James Vincent Bicycles

Excellent service. Best prices in the area. Armando is super chill and knows what he’s talking about. They always do great work and are very punctual.

I took my very energetic 8 and 6.5 year old boys here to get them their first BMX bikes.
The staff was super cool and my kids got to test out the bikes both inside the store (endless laps of careful fun!) and outside on the long, straight sidewalk.
We worked with Dan, and he tweaked and customized the bikes for height and brake tightness and seat angle and lord knows what else! I just kept seeing him go up and down the stairs with the bikes until the boys felt they were perfect. There’s nothing more important to a Mom, than feeling 100% confident that her kids are riding top quality bikes, and knowing her kids feel 100% safe while riding them… so this was KEY and they were amazing.
Anyway– the boys absolutely LOVE what they got, ride them non stop, and all in all, James Vincent Bicycles gets a big, fat 10 from me and ma’ boys. :-)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *****

I’m an avid bike rider and the men at James Vincent Bicycles showed tremendous work ethic taking care of my needs. Having a bike to ride on a daily basis is a necessity and with their help, I was given a rental bike to use while mine was being fixed. Great prices and even better work, I appreciate all the time and effort spent on repairing my bicycle. This shop is more than five miles out of my way but worth the time, due to the workmanship and quality. Number one bicycle shop in North Jersey, thank you again!

Great attentive service with amazing quality bikes, these bike experts have their knowledge game up and are willing to be super helpful. One of my favorite things regarding this shop is that it is right next to North Hudson Park and readily available for rentals or repairs. This shop is an excellent addition to Bergenline and should be supported by it’s local neighborhood. Support your local bike shop and come right in!

I bought a bike for my son and I need to buy a stick to help him to ride a bike, I just went to this place, order and next day get installed, the staffs was great and very very atencion with Everthing .
My husband rent a bike for a ride for $ 10 .
This place have quality products, nice brands and great service !

What a difference! So glad that horrible funky eye guy is gone!!! New owners are super nice, attentive and helpful. I was in the market for a good doggie seat so the owner recommended getting something online, since he didn’t have what I needed. Next time I came in to rent one bike and get my flat fixed. I got an amazing service again! It’s just so nice to go there and be treated with a smile and respect. Good job new owners! You will do great!

Nice new shop setup but had to skip because of ridiculous full tune up price n nyc like merchandise prices. New mgmt, new prices… do not be fooled by same JV Bicycle name, JV is long gone.

Synopsis: professional, to the point retailer and servicemen. Middle of the road shop. 4 stars.
The current owner is a straight-​forward, super respectable man who cares about keeping his business afloat while keeping his customers serviced. The shop has changed owners relatively recently, for the better. Layout is clean and efficient, you can quickly get access to almost anything you need. You should know what you want ahead of time. You don’t really interact with the mechanics, they just work there and do good work. Everyone there bikes with various levels of intensity. Good shop.
My personal experience:
I’ve bought a midrange bike from them, have had an older bike serviced by them, have purchased various parts, pedals, shoes, clothing and accessories. Inquired about fit, recommendations for upgrades on my bike and various other bikes, and feel like I have gotten reasonably good service. My general level of satisfaction is good, and I’m happy to have the shop around.
What you should know:
First thing everyone should understand: hobby/​lifestyle shop (bikes, sporting goods, games, fashion) are not run like restaurants or hotels, with drop-​of-​the-​hat quick service… there’s some logistical problems inherent in the model that prevents this from happening. If you want hand-​holding, I mean, the staff tries, but ultimately you should, and have to, do a little research. If you want to save time, call ahead, have everything ready, know what you want.
Educate yourself in the basics of the hobby if you’re afraid of being intimidated or getting fleeced. Check prices of stuff before you go, always expect to pay a reasonable premium over online retailers — this is a retail shop, not a warehouse.
You are paying for the convenience of a local bike shop. You will be thankful for this the next time you run a flat and forgot to bring a spare.
Now, there do exist shops that are run by shop owners who love the hobby seemingly more than even running their business, and are willing to be generous with pricing. Then there are shops that are run strictly as businesses that are there to fleece you. James Vincent is somewhere in between, and that’s a good thing — it means they aren’t going out of business tomorrow, and you can walk in there blind, and come out with the right bike for you and pay a fair price… you won’t get a steal. Their prices are reasonable and fair, their selection is functional, and they can order stuff for you. They are equipped to deal with the basic to intermediate needs of the everyman, local bicyclist.
JV is my local bike shop and I love that I have the option. But, if you’re looking to get a bargain, please just shop online or buy a used bike. You won’t find a bike store that will sell stuff cheap in this area without major caveats (one of which is, the bike store is going to disappear soon). If you’re looking for a full-​service professional concierge service for an ultra high-​end road bike, you probably aren’t going here in the first place, either (yet). Casual biker? Perfect, they’ll treat you right. Seasoned cyclist, know what you want and need? They’ll take care of you, or they’ll order it.
Lonely, in need of conversation, want to talk politics or your family problems? Go to a bar, these guys don’t have time for you, lol. Need a car rack installed? Need new handlebar tape? New tires, new crankset, need something installed? They will take care of you. But you have to know to ask for that in the first place.
Educate yourself, ride hard. Enjoy bikes!
Improvements for the shop:
Could always use a bigger selection, access to more goodies — perhaps an offsite warehouse, turn the store into more of a pure showroom. furniture stores on Bergenline use that model. Storefront needs an upgrade; sun-​bleached razor scooter boxes don’t look good from the outside. Definitely could use a day or two of early morning hours (8−9am opening on Tuesdays maybe?) to help out folks who work full-​time. Put a little more effort into sizing and fitting, or you’ll lose customers to the dedicated road cyclist shops. Find a dyed-​in-​the-​wool bike nerd to throw on the staff. Sponsor or coordinate a local bike ride with the library or local schools, or fundraisers. Get folks excited about biking!

