Just got a kickstand from these fine people today! The person I spoke with was very helpful, I was able to install it myself! I ended up not having to cut it. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me about it! 💖

Ive shopped here a few times over the past two years. They have a great selection of parts and quite a few new and used models for purchase.The service is also exceptional. I stopped in last night to get a replacement brake cable; the rear cable had just snapped while I was out and about. They quickly got me sorted with a new cable, but also walked me through how to replace the very squeaky and metal-bare pads on the rear disc brake. Ive replaced plenty of rim brake parts in the past, but disc brake maintenance is new to me; they very graciously sized up what I needed, explained how to fix it and sent me on my way with a few tips for preventing this in the future.I was able to fix the problem in ~20min once I got home. This store and the people that work here are great. Shop here, youll like it.

Great shop. Came in Monday because I had an issue with my derailleur. I needed a follow up and had to come back a few days later. They took care of everything and provided great advice on keep my bike in tip top shape. Thanks for awesome service!

Fast & friendly walk in service for a new chain & brake pads

Chris was very patient and helpful, listening to my descriptions of what wasnt working with my current setup. He offered good guidance on what I could change with my current bike to improve my ride.

Super nice guys running the shop. Was able to take the best test ride ever on a great bike. No pressure sales. Thank you!

Very knowledgeable. Extremely helpful. Highly recommend.

The bolt securing my seatpost had shorn in half while biking along Burke Gilman, and I happened to come upon Counterbalance right as they were closing up. Chris was closing up and had somewhere to be, but graciously spent some time with me trying to get me going again.

I’ve been to about a dozen bike shops in Seattle, and this is the one I will always come back to for service on my bike. The mechanics here are real pros, but they’re also friendly and relatable folks without a hint of the elitism that you run into sometimes in the bicycle world. Shido did a a flawless job installing Honjo fenders on my Gunnar, and Phillip did a super comprehensive tuneup on my girlfriend’s old Trek. It’s like a new bike. She went from riding once or twice a year to riding everyday. She has a Strava now!

Had a rear flat on my commute in to work Sunday morning. Decided to walk my bike back on the Burke Gillman trail to the bike shop I pass every day by the university village to see when they open. It was 7:30 am. They open at 10 so decided to wait. Chris, one of the bike mechanics greeted me when he got there and took care of the flat quickly. The till couldnt accept payment yet for some reason and Chris asked if I could come back later and pay then. For this great emergency service including the tube and labor the charge was only 20 bucks. I am so impressed and grateful there are places and people still around like this.

Very knowledgeable, very accommodating (re scheduling), friendly staff who can fix anything that comes on two wheels, paired with great sense of self-deprecating humor. What more can you ask for ?

The mechanics here are attentive, professional, demonstrate a great caring attitude and real humbleness. This cannot be said about other bike shops. I appreciate their ability to do things without appointments when the job is small enough. Ive also taken my bike here for major tuneups and was pleased with the results. They always answer my questions and explain things thoroughly. I love this place.

This is my regular bike repair shop because of their excellent service, great location, and honesty. I have made the mistake of visiting other bike shops in the city and have almost been swindled. Luckily, I have followed my gut in those situations and taken my bike to Counterbalance and gotten the right diagnostics and repair for my bike. The mechanics have always treated me with respect and done the necessary repairs on my bike for a fair price. They have even given me helpful tips for keeping my bike clean. As a woman, I feel comfortable at Counterbalance and I trust them to do all of my bike repairs.

Dropped in to see if they had the 700-25 tires I wanted and they did. Chris was fantastic - mounted them in a usefully nerdy way (aligning the wear indicators and the stems) and also, without saying a word, made small adjustments to my brakes and replaced my missing bar end plug with a new one without charge. Not only that he checked in and advised on tire pressure for the new rubber. Fantastic service. Pretty sure I’ve found my new bike shop of choice.

Favorite bike store of all time, super helpful, and more concerned about the customers experience than nickel and diming

Went in with a shifter problem, they fixed it quick and cheap. Great service!

Very helpful. Knowledgeable staff. Found just what I was looking for.

Amazing service and great precautions for covid. They also fix bikes for pretty cheap comparatively and faster service than most!

Love this bike shop but Phillip couldnt be a worse customer service professional... have had, and witnessed, him interact with people who ended up just leaving because of him. I would imagine most of the reviews describing curt and less than civil customer service are directed at him..

