Motobecane Messenger
11-13-08 | 07:47 AM
#451
Pants are for suckaz
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 1
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
11-13-08 | 10:21 AM
#452
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 1
From: Kitchener, ON
Bikes: 1994 Proctor Townsend Reynolds 753, TT S3 True North, Kona Major Jake, Kona Honky Tonk, Marinoni Puima, Cannondale BBU
The stock [rear] tire wore out pretty quickly and got a large-ish gash from some debris. I purchased the Gatorskin based on the recommendations of the interwebs and my LBS. I still think it's an okay tire, but I can't afford to replace $40 tires very often so I may go with something cheaper and invest the money I save in buying a street sweeper small enough to fit on the local greenways and road shoulders.
11-13-08 | 11:02 AM
#453
Guest
Posts: n/a
No, the stickers on the frame are good it's the ones on the wheels that have to go. Goo gone should clean up any adhesive residue left behind. I think the Motobecane logo is pretty cool it almost looks like comic book lettering. Sorry, this applies to the bike posted with the red weinmanns.
11-13-08 | 01:10 PM
#455
Head Chief
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: kettering ohio
Bikes: Motobecane Messenger
Thank you. My bike is the last bike I would expect to see comments on. I love the bike. I am 5'7" or maybe 5'8". The seat height in that picture is well off of what I ride it at now. It is about 2 or 3 inches higher. The 52cm frame should fit riders 5'4" to 5'9" or so if I had to make a guess. Much of this depends on inseam of the person. Mine is still completely stock. The only things I wish I could change right now are the pedals, and a lower gearing.
11-13-08 | 06:56 PM
#458
Señor Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
well, i switched back because my risers had a brake on them, now i have a cross lever, i haven't put the drops back in.
on top of that, i don't feel like i'm tightening the faceplate right, and probably stripping the slots. I don't i need a torque wrench for this thing?
on top of that, i don't feel like i'm tightening the faceplate right, and probably stripping the slots. I don't i need a torque wrench for this thing?
Last edited by Understanding; 11-13-08 at 06:59 PM.
11-16-08 | 11:17 AM
#459
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 913
Likes: 0
Schwinn Madison
Yeah, and I could have spent another $4K on my road bike and purchased the next tier bike. I sold another bike to purchase a ss and a child trailer. My budget for the bike is $350-$400. I want the 08Schwinn Madison. But it is out of my price range. As far as I can tell by specs. The only thing that I would consider qestionable are the wheels. Everything else seems solid. I am just looking for some real life feedback such as yours. It's going to get hammered on a rough 10 mile commute and pull a child trailer. If I want to ride a quality bike, I'll take the Tarmac out. I do appologise for the repost. However, there truely is a bunch of crap posted by people that have never ridden the bike. Maybe they are pissed that they spend $300-$400 more on essentualy the same bike? Or maybe they just want to one up the next person? We have all seen the guy that has little to no pow pow but, he has the nicest bike! I raced moutain bikes for 10 years before becoming a "roadie". I owned and raced several different bikes/manufactures over that period. But the bike that I loved the most and wished that I still had today was a $321 Skykomish that I purchased at Costco. Maybe it has sentimental value because it was my first moutain bike? I do not know? What I can tell you is the thing was bullet proof and handled like a dream. Of all the Canondales, Scotts, and GT's I had. The only bike that has ever come close to it's comfort and handling was my Schwinn Homegrown (made by Yeti). Point is, the frame is the heart of the bicycle. It's what gives the bike soul. Seats, bars, stems, hubs, wheels, will make it nice. But it wont make it sing. For a couple hundo more, I might get better goodies. But I'll bet in that price point the frames come from the same Taiwanese plant that the messenger does! Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I am going to buy the bike and love it!
FYI, I just picked up my new 2008 Madison for $375. or so at Performance...yeehaa! They are $454. at website, then applied 10% coupon, then store had a $50. off "rebate" they applied...these guys have always given me the best deals! Sweet bike.
11-16-08 | 01:20 PM
#460
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Has anyone here mounted fenders on their Messenger? I'm *this* close to pulling the trigger on one of the BikesDirect FGs, but I really need to be able to put fenders on it (a rack would be nice too, but not essential). BD says the frame has eyelets but clearance is tight so only certain fenders will fit, so I'm curious what types will work.
11-16-08 | 01:31 PM
#461
Pants are for suckaz
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 1
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
Has anyone here mounted fenders on their Messenger? I'm *this* close to pulling the trigger on one of the BikesDirect FGs, but I really need to be able to put fenders on it (a rack would be nice too, but not essential). BD says the frame has eyelets but clearance is tight so only certain fenders will fit, so I'm curious what types will work.