Dropped my bike off Monday night with plenty of mechanical problems. They had fixed, clean and in top shape by Tuesday afternoon. Looked and felt like a new bike. Turns out they have a pretty good wheel builder on staff also.
When I dropped off the bike they looked the it over thoroughly and quickly got me an estimate along with a couple solutions. They didn’t try to push anything that was unnecessary (many other shops push and oversell) but covered all my concerns and made solid recommendations. The prices were fair and the work was high quality.
I appreciate the professionalism and great work they did on my bike. It’s nice to have a LBS I can trust.

This shop is under new management, they seem to be really on top of things. The staff is great and extremely helpful. They are extremely knowledge about all biking products, if they don’t have something in stock they will order it for you. There prices are reasonable and they are willing to work with you. If you are an a bicyclist that understand and know the true value of a local bike shop versus buying some subpar bike or part from a major retailer such as Amazon or Target, then this is the place for you to go. I purchased a bike rack from them for my car. They offered to properly install it for me, they installed the new bike rack in minutes and didn’t even charge me an installation fee. This place is a bit far from me, but when ever I am going into the city with my bike, I always go there when I need service.

I live in Cliffside Park and have been coming here since shortly after buying a bike on line June 2013. So far, they have done everything from changing a damaged tire to replacing an entire groupset. Also bought shoes and clipless pedals, my first.
I think their prices are fair, their mechanic is very good, and, best of all, no attitude. Just watch out for their occasionally surly cat and the parking ticket-​happy PD.

James Vincent New Management Shines!
I was looking to buy a bike and a bike rack. I went to Walmart to see what they had. Walmart carries some good looking bikes but they don’t look like they’ll last long. I went to take one off the rack and the wheel fell off! I looked at a few others and noticed one with a chain stuck and scratches on most of them. I couldn’t find someone to help me so I walked up to customer service. I waited on line for 10 minutes just to ask them to call someone over to the bike area. 10mins later a kid shows up and asked how can I help you? I asked if those bikes can be fixed right now so I can buy one and he said no because they only have 1 bike Tech and he was out today. I asked him a few questions about the bikes and he could answer them. This person was even more clueless than me… not good. I said to myself I can’t buy a bike from a place that knows less than I do about bikes. I don’t want to buy something that’s going to fall apart in a year. I dodged a bullet at Walmart I’ll tell you why.
I Googled bike shops in North Bergen and James Vincent bike shop came up first. I looked on Unilocal for some reviews but didn’t see anything current. I went down there to see if they can help me. Boy do they have a ton of bikes. I thought to myself man I don’t know where to start. The new owner George greeted after a few minutes. George helped me himself because the shop had a few other customers. It was nice not having to wait or try and track someone down to help me. The customer service at JV was unreal.
It was refreshing to be able to ask questions and have someone know the answers. They showed me several different bikes that I can use on the street and on dirt roads. He didn’t try and sell me an expensive bike they showed me what fit my body size and stayed within my budget. I didn’t feel rushed or dumb for not knowing anything. They broke down every part of the bike and let me test ride it outside… WOW. You won’t get that at Walmart and good luck after the Walmart bike falls apart.
I asked them to show me different racks for my car. He knew exactly what would fit on my car without looking it up. They didn’t try and sell me on any particular item they educated me on the different options for my car and let me pick. I was really happy that they knew their stuff because the Rack I thought I needed could have damaged my car.
Man I said a lot here so let me wrap it up.
This new management at James Vincent ROCKS!
You might pay a little extra than a Walmart or Target Bikes but the customer service, bike knowledge and bike quality is worth it 10 fold.
If you’re looking for a bike this is where you should go.