Chris was really helpful. Thank you!!

Fantastic customer service and great products just got new pedals ut on they went above and beyond to be helpful A+++++++++

Love this little bike repair shop. Following covid rules well. Reasonable fees and good service.

The guys at Counterbalance are so attentive and helped me find the perfect bike. They take their time (even when they are super busy!), figure out lots of options to try until you find the best fit. Im a novice without a lot of technical knowledge, and they talked me through everything. I didnt feel judged. Highly, highly recommend.

I came here with a cheap commuter bike for a repair. They handled my bike with care and patience, completed the repair, and checked out the brakes and other parts of the bike as well all for an extremely reasonable price. Felt great about every part of my visit and I will certainly be coming back in the future!

They are very helpful and knowledgeable, So happy that I found my favorite bike shop.

Great shop, Thank you for taking care of my daughter who is a UW student, you guys are awesome!

I wish we can give them 0 stars. So here is what happened- When we first called to inquire about Jamis Renegade S4 they said they have it in stock and we asked if we can come in to take a look at it, they said sure so we drove 20 miles to get this bike and upon arrival they told us oh sorry we forgot to mention these bikes arent assembled so we will have to come back next week Friday. They took our information so they could give us a call when the bikes are ready for a test drive and pickup. On Wednesday we called them to check the status of the bikes and to confirm that they have our size bikes. When we called, they did confirm that the bikes are in stock and should be assembled by Friday morning and that they will call us if anything comes up. Today is Friday, 2 PM we havent heard anything from them, so we called them and they said sorry this bike was never in stock as it was already sold out LONG TIME AGO and there was a ghost in their system. What the heck is this drama. Such a horrible customer service, very unprofessional and very unreliable. I would stay away from these LIARS who waste peoples time. But we are glad, we didnot invest here they dont deserve it. Ill my business somewhere else.

Excellent bike shop with extremely knowledgeable staff that are taking the time to find you the right fit. I would go out of my way to purchase from them.

Probably the best customer service experience Ive ever had. Walked in with a broken bike, they looked over it for free, clearly let me know everything that was wrong with it, and on the spot, fixed what they could (without requiring new parts) for only $20! They were also super patient with my questions and extremely knowledgable. Best bike shop Ive been to!

Amazingly friendly staff. Very knowledgeable. Low pressure sales operation. Highly recommend.Im 66 and its hard to find a bike my size, they tried their hardest to appropriately fit me on the kind of bike I wanted, but just didnt have anything in stock. No pressure to buy poorly fitting bike after we realized it wouldnt work.If you need a bike or advice Id go here.

Been both a customer of Counterbalance and they have been a customer of my own business. I love the Jamis bike I purchased there a few years ago. Their staff is helpful, their services are affordable and they make excellent recommendations to get your bike riding right.

Riding along the Burke and was having shifting issues. Stopped by and asked, they took care of it on the spot without fees. Would love to come back and support.

I love this place!1. Theyre open later than most bike shops. Very convenient.2. The staff is always willing to drop what theyre doing and help out. Theyre friendly and willing to educate.3. You can tell these people are experienced. The whole shop is a work space, and the mechanics are always busy.

I go there all the time for bike repair. I have 6 bicycles in total between my family members, two of them electric RAD bikes. I am always satisfied, and I feel that the mechanics are knowledgeable and thorough.

A cozy bike shop on the side of the Burke. This place is packed full of gorgeous bikes and staffed by friendly mechanics who love their two wheeled machines. I always feel welcome every time I come in. This is where I will always go for parts and work on my pedal powered happiness generators. No need to go anywhere else.As a side note.Even though most of their inventory is populated by steel, aluminum, and titanium bikes, they had no problem working with my carbon go-fast road bike.

New to cycling. My third week of riding ever (and on the Burke) I got my first flat about 10 minutes away from this shop. Hobbled back and they took the time to not only replace the tube but with patience teach me how to do it myself. For a newbie, this was so helpful! After buying a 90s bike I brought it in for a tune up and potential wheel trueing. Shido was extremely patient with my questions and very professional as he guided me through what my old new bike would need. Very glad to have this business in Seattle.

These guys know their stuff !!!!!!

