UPDATE: After posting this review, it somehow got worse. On a later visit, an employee -- who I understand may be a part-owner -- confronted me about the review, followed me out of the store, and called me a "chicken shit" on my way out, blaming me yet again for the entire situation. I'll let that speak for itself. A business that responds to honest, factual feedback by chasing a paying customer out the door and throwing insults has told you everything you need to know about how it treats people. This update wasn't something I went looking for -- it just confirms the exact pattern I described above. REVIEW: I'll stick to the facts. I spent over $6,000 at this shop -- and apparently that doesn't buy you even baseline customer service. I bought my bike here, and after a front wheel/tire failure caused a crash, I went through a Giant warranty claim with Montlake. The product side eventually got resolved, but dealing with them was frustrating from start to finish -- and the real problem wasn't the logistics, it was the attitude. From the beginning, I got the clear sense the shop saw me as an inconvenience rather than a customer. Communication was poor across essentially everyone I dealt with: no timely updates, no callbacks, no straight answers, and I was the one chasing them at every step. More than the delays, it was the tone -- dismissive, condescending, and openly impatient any time I asked a reasonable question about my own bike. One phone call summed up the whole experience. A staff member told me to "chill out dude, you got a new bike even though it was your fault you crashed it," and to stop "beating a dead horse." Talked down to, blamed, and brushed off in a single call. It's also just wrong -- it reflects a basic misunderstanding of how Giant's warranty and crash-replacement programs actually work. I don't expect a shop to agree with me on everything, but I do expect basic respect -- especially as a customer who put thousands of dollars into this place. The product issue got sorted out eventually; the attitude is why I won't be back, and why I'd point other riders elsewhere. read more

Worst customer service experience I've ever had. Got a flat a block away. Asked them if I could get an emergency tire repair. They refused to work on my ebike. I asked if I removed the tire if they'd just replace the tube. They said maybe but they wouldn't let me roll the bike into the shop so I had no way to work on it. I've spent about $1000 dollars in this store over the last five years. They've worked on my bike before. It makes no sense. Manager also seemed high at 10am so while I normally don't judge, that might explain it. Gotta love a bike shop that leaves people stranded. read more

I'm just getting back into bike commuting, and I've been very happy with my experience at Montlake Bike Shop. They've been very patient with my questions, and have had a really quick turnaround time with service. I will continue to recommend them to my friends. read more

Great experience! All of the employees I interacted with were friendly and the service was fast. Made the reservation online, and pick up and drop off were quick and straightforward. The bike was nice and they had a variety of options available. Would use their shop again! read more

Responsive, quality care and helpful staff. Also, great selection of bikes! Purchased a carbon Ibis mountain bike here and had it serviced several times. read more

Montlake Bicycle Shop - Ibis Ripley mountain bike - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The people here are just the best. I've been going in pretty regularly since I started biking about 6 months ago, and I've never had a less-than-fantastic experience. And I have thrown some curveballs their way! I went in once to ask them to teach me to oil my chain and pump my tires, which they did for free during a not so slow day (I bought oil and a pump afterwards, but that wasn't expected!). I also went in with knee pain and asked them to help me ensure my seat was the right height. They had me get on my bike on this treadmill-bike thing, watched me pedal, and identified that my feet were rolling off the pedals because they were particularly narrow. They set up me up with large, wide, grippy foot rests that immediately made a difference! They've filled up my tires for free, talked me through biking computers that I didn't end up buying, and recently, even hooked me up with a free brake tune-up because my bike just got stolen, and they felt for me. I always get my upgrades and tuneups here because I know they are all about the love of biking, not the commission. And the knowledge of the staff is impeccable. They're also as friendly as can be. And as a fat athlete, I often feel on edge in sports shops, but I have never felt other-ed or stereotyped here. This was the case at the beginning of my biking journey when I was only doing 8mi tops, or recently when I've started breaking 25mi. It's always about the bike and the ride, not about physique. This bike shop will be my homebase no matter where I live in Seattle - it's just unbeatable! read more