I came here a few weeks ago even though I knew I shouldn’t have but I said what the hell. I was looking for a bike for my son. I know bikes are costly and you pay what you get for but they had no decent BMX under $ 250.00. I asked if he could go lower even though it was still over my budget but he straight up refused. No problem. I didn’t want to spend over $ 250.00 for my seven year old’s second bike. I am just trying to give the local bike shop some business.
I bought a bike for my son on Amazon. A Mongoose R30, not the greatest but nice looking and decent looking for $ 150.00. Free shipping. Woot! Woot! Go Amazon!
So I put it together, as much and as best as I can but I know I need a tune up. So let me get the tune up at my closest local bike shop, I know bikes a little and I know all it needs is the fork and brakes to be tightened. Ten minute job, if that. The same dude goes to the pricing board and says, «basic tune up, fifty dollars». I laughed to myself and walked out. Fuck This Place Forever. I would not step foot in here not even for a water bottle.
I went to Washington Heights, NYC to 174^th and Broadway to Victor’s Bike Shop and he did me right. He didn’t try to jerk me for my $ 50 for ten minutes of work. I paid the GWB toll and it was still cheaper than J. Vincent’s.
The funny thing is I have been off Unilocal for some time and I see that I got a compliment from guess who? The new ownership did maybe because of my earlier review. Well you guys dropped the ball a few more times. Sorry.

I have gone to this bike shop for yrs. But after the last 3 visits in the past 2 yrs I will never step foot in that place again! I went to ask them to show me how to use a portable air pump and the cock eyed fool that was there acted as if he was annoyed at my lack of knowledge with this air pump. I explained to him that I tried everything with the pump but it never worked. After he tried and tried it did not work for him either. I guess he felt stupid so he told me there isnothing they can do. Well there is something I can do. That is to never buy anything there ever again. They are horrible when it comes to customer service and they are not exactly cheap when it comes to there prices. NEVER AGAIN!

I am an inveterate LBS supporter, but I can’t in good conscience shop here. Long ago, when I dealt with Jimmy (the owner), I could count on reasonable prices and guidance. Maybe I’ver just had a series of bad experiences with Dave (Jimmy’s son), but the guy just flat out insults customers. He’s not a dick, per-​se; he just can’t help himself. My Jan/​Feb ordeal with JVB went like this:
1) I wanted a chain with a fast-​link (quick-​release) connecter; Dave didn’t listen – and when I asked him to please install one, he went into a song-​and-​dance about how they’re awful. I ride approx 7000 miles/​year and like to take off the chain to thoroughly clean and wax it; I know what kind of chain I like. Period.
2) I wanted to save time and have him adjust the derailleurs. He charged $ 30 ($ 15 each, front and rear) – and did not properly seat the front dérailleur down-​tube stop quick-​adjust barrel. So I paid a ridiculous amount for 15 min labor… and it was done poorly.
3) I needed a 9-​speed cassette, 11 – 26. He didn’t have one in stock, but ordered one for me (a nice service). I was quoted $ 33, but was charged $ 39.
And lastly, when I went back to pick up the special-​order part, we engaged in some chit-​chat. Somehow, the topic got onto folders [folding bicycles], and he spent the better part of 20 minutes insulting one of my bikes – a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro. I mean, almost yelling about how the forks break, and stuff like that. Then he stopped – but only when he realized that his beef was with Brompton (another folder), and that he knew nothing about Bike Friday. An understandable mistake; and we all have bad days. But seriously?! I mean, what kind of points do you hope to score by crapping all over a customer’s ride? I could see if Dave were a super-​fit Cat ½ racer, and could use actual road experience as his bully pulpit. But he’s not. In short, while I like being able to pick up parts and install them myself the same day, JVB is no longer a viable option. I get better prices, no ‘tude, and can do most minor repairs at least as well as Dave does when his heart isn’t in the game.
Wish I could recommend this shop. I really, really do, but I was so turned off by my most recent experiences there, that I felt compelled to log on to Unilocal and share my views with others.
Obviously, others have different views. As always, YMMV. And I mean no disrespect to the owners of James Vincent Bikes.