I bought a bike here and have had excellent service. The bike fits me in every way--it handles everything I want it to, and it makes riding super fun. The employees here have helped me choose the right accessories to meet my needs and to keep me safe. They have made adjustments as needed, usually on the spot while I wait. Ive taken a few of their free maintenance classes and learned a lot, which has increased my confidence in riding and taking care of my bike. A special thanks to Shannon and Sam, who are patient in sharing their knowledge through classes.

Had a great experience with one of the mechanics today (I think it was Shido, not sure). I went in not sure if my bike was safe to ride because of wobbling issues and knowing the brakes needed adjustment. After needing like 60 seconds to diagnose the issues, he spent a good chunk of time explaining the basics of how I should fix it, and sent me off with reassurances that it wasnt going to fall apart under me. Thanks!

Awesome staff who helped me learn to alot of things about bikes since I built a bike for the first time. Pretty reasonable prices. If you have some of problems fixing your bike, just come here and get all your problems fixed.

Guys in the shop know what theyre doing and theyre really nice, too. Nothing not to like here.

Stopped by here to quickly look at helmets and the sales person was a bit curt. I brought my bike in with me and they passive aggressively remarked there’s “never been a bike stolen from [their] porch in _______ years”. I understand businesses don’t have space for all customers bikes but there was a lot of space as it was 8:30am on a weekday. I really don’t understand why they felt the need to put their foot down about this. There’s like a dozen bike shops nearby or websites that I can go to instead 🤷‍♂️.

Counterbalance is my favorite bike shop in Seattle. They carry only quality bikes and parts and have knowledgeable and patient mechanics. Since they are pretty far from my home, I will sometimes visit other shops for quick repairs. Sadly, I often end up having to explain how another bike shop screwed up something on my bike when I finally make it back to them. If you are fortunate enough to live near this shop or on the Burke, you have no reason to go anywhere else.

Exceptional service. I spent almost 2 hours with Julian discussing which bike is best for me as a Seattle commuter capable of being loaded on a massive tour someday. Julian, Glen and Phil know their stuff. They werent pushy or suggestion I go for a particular bike, but simply advised me to go with whatever felt right. I purchased a Surly disc trucker off these guys and am extremely happy with it. Located directly next Burke-Gilman Trail which affords a fantastic test ride facility!

The staff lack basic civility, and are most unhelpful. Unless you are into local steel frames, and overpriced builds, I would choose to go somewhere else.

Dropped in on a Thursday morning needing some help with my seat. Shito (sorry if Im spelling this wrong!!) was knowledgeable, kind, and helped me fix it up for free99. Will be recommending this place widely and coming back here with any bike questions I have!!

One of only a few places in the greater Seattle area I trust the staff with my bikes. I always get great customer service from Shannon, Phillip, and Peter.They have a great selection of gear and STEEL BIKES. Amen to that. 🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴

Absolutely the best bike shop Ive been to in Seattle.I commute to work Monday-Friday, 92 miles per week, along the Burke-Gilman and Ship-Canal Trails in Seattle. Ive had the misfortune to break down several times in the last few months at different parts of the B-G trail, from Windermere/Hawthorne Hills in the east, to Ballard-Freemont at the western end, and Ive been a customer at several of the bike repair shops you can find along this stretch. Counterbalance Bicycles has consistently been the most patient, helpful, and affordable of all the bike shops Ive tried.Ive spoken with three different employees there and I wish I could remember all their names. The most recent tech to help me was Jacob, who tuned a used bike for me after the catastrophic breakdown of my previous bike. Jake was fast and even finished the job for less than he initially quoted me.Ive worked at serveral outdoor retailers in the past, including one that included a bicycle service shop, and I know how difficult and fast paced the work can be. These guys never make me feel like Im interupting their work (even if I am) and theyre happen to answer my questions. Im lucky to have them as my neighnorhood shop. Thanks Counterbalance.

Super bike shop. Julian spent a lot of time with me helping me select a new bike. I went in three times and did numerous test rides before buying a Surly Straggler. Once I picked the bike, they worked with me on adjustments to get the right fit. Would definitely recommend.

My bike needed some work done in the late spring. Most bike shops told me that it would take at least two weeks and I have to leave my bike with them. These guys made an appointment so I can bring the bike on the day and have it fixed instead of leaving it at the shop. Their service was very good and fast. I highly recommend this place.