My favorite bike shop. Great staff, service, I'd say selection too, but during COVID? Not so much. Oddly, they seemed to have more stuff in store than the much larger Greggs at Greenlake, but it's possible a lot of those bikes were spoken for rather than all on sale. If you have a bad experience here, be patient - you can get good folks on bad days, bad folks on good days - but polite communication is key. I totally believe the negative reviews here and can't tell folks how to feel about those experiences, so I mention it because there aren't that many bike stores in Seattle - and it would be premature to give up on a potentially great one because of a single bad experience. I just took delivery of my fourth new bike from there in a decade, and while it was delayed for MONTHS in shipping (thanks in part to Suez and the general shortages right now) they kept me up to date. My one negative experience there was too petty to list here, but I'm mentioning it because they acknowledged it and more than made it up to me. That's part of my caution - prepare for a bad experience and be delighted, or ready to try again and work through any issues. On communication - bike shops are often the absolute BEST place to be mocked, dismissed, ignored, condescended or patronized at - like, especially if like me and most humans, you're not an expert on bikes and bike terminology - but thus far every tech there has been patient, happy to use colloquial terms like "the big cog" and the "spring dealie at the back" without rolling their eyes or forgetting that your ignorance is the fundamental core of their business success. If I knew all the right terms, I wouldn't need help. They get that - and maybe there's a snarky or jerky worker there, but I haven't met them. The shift to electric bikes creeps forward - and it's obviously a huge aspect of any bike store's success, but for analog bikes, the service, repairs and tuning are usually top notch. I've had quick repairs done on the spot when they're quiet, but right now, quiet is unusual in bike stores, so plan ahead and book. As far as I can tell, gravel bikes and electric bikes are still on the ascendant, and hybrids and road bikes are sold out, so hard to tell what's hot versus what's not in stock. Montlake though also has a great selection of higher end folding bikes - like Tern and Brompton. Not a massive selection of clothing, but plenty of accessories, tools and supplies. Be patient and reasonable. There's literally a world shortage of EVERYTHING and if you're frustrated by long waits, or lack of inventory, you're experiencing the same everywhere else right now. But that also means that repairs to older bikes are therefore more in demand. That means this shop is permanently swamped, but they show remarkable grace under fire. Montlake also automatically registers your new bike to the Stolen bike database thingy, you can opt out or anonymize of course, but it's more and more valuable as bike theft becomes a more or less ubiquitous part of Seattle life. And on that note, if you leave your bike outside, or in an accessible garage, no matter how well secured, IT WILL BE STOLEN. Not if, when. So buy a sturdy lock - all of them can be defeated - like the thieves who felled a large tree on the burke gilman to steal a bike - so my advice is simply to never leave it unattended, even when locked. And never, ever in a public or easily accessible garage/facility. read more

Montlake Bicycle Shop - Those are cheap (but awesome) Chinese quick release pedals via AliExpress, but the bike is from Montlake. - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've purchased a bicycle from them in the past and done several maintenance trips since then over the years. I've always been happy with the service and staff have been helpful in answering any questions I've had. read more

Took my bike in for general tune up on 9/9/24, it was done by the next day. Staff were exceptionally kind and knowledgeable. I'll be coming to this shop from here on out. read more

This is a wonderfully friendly LBS (local bike shop) - they are very nice people, a vast and reasonable selection of gear at fair prices, and they do high quality work. All the mechanics there are highly skilled and I would recommend this place to anyone. Gary is especially knowledgeable and pleasant to have work on your bike. read more

I called them as part of my research to buy a e-bike . They were super helpful on the call .

I rented from here twice. Their rental program either seems new or the online rental process seems to be lacking a bit in their site build. Otherwise, was a great process, I even returned the bike muddier than originally expected the second time and they had no issues. If you're trying to get into mountain biking or just want to try out their rentals (which are current year models) I highly recommend these guys! read more

I jammed my chain and an incredibly kind bike mechanic got me in last minute, fixed my bike, and taught me how to prevent jams in the future. I feel so grateful to have such an incredible bike shop in the area! read more

This shop is thorough. By comparison to other bike shops in Seattle, they are pretty good. I think they charge more and are a bit slower on repairs than other shops read more

Was a really loyal customer, bought my road bike there, got it serviced there, took my mountain bike in for them to check the rear derailleur and see if just the inside cage needed replacing or if the bike needed an entire new derailleur. They returned the bike with the chain still rubbing and gouging the inside derailleur cage, said it was "nothing to worry about" and charged for a bunch of other random "fixes" that were not approved all while ignoring the reason the bike was brought in. read more

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Helped me on my way with a snapped derailer cable. Saved my weekend ride, reasonable cost, friendly service.

