Giant Bowery, any good?
07-11-07 | 01:36 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 876
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Originally Posted by mykrrrr
Reviving an old thread...
This is for Bowery owners. I just picked up a frame from a fellow BFSSFG member for cheap and I had to get an integrated headset for it (Cane Creek IS.) I've never dealt w/this kind of headset and it will definitely be the last one I deal with but I want to make this thing work.
I've read up a bit on the concept of the IS and I know that there's going to be slop from this headset design but I can't seem to get the damn thing adjusted correctly. All the parts are oriented correctly but it doesn't seem to be tall enough to clear the head tube. No matter how much I tighten it there's for-aft movement in the fork and if it's tight it won't turn freely.
The fork already had a race pressed on there so that might be a bit of the problem since they don't look exactly the same but I doubt it's completely @ fault.
Any thoughts on how to fix it?
This is for Bowery owners. I just picked up a frame from a fellow BFSSFG member for cheap and I had to get an integrated headset for it (Cane Creek IS.) I've never dealt w/this kind of headset and it will definitely be the last one I deal with but I want to make this thing work.
I've read up a bit on the concept of the IS and I know that there's going to be slop from this headset design but I can't seem to get the damn thing adjusted correctly. All the parts are oriented correctly but it doesn't seem to be tall enough to clear the head tube. No matter how much I tighten it there's for-aft movement in the fork and if it's tight it won't turn freely.
The fork already had a race pressed on there so that might be a bit of the problem since they don't look exactly the same but I doubt it's completely @ fault.
Any thoughts on how to fix it?
i would definitely put the correct lower race on there.
07-11-07 | 02:29 PM
#30
Banned.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 994
Likes: 1
From: philly
Get a Windsor 'The Hour' from BikesDirect, I say.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm
If I had money & storage space for another bike, that's what I'd get.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm
If I had money & storage space for another bike, that's what I'd get.
07-11-07 | 03:20 PM
#31
I like pie!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: SoCal baby!
Originally Posted by skinnyland
Get a Windsor 'The Hour' from BikesDirect, I say.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm
If I had money & storage space for another bike, that's what I'd get.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm
If I had money & storage space for another bike, that's what I'd get.
07-11-07 | 03:50 PM
#32
Italian Stallion
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
From: Denver
Bikes: 2010 Cannondale Supersix; Dolan Df3; 1980's GIOS Pista;
I got one. I bought this as a temporary solution while I was shopping for something a little more classic. It's fine with me. I ride it every day to work to the grocery store, post office, etc. I even think it's worth the retail if all you want is something to bang around in.
Here it is:
Here it is:
07-14-07 | 05:35 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 2
From: Boston, Ma
Bikes: Surly Midnight Special, All-City Big Block, Surly Karate Monkey (sold), Kona Jake(gone)
Originally Posted by mcafiero
I got one. I bought this as a temporary solution while I was shopping for something a little more classic. It's fine with me. I ride it every day to work to the grocery store, post office, etc. I even think it's worth the retail if all you want is something to bang around in.
Here it is:
Here it is:
Why do people almost seem apologetic for riding the Bowery (or anything other than custom/Bianchi/NJS/IRO,etc). Maybe i'm crazy but I love my Bowery, and cant wait to post pics once I finish hooking it up.
07-18-07 | 08:08 AM
#37
Steel80's
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 43
From: NJ
Bikes: Breezer Venturi, Schwinn Peloton, Marin Lucas Valley
Not to insult anyone who has one, but the Bowery I saw at a LBS looked pretty shoddy- like a department store bike. Rough welds, cheap parts. You get what you pay for. Personally I avoid Chinese made products (crap) as much as possible.
07-18-07 | 09:21 AM
#38
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 2
From: Boston, Ma
Bikes: Surly Midnight Special, All-City Big Block, Surly Karate Monkey (sold), Kona Jake(gone)
It looks nice, sort of like the color scheme of the first Bowery. I don't think gloss and shine are a good match for this style of bike. I kinda like the gritty, drab, matte look this workhorse. Save the shine for the pretty boy bikes.
07-18-07 | 09:53 AM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Ithaca, NY
I think the bowery looks pretty boss if you put a little work into it, like TourDeHood's ^
07-18-07 | 10:08 AM
#40
jack of one or two trades
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 0
From: Suburbia, CT
Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB
07-18-07 | 10:55 AM
#41
******.
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: winnipeg
i know a girl who has had her dura ace cog come off six times with the stock hubs on the bowery. installed by different good mechanics four different times, with different lockrings and both sides of the hub. the frame is ok, but the rest of the bike kinda sucks *****. but you get what you pay for...
07-18-07 | 01:55 PM
#45
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,207
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From: Madison, WI
I am just guessing here, but the Bowery just kinda screams "really cheap bike we threw together as an aftertought after our marketing people told us to get in on this FG thing." {But alas, I ride a pista, so what do I know}
Seriously, I don't think it is on par with any of the other entry level FG bikes. I am not saying it is horrible--there are just much better options in the price range
07-19-07 | 07:06 AM
#46
Steel80's
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 43
From: NJ
Bikes: Breezer Venturi, Schwinn Peloton, Marin Lucas Valley
07-19-07 | 10:58 AM
#47
Mitcholo
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,850
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From: Oost Vlaanderen in mind, Cleveland in body
Bikes: 2010 Mitcholo w/ Sram Force/Red
I've won a few races and raced Nationals on this bike. It's alright, it's just a tool. Surprisingly, people say it shouldn't be raced.
07-19-07 | 12:49 PM
#48
07-19-07 | 12:56 PM
#49
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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Ed White rides a Carbon Fiber Corima that isn't NJS, he's un-friggin'-believable fast...NJS is NOT mandatory to get onto a track. The NJS stamp does NOT mean super quality...it means a group of people approved the part to be used for gambling purposes. 90% of the time lighter products can be found cheaper without the stamp and they work just as well if not better. All of the hype about NJS is totally overrated.