saint mucus

EDIT/UPDATE: Okay you guy's stopped me, thanks. Looks like I'm going with a Diamondback Insight 1 for the same price https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7-_-Affil_Item . Thanks again for the link Travbikeman


After checking out my LBS and only finding one bike in my price range, a beat up 18" Trek MB that was too small for me I came here and have been searching "budget bikes". Gravity Swift comes up a lot so I'm looking at this Gravity Save up to 60% off new Flat Bar Hybrid Bikes - Gravity Swift 21 | Save up to 60% off new Bicycles Online and I'm ready to pull the trigger but wanted to here some opinions fro folks in the know.

The bike will be used for exercise, my town is basically on a hill, not supper steep but a gradual rise in elevation from the river to the mountains, your either going up or going down, hardly any flat surfaces. My main concern is whether or not this bike will last long enough to start upgrading parts and would it even be worth upgrading parts.

PepeM

It should last long if it's properly serviced. It is not worth upgrading, at all.

Homebrew01

You can send me your credit card.

"..Stop me from ordering this bike. .."

blakcloud 

The bike will be fine. A nice triple with a bailout gear in the rear for the hills. You can replace parts when they wear out but that may take a very long time if only riding occasionally.

skycomag

you know want it.
you deserve it.
you need it for health reasons.
and you can't go wrong with a "FREE KICKSTAND"

10 Wheels

Good luck with that bike.

johnj2803

That bike is fine. But a few questions before you purchase

Are you mechanically inclined? I ask because the bike will come with some assembly required. And when you have the bike, it will need some adjustments. I know there is YouTube for those kinds of needs. If you are not, it is better to just get at your local bike shop since they will have properly assembled bikes and adjustments. There is also a value in having a relationship with your lbs. there are some stuff that YouTube cannot really explain well or some that you cannot really understand enough to execute. A good bike is only as good as the sum of its parts functioning correctly. So even if you buy a more expensive bike online, it will not be as good as a cheaper bike properly assembled and adjusted in a bike shop.

Don't get me wrong, not all bike shops are the same, so you have to research and talk to those shops and do your own conclusions.

With that budget, did you allot some for other things you need when you own a bike? Extra money for a helmet at least. Of course there will also be water bottle, bottle cages, maybe gloves or shorts.

I know it is very confusing at first. We all came from there. The initial purchase is a big step but the small steps after the purchase make it as important as the first step.nso look ahead as well.

Good luck with the bike.

kuroba

It'll serve its purpose and get you there and riding for a start. But if/when the cycling bug bits you hard you'll be upgrading within a year if not sooner and it's not worth upgrading, imho.

saint mucus

Thanks for the replies and advice. I do all my own maintenance on my motorcycles, I know it's not the same but I can follow instructions. I'm new to cycling, so new that I haven't even started (: so forgive me but I don't understand why it wouldn't be worth upgrading components along the way. That would suggest that the frame is garbage right? I actually just finished reading one of the BD threads and kind of came away from it with the impression that the frame may be the only good thing about the bike lol

deex

You can do a lot worse at a LBS for more money. Is not a bad casual bike.

RonH

Instructions? What instructions? It will come in a box and its up to you to figure EVERYTHING out.

The bike (frame and components) is very low end. Just a step or two above a wallyworld bike. Don't waste money upgrading if you get it.

deex

I don't understand why everyone is so focused on upgrading. The bike pictured will ride fine for the purpose that it was built for. Leisure occasional riding. He is not asking about upgrading, and most likely he will not have to upgrade. All the components will work, and he can learn along the way on how to get it to work. I think the hardest thing is adjusting the rear derailleur but everything else should be straight forward. If he needs to take it to a shop to get it fined tuned, he won't be out a lot of money.

Never mind, re-read the Op's post, he is asking about upgrading. Not it is not a good platform for upgrading. I say ride it as is until it breaks and then it will become a second bike.