Super friendly, super trustworthy shop. Labor rates are a bit high but worth the peace of mind. They always take the time to really talk about the problem, and teach a bit about what they are doing, and how it can be done at home.

First I had to wait 21 minutes to have the opportunity to speak to 1 of 3 guys working the shop. Two ride up repairs are done while Im waiting then Im asked if I have an appointment. The appointment would have been for a tune-up. While I get that early season in shops is a busy time, it would have taken 10 seconds to look up from the impromptu repairs and asked the growing line if there was anyone wanting to drop-off? When mechanic guy did finally take the time Im told itll be at least 2-1/2 weeks. No thanks. Im out. Thanks for wasting my time.

I am renting a house in Seattle and the owner offered to lend me his bike that he hadnt ridden for a year or two. This turned out to be something of an understatement! I called Counterbalance to get an estimate on how cheaply they could repair it, and I took my bike into them. Within half an hour they had replaced the mangled front wheel, spotted and fixed an issue with the brakes that must have occurred at the same time the wheel was damaged, checked the tires & gears, oiled the chain, and sent me on my way with a much smaller dent in my wallet than I had expected. They just seemed delighted to help me out of a fix, and started my stay in Seattle on a high note

Ive been here 3 times in the last couple years and each time has exceeded my expectations. The customer service is superb and they dont try to upsell you. I was recently in and Shido helped me by replacing a tube and tire right away that saved my Saturday. So thankful for this place!

Counterbalance is my official bike shop. Super helpful staff, and it doesnt hurt that their shop is right on the Burke. Counterbalance has already corrected the screw-ups of two other bike shops performed on my bike. So now, I just go to Counterbalance to get the job done right the first time.

After a culmination of issues and friends/family (unsuccessfully) trying to help me with my hydraulic disc brakes, my bike became dangerous to ride on the 4th of July holiday. After calling multiple places that were closed I was relieved to find Counterbalance open. Shido took my call, recommended I come in, and ended up being the mechanic to work on my bike. He quickly and accurately diagnosed the multiple issues my bike had and got my bike to a much better place in the short amount of time we had. He was so helpful and I am still so grateful. Thank you!

I Took my 20+ year old mountain bike in there for service, and one of the mechanics took it on as his personal project. It needed a LOT of work, and the total came out to be very reasonable. I love my bike now.Some of the accessory brands they carry are on the pricey side. But even that can turn out to be cheaper in the long run. Just had my LightMotion headlamp with a broken switch exchanged for a brand new unit, no hassle whatsoever.

Stop here a lot while riding to work and back. Been fitted there, bought many things and had lots of service. Theyre always friendly and knowledgeable.

Great shop! These guys know what they are talking about without the typical Seattle bike shop snobbery. The best most friendly shop in town!

Nice folks, cheaper than other places in the area

Very nice staff. Great help to fix a saddle not positioned correctly.

Great work on my bike. Didnt try to oversell. Really feels like these guys like cycling and want to help others with it.

Was new to the area and needed a new bike for commuting. I dont have much experience with commuter bikes but the staff was very friendly and helped explain some of the features and pros and cons of the selection without coming off as condescending or annoyed (which is an issue I ran into at a few other bike shops in the area). Ill definitely be visiting again for whatever bike-related needs spring up in the future.

Most expensive bike shop Ive been to in Seattle. Sure the shop looks nice and is in a great location and probably has what you need, but you will certainly be spending more than you need to. I went in looking for a 25 gatorskin tire which they had for ~$65 and a mechanic offered to put it on in a way that seemed very gratuitous but he ended up charging me $10 for labor without ever mentioning it-- it just appeared on the receipt. I later found that the same tire could be bought for ~$40 at other local shops and $25 online. I went in again recently desperate for a shifter cable, which a mechanic picked out for me without letting me browse prices and such. It came out to be $7 with tax, while the same cable goes for $1.50 at the UW Bike Shop. I really wish I could like this shop but the prices are ridiculous and the way they surprise you with them is shady and frustrating.

Needed some help on a disc rub - they gladly took a drop in job.

Very friendly, a bolt fell off my bike rack so I stopped by on my way home. They were able to find the right bolt and replaced it for free on the spot. Would definitely recommend this shop.

This place has very bad customer service, they dont know how to sell specific things.

