superdex

+1 on Blue
Fuji is a popular brand 'round these parts (I rode a friend's carbon Fuji. Felt like dead wood)

I ride a Javelin these days. But that doesn't really count since they're more or less not operating?

Other brands that are good but under-represented (trying to identify brands not yet mentioned)
* Dean
* Cinelli
* Moser
* Merckx

seymour1910

Thanks for the review. I had that bike in my shopping cart when it was on sale for $1100 and I didn't pull the trigger. Bummer, now they only have it in size 50 (way to small) and 59 (way to big).

I bet it looks a lot better in person than on the Nashbar site. Do you/he have any pics of it to share?

blsplyr

Sure, I've got a couple:



Size 53.

BoSoxYacht

Shimano and Campagnolo.

They make the best components available, but some people still choose to buy SRAM.

Canker

I have a DB sortie 29er, their higher end full suspension bike. I bought it used and paid about half of what I would have for the same style bike with trek, specialized, giant, etc stickers on the frame because of the meh factor people have. I've been completely happy with it. I don't have the meh factor myself but I do every now and again get somebody that is surprised to see a DB and a good one.

Saw a guy riding a GT when I did a group road ride two weeks ago. Never expected to come across one of those around here at least not on the road.

Mongoose yep Mongoose. Talk about getting no respect lol. Everybody just thinks they are a walmart level brand now but they do still make higher end mtn bikes. I think they have more or less pulled out of the US market though. I have one from 2008 sitting in my bike room that belongs to my friend that no longer rides. I think I'm going to start riding it myself just so I can get those looks from people when I say I'm riding a Mongoose .

dr_lha

To be fair, I think DB has a better reputation in mountain bikes than in road (and cross) bikes. The "meh" factor just comes from a few things: One the brand isn't really that well known for the kind of bike I have (cross - in fact they stopped making cross bikes), the big "MADE IN CHINA" sticker on the frame, and a few little bits here and there that remind me that it's not a top end bike (mostly in the construction). That said, I paid $685 for a 105 equipped bike, and put 2500 miles on it last year, plus 1000 on the trainer over winter.

RomeoTango

Scott. No dealer around my place, and the nearbys seem to be disappearing. Gotta drive 2 hours to find a dealer (from my smallish town). Reviews on their bikes are very very good, but no dealers seem to be picking them up. Just the same big names in my town.

Caveat: there is almost always a just-as-good or 99%-as-good product out there that does not enjoy all the hype (read pay for marketing and inflated profits). In bikes and most things, I find that to be the sweet spot between performance (or quality) and cost.

IcySmooth52

Diamondback was never a "high-end" compete with the Italians brand. But they weren't bad at all. A good deal on a new bike. Then they became a brand in Dick's Sporting Goods. "Meh". The Accell Group (Raleigh, Lapierre, Redline) recently bought them, and are trying to bring the brand back to legit. Diamondback is still a logo on bikes in Dick's, but they're not actually Diamondbacks anymore, and they'll be phased out of the big box scene soon.

A good example of where Diamondback will be in the Accell Group.
#1 . Lapierre : Porsche - Internationally recognized as FAST, and it's raced on the international level a lot.
#2 . Raleigh : Audi - High quality rides, but not every model is focused on speed like Lapierre.
#3 . Diamondback : Volkswagen - The base lineup, but not "cheap". Not a Porsche, but there is a GTI in the selection. (Podium)

There are many other brands in Accell, but they're all more specialty. They are also bringing many electric hybrid bikes (not plug-in) to the scene.

Cafe

Fuji, motobecane, kestrel, hongfu deserve mention.

ravenmore

pdedes

Argon 18 (previously mentioned), Marinoni

link0

Raleigh, Ritchey, and Soma steel bikes are all top notch.

Bathwater

Gotta say, I'm a fan of that guy. After the Specialized fiasco with Cafe Roubaix it seemed he was eager to jump in and flex ASI's legal muscles in an attempt to save the shop owner from that ridiculous lawsuit. And while he certainly has something to gain financially by expanding cycling's presence (as mentioned in the article), he strikes me as a thoughtful guy who genuinely cares about cycling.

knobster

Like Diamondback, I've been quite impressed with GT. I don't see any around here, but I'm quite taken with the GT Grade. If I didn't already have a Moots, I might be in the market for one.

caloso

Anyone mention Boardman?

CafeVelo

I didn't say anything about GT since they're one of many marquee brands for a larger conglomerate, and I just don't appriciate bikes that are built like consumer electronics. That said I bought a used GT road frame for $175 and put 2500 miles on it. It's nothing to write home about but it's a good frame.

catonec 

In the early 90's Mongoose was putting out some pretty damn fine hardtails.

catonec 

Only one other mentioning but I love my KESTREL.

Dannihilator

Kestrel is another Advanced Sports brand, with Fuji and Breezer.

Jiggle

I've only seen three high speed shimmy events in my cycling life, and all of them were from dudes riding Kestrel frames. (Three different people, three different frames).

I'm going to say Cervelo. They sell fairly well and I see them on the roads but I never hear anyone talking about how much they like their Cervelo. In fact, they're usually complaining. The latest complaint I heard was about the small clearances between the rear tire and seat tube causing little rocks to get stuck in there which made noises during riding.

Canker

Yes the GT Grade Carbon is a sexy bike and I'm not even a road bike guy.


They still put out some decent ones but as far as I can find the only place to get them in the US is through Mongoose's webpage. Their full suspension bikes haven't been updated in a long long time.

catonec 

Ive been over 45mph numerous times (downhill) and although I didnt feel like I could completely let go of my handlebars and coast, I still felt plenty in control, no speed wobbles. maybe your high speed is higher than my high speed.

Jiggle

I've never had a speed wobble.

catonec 

um, then whats a high speed shimmy event? are you not talking about wicked vibration in your handlebars and headset when riding really fast.

ravenmore

I saw one in a CAAD frame once - can 't remember which model but it was quite a while back.