rebornkings777

Should i buy this? you may look my post, please thanks.

NormanF

There are better bikes than those at WallyWorld. But if you're really set on it, good luck.

wphamilton

You need to go over everything. Brake pads positioned correctly, brakes adjusted. Derailleurs adjusted, front DR in the right place. Check the headset for play or tightness. Make sure that the fork isn't on backwards (it happens with them). Cables. Chain. If you have the tools the bottom bracket probably needs grease and it also wouldn't be a bad idea to get the BB cups off anyway to make sure they aren't cross-threaded on (like mine was). The hubs likely also need grease but you probably can't get the freewheel apart - I recommend forgetting it and when the freewheel wears out replace the wheel with one with a freehub and cassette.

Most Denali complaints begin with the saddle and brakes, but I believe it's because it's often a first bike and they don't know how to adjust either one, and don't realize that any saddle is going to make you sore until you get some real miles in. The brakes are fine if adjusted properly.

I got to dislike servicing the bottom bracket, so that's my "upgrade" if it's still cup and cone. Also the wheels if you keep it long enough. Other upgrades are either unnecessary on that bike, or more than the bike rates - the parts on it are fine as they are.

puckett129

If you're buying a bike and wondering what you should pull off and upgrade first you should probably just wait and put that money towards a better bike. It is far cheaper to buy a bike complete than it is as parts.

NormanF

Every bike needs to be upgraded. I never kept mine stock. But above a certain point, its not really worth it.

Jaxxx

Thanks, I'll prob just get better brake pads like the OP mentioned. Will see how it rides tomorrow.

AlTheKiller

It's not about upgrading it, it's about the bike being so horribly assembled that if you're lucky it will be ridable, but not like it should be. If you're less lucky it will have one or more components so incorrectly installed or adjusted it will either not ride, or be a death trap when it does ride.

If you happen to be knowledgeable about the finer details of how bikes function, you can make it a ridable bike for cheap. If, however you can't tell a limit screw from a barrel adjuster, and don't have access to cone wrenches, you will need to throw money at it to get it to function....

This is where it quickly becomes less of a bargain, and where spending a tiny bit more on something like a giant escape at $320 which has been assembled by people who know what they are doing, comes with a guarantee of their work (free tune ups for six months or a year, which you WILL need on a new bike if you can't tune it yourself), not to mention it is not designed by people who have never ridden a bike...

tjspiel

I think most people would just return it and either get another one or find a different bike altogether. Walmart and Target wouldn't even bother to sell bikes if they were as horrible as is often implied. Yes many are assembled incorrectly and could use some adjustments. However most work well enough to satisfy the people that buy them.

Jaxxx

Ok.... Well there a bike direct store in my town. recommend me a road bike$350 tops that much better.
I saw a motive cane mirage for $450, mercier sc3 for 399

aaronmcd

It seems like you just hate people that see value in things that cost more. I see nothing wrong with buying inexpensive stuff. But I do see something wrong with buying cheap stuff. I used to buy cheap stuff. Then when I replace it within a year or two, and think about how much longer an entire life is, realize the quality product is actually a better deal even if it costs many times more.

Then of course there is the expensive product that isn't really that much better. Those suck too, unless you love it, as a piece of art. I love value. That's one reason I love buying used. A few years ago I bought a like-new, 1998 Novara Strada road bike for $150 off CL. Craigslist had tons of great deals, they just take a few hours, or watching for a couple days, to find.

I spent a lot on my current bike, but only because I race it and like it. But it's also my transportation, still cheaper than almost all used cars and more fun to ride! It's also worth a good deal more than some stinkin' steak and lobster night! As for "Why can't they buy the Denali?" - I personally don't buy a Denali because I already have a bike, I don't have the space for it, and I don't have that kind of disposable income. Steak and lobster is fleeting, bikes are forever! Lol.

sunnevershines

Thanks for the review----I like the jib of your sail---I have much the same similar riding/residing economically areas and found it pretty doggone funny about the quick release vs. bolt on wheels....only those in the know, really know! Cheers good sir!

sunnevershines

Vintage prices ain't too shabby and I would apply for a nice non-profit business license. Hold on a minute Elixabeth! I'm coming but not til I make my millions on a nonprofit bike venture....

sunnevershines

Vintage prices ain't too shabby and I would apply for a nice non-profit business license. Hold on a minute Elixabeth! I'm coming but not til I make my millions on a nonprofit bike venture....

bmthom.gis

The best bikes are bikes that are used - the worst are rhe ones that just sit in a garage or shed. As for the leetists, i think the difference is they see their bikes as a fancy toy whereas we see our bikes as a mode of transportation. Yeah, i have a super expensive carbon bike I absolutely love to ride when I am out with friends, but my commuter gets the most action lately. You can't put a rack on a carbon bike!
My philosophy when it comes to CL is as long as the bike is of decent quality, is servicable and isn't in dire need of a paint job, I should be able to get 100 bucks out of it, if not more. To that end, I'm willing to pay around 100 for something that might need some work...as long as it has standard sized tubing then finding parts won't be too hard (as much as I would love a vintage French bike I dont5 know that I want the headache) - of course you can always make a bike single speed for fairly cheap. Your best bet is to find a Japanese bike from the 80s...they were done up nice then with standard sized tubing and a lot of them have Shimano parts instead of old Suntour or Simplex parts. Sure, you can track down the vintage stuff, butit is much easier to modernize shimano.
As for brake pads...I'm not sure if Kool Stop makes pads that fit a road bike (i haven't looked) but I do know Origin8 makes some darn nice ones at a good price.
If you ever do get to the CL challenge, read up on the Sheldon Brown website. There is an insane wealth of knowledge there (as well as members here)

PennyTheDog

I bought a beat up 1990 bike on CL this summer for $60, and later realized it didn't fit me that well. So I figured I'd just fix it up and sell it. I cleaned it all up, put on a new stem, new levers, new shifters, new grips, new cables... I got it running like a Swiss clock! It would have been a great bike for someone on a budget. I put it on CL for a quick sale at $150 (which probably still wouldn't have paid me back for the new parts), and got no emails. Finally after about a month I sold it for $100. The experience definitely didn't make me anxious to start a used bike business!

tjspiel

**NOTE: the originally quoted post that appeared here was deemed spam and removed.**

Almost two year old thread but the Denali and other cheap road bikes is a topic that comes up now and then. If you want a new road bike and you only have $250 to spend, there are better bikes available from Bikes Direct.

The Denali has a non-standard shifter and bar arrangement, uses cheap components, and though it's advertised as a lightweight bike, it's far heavier than any aluminum road bike should be. That said some folks have been quite happy with them.

I thought there was a Denali "Pro" that was a little better.

no1mad 

Pretty sure that this horse needs to go to pasture.

/thread.