Ari Bikes is privately held and founder-led by CEO Chris Washburn, who started Fezzari in 2005 and rebranded it as Ari in 2024.
Ari Bikes began as Fezzari in Lindon, Utah, and it remains a privately owned, rider-led brand today. The company shortened its name to Ari in 2024, kept the same leadership team, and continued selling direct to consumers from its Utah headquarters. If you’re hunting for a simple, trust-ready answer to ownership, it’s this: Ari Bikes is owned and run by its founder, Chris Washburn, with no public parent company behind it.
Who Owns Ari Bikes? The Straight Facts
Here’s the fast version before we dig deeper. The founder is still at the helm, the company is private, and the brand identity shifted from Fezzari to Ari in 2024. Public filings and trade coverage back that up, and the company’s own announcement confirms the change without a change in control.
- Owner: Founder and CEO Chris Washburn.
- Company type: Private, direct-to-consumer bicycle maker.
- Headquarters: Lindon, Utah, USA.
- Origin: Launched in 2005 as Fezzari; rebranded in 2024 to Ari.
- What changed: Brand name and visual identity.
- What didn’t: Founder leadership, fit-to-order approach, and rider-focused setup.
Fast Facts Table
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Owner / Leader | Chris Washburn (Founder & CEO) | Slack case study |
| Company Status | Privately held bicycle brand | Bicycle Retailer news |
| Founded | 2005 (as Fezzari) | Utah Business profile |
| Rebrand | Fezzari to Ari in 2024 | Official announcement |
| HQ | Lindon, Utah, USA | Bicycle Retailer news |
| Business Model | Direct-to-consumer with custom fit | Slack case study |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame warranty | Warranty page |
Ari Bikes Ownership — Founding, Rebrand, And Current Structure
The story starts with a Utah rider who turned a garage idea into a full-scale bike company. In 2005, entrepreneur Chris Washburn launched Fezzari in Lindon and grew it through direct sales, bike-by-bike fitting, and steady product updates. In March 2024, the brand announced a shift to the shorter name, Ari. Trade outlets covered the change, and the company’s page laid out the purpose: a simpler name and a wider global push while keeping the same team in charge.
Multiple independent references point to the founder holding the reins. A Bicycle Retailer report dates the rebrand and ties it to the Lindon headquarters. A Slack customer story quotes “founder and CEO” Chris Washburn and traces the company back to its 2005 launch.
Why The Name Change From Fezzari To Ari
Rebrands often signal a sale; this one didn’t. The update tightened the brand, freshened the look, and lined up future product launches. The faces behind the bikes stayed the same. Media pieces and the firm’s channels present Ari as a continuation of Fezzari under the same leadership, not a new owner stepping in.
Is Ari Bikes Part Of A Larger Group?
There’s no public evidence of a parent conglomerate. The brand operates as a private company. Coverage in trade and regional business press points to founder control and direct distribution rather than a roll-up. When Ari announced a Bentonville, Arkansas satellite location for summer 2025, local news framed it as expansion by the Utah-based manufacturer, again with no parent listed.
That Bentonville plan was reported by Axios Local in February 2025, tying the project to local investment partners that help with regional growth while leaving ownership with Ari.
Who Owns Ari Bikes? Common Mix-Ups Cleared
Search threads sometimes confuse Ari with distributors, retailers, or unrelated companies that share the same three-letter name. A few posts even speculate about outside control or culture-based meanings of the name. None of that changes the practical answer to who owns Ari Bikes?—the founder still runs the brand. Here’s how to separate noise from facts:
- Name similarity: “Ari” appears in many business names. Check for “Ari Bikes” or “Ari Bicycles” and a Lindon, Utah context.
- Brand lineage: The path is Fezzari → Ari in 2024, same leadership, same HQ.
- Official pages: The announcement and About pages are the quickest ways to confirm current status.
- Trade coverage: Industry outlets like Bicycle Retailer track rebrands and leadership statements.
Brand Milestones Since The Name Change
Ownership answers matter most when they affect service, parts, or resale. In Ari’s case, the rebrand coincided with new models, a retail foothold in Arkansas, and continued investment in racing and fit services. Those steps point to growth while staying independent.
Timeline Table
| Date | Milestone | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Fezzari founded in Utah by Chris Washburn | Founder profile |
| Mar 2024 | Fezzari rebrands to Ari | Bicycle Retailer |
| May 2024 | Regional business coverage of the founder and the rebrand | Utah Business |
| Dec 2024 | Media revisit of HQ and team under new name | The Loam Wolf |
| Feb 2025 | Plan for Bentonville satellite store | Axios Local |
| 2025 | Ongoing lineup updates and fit-first sales | Ari Bikes site |
Ari Bikes Ownership And The Direct-To-Consumer Model
Ownership influences price and support. Ari sells straight to riders instead of using a dealer network, which reduces layers and can sharpen value. The trade-off: you’ll plan setup and service yourself, with remote help and clear guides from the brand.
Founder control helps decisions move fast on geometry, materials, and warranty policy. Trade coverage quotes the founder on product cadence and the name change, which signals a brand steering its own ship.
What Ownership Means For You Day To Day
- Pricing: Fewer middlemen can translate to sharper pricing for a given build level.
- Fit and spec: A direct brand can tailor builds to rider data at checkout. That’s a strong fit for riders outside common sizes.
- Resale: Transferable warranty helps second owners, which keeps resale values healthier than a non-transferable plan.
How To Double-Check Who Owns Ari Bikes Before You Buy
You don’t need insider access to confirm ownership. Five quick checks will get you there without guesswork. This is the same approach we used to verify details for this piece.
- Open the brand’s announcement and About pages. Note names, dates, and HQ.
- Read a neutral trade report like the Bicycle Retailer rebrand story and compare the details.
- Search Utah’s business registry for entity info and officers.
- Scan a respected business profile or interview that names the founder and scope of the change.
- Cross-check with a mainstream local outlet covering expansions or hiring moves.
Run those five checks and you’ll reach the same answer we did on who owns Ari Bikes: founder-led and private, with Chris Washburn serving as CEO.
Model Line Highlights Under Founder Leadership
Ownership shapes the bikes you ride. Under the Ari name, updates span trail, enduro, gravel, and e-MTB. The brand keeps retail light and invests in fit tools, carbon layups, and wheel-size choices tuned to each frame. Racing and demos feed changes for the next run.
Owner-Friendly Checklist Before You Place An Order
Make a quick plan so you’re set for the first season of riding. These steps help any direct-sale bike buyer, and they map well to Ari’s program.
- Confirm your size using the brand’s fit tool and your own body measurements.
- Pick a suspension tune that matches your weight and terrain.
- Save a PDF of the build and the invoice.
- Register your serial number and warranty on day one.
- Book a baseline suspension setup with a shop if you’re new to dialing sag and rebound.
- Store torque values with your tools for quick checks after break-in.
Quick Recap
If you’re here for one line you can trust, it’s this: Ari Bikes is a private, founder-led company, created by Chris Washburn in 2005 and renamed in 2024. That’s the steady answer to “who owns Ari Bikes?” and it’s the frame for gauging any future changes. Keep an eye on official pages and trade news if ownership ever moves from founder-run to something else. That keeps buyers clear on ownership today.