Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Charge Bikes ditches steel Plug...

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Charge Bikes ditches steel Plug...

Old 02-28-16, 08:58 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
BobbyG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,962

Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V

Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1359 Post(s)
Liked 1,658 Times in 822 Posts
Charge Bikes ditches steel Plug...

I wanted a steel-frame touring-style bike as a new commuter, but had budget considerations. In January 2015 I bought a new 2015 Charge Plug "Performance Bicycles" edition, which is basically the Plug 4 with the groupset from the 3. While not a direct competitor for the Surly LHT or the Salsa Vaya, it was also only half the price. And finding one at Performance for half-off meant I bought a new, steel-frame, disc-brake commuter for a quarter of the price of a LHT. Lighter than a true touring frame, with more frame flex, I love my Plug despite pronounced toe overlap (especially with fenders) and the non-standard threading on the rear dropouts (the fronts were standard).

Although the news seems to be a few months old, I just saw it this morning, Charge Bikes has redesigned the Plug line for 2016 with new aluminum frames except for the top of the line Plug 5 which is titanium. All Plugs get carbon front forks.

Charge Plug gets aluminium overhaul for 2016 - Cycling Weekly

This development really doesn't affect me in any way, and I understand businesses have to build to market demand, but it does make me a little sad. There are still plenty of steel bikes out there, both old and new, and steel isn't always the answer, but commuting on my Plug, I occasionally feel some flex rhythms similar to my old steel Nishiki International, just not as pronounced (On my Nishiki, when I hold the brakes and stand on the right pedal, I can see the rear left chain-stay deflect a quarter inch or more).

I now feel extra fortunate to have been able to find and buy the bike I wanted, now that it's no longer available.
BobbyG is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 09:32 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 1,102

Bikes: 90's Bianchi Premio, Raleigh-framed fixed gear, Trek 3500, Centurion hybrid, Dunelt 3-spd, Trek 800

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2167 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by BobbyG
I wanted a steel-frame touring-style bike as a new commuter, but had budget considerations. In January 2015 I bought a new 2015 Charge Plug "Performance Bicycles" edition, which is basically the Plug 4 with the groupset from the 3. While not a direct competitor for the Surly LHT or the Salsa Vaya, it was also only half the price. And finding one at Performance for half-off meant I bought a new, steel-frame, disc-brake commuter for a quarter of the price of a LHT. Lighter than a true touring frame, with more frame flex, I love my Plug despite pronounced toe overlap (especially with fenders) and the non-standard threading on the rear dropouts (the fronts were standard).

Although the news seems to be a few months old, I just saw it this morning, Charge Bikes has redesigned the Plug line for 2016 with new aluminum frames except for the top of the line Plug 5 which is titanium. All Plugs get carbon front forks.

Charge Plug gets aluminium overhaul for 2016 - Cycling Weekly

This development really doesn't affect me in any way, and I understand businesses have to build to market demand, but it does make me a little sad. There are still plenty of steel bikes out there, both old and new, and steel isn't always the answer, but commuting on my Plug, I occasionally feel some flex rhythms similar to my old steel Nishiki International, just not as pronounced (On my Nishiki, when I hold the brakes and stand on the right pedal, I can see the rear left chain-stay deflect a quarter inch or more).

I now feel extra fortunate to have been able to find and buy the bike I wanted, now that it's no longer available.
I have two bikes that I built up from old steel frames. I love how they feel and ride with new alloy components. The Raleigh has relaxed geometry (antithesis of the usual "fixie") and gives appreciated shock-absorption on poor pavement. The Dunelt, now with 3-speed Nexus IGH, is the main reason my wife still rides occasionally.

The cost of these build-ups was kept low by watching for sales. Then there's the satisfaction of owning something with history. I might have kept both bikes original if the chrome wasn't badly rusted on both.
habilis is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 09:35 AM
  #3  
Full Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 430

Bikes: Giant ATX Lite & Schwinn Mesa

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 156 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
It's a shame the bike industry doesn't know, or care what we really want. Try to find a Ridge 29er that is rack and fender compatible with no more than a 30 inch stand over height. I could get a Surly Ogre. Other wise the tires are too skinny or they don't have lock out forks. Or they are not rack and fender compatible. Glad to here you found something.
baldilocks is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 09:44 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Sometimes I feel like a analogue guy who has been trapped in a digital world.

The nice thing about an aluminum framed bike is they are lighter than steel. That's something any fool can quantify at home on their bathroom scale.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.

Last edited by Retro Grouch; 02-28-16 at 10:31 AM.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 10:18 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 1,102

Bikes: 90's Bianchi Premio, Raleigh-framed fixed gear, Trek 3500, Centurion hybrid, Dunelt 3-spd, Trek 800

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2167 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Sometimes I feel like a analogue guy who has been trapped in a digital world.

The nice thing about an aluminum framed bike is they are lighter than steel. That's something any fool quantify at home on their bathroom scale.
I found two low-end aluminum mtb's in the trash. One, a Trek 3500, is my main around-town and rain bike. It weighs 28 lbs. The other, a dept. store no-name, was configured the same as the Trek except with front AND rear shocks - fake high tech. It weighed more than 30 lbs. Hard to believe that an aluminum bike could weigh more than some all-steel relics from the seventies. You'd think that bike had lead hidden in it somewhere. In contrast, my steel-framed, straight-tubing Raleigh FG weighs 24 lbs.

Last edited by habilis; 02-28-16 at 10:24 AM.
habilis is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 10:42 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Originally Posted by habilis
I found two low-end aluminum mtb's in the trash. One, a Trek 3500, is my main around-town and rain bike. It weighs 28 lbs. The other, a dept. store no-name, was configured the same as the Trek except with front AND rear shocks - fake high tech. It weighed more than 30 lbs. Hard to believe that an aluminum bike could weigh more than some all-steel relics from the seventies. You'd think that bike had lead hidden in it somewhere. In contrast, my steel-framed, straight-tubing Raleigh FG weighs 24 lbs.
This fixed gear conversion started life as a Raleigh Technium mountain bike. It has aluminum main frame tubes and steel stays and fork. 21.3 pounds as it sits.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Sammy Hagar 040.jpg (95.4 KB, 65 views)
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 03:27 PM
  #7  
George Krpan
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Westlake Village, California
Posts: 1,708
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I've seen that happen with other bikes, steel then aluminum. They did it because they had to, that's what sells. The weight weener mentality ruins another bike.
GeoKrpan is offline  
Old 02-28-16, 03:42 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 1,102

Bikes: 90's Bianchi Premio, Raleigh-framed fixed gear, Trek 3500, Centurion hybrid, Dunelt 3-spd, Trek 800

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2167 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
This fixed gear conversion started life as a Raleigh Technium mountain bike. It has aluminum main frame tubes and steel stays and fork. 21.3 pounds as it sits.
Beautiful bike. You inspired me to go for a ride today.
habilis is offline  
Old 08-02-17, 10:57 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
mc9000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 156

Bikes: Marin Muirwoods 29er (2010), Charge Plug (2015)

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
...and they're back to steel.

Charge goes steel for 2018 Plug and Cooker
2018 Charge Plug, Cooker and Cleaver ? price, specs, details, availability - BikeRadar USA
mc9000 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ColonelSanders
General Cycling Discussion
53
09-29-16 11:50 AM
schiiism
Commuting
92
06-23-14 05:48 PM
Puget Pounder
Classic & Vintage
254
06-03-14 06:56 AM
Pina
Commuting
103
11-30-12 08:08 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.