VITESSE D7 or SPEED D7
08-31-07, 08:12 PM
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VITESSE D7 or SPEED D7
Please help. I plan to order one of these bikes and can't decide on which. They both look about the same and the specs are almost identical though the VITESSE is is $70 more. Much appreciated if someone can please give me an opinion?
Last edited by yamcha; 09-01-07 at 10:15 AM.
09-01-07, 02:12 PM
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The Speed D7 is a steel frame bike. The Vitesse is a aluminum frame bike. The Vitesse probably has some better components offered for that price. It is a matter of taste or preference. I prefer steel and all my present bikes (both folding and nonfolding) reflect this. Test ride both if possible before purchase.
09-01-07, 02:48 PM
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I have a D7 and I just love it put well over 1200 miles in less than 3 months. D7 is chromoly while Vitesse is aluminum with slight advantage on weight over D7. Aluminum framed bike is not absorbent of the shocks you encounter. Upgraded my D7 with a suspension seat post and comfort (sprung) saddle to further help smooth the ride. If I were you, I would go D7 less $$ for sure and free shipping from brandscycle.com. That's were I got mine back in April.
Last edited by wrafl; 09-01-07 at 03:00 PM.
09-01-07, 02:57 PM
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Thanks wralf but why would aluminum be less asorbant than steel and wouldn't it be better if a frame without shocks absorb any shock at all? Whichever bike I get I plan to change the saddle to a wide cruiser type saddle.
09-05-07, 06:48 AM
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Yamcha-
Like wrafl, I got my speed d7 from www.brandscycle.com in March (the cobalt blue '06 model for $290, which included tax and next day shipping). To be honest, I didn't compare it to the Vitesse or any other aluminum frame bikes before I purchased it...I instead test-fdrove it at a local bike shop and then saw it for a decent price on brandscycle's site (they were having a sale on the '06 model to make room for the '07..). Anyway, like wrafl, I have been riding this thing all over the city in horrendous places and conditions, and the ride has been excellent. I also have placed one of those gel seat covers (the kind I used for spinning at the gym) on my seat and have not noticed any inordinate shocks or bumbs. The longest ride I took was about 4 hours and I didn't notice a thing.
I hope this information helps.
Like wrafl, I got my speed d7 from www.brandscycle.com in March (the cobalt blue '06 model for $290, which included tax and next day shipping). To be honest, I didn't compare it to the Vitesse or any other aluminum frame bikes before I purchased it...I instead test-fdrove it at a local bike shop and then saw it for a decent price on brandscycle's site (they were having a sale on the '06 model to make room for the '07..). Anyway, like wrafl, I have been riding this thing all over the city in horrendous places and conditions, and the ride has been excellent. I also have placed one of those gel seat covers (the kind I used for spinning at the gym) on my seat and have not noticed any inordinate shocks or bumbs. The longest ride I took was about 4 hours and I didn't notice a thing.
I hope this information helps.
09-05-07, 12:05 PM
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Yam, I missed this post from couple days ago. I can't give a you a definite answer but if you read posts from the touring threads, eveyone prefers steel for durability, shock absorbing property and stability of steel and fork frames. My feeling is that, aluminim is lighter and therefore bounced more and less absorbing of the shocks. You may not use the Vitesse you orderd for touring but for extended riding, I find the chromoly frame very stable even in my Trek which I have been riding the most lately despite not having shocks, suspension seat post and comfort (sprung) saddle. I read on your latest post that you ordered the Vitesse but if you still have the opportunity to swap it for Speed 7, why not do it unless you really prefer the Vitesse.
09-05-07, 01:53 PM
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not everybody prefers steel over alloy .....
alloy frames from 20 plus years ago had their share of problems ....... so did yugos and corvairs.
Todays alloy frames do not break more or less than steel frames....
The shock absorb question is also a rather dubious origin from years back.....Road race frames ( the non foldable kind ) used to be harsh and impossible to ride years back. the makers were just using to thick tubes and had no idea about "the soul"of a bike frame. Now after Billions( not millions ) of alloy bikes out there they have learned a little bit...
On a Dahon bike, you want a stiff "plattform" to keep the handlebarstem and long seatpost in check....
If you want to change the ride, get some good tires and play with different tire pressure. As little as 5 lbs will make up for any retorical difference in frame material....
popcorn truck is ordered
Thor
alloy frames from 20 plus years ago had their share of problems ....... so did yugos and corvairs.
Todays alloy frames do not break more or less than steel frames....
The shock absorb question is also a rather dubious origin from years back.....Road race frames ( the non foldable kind ) used to be harsh and impossible to ride years back. the makers were just using to thick tubes and had no idea about "the soul"of a bike frame. Now after Billions( not millions ) of alloy bikes out there they have learned a little bit...
On a Dahon bike, you want a stiff "plattform" to keep the handlebarstem and long seatpost in check....
If you want to change the ride, get some good tires and play with different tire pressure. As little as 5 lbs will make up for any retorical difference in frame material....
popcorn truck is ordered
Thor