PepeM

Because it will cost more than buying a better bike will. Also in many cases the nicer stuff simply won't fit. Want new drivetrain? You'll need a new rear wheel. Any decent wheels will cost as much as the bike does, etc., etc.

alcjphil

Buying a bike with the intention of upgrading is a very expensive way to get the bike you want. As an example: Save up to 60% off new Flat Bar Road Bikes - Gravity Liberty FB | Save up to 60% off new road bikes
For $100 more you get better derailleurs and shifters, disc brakes and disc compatible wheels. The bike you chose cannot even be upgraded to that standard without a different frame, fork, and wheels, not to mention the other improvements. If you plan to upgrade later, make a list of the components you might think about upgrading, find out if it is even possible and price out the cost of the parts needed. That $100 extra you would pay for the bike I linked to would cost more than the whole cost of that bike if you bought the parts needed to upgrade your first choice

Homebrew01

Individual components, especially "upgrade" components, are quite expensive relative to the cost of your bike, and likely won't be a noticeable improvement. Any major upgrades, such as wheels & drivetrain will be very costly compared to selling the bike used, and buying a better bike.

Maelochs

How many times do I have to post this link: Nashbar Flat Bar Road Bike

This bike has better components, a lifetime money-back guarantee, a real cassette and freehub, and is arguably worth mildly upgrading ... and if you wait a week or two will likely be on sale for 20 percent off.

This is a Much better bike, IMO, than the BD bike.

By the way, I have that 14-34 cluster on my tourer .... it is pretty wide from 14-24 and then jumps to 34, so it is basically a six-speed with a mega-granny. I'd much rather have the 11-32 Altus with the triple up front.

VegasTriker

From the bottom of the page at Bikesdirect: Our low price is $299.95 Compare around $1000+ for similarly equipped Treks, Giants or Specialized Bikes
That reads like a lot of hype (maybe bull---- to me) Think of the quality of the components if the company pays to have it assembled in China, ships it halfway across the world, pays to ship it to you, and makes enough markup on it to keep Bikesdirect in business and have a little profit. Doesn't leave much to pay for the components on a $300 bike.. For example, the rear derailleur is a Tourney TX35 which you can buy brand new from a US seller for $12.70 including shipping. There is not much lower than that. I looked at the specs on it and it has MTB gearing but with the high end of the gearing quite a bit lower than many MTBs. In other words it has an inadequate gear range.

Why not tell the people here the general region where you live and they can scan nearby CL postings and make suggestions. What size frame is right for you, remembering that road bikes and mtb bikes are different when it comes to fit?

northernlights

Always look for trigger shifters, one thing I can't stand on a bike are grip shifters. I would refrain for that reason alone.

saint mucus

Thanks a lot, if it's a better bike I'll get it, thanks.

I live in the middle of nowhere (Lake Havasu City AZ), nice place to live but a long way from anywhere. https://mohave.craigslist.org/search/bia There is a Haro Flightline that I really liked but it had an 18" fram (too small) and couldn't get him to come down on the price. That bike was 54 miles away.

idiotekniQues

Stop! Don't move! Get a steel bike!

travbikeman

Just an idea, but Nashbar has a good sale, You can get this bike for only $320 after the 21% discount going on now:

Diamondback Insight 2 Bike

travbikeman

Forgo the disc brakes and enjoy a red bike for only $275.50 with free shipping after discount:

Diamondback Insight 1 Bike

This is as good as it gets to buying elsewhere for this price range. Happy shopping

saint mucus

Thanks a lot man, looking into it right now.

saint mucus

Thanks again Travbikeman, I'm ordering the Dimondback it looks like. All I have to do now is decide on the 20" or 22", looking at Dimondbacks sizing chart I'm at the upper end of a large and lower end of the XL. Deferent brands I know but I sat on a older 18" trek MB that was too short a new 21.5" trek MB that felt great but it was right there, not sure how much taller the Dimondback 22" is but I did like the feel of the larger frame. Also sat on a 19" specialized MB that would have worked but I liked the feel of the 21.5" Trek better. I'm 6'1 with a 32" inseam and 185 lbs.

saint mucus

Okay found the standover height of the 21.5" Trek Marlin 4 I liked 32.4", the Diamondback 20" frame is 31.8", the 22" frame standover is 33" so I'm looking an a deference of about a half inch either way. Decisions, decisions lol