Love my local bike shop! Recently purchased my first electric bike there. Great, helpful, efficient staff.

Always get excellent personal service. Have been using this store for over 20 years. I really value Montlake Bikes.

Montlake Bicycle Shop has to be one of the best shops in Seattle. They stock great name brand bikes, including Cannondale, Giant/Liv, and Salsa (and more), and make no compromises on bike selection. Looking for a bike to ride around the block with your kids? They have it. Looking for a gravel-grinder that will take you on an adventure? They have it. Looking for a mountain bike to tear up local trails? They have it. They also have bikes for kids, commuters, and racers. However, the bike selection is only part of the shop's appeal. Other shops might apologize in advance, telling you "Our mechanics are mechanics first and customer-relations second." No such apologies at Montlake Bike. The mechanics are often the first ones to welcome you to the shop, ask what you need help with, and listen to what you're saying while explaining what they think needs to be done. Then, they back up their friendliness with superb mechanical skill. I would trust Montlake Bike to fix just about anything, and I have. From derailleur adjustments to fender installs to complete wheel builds, Montlake Bike is my preferred stop for simple things if I'm in the area, and I'll find a way to get there for anything complicated. I haven't interacted with their salespeople much in a sales capacity recently. I've gotten to the point where I pretty much know what I want when I go in, but I remember when I was in the shop looking for my first bike. The salesperson showed me what they had available, set me up on a few test rides (even swapped out a stem so a bike would fit better), and explained what made the bikes different. After visiting a few more shops, I was back at Montlake Bike to buy a Cannondale Synapse. These days, I'll have a quick discussion to get their informed opinion before I buy, and I trust the employees of the shop to know what they're talking about. If you're looking for a new bike, Montlake Bicycle Shop should be one of your stops. It doesn't have to be your first stop, but they have everything you'll need to make it your last stop--and the right environment to keep you coming back. read more

Above and beyond service and communication. They took great care of my heirloom 1979 Motobecane and it's running super smooth. Would recommend to anyone who needs a solid repair and fantastic humans. read more

My daughter's brake line broke so I called this afternoon to get it fixed. They said they would be happy to help, and I just needed to drop it off any time. My husband dropped it off this afternoon, and they finished this evening! Such a quick turnaround- perfect because my daughter bikes every day (I was so worried it would be stuck in a shop for a week, too)! Very friendly, helpful and great job (they even tucked the brake wire out of the way so it wouldn't scrape against my daughter's leg). Also super reasonable price! Will definitely come here in the future :) read more

I had an emergency. They fit me in despite a full calendar of repairs. It was my last day in Seattle before driving home. MBS took me in and helped me get back on my bike, for my final Seattle ride. They did a great job. Prices were extremely reasonable! The selection of new bikes made me want to buy another one. Thank you, MBS! read more

Cool little bike shop. Bought three bikes total. Good service and lots of options. We also bought accessories that they put on the same day. read more

Montlake Bicycle Shop - New bikes for the kiddos - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Needed a fairly simple tune up. My bike was serviced quite quickly and I was back on my bike in a few days.

My LBS near my home in West Seattle wasn't cutting it. There was an obvious pattern of returning bikes after repairs for a second or even third repair. This shop came highly recommended from not one, but two friends. Ok, tbh, I only have one friend irl, and the other guy is more of an acquaintance, but still. I've had my bike repaired/tuned here maybe four times now. Nothing major, but brakes replaced, a bent rear derailleur, a big-ring dropping chain issue, and a front wheel that required truing. Each experience involved a different technician, so I think I've gotten a pretty good idea of what they're like. All interactions I had were stellar from a customer service experience. The techs explained exactly what they were doing and why, and were extremely thorough, always test driving the bike at the end. I'm no expert, but I feel that what makes this place different are the people. It feels like the staff have been carefully chosen to be the best at customer service. Montlake is pretty far from my house, but they've won me over. I'll be taking my business here exclusively from now on! read more