Expensive! Very expensive. Check out a bike then go to the internet and get it for $ 150 or more cheaper. In some cases hundreds cheaper. And theres some heavy set dude there (I think a owner) who’s miserable. It seems like the workers there are «cocky» because they know about bikes and you don’t.

As a long time customer I can’t believe any bad reviews for this place, quick service and good price. Jimmy has always been helpful. Sounds like some sour grapes from people that expect too much

Had to get my beat up bike a tune-​up. $ 60 for the tune-​up. $ 40 for 2 new tires and $ 14 for the tubes and another $ 16 for labor. They fixed my bike within a day. Only thing is I didn’t like the chubby owner. He is what he is, a tough exterior who is blunt and honest, but come on man, it can’t hurt to be nice for a change.

1. I come in intending to buy his and hers bikes. One person manning the counter intently in a conversation with another small business owner/​salesman/​friend. I am ignored. Ten minutes later, I ask for some attention and am brushed off. I leave in a huff (y).
2. My mother had generously offered me my parent’s vintage 70’s peugeots rather than buying my own. They had not been ridden and had been garage kept for over 30 years— they needed the works; breaklines, break handles, tires. No matter the cost I figured that this was a sweet deal, beautiful vintage bikes with family provenance. How could you beat that? I picked them up from my parent’s house with a borrowed truck. Realizing that I was 20 minutes away from James Vincent with a half hour til closing, I called, saying that I might run a few minutes late and I just need to drop them off for an estimate and ultimate repair. I was emphatically reminded of their closing time and told that they would not wait for me. I was 3 minutes late.
3. I came around for another spin, this time sans bikes. Maybe I’m a masochist. Maybe I have a short memory for the bad stuff. I ask about how much this standard shabang would cost and when they could be picked up. How dare I ask for a price sight unseen? And how dare I ask for them to be picked up (a half mile away mind you)? I would need to find someway to get them there on bum tires just for the estimate and then the work. After the attitude I left vowing never to return.
NB: I called ‘Flo on Wheel’ and get pleasant genial service. Estimate? No problem, including the plus/​minus for stated contingencies. Pick up? ‘Of course, we wouldn’t expect you to find some way to get them on bum tires to us.’ A couple days later they were returned to my lobby looking like new for a reasonable price (the smile and friendliness were free).
4. I decided to take my bikes on the road today. Having never taken them on my car before, I ran over to Target to buy a Schwinn rack, rather than investing in a Thule or Saris, to see if this becomes a regular thing. I hooked it all up, but wanted a second opinion and was willing to pay for it. After all, you don’t want them falling off the car at 70mph on the highway. I got a quick suggestion from my doorman and again headed over to Bergenline. I’m not sure what I was thinking. This is the definition of insanity— expecting a different result. The owner looks at me with a snear.
«Schwinn— shit you bought at Walmart. [wrong: never, ever Walmart] I can’t help you because it’s not mine. I only sell Thules. [with a 10 foot sidelong stare] These are garbage. Yeah, did you follow the instructions— then I guess it’s right. Again, I can’t touch it, I’m not covered.»
Mind you the man repairs bikes— other people’s pre-​bought bikes in his shop. And besides, what happened to good old fashioned manners and neighborly kindness. I probably will eventually invest in a more expensive bike rack, as well as a lightweight racing bike for the hubby, but it won’t be with James Vincent.
James Vincent you are the Thule. I will not return.

Back in the 80’s, the guys at James Vincent built a bmx dirt park across the street in the park! That’s long gone now, but the same attitude prevails: they’re about bikes, bike culture and biking.
There’s something stereotypical about bike shop workers: they tend to have a bit of a know-​it-​all attitude, unbusinesslike honesty, bathrooms with bike gear in them, and sales people that act more like relationship matchers than salesmen. James Vincent is not really all or any of these, but they kind of fit in parts.
They’re honest: they stock bikes they won’t sell you if they deem you’re too good for them. They may not tell you you’re too fat for a road bike, but they’ll match you with something your fat butt can ride comfortably, just like a relationship matcher will connect you with someone as ugly as you.
They have tons of bikes. If you don’t like bikes, go away.