I have been researching new bikes for quite awhile now and almost everything I have read so far about the Safari is positive. I looked at building an old Schwinn Frontier steel frame mountain bike, but for the money the Safari is a better deal with the REI guarantee. I know the steel vs aluminum debate, but I never plan on using the bike outside the industrial world (US, Canada, EU etc...). So I ordered one and it is on back order now and should arrive at the store sometime at the end of NOV, can't wait.