I went in to get a new chain, after mine snagged and broke on an early morning ride. They were open the earliest of shops in the area, so I bused over and waited an hour or so for them to open. Pros: They got me in quick, and replaced the chain in under 45 minutes. The quick service salvaged my day, and I was still able to get a decent ride in before I had to be home. The chain fit is great, and the price was reasonable. The bad: They adjusted my rear derailleur without asking me, despite me being right there. They charged me ~$25 for the 'tweak' to my derailleur, and only told me about the derailleur after I asked if he could give me a breakdown of what got me to the fee of $65. I put up a bit of a fuss, and they insisted that if they get a bike, they don't give it back "unrideable." The problem is, if there was even an issue with the derailleur, I could have done all the work myself. This seems like an unfair criticism for me, but I was carrying every tool I needed to make these adjustments on the fly, except for a chain tool. I suppose it's fair for them to assume that I would need their help, since I ended up there to begin with, but I think they could have at least confirmed the price with me before going ahead with the extra work. This left me at a 3-4 star review before I left. I should have tested their work before biking away, but I paid the fee, and was just happy that my day wasn't completely shot, despite having to trim ~30 miles off the goal for the time lost. The kicker was the first time I had to climb, and ended up in the granny gear, and then shortly after on the downhill when I ended up at the other limit. BOTH limit screws were set too conservatively, causing excessive noise/rubbing and inconsistent shifting to each limit. The indexing was set just fine, but it was just fine before I got there anyway. TL;DR Charged for services not requested. Services not requested were poorly done. Service requested was excellent, done quickly especially considering I was a walk-in in the Spring. read more

I have been coming to Montlake Bike Shop for a long time and am pretty happy with it. I bought my road bike here many years ago and I just took it in for a serious overhaul tune-up. It had been several years since my last tune-up, and the mechanic had quite a laundry list of things that were needed, but he showed them to me right away and on the spot, rather than call me later and describe it on the phone; in that way, it was very easy for me to see what was necessary and why--seeing the frayed cables, ratty bearings and worn gears for yourself is a much better way to understand what's going on than just getting a phone call and hearing "you need _____." Thus, when I got my initial estimate for what the parts and labor would be, it was easy for me to understand and approve it. The repairs were done on schedule, and came in below what the initial estimate was, so I am pretty happy...plus my bike rides pretty much like new again so even though the price was on the spendy side I feel like it was completely justified and was more the product of me taking my bike in for a whole bunch of stuff at once rather than being proactive about maintenance. So, big thumbs up there, and I'll continue to get my bike maintenance here because it's always been good for me in the past. Other aspects of customer service here can be odd at times, and this has been true over the years; example, today when I went in to pick my bike up, I was second in line but three different guys behind the counter helped people behind me before they helped me. Me = Chopped Liver! Woooo! Otherwise...they have a pretty good selection of bikes for all ages as well as gear, nutrition and accoutrements, and they usually have a good amount of information on upcoming rides around the PNW. read more

Montlake Bicycle Shop - My list of bike repairs was literally as long as my arm - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Left a bike with them to get a tune up. Came back without the pedals... EDIT: They reached out and offered some used replacement pedals read more

The shop is nice and staff are friendly but the lack of communication and attention to detail are HORRIBLE. I spent over $4000 at this shop and bought an electric Brompton from them. 2 months later the battery would not deliver power to the bike (Brompton issue, not the shop) so I took it in and specifically told them the issue of how the battery would not deliver power or indicate any source of power when connected to the bike. One week later I called to follow up on the status of the Brompton due to the fact I haven't heard anything from them. The guy on the phone said it was "complete" and I inquired why they did not call. The guy said they did try to call, but I did not receive any voicemail from them on my end? Any shop doing a service repair would leave a voicemail for the customer if they couldn't reach them. So I went to the shop to pick up my Brompton, and the staff helping me was friendly. He stated they did a "software update". I come to attach the battery pack back on the Brompton and still no power was indicated nor given to the bike. Meaning, they did not read my report on the issue of the bike or even TEST RIDE IT to see the issue I reported. The guy helping me looked clueless. It was a pure lack of attention or effort to service the bike. I told him the issue was still there and they would have known if they actually tested the bike instead of just doing a "software update". The guy took it to the back to be seen by the mechanic and he came back out and said it was the battery indicator, as they tested it with another Brompton battery and the same issue came up. No power indicated or delivery to the bike. He says they will have to order a new battery indicator (under warranty) from London and could take 2-3 weeks. They would have known that if they actually tested the bike itself THE FIRST TIME and now I'm without a bike for commuting even longer. I regret buying a Brompton and bringing it to service from Montlake Bicycle Shop due to the lack of communication and attention to detail. We'll see if they actually manage to repair or order the defective part. read more

