benefits of a Kent brand bike and if they are worth the purchase.
Before buying any bike, there are a few things that you should consider.
Ensure you make the most educated purchase choice with the following guide!
Kent Bikes History
The Kent bike brand has an interesting history that dates back to the 1900s here in the United States.
In 1909, immigrant Abraham Kamler started his first bike shop on the Lower East Side, after getting his start restoring bicycles in New York City.
Not too long after that, Kamler ended up moving his operation to a large location in Newark, New Jersey.
That’s how Kent bikes got its start.
Fast forward to today, and we have the father of the current president of the company responsible for starting Philkam Cycle in 1947.
Philkam Cycle was a pretty big deal on the East Coast as it supplies bikes and parts to stores all over the region.
Then, in 1958 the company changed its name to Kent International.
In 1979, Kent International began manufacturing bikes from a location in Kearny, New Jersey.
But by 1990, they had move the manufacturing overseas and closed down the New Jersey factory.
It wasn’t until 2014 that Kent returned its operations to the United States and set up shop in Clarendon County, South Carolina.
Who Owns Kent Bikes?
The current owner of Kent Bikes is Arnold Kamler.
Kamler has headed the evolution and growth of his bicycle business for over 40 years.
Kent Bike Brands
Kent markets the following products generally through large chain-stores and internet marketers:
Six Licensed Brands:
- Jeep Bikes which includes hybrid bikes and mountain bikes.
- GMC Bikes which includes road bikes and mountain bikes. (Not to be confused with the automotive manufacturer GMC)
- Razor Bikes which are higher-performance mountain bike style for children.
- Little Miss Match bicycles – “innovative designs” for girls bikes and helmets
- Cadillac – license expired.
- Genesis – exclusively sold at Walmart stores
- Margaritaville beach cruiser bicycles produced by Bicycle Corporation of America, a division of Kent International
Kent branded bikes:
- Adult Bikes which includes all-terrain, cruiser, comfort and specialty models for adults.
- Kids Bikes which includes scooters in 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″, and 24″ models.
- Specialty Bikes including tandems, adult tricycles, folders, portables, and other unique bicycles.
Accessories:
- WeeRide Bikes which includes child and pet carriers, pushbikes, trailers, tag-a-longs etc.
Are Kent Bikes Good?
Huffy sells men’s, women’s, and kid’s bikes in many different types, including BMX bikes and electric bikes.
But is their quality good?
The answer relies mainly on what you, as a bike rider, are looking to get out of their bikes.
Their bike selection holds bikes ranging from mountain bikes to cruisers.
To give a thorough answer, we will provide a rundown on the quality of 3 different types.
Kent Mountain Bikes
While Kent sells mountain bikes, they specialize in selling affordable bikes.
If you are an avid biker, you may be wary of Kent mountain bikes’ low cost.
As Kent bikes can be found in big box department stores such as Walmart, their cheapness may be a little off-putting.
However, Kent currently has a wide selection of mountain and gravel bikes.
The bikes in the higher price range contain many features that assist in biking in rocky or uneven terrain.
If you enjoy biking in a relatively tame environment and are on a tight budget, then a Kent mountain bike may be perfect for you.
The affordable price and easy-to-understand mechanics are also great for helping beginner bikers.
Those who are not used to riding a mountain bike of any kid could benefit from the simplicity of a Kent bicycle.
Those who are professional bikers who do not need help and are looking to invest in a mountain bike that can handle rough terrain may want to skip over the Kent.
If you are focused on quality over cost, then you should skip Kent mountain bikes.
Kent Cruiser Bikes
Kent is an excellent option for those who are not looking to do any challenging activities with their bikes and need to do so on a small budget.
Kent carries many adorable, trendy, and cheap cruiser bikes.
Cruiser bikes are perfect for the average bike rider and those who enjoy a more vintage or aesthetic appeal.
While cruiser bikes are typically associated with women, there are many options available for men, women, and children alike.
Kent has many cruiser bikes that are less than $150 and some that are even less than $100.
Due to the affordable prices, you can get more than one cruiser bike for you and your family.
Children and young teens can also benefit from having a bike that is easy to ride and understand and doesn’t have any gears or added-on features that could complicate riding.
Kent Comfort Bikes
Many people do not need mountain bikes but do not enjoy riding cruiser bikes.
Somewhere in the middle are comfort bikes.
Comfort bikes are one of the most common types of bikes.
Comfort bikes are typically good for biking around a town or city and occasionally in places with simple dirt paths.
Those who choose to bike for transportation instead of driving will usually choose a comfort bike.
Kent makes comfort bikes for both men and women at an affordable price and in trendy colors and models.
Depending on how the city or area you are biking in, Kent would be a solid choice for a comfort bike if you want to keep costs down.
Variety
Apart from cute bikes and low prices, Kent also offers a wide range in their variety of bikes.
Kent sells bikes for men, women, and children.
They also sell BMX bikes, mountain/gravel bikes, cruisers, comfort bikes, tricycles, and electric bikes.
For children, there are even more options.
Kent sells bikes for kids as young as three years old and sells different bikes for each age range and size.
Apart from those bikes, Kent also sells bikes with fun and youthful designs meant to capture a child’s imagination.
With Kent, you can also get a children’s bike that is good to be built by yourself for children who enjoy making their fun.
The bike sets are fun and easy to put together, and challenging enough to keep your kids engaged.
Positives and Negative Qualities
Even though there are a lot of positive qualities that come with owning and riding a Kent bicycle, make sure you are aware of any potential downfalls..
Positives
Kent bikes are affordable.
The brand has a lot of variety and options to choose from all at a reasonable price.
Despite the fact that the brand has been around for a long time, the designs and features of each bike are modern and on trend.
Kids’ bicycles are always keeping up-to-date on which Disney or Superhero movie is trending at the moment.
Kent bikes are easy to ride and maintain, and are comfortable to ride.
There are many Kent bikes that are built for cruising or comfort riding while in a neighborhood or town.
The bikes are fairly sturdy and durable given their price point.
Negatives
With any bike brand, there are bound to be some negative qualities to assess before purchasing a bike.
If you are a hardcore bike rider, the quality of the Kent bikes might not be up to your standards.
While the bikes are built well and are pretty durable, riding the Kent bikes in a rough terrain may not fare well for the bike over time.
There are also some negative opinions towards the Kent brand among the bike riding community.
Either way, Kent bikes are a decent choice for someone who cannot afford a more expensive option.
Are Kent Bikes Made In China?
No, technically only the parts of the bikes are made in China.
Then, the parts are shipped to the USA where they are put together to make the bikes.
Kent bikes are not made in the USA, but they are assembled in USA.
Are Kent Bikes Heavy?
Yes, Kent bikes do tend to be on the heavy side compared to more expensive options.
While you save on costs with a Kent bike, you do not save on weight.
Overall Conclusion
Kent bikes are good for various bike riders and have their pros and cons depending on what you are looking for in a bike.
If you would like a robust and high-quality mountain bike, you may want to avoid Kent and go for a brand that you find to be the most reliable.
However, if you enjoy cruiser or comfort bikes, Kent has many affordable and trendy options for you and your family.
Kent is also good for a child’s birthday present in a pinch, as you can even get their favorite Disney or superhero character printed onto the bike.
Kent is relatively stable in quality and great for affordability and creativity.
Kent bikes are not best for hardcore riding but are suitable for transportation or leisurely biking.
The variety is another added plus to the overall Kent brand.