2021 Wethepeople Arcade Review


The 2021 Wethe people Arcade is popular for a reason. The two color options look amazing. And you can’t go wrong with aftermarket Salt parts. Keep in mind, this is a beginner level bike that will not last when you start to do bigger tricks.

2021 Wethepoeple Arcade Review Video

Overview

A bike with plenty of opportunities, the Arcade really showcases the endless detail and unrivaled quality that we put into our bikes. This super dialed bicycle rolls on SALT’s super-wide 36mm Valon rims with sealed hubs carrying a full assortment of nylon hub guards allowing you to have a solid and dependable set of wheels under you at all times.

Available in both a 20.5” and a longer 21” option, the Arcade will give senior riders the ability to ride one of the most popular bikes in our line.

from: wethepeopleOpens in a new tab.

Check out the WTPOpens in a new tab. Opens in a new tab.Arcade on Danscomp by clicking hereOpens in a new tab.

Highlights

  • ⛔️ – Full Chromoly
  • ✅ – Under $500
  • ⛔️ – Double Wall Rims
  • ⛔️ – Pegs
  • ✅ – Fully Sealed Bearings
  • ✅ – 3 pc. Cranks
  • ⛔️ – Freecoaster – What is a freecoaster?Opens in a new tab.
  • ✅ – Brakes
  • ✅ – Gyro tabs
  • ⛔️ – 4 pc bars

Key Features

Key Features
Aftermarket Salt Parts
27.7 lbs
12.75 Responsive Chain Stay

Specs

Price: $459Opens in a new tab. on Danscomp

Colors

Specs

FRAME MATERIAL: 4130 crmo down tube, 1020 hi-ten
WHEEL SIZE: 20″
TOP TUBE LENGTH: 20.5” or 21”
CHAIN STAY LENGTH: 12.75″
HEADTUBE ANGLE: 75°
SEAT TUBE ANGLE: 71°
FORKS: SALT “AM 20” fork, 1020 hi-ten , 4130 crmo steerer, 26mm offset
BARS: SALT “ARCADE” bar, 1020 hi-ten
STEM: SALT “COMP” top load stem, 50mm reach
HEADSET: SALT “PRO” int. headset, sealed bearing
BRAKE MOUNTS: Welded
BRAKES: ECLAT “TALON” alloy u-brake rear
FRONT HUB: SALT “PRO” alloy hub, sealed bearing, 3/8”s axle, 36h
FRONT RIM: SALT “VALON” 36mm rim, single wall, 36h
REAR HUB: SALT “PRO” cassette hub, full sealed, 9t, 14mm axle, 36h
REAR RIM: SALT “VALON” 36mm rim, single wall, 36h
TYRES: SALTPLUS “BURN” tires, 2.35″, front & rear
SPROCKET: SALT “GATEWAY” steel 25t sprocket
CRANKS: SALT “AM” seamless tubular 3pc crank crmo 165mm, 8 Spline
BB: SALT “MID” 19mm, press fit, sealed bearing
PEDALS: SALTPLUS “STEALTH LB” pedals, nylon/fiberglass
SEAT: SALTPLUS “STEALTH LB” pedals, nylon/fiberglass
GEARING: 25/9
WEIGHT: 12.56kg / 27.77lbs

Frame Geometry

A: Top Tube Length:  20.5″ or 21″ – Learn what size is right for you here.Opens in a new tab.

Check the size guide to see if its right for you..

Getting a top tube that is taller than suggested will make the bike feel more controlled and less responsive

Getting a top tube size that is smaller than normal will make the bike feel a lot more snappy and responsive.

B: Chain Stay Length: 12.75″ – Learn About Chain Stays HereOpens in a new tab.

This is a short chainstay.

A long chain stay will make the bike feel controlled.

A short chain stay makes the bike feel twitchy. Spins will be easy, but airing and jumping might feel hard to control.

A long chain stay will make the bike feel really controlled. Spins will feel sluggish, but manuals and air tricks will feel nice because it will be more stable.

C: Head Tube Angle: 75° – Learn About Head Tube Angles HereOpens in a new tab.

Steep head tube angles make the bike “snappy” meaning more responsive to fast turns. 

A less steep head tube gives you more control.

D: Seat Tube Angle: 71.5°

E: Bottom Bracket Height: 11.75″

F: Stand over height: 8.75″

This is a medium standover. 

A medium standover will balance controlled and responsive feelings. Giving you the perfect amount of seat to pinch when trying barspins.

Bar Geometry – Learn more hereOpens in a new tab.

G: Rise: 9″ or 9.25″ (depending on toptube size)

Riding a tall rise, will give you more leverage on the bike. Making it easier to pull back and lift the front wheel up.

H: Width: 29.5″ or 29.75″ (depending on toptube size)

This is a medium width. 

Narrow bars make barspins easier.

Wide bars give you more control and stability when steering.

I: Backsweep: 12º

What does backsweep do?

As far as I know, there is a sweet spot for backsweep. Too much will make the bike feel weird, and too little will make the bike unstable. It seems like the sweet spot is around 11º to 12º. If you need something a little more aggressive and straight feeling, go for 10º, but only do this if 11º is uncomfortable.

J: Upsweep: 2º

This is a normal upsweep!

What does upsweep do?

There is a lot of discussion about 1º upsweep vs. 4º upsweep. Some people are running experiments and testing if the greater upsweep will make drops feel better. It seems like a lot of street riders run 4º to 5º upsweep. This helps for wrist pain and lessens the impact of big drops.

Price

The 2021 Wethepeople Arcade costs $469. I do think this is just a little bit overpriced since it does not have double wall rims or a full chromoly frame. It does add in a lot of salt aftermarket parts which justify the high price tag just a little bit. Overall, most Wethepeople bikes run a little higher priced because that’s just how they are. 

Quality

My favorite thing about this bike is the fact that it comes with four hub guards. Hub guards can cost anywhere from $15 to $20 apiece. So, for Wethepeople to include these on this bike they are saving you a lot of money. Salt is an aftermarket brand and anytime bike brand includes aftermarket parts on their bikes they are naturally better-quality bikes. But the downside is that the material of the frame. When you start to learn 360s and do big drops you really want a full chromoly frame and this bike does not have it. 

Buy if you are learning:

  • bunny hops
  • 180
  • pull up bar spins
  • small jumps
  • small dirt riding
  • fakie tricks
  • Grind tricks

Don’t buy if you are learning:

  • Big drops
  • big spins
  • back flips
  • big 360
  • tailwhip

Conclusion

The 2021 Wethepeople Arcade is a really popular bike. And I could see why, the colors look good and the aftermarket parts make it stand out from the other bikes. However, for $469 I think they could have put in a little more chromoly and other quality parts. This bike does come with four hub guards which will save you some money in the long run. It will also be really easy to add pegs and start to learn those grinding tricks.

If you’re a beginner level rider that wants to grind and wants a really clean looking bike this is a good bike for you. However, if you plan to ride at a mid-level doing bigger tricks, the parts will not hold up. 


Common Questions

  • Where can I buy this bike? At the time of writing this, Danscomp had the Arcade in stock. Check it out hereOpens in a new tab.
  • Is this bike for park, dirt, or street? It is a well-rounded bike that will do good on all park, street, and dirt.
  • How much does it weigh? 27.13 lbs

 

Douglas Laird

My parents bought me my first BMX bike in 2011 and it changed my life. This bike has taken me all over the world and introduced me to cool places and cooler people. My goal is to help get 1,000,000 people into BMX so they can experience the joy and freedom that comes from a progression based sport.

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