hnsq

I am sorry for bringing it up (yes, I searched the forums and realize how obnoxious these questions are), but I am looking for advice from anyone with a BikesDirect bike.

To start with, I will ignore anyone with a join date in the last month (as I have a feeling BikesDirect pays people to join and post positive reviews). No offense if you are sincere and just happened to recently join the forums, but please just stay out of this thread.

I currently have a fixed gear and a cyclocross bike. Both are good for my current uses (riding in the city and commuting/light touring) however I am starting to get into group rides and feel like it is time to get a real road bike. Ideally I would like to only spend around $1300 (or buy something under that amount and make up the difference in upgrades). Naturally I am trying to get the best deal possible and started looking at BikesDirect. I got my fixed gear bike from them, and while it worked well, a $300 fixed gear beater is very different from a $1000+ road bike.

I have narrowed my selection down to a few choices and was looking for some advice. I will post the specs for these bikes and listen to whatever you can give me. If you have any advice for a good bike in the price range you see below that is NOT in this list, I definately want to hear it. Thanks for the help!

Motobecane Le Champion SL - $1195.99


Frame
2.7 Pound XFusion SL Double-Butted Multi-Shape U6 Aluminum
+ Dual bottle bosses + replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork
Aero Kinesis SL (FC440) High Modulus Carbon Fiber with Carbon Steerer 1.125 inch
Derailleur: NEW Shimano Ultegra 6600 10 Speed (20 Spd total) front and rear
Shifters: NEW Shimano Ultegra 6600 10 Speed STI (20 Speed total) (integrated brake + shift levers)
Brakes: Cane Creek SCR-5 ($150 MSRP) with Cartridge pads Gloss Black finish
Hubs: Ritchey WCS Sealed Precision Bearing Black Anodized
Rims: Ritchey WCS with CNC sides and Bladed Aero Spokes MSRP $700 (120psi Max)
Crank: Compact FSA SL-K Carbon Fiber ISIS spline 10 Speed 50/34t (or 36t, no choice)
Bottom Bracket: Sealed Cartridge ISIS spline 68x108 Hollow Spindle
Cassette/chain: NEW 2008 Shimano Ultegra 6600 10 Speed 11-23T / Shimano NEW 2008 Ultegra CN-HG6600 10speed chain
Saddle: Moto SLRstyle Ti Rail 180g (by Velo)
Seatpost: Ritchey WCS Road 280x27.2 Aluminum Micro-adjust
Stem: Ritchey WCS OS 31.8 clamp 1.125 inch steerer
Headset: Cane Creek IS2 Sealed Cartridge Bearing Integrated for 1.125 inch steerer

Mercier Corvus AL 2009 - $795.97



Frame: Road Tuned T7 Double-Butted Aluminum, features bottle cage mounts, rear rack mounts and replaceable rear derailleur hanger
Fork: Kinesis StraightBlade Carbon Fiber 700c with 1.125 inch steerer tube
Derailleurs: Shimano Ultegra RD6600GS Triple rear, Shimano 105 FD5603 Triple front
Shifters: Shimano 105 ST5600 STI (integrated brake and shift levers)
Brakes: CaneCreek SCR3 Forged Aluminum Dual Pull
Hubs: Shimano Sealed BallBearing Forged Aluminum
Rims: Shimano Black Anodized AERO Profile Technology, DoubleWall, Machined Sidewalls for enhanced braking power
Crank/BB: FSA Gossamer MegaEXO Triple 50/39/30T / FSA MegaEXO external bearing
Cassette/Chain: Shimano 5600 10 Speed 12-27T / CN-5600 10 speed chain (30 gears total)
Saddle:Velo Road (turbo style)
Seatpost/Stem: FSA FR270 Carbon+AL seatpost / Ritchey Comp Aluminum stem for threadless
Handlebars: Ritchey Biomax Ergo Aluminum standard diameter
Pedals: VP R61 Clipless Road pedals
Tires: Michelin Dynamic 700X23c