Full disclosure: I bought my bike because I loved it and it fit me well. Felt great on a test ride. But at that point, I probably would have given them 3 stars. It was a lack-luster experience and, on a busy Saturday, I just did not get the level of hand-holding during the bike purchase process I was hoping for. Some others have expressed this same concern. However, I have to say that their post-purchase inclusions are worthy of 5 stars despite the rocky start. They include a 200 mile tune-up to dial everything in, a basic maintenance course, and a fitting. I feel so much more confident now, knowing I can change my tires, lube and clean my chain, and when I should bring my bike back for a tune up. The fitting was great too. They set my cleats up on my cycling shoes, adjusted the bike to a perfect fit for my (short limbed) body shape, and gave me some good pointers on how to eliminate the various pain points I was feeling on longer rides. I will also say, and this is a big deal for me, this is a bike shop that appeals to all level of riders. They are not the spandex eliterati you will find elsewhere, who give cyclists everywhere a bad name. These guys are what a LBS should be and worth my pennies! read more

I haven't written a Yelp review in ages, but I felt like the service I received at MBS yesterday warranted it. Mike was phenomenal! He actually listened to my concerns and offered practical and helpful solutions. I walked in after a disappointing stop at Gregg's in Greenlake and left with a new bike and a smile. It's easy to see that the guys really care about cycling, but more importantly they care about getting people on bikes. I'm going to recommend this place to just about anyone with two legs, and if you don't have two legs they will probably still help you. read more

Went there today to buy a bicycle for my wife. We were met at the door and asked if we had an appointment. No I said. We were told we'd have to make one. No attempt to say something like, well we could see you in an hour, or when would you like to come in? The shop was empty of customers. I then asked if we could come in and just look. "No" was the answer. Look on line. We already did that, I said. That's why we're here to buy a bike. No, was the answer again. We had face shields on. No one there had masks or shields on. What a jack--s, impolite and rude! I'd fire a guy that treats potential customers the way we were treated. Glad everyone else seems to adore this shop, certainly not our experience. We won't be back. read more

The customer service at this place is really just incredible - highly recommend to anyone in the bike game.

Gary really helped me out when I was stuck on the Burke Gilman. My commuter's (still in use since I am a nurse) rear derailleur cable broke. I stopped by every bike shop near me and no one was willing to fit me in until next week. Called Montlake, even though it was the farthest I knew they had a great reputation. Gary said he'll take a look at it, since I do need this tomorrow-Friday! He fixed it in under 10 minutes and I was back on the road. Can't thank you enough Gary! read more

Not too snobby, got us in without an appointment. Good price and service. Dog friendly.

Waste of my time. I called before showing up. I asked them if they could fix an EUC rim and the guy on the phone (Bryan?) said yes. Drove across town and they say they don't. Shady as hell. read more

I was recently in Seattle with a friend looking to rent bikes to make a trip to Portland. Ultimately we decided to tour the Olympic Peninsula. Only by chance did I select Montlake Bicycle Shop to rent bikes from two months out from the trip. It looks like I have good travel karma because everybody at Montlake Bicycle Shop was great to deal with especially Neil. They mounted back racks on our Bike so that we could carry our gear. They made sure we had the proper tools and spare innertube's in case we had a flat and took time to make sure that the bikes fit us correctly. The price for rental was very reasonable and the service was really great I look forward to one day doing business with them again. read more

I got a flat on my way to work, and my attempted repair just north of the Montlake Bridge was a fail ('sparing' you the details haw). Considering what to do, I realized the Montlake Bike Shop was a walkable distance, albeit in less-than-ideal footwear. Fifteen minutes later I was walking through the door, and shared my lament with the mechanics who greeted me cheerfully. Explaining that I was late for work, with people waiting on me, one mechanic grabbed my bike and had it repaired in record time. He also up-sold me on a new tire, which I do believe was needed and added no time to the repair. I was paid up and out the door inside of five minutes. read more

Good bike service can be hard to find. I've spread my business between several shops, but Montlake is the one place that's never disappointed me. The staff have been top notch in all of my dealings with them. read more

I have rented bikes from here as well as had work done on my own bike and the team is always so friendly and helpful! This is definitely my favorite local bike shop :) read more