Specialized AWOL vs. Novara Buzz
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Specialized AWOL vs. Novara Buzz
I'm looking for a steel bike (I'm a big guy) with a long top tube. Was thinking about about the AWOL then I stumble upon the REI's Novara Buzz. Their geometry seem pretty similar.
I'm assume Specialized has better components. but at more than twice the price? Which bike would be a better buy?
Specialized Bicycle Components
Novara Buzz Bike - 2014 at REI.com
I'm assume Specialized has better components. but at more than twice the price? Which bike would be a better buy?
Specialized Bicycle Components
Novara Buzz Bike - 2014 at REI.com
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AWOL is a better buy and a better bike all around. Specialized bikes tend to hold their value if you decide to sell it. I find that the better the components are, the easier they are to set up and stay that way. They don't wear as fast so you are not replacing parts as quickly. Plus they just work better. BB7 disk brakes are the industry standard for cable pulled brakes. You really can't get better.
REI has a great return policy if you decide to go that route.
REI has a great return policy if you decide to go that route.
#3
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I.. assume Specialized has better components
Homework you can do, yourself
then you will know the price of every part ,
just factories get them cheaper buying truckloads but Acera is alway priced less than Ultegra
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One has flat bars, the other has drop bars. Not really comparable - you need to figure out which one you like better.
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These are two very different bikes. The Buzz is a hybrid with a flat bar designed for "urban" use and has much lower end components.
The AWOL is a "adventure tourer/graver rider" with a shallow drop bar that would be equally comfortable in urban, etc. and has higher end components.
I haven't ridden/seen the Buzz, but I have the AWOL.
Given the retail price on the Novara I would say the AWOL is a better deal as you can probably get some discount form a LBS. If you can get the Novara with an REI 20% coupon then it becomes a pretty good deal.
Ultimately you need to decide what you want in a bike, what you will do with it, what level of components, etc. as I would not consider these bikes to be on equal ground.
The AWOL is a "adventure tourer/graver rider" with a shallow drop bar that would be equally comfortable in urban, etc. and has higher end components.
I haven't ridden/seen the Buzz, but I have the AWOL.
Given the retail price on the Novara I would say the AWOL is a better deal as you can probably get some discount form a LBS. If you can get the Novara with an REI 20% coupon then it becomes a pretty good deal.
Ultimately you need to decide what you want in a bike, what you will do with it, what level of components, etc. as I would not consider these bikes to be on equal ground.
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm leaning towards the AWOL, but it will be another couple of months before I have enough saved up for the purchase. If REI has a sale before then....
#8
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Wow, that AWOL looks awesome. I had not seen that bike before. Thanks for posting for us clueless guys who don't haunt bike stores nor manufacturers websites.
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Just to note that the drive train on the AWOL is Sora, the low end of the Shimano road bike component line, about equal to the SRAM X4 with is the low end of the SRAM mtb component line.
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1) the "new" sora is a big upgrade from the old sora.
2) If you really want better components there is the AWOL COMP with SRAM Apex and X9, for more $ of course
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Actually the new 9 speed Sora was the old Tiagra so it is very nice. I just bought a Giant Anyroad 2 that has the Sora nine speed and it is very good. The Anyroad 1 had the Tiagra 10 speed but with a compact double and I wanted a triple crankset. Of the two bikes the OP listed I would get the AWOL hands down.
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Actually the new 9 speed Sora was the old Tiagra so it is very nice. I just bought a Giant Anyroad 2 that has the Sora nine speed and it is very good. The Anyroad 1 had the Tiagra 10 speed but with a compact double and I wanted a triple crankset. Of the two bikes the OP listed I would get the AWOL hands down.
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#13
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It's hard for me to swallow a $1300 bike with Sora, even Tiagra, pieces. In a recent thread a poster was asking about an $800 Nashbar CX bike with 105 stuff. OK it has FSA crankset, So******************************?? That's without the 21% discount!! Price the 105 levers and derailleurs, then a cheap wheelset. The CX from Nashbar is quite a deal. So it doesn't have disc, fifty bucks and it'll have KoolStops front and rear-it will stop just fine. Bikes did it for decades.
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I'm planning on buying a new AWOL....