Bought a used bike off craigslist, needed a new tire and a tune up. Staff was knowledgeable and very friendly. Very helpful. Didnt try to sell me things I didnt need; gave me simple maintenance technique to get me back on the road right away, with suggestions of future repairs/replacements. Pricing was very reasonable. I will definitely be back. Conveniently located right off the Burke-Gilman.

Great bike shop. Cheap repairs. Awesome steel bikes. Love this place

I went in because of a squeak, which was quickly fixed along with a tightening of my headset. Very friendly and refused payment. Will return.

Great store! I called them with some questions and they were very helpful, good customer service!

Unparalleled service and selection for the discriminating bicycle consumer.

CB is located along the Burke-Gilman trail, which makes it very convenient. If I need something adjusted on my bike, I just plan a ride on the trail and let one of the friendly mechanics do the trick. Last Saturday, I needed my cantilever brakes on my cyclocross bike adjusted. In ten minutes, I was back on the trail. It would have been less if I hadnt been chatting with one of the guys about dynamo lights. My first experience with CB was a couple years ago when I took my racing bike in for a problem. In the course of correcting that issue, they found another problem that had been overlooked by the last mechanic who serviced the bike. If it had gone on unchecked, there would have been a catastrophic failure of my front wheel. Ive been a customer ever since. As a small shop, they dont have the choice of accessories that the big stores do, but I buy from them when I can. You will not go wrong with CB!

Super helpful and knowledgeable, best shop Ive been to yet.

Perfect little bike shop. Really friendly staff that was able to help me out!

Must have stopped in when they were having an off day. I needed an inner tube and water bottle on my ride home. Found the help to be uninterested and snide. Acted like I was putting him out. Too bad because they are on my ride home. Based on the other reviews might try them again if needed, but honestly bike shops like other specialty retail are competing based on service, and if you have none, what is the point.

Super nice guys. no pressure with any sales. Awesome.

Worst experience of all time. I was intimidated/threatened by Shido. I came in looking for a stem for my bike, and gave the info of what I was looking for. Shido corrected me over the type (Bmx/Mtb) of stem that I was looking for, and I confirmed the size and information to him of what I was looking for. after giving him the information again (clamp diameter / threadless / length), he continued to argue with me over the type of stem that I was looking for. I asked him to stop correcting me, and used the words Why are you getting caught up over the type of stem it is, I would like to buy it if you have it; I had started to leave at this point, and said thanks for wasting my time, and he stomped over to the door as I was exiting the building, he asked me if I wanted to step outside and settle this (DUE TO THE SHOP HAVING CAMERAS), and slammed the door after I was on the outside.The level of unprofessional behavior I experienced really shook me up.I will never recommend this shop to anyone. Period.

These guys are the lowest quality of professionalism I have ever seen. You guys need to be shut down

Great service in a convenient location on the Burke-Gilman. Excellent saddle selection and support.

This review isnt for the place as a whole, since I cant speak to its quality. I just know that when I stopped in to see if I could get a minor adjustment, the employee was very unfriendly, condescending and unhelpful. I didnt feel like I was welcome to ask questions, and I have no desire to go back there

Best bike shop in Seattle. Great work, reasonably priced, promises kept.

I had a flat that needed to be repaired and decided to use this place because of the good reviews and the early open time. The shop is located right next to the Burke Gilman and is very close to my house.I was helped by a guy named Shiro (hopefully this is the correct spelling), who came out immediately to help me. He was very quick and started working on the flat right away. I also needed to get my rim tape repaired as well. The repair took less than 20 minutes and the people there were very friendly.As for price, it is a bit higher than Im used to, but this is the first time Ive used a shop in Seattle, so Ill let you decide if the price is too high or low:Butyl Tube 32mm Stem $5.99Flat fix (labor) $8.00Velox 17mm Cloth Rim Tape $4.50I would recommend this place to my friends because this is the kind of place that doesnt waste your time; they are very fast!

Very knowledgeable and helpful. Great service advice.

Great place. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff.

Nice knowledgeable with many brands.

I have purchased both a tandem and a daily commuter from these guys. Need I say more?

Just needed to borrow a spanner to tighten my pedals. the service guy did it for me and replaced the hex bolt, free of charge.

Friendly, good service

They fixed my wobbly tire for almost nothing, even though theyre top notch!