If you want to run fenders, get the Fantom Cross Uno.
11-16-08 | 05:54 PM
#463
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 313
Likes: 29
From: Rochester, NY
how do you guys find the stock bars and saddle? from wht ive read the saddle can be pretty uncomfortable, but are you guys changing the bars because they suck or because you prefer bullhorns or risers etc?
11-16-08 | 11:12 PM
#465
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, CA
Bikes: Motobecane Messenger
I guess the saddle is ok, I had it on for a while then I changed. But saddle is personal thing though. I changed to bullhorn because I thought never get down to the drop.
11-17-08 | 08:07 AM
#466
Pants are for suckaz
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 1
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
The stock handlebars are okay. I swapped them out so I could look cooler... er... I mean because bullhorns are more comfortable.
The really crap-tastic parts on this bike are the pedals which should be replaced ASAP. The brake pads are also sketchy and if you are running brakes, new pads might be worth investing in.
11-19-08 | 07:22 PM
#467
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Massanutten, VA
Okay, my bike (52cm in orange) is supposed to show up tomorrow so here are my noobie questions....
-I'm definitely going to want swtich to a 18t cog...could someone please point me what I should order? There seem to several different varieties. And which spanner tool do I need to remove the locking...I've already got the chain whip.
-I'm going to want to switch the front wheel to quick release to make transporting the bike easier on the roof rack. Does anyone sell a hollow front axle that would fit?
Thanks,
Roland
-I'm definitely going to want swtich to a 18t cog...could someone please point me what I should order? There seem to several different varieties. And which spanner tool do I need to remove the locking...I've already got the chain whip.
-I'm going to want to switch the front wheel to quick release to make transporting the bike easier on the roof rack. Does anyone sell a hollow front axle that would fit?
Thanks,
Roland
11-20-08 | 09:11 PM
#468
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Massanutten, VA
I'll answer my own q's. Standard track cog, 3/32" is was is on the bike so I just ordered a Surley 18T, a generic lockring tool and a Surley Tuggnut. Both the front and rear axles are already hollow so converting to quick release will be a piece of cake. BTW, I'm really impressed by the bike for the $$. The 52cm fits my 5'8", 29" inseam body very, very well. Can't wait to take it for a real ride this weekend.
Roland
Roland
11-25-08 | 09:54 PM
#469
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, CA
Bikes: Motobecane Messenger
11-26-08 | 09:13 PM
#470
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Massanutten, VA
I'm really enjoying the bike alot. I've put about 60 miles on it this week. But I've run into a pretty major snag. I live in the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg and we've got hills. Throw in the occasional serious headwind and I need to gear down a bit.
So I ordered a 18t rear cog and went to change it tonight. I knew I was in trouble when I finally got the lock ring off after a bit of a struggle and saw all the red loctite that was used. Then I went to try and get the cog off. No go. I destroyed my chain whip and then tried to do the vice trick and it would not budge. After a closer inspection I can see the ring of red loctite where the cog meets the hub body. There's even a dried pool of it there in one spot. I'm pretty sure that I'll destroy the wheel if I get serious about trying to get it off.
So I've emailed the folks I bought the bike from (sportymamabikes.com) to see if they are willing to send me a replacement wheel (without the cog installed) under warranty. If not I'll be seriously pissed. I guess I could replace the chainring to get to the gearing I want but as soon as I break a spoke on the cog side of the rear wheel I'd be SOL.
Roland
11-29-08 | 10:56 AM
#471
Pants are for suckaz
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 1
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
11-29-08 | 12:16 PM
#472
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, CA
Bikes: Motobecane Messenger
I knew I was in trouble when I finally got the lock ring off after a bit of a struggle and saw all the red loctite that was used. Then I went to try and get the cog off. No go. I destroyed my chain whip and then tried to do the vice trick and it would not budge.
Roland
Roland
) so I stuck with it and changed the chainring which was triple expensive.
11-29-08 | 02:17 PM
#473
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Massanutten, VA
No, I have not heard anything back from them. I really don't expect to until Monday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. I'll definitely post when I hear back. If I had know that whoever is building these things in Tiawan was basically permanently installing the cogs I never would have ordered the bike since I knew the 16t cog was going to be too much for my terrain/legs.
Like unogear said I'll just switch out the chainring and save my pennies for a new wheelset in the future if the folks I ordered the bike from won't make good. Just kind of annoying....
Roland
Like unogear said I'll just switch out the chainring and save my pennies for a new wheelset in the future if the folks I ordered the bike from won't make good. Just kind of annoying....
Roland
11-30-08 | 04:14 PM
#475
*
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,876
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore
Bikes: https://velospace.org/node/18951