Originally Posted by
wphamilton
I don't know what to tell you except that I haven't found that (the bolded part) to be true in this case. I've re-packed the bb several times, but if I wanted to solve that completely a sealed BB is what, just 25 or 30 dollars? I just haven't experienced any of the problems people say. Frankly I don't think there's any difference in maintaining it and any other bike.
I get lots of bad weather slop but it mostly washes off when I ride through deep water.
In my experience these bikes have several specific flaws. The rings wear and are riveted on, so they can't be replaced - new crank time. The rear derailleurs seem to be okay for the most part, until they wear and get loose, and then they need to be replaced because parts don't exist. The front derailleurs are too flexy and do not allow shifting under load. The headsets can not be adjusted properly, and are either too loose or too tight. When they require replacing, you often have to face the ST. Wheel bearings are awful but I've never tried to fix them, the owners never seem to really care. Freehubs often fail within the first season. Brake pads should be replaced before the first ride. The cost of these parts means that within the first season you're better off spending a little more in the first place.
I don't know, some people tell me how good they are, but then I take their bike for a ride and it's obvious the problems. I'm not saying that's the case here, you must have just got a good one. I'm told they're out there. I kind of suspect that a bit of mechanical aptitude on the part of the owner makes a big difference.