Which Bikesdirect bike is better for me?
06-14-15, 06:10 AM
#1
Honorary Bicycle Rider
Thread Starter
Which Bikesdirect bike is better for me?
I have been riding a 2010 KHS Flite 220 Flatbar road bike for the past four years. I have went on a few local test drives of road bikes and I am ready to commit to something new. I would like a bike that could replace this bike in all regards.
I commute to work and do light errands around town, so the bike must have rear eyelets to accept a rack. I also do a yearly bike & camp trip on road/ rail-to-trail crushed limestone with approximately 15lbs of gear. I am a light weight rider (140lbs) at 5'10. I am comfortable spending somewhere between $600 and $800. I would like something that I could non-competitively race.
I have help assemble four bikedirect.com bikes and do not have any problems purchasing from them.
The three options I have narrowed down to are:
2015 Motobecane Grand Record
2015 Dawes Lightning 1500
2015 Motobecane Vent Noir
I commute to work and do light errands around town, so the bike must have rear eyelets to accept a rack. I also do a yearly bike & camp trip on road/ rail-to-trail crushed limestone with approximately 15lbs of gear. I am a light weight rider (140lbs) at 5'10. I am comfortable spending somewhere between $600 and $800. I would like something that I could non-competitively race.
I have help assemble four bikedirect.com bikes and do not have any problems purchasing from them.
The three options I have narrowed down to are:
2015 Motobecane Grand Record
2015 Dawes Lightning 1500
2015 Motobecane Vent Noir
06-14-15, 06:51 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 1,620
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sounds like you're asking too much. A touring bike you can race, ride on pavement alternatives, under $800 and all through Bikes Direct. (Getting around a bike shop fitting, test riding you've already done, & assembling for you)
06-14-15, 06:55 AM
#3
.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,763
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times
in
13 Posts
Get the Vent Noir.
__________________
06-14-15, 09:24 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 102
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Which Bikesdirect bike is better for me?
If you go this route, Vent Noir would be my choice-- if only for the 2x11 drive train. Never wanted a triple myself.
06-14-15, 09:36 AM
#6
Coffin Dodger
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,138
Bikes: Motobecane Vent Noir, Lynskey R345, Serotta Nova Special X
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 794 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
143 Posts
X3 for the Vent Noir, I have a 2013 with over 10,000 miles on it, great bike
06-14-15, 11:34 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,496
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
3 Posts
I'd look at a cross bike or the Turino. Being able to run wider tires may be nice for your use and discs might be overkill but you can get them on your range
06-14-15, 11:37 AM
#8
Senior Member
None of the above?
What about: 2016 Motobecane Turino ELITE Disc Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Road Bikes - Motobecane Turino Disc
Or the Pro version: Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Road Bikes - Motobecane Turino Disc
These will accommodate wider tires and be far better for gravel trails. The Pro version has 5800 and BB7 disc brakes.
What about: 2016 Motobecane Turino ELITE Disc Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Road Bikes - Motobecane Turino Disc
Or the Pro version: Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Road Bikes - Motobecane Turino Disc
These will accommodate wider tires and be far better for gravel trails. The Pro version has 5800 and BB7 disc brakes.
06-16-15, 08:53 PM
#9
Honorary Bicycle Rider
Thread Starter
I think I am going to order the Vent Noir. I wasn't sure about having only a double originally, but the thought has grown on me. For all the riding I do, I have found 25 mm wide tires to meet all of my needs.
06-16-15, 09:05 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,248
Bikes: Kuota Ksano. Litespeed T5 gravel - brilliant!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
But it doesn't have disc brakes.. It'll be obsolete in a couple years.. Haha, I was just lookin' at that Vent Noir earlier today. Sweet!
06-21-15, 04:31 PM
#11
Honorary Bicycle Rider
Thread Starter
Now, I just have to wait for it to be back in stock.
06-21-15, 05:35 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,040
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac, Nashbar CX, Trek 2200 trainer bike, Salsa Casseroll commuter, old school FS MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Voting that this is a really tall order. A bike that does tours and gravel does not do even the most sedated race. Maybe a cross bike, but one worth having will go over your budget and buying a bike online is not recommended for someone who doesn't know exactly what they want already.
06-21-15, 06:03 PM
#13
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
I would get the Vent Noir, but I would not use it for commuting. I'd ride the KHS for that purpose.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
06-22-15, 11:30 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,892
Bikes: Fuji Sportif 1.3 C - 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
01-13-19, 04:32 PM
#15
Honorary Bicycle Rider
Thread Starter
After 3+ years, I felt like I should have a follow up on this post.
Received the Vent Noir in Late July 2015 and now have about 8k miles. Besides wear items (handlebar tape, cables, & chain) it has required zero other maintenance. In December 2018, I ditched the stock DP18 wheelset (2427g) for a takeoff Fulculm S19 wheelset (1866g) and wished I had done that much earlier. Only drawback is frame limits maximum tire size to a width of 28.
I never got into racing, but it has seen a fair share of crushed limestone and lots of city commuting. Longest trip was Kansas City to Chicago (~725miles).
The 2018 Vent Noir are even sweeter with a real Shimano Wheelset and the new R7000 105 series.
Received the Vent Noir in Late July 2015 and now have about 8k miles. Besides wear items (handlebar tape, cables, & chain) it has required zero other maintenance. In December 2018, I ditched the stock DP18 wheelset (2427g) for a takeoff Fulculm S19 wheelset (1866g) and wished I had done that much earlier. Only drawback is frame limits maximum tire size to a width of 28.
I never got into racing, but it has seen a fair share of crushed limestone and lots of city commuting. Longest trip was Kansas City to Chicago (~725miles).
The 2018 Vent Noir are even sweeter with a real Shimano Wheelset and the new R7000 105 series.
01-13-19, 07:53 PM
#17
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,049
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22596 Post(s)
Liked 8,925 Times
in
4,158 Posts
01-20-19, 08:38 AM
#19
Honorary Bicycle Rider
Thread Starter
I even had to rethink what was in my mind at that time. I was probably thinking something like "ability to enter a race and know I won't be anywhere close to winning but I could finish." Never even think about that now.
What I wish I wrote "be in local group rides and not get dropped".
What I wish I wrote "be in local group rides and not get dropped".
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TransitBiker
Commuting
1
01-12-15 08:44 AM
