Site Review Makaibike.com  

I was asked to review the web site for Makaibike. The site is a cycling website that features thousands of bicycle related products including: bicycles, components, accessories, bike frames, cycling clothing, and more.

I have to admit, my initial impression was that it wasn’t for me. The opening page featured some retro looking cruisers which are not my thing. For me, If it’s not part of my extra curricular activities, I am not interested. In other words, if it’s not a road, triathlon, or mountain bike, I am really don’t care.

However, when I started to dig deeper, I found more than I bargained for. As it turned out, this site is huge, and from what I could find, includes most everything you can think of bike related.

There are two links, one for “Road Bikes” and one for “Race Road Bikes” I started through the race road bikes first, and found that it was a combination of every bike you could race, not just road bikes. Then I went to the link for “Road Bikes” and found 7 pages of road specific bikes,. Then the site went dead, and I couldn’t load it up again.

I then went searching through the accesserries. You can get a slew of nick nacks and gadgets from baskets bells brakes, bearings for bicycles, and bike stems. 41 categories in all, on 6 pages. I don’t know who still uses toe clips but if you want em, you can find em. At first, I couldn’t find wheels. However after a little searching, I was able to find them under components.

As for the search window, I managed to get hits on specific items, that then showed links to the sub-categories so you could browse further. Unlike other web sites internal search windows where you type a keyword and get 500 hits of stuff unrelated to what you are searching for.

What I didn’t find was a clearance area, however, there seem to be deals. especially in shoes, and especially mountain bike shoes.

They do offer an affiliate program, but currently are not accepting applications for new affiliates, which is a bummer because given the size of the site, I would have certainly given them a shot since my other cycling banner has netted me a big fat goose egg in the revenue coulumn.

So the good, bad, and ugly? In reverse order

UGLY. The front page. I know there is a sub-culture who think the retro scene is where it’s at, but as I stated in the opening paragraph. Not my thing.

BAD. Couple of thigs, No clearance, Closed affiliate Program, and the size of the site which can be a little overwhelming.

GOOD. Huge! Everything you can think of. Just be sure you have time.

Overall Impression? I am looking at a set of Zip 303’s. How’s that for an impression. This will be the first place I visit when I go to price shop.