Mountain Biking - My New Airborne Zeppelin Elite

So I recently wanted to get a mt bike. My main reason was something that I can have extreme amounts of fun with and also get the exercise that is needed to be more healthy. I had no ideas where to start and with a friend and some research I came to the conclusion of buying an Airborne Zeppelin Elite. I wanted to hit the local trails and also use this bike for my commute to work which is a 1/4 mi. With gas so expensive and also gym memberships, this bike will easily pay for itself. I wanted something within the $800 range and full suspension. Airborne was suggested to me and it seemed to be everything I wanted. All the reviews online were 4 or 5 stars. I didn't read a single bad review so I went ahead and ordered. The bike came in Tuesday and I got it all together which was very simple although no instructions came with it. Only have had one qualm. The bike was slightly damaged during shipping it seems. Here are some pictures.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0339-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0340.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0341.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0344-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0354-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0346-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0352-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/thresher/NYC/DSC_0353-1.jpg

I know my front brake line is all kinds of weird and I need to get it sitting right. I also still need to adjust the settings on the suspension. I love the look and the feel of the bike. Can't wait to hit these trails and really start enjoying this thing. I also go my gf to buy the same bike but in 17". This summer is going to be a blast.

Congrats! Airborne is an interesting company. Will be very interested to get your impressions as you put some time on it. Keep us updated periodically, please.

Looks very clean and strong. Looks like a lot of helpful hands. How many allen wrenches do you own?

That shock mount is bad. I hope Airborne has a good return/replacement policy, and that you have the sense to use it.

You think? Doesn't seem to be any more spindly than, say, some of the upper shock mounts on Santa Cruz's XC and trail bikes.

It's not a design issue, it's damaged. Look at the shock alignment in pic 5.

Ooooo . . . I see now.

I have notified Airborne of the problem and I only got a "sorry" from Eric McKenna. I asked if there was anyway they can resolve this issue and haven't heard anything back yet.

You may have to make use of their 'Satisfaction Guarantee (http://www.airbornebicycles.com/faq.aspx#guarantee)' if they continue to jerk you around. Hope you've kept all of that packaging; good thing you have that photo record of how it was all bundled.

I've always found that the best way to get prompt action is always to call rather than e-mail if you can. Keep us updated on how this goes. Airborne is young company with a good concept; but if they cannot deliver proper customer service, EVERYONE should know about it. If you cannot get a satisfactory outcome in a reasonable amount of time, I want to know.

Still have all the packaging. I have tried calling and left a messags but he hasn't called me back. Only replied to my email and when he did he said he had been sick. 1-800-888-bike goes straight to his voice mail and seems like he is the only POC. Sucks that most likely I will have to ship the bike back for a refund and loose out on all the shipping costs associated.

Shipping bikes is expensive. This is not your fault, and it *should* be taken care of by the company.

And I don't think that happened during shipping.

Eric called me this morning and he is taking care of me by sending me a complete new bike. He was understanding and made sure no extra costs were included also. Very happy with the outcome.

Complete new bike? So, you get to keep the components from the other one?

No, I have to send the damaged bike back but Airborne is going to cover the shipping costs.

Eric called me this morning and he is taking care of me by sending me a complete new bike. He was understanding and made sure no extra costs were included also. Very happy with the outcome.VERY good to hear. Thanks for getting back and letting us know. Looking forward to a ride report once you get the new one assembled.

Good to hear about a company that stands by there product and takes care of there customers.

So my gf ordered the same bike before my first one came in but in 17. Hers came in on Monday. Got around to putting it together last night. One of the bolts for the rock shox has a crack in half the bolt head and the rock shox was installed upside down. Doesn't look like I can get an air hose connected to the shock because the frame is in the way. Pretty damn aggervating.

Dannnnnnnnggggggggggggg! This doesn't look good for the Zeps. Pretty poor back room sending out bikes like that. Thanks for posting.

Re Img #6: Next time, put the saddle / post on first. Then you can put the bike upside down and work on it.


Bars are on wrong too.

I figured all that out while putting it together. If you looked at the last pictures you would notice.

I figured all that out while putting it together. If you looked at the last pictures you would notice.

mmm no. if you did flip in fact flip the bar subsequent to pic 6 (which it doesn't look like you did - rear brake lever should be on the right) it's still rotated 90 degrees backwards.

http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/images/riser-handlebars.jpg

:rolleyes:

The bar clearly shows its been flipped. The shifters aren't on top. So tell me how would the brake levers be on the wrong side? I would have to turn the bars around to face me in order to achieve that. I agree the bars needed to be adjusted but this bike was never rode and put back into a box.


Anyways, this isn't a thread of "how do I put my bike together?".

...this isn't a thread of "how do I put my bike together?".

Perhaps it should be?:P