Mercier Serpens - $1299.99



Frame: Reynolds 853 double-butted High Grade Air Hardened Steel
Fork: High Modulus Carbon Fiber / Aluminum Steerer
Headset: FSA 36deg Sealed Cartridge Bearing for Threadless
Crankset: Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600 52/39/30T
Bottom: Bracket Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600 Triple Integrated with Crankset
Pedals: None
Front: Derailleur Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600 Triple
Rear: Derailleur Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600 Triple
Shifters: Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600 STI (Flight Deck Compatible)
Cassette/Freewheel: Shimano NEW 10 speed Ultegra 6600 12-23T
Chain: Shimano NEW 10 speed Ultegra 6600
Hubs: Ritchey Pro Aero Black anodized, sealed precision bearings
Spokes: Stainless
Rims: Ritchey OCR Aero Pro, black anodized with machined braking surface
Tires: Kenda Racing Kontender Lite 700x23c
Brakes: Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600
Brake Levers: Shimano NEW 30 speed Ultegra 6600 STI
Handlebar: Ritchey BioMax Ergo Butted Aluminum 6061
Stem: Ritchey Threadless
Tape/Grip: Deluxe Cork
Saddle: Turbo Style Velo Racing
Seat Post:Ritchey Comp 27.2mm
Seat Clamp:Mercier SL Machined Aluminum

Quel

Well, I've been looking recently at what you might call "value" bikes, so here's a few other things to consider in addition to BikesDirect.

Scattante r660 (Performance Bike house brand) - $1100, Ultegra/105
Novara Strada (REI House brand) - $1150, Full 105
Neuvation F100 - $1250 with Rival

With Performance and REI, you can get back 10% in store credit if you sign up to be a member, and they occasionally have sales on bikes for another 15-20%. Plus they have real stores you can take your bike to if you have issues. The jury is out on the Neuvation frames, but their wheels and customer service seem to be pretty well received for the value/budget crowd.

Nils

IMHO Neuvation will not fall into the same category as the other two. I do not own a Neuvation but it will be my clear choice.

sprintr

raptor3x

I owned a CAAD 8 before I bought my current Neuvation and I can confidently say the Neuvation is an excellent frame and a great deal.

tFUnK

fwiw i was in similar boat (albeit with smaller budget) few months ago, looking for a starter road bike. i was checking out the steel serpens you posted as well as the aero TT. i ended up getting a used cannondale after talking to a guy who had a BD sprint but changed to a CAAD and said the CAAD just felt like a better ride even though the components were comparable. also i am no BD basher as i currently own a kilo and used to have a windsor hour.

plodderslusk

Simple rule of thumb: It's always the more expensive bike. The 853 bike looks like a good deal although the Ritchey wheels are getting some flak.

bobthib

I got a Moto Immortal Pro (full CF frame, 105/ultegra) and I love it. It's fast and light. I have NO regrets. $1295. to my front door. I was going to get the Falkirk, but I find alu too harsh for my old bones. The carbon is SOOOOO SMOOTH. IMHO.

Regarding BD, it's not for everybody. You need to know the size you want, and you need to be able do some fine tuning or be willing to pay for it. If your not up to it, an LBS is a better choice. You probably won't get as much "bike" but unless it a hokey LBS, you will get a very good "product."

mr handy

Of the choices posted so far, I would have to go with the Neuvation. I have never tried any of there products, but have heard good things about there wheels and saddles. The group is by far the best and can be customised and specked how you want it.

Hamish200sx

So you just want people to tell you how they ride? My brother has the Immortal Pro and I have ridden it a few times. It rides like most cheap carbon frames, nothing special, nothing bad. It is pretty light, I was a little suprised by how light it was.
As far as components go you know how those are. They do use some crappy parts where they can (saddle, seatpost, stem, bars, wheels).
When it get to you it will need some serious work to get it rideable. Everything is needs to be relubed and retorqued.
The reason most people don't buy them is because of the name itself. If I were buying something in that price range I would buy a cannondale alu frame, a rival group and some neuvation or rol wheels.

MONGO!

Caad 9 5.

sced

I like the Bottecchia I bought. I think they are nicer than the Motos, Windsors, and Dawes. They are also sold by BikesDirect, but only on Ebay.

kwrides

+1

helmut

CAAD9-5, BMC Streetfire, or Neuvation F100.