I've been excellently fortunate in that respect. Each of the bikes that I've gotten have pretty much delivered exactly what I expected. The only one that hasn't was a bike that has a little different geometry... I get used to it really quick, it rides really nice after I acclimate to it- but it's so foreign when I first get on it.

There's also my old bike that I've had since 1991- My 87 Schwinn High Sierra. I know how cool it is, so much of that bike has shaped what I think is cool about bikes- but it doesn't do it for me. I've changed most everything out on it- saddle, bars, stem, wheels, shifters... I could try different cranks, but I think it just might be it's the way that bike is.