Smokey
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As soon as I get my tax refund back. I'm getting the base model with the triple crank and Sora components. I have read reviews of the new Sora 9-speed and they have all been very positive. The AWOL seems to be the perfect bike for me because I like drop bars but had a 4-disc fusion in my lower back and need my bars up higher than the seat due to my lack of flexibility in my low back. I think Specialized deserves a lot of credit for bringing out a model like this for riders like me. My only other choices were the Giant Anyroad and the Rivendell Atlantis. The Anyroad has 24 and 28 spoked wheels, which are not adequate for my 235# weight on the rough chip seal and gravel roads around here. The Atlantis is way out of my price range. Once I get my AWOL, I'll post a report.
Smokey
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I love it. Very comfortable and it feels like something I could ride all day. I ride a lot of rural roads and it is nice not having to worry about dodging cracks and pot holes and all the other stuff that gets gets knocked around.
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As soon as I get my tax refund back. I'm getting the base model with the triple crank and Sora components. I have read reviews of the new Sora 9-speed and they have all been very positive. The AWOL seems to be the perfect bike for me because I like drop bars but had a 4-disc fusion in my lower back and need my bars up higher than the seat due to my lack of flexibility in my low back. I think Specialized deserves a lot of credit for bringing out a model like this for riders like me. My only other choices were the Giant Anyroad and the Rivendell Atlantis. The Anyroad has 24 and 28 spoked wheels, which are not adequate for my 235# weight on the rough chip seal and gravel roads around here. The Atlantis is way out of my price range. Once I get my AWOL, I'll post a report.
Smokey
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Last edited by Ray Dockrey; 03-25-14 at 02:36 PM.
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I agree with Ray. I've had my Anyroad 2 for 2+ weeks and really enjoy how it rides and handles.
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One more thing. Spoke count isn't everything. In 05 I bought a Specialized Allez Sport Triple that had 32 count spoke rear wheel. I weighed about 270 so I know I was heavy but was told they would be fine. But I broke spokes left and right on the rear and this was smooth surfaces. The LBS I bought it at said that they couldn't help and it was my fault due to my weight. I took it somewhere else and they tried but the wheel was just a cheap set. So I bought a set of Mavic Aksiums, 20 front and 24 rear on the advice of that bike shop. To this day those wheels have yet to be trued. So higher spoke counts don't mean anything. A cheap wheel is a cheap wheel.
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One more thing. Spoke count isn't everything. In 05 I bought a Specialized Allez Sport Triple that had 32 count spoke rear wheel. I weighed about 270 so I know I was heavy but was told they would be fine. But I broke spokes left and right on the rear and this was smooth surfaces. The LBS I bought it at said that they couldn't help and it was my fault due to my weight. I took it somewhere else and they tried but the wheel was just a cheap set. So I bought a set of Mavic Aksiums, 20 front and 24 rear on the advice of that bike shop. To this day those wheels have yet to be trued. So higher spoke counts don't mean anything. A cheap wheel is a cheap wheel.
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I never had an issue with them again either. I never went back and have never bought a Specialized bike again. After going back to the first shop five times with 5 different spoke breaks and being told something different numerous times I had enough and went elsewhere.
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I'd actually look at the Novara Big Buzz - I have the MTB version and have been very happy. It's a little more but IMO worth it.
Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2014 at REI.com
the brakes are hydraulic tektros - mine has cable Avids, but I rode a big buzz and was very impressed. I've had very good luck service wise at REI FWIW.
Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2014 at REI.com
the brakes are hydraulic tektros - mine has cable Avids, but I rode a big buzz and was very impressed. I've had very good luck service wise at REI FWIW.
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YMMV,but my carpel tunnel wouldn't tolerate that straight blade alloy fork. I had an '06 Big Buzz with skinny,curved alloy fork. I swapped the stock 28mm Rando's for 32's;it helped,but if I rode the bike to work for a week straight it bothered me. Wound up selling it. Also tried a Road Buzz. The fork was very similar to the current Big Buzz(but with more tire clearance). It was so bad that not even going up to 42's helped. Returned it. I would seriously consider a Zealo if it had a CF fork,but I'll never do another one of Novara's alloy forks.
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I'd like to get a AWOl this summer when I'm taking my summer break in the US. I checked REI and didn't see AWOL for sale. I thought I read somewhere that AWOl is not to be sold online in the US. I really prefer to buy it online and have it delivered to where I will stay. Do you know any online stores that sell AWOL. Thank.
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Being it is a Specialized you will have to get it from a dealer in person unless you happen to find one used somewhere.