2009 Giant Bowery - What do you think?
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2009 Giant Bowery - What do you think?
I've decided to spoil myself a bit and get me a nice singlespeed/fixed gear bike for going to work and getting around town. I spotted the Giant Bowery which to me seems quite a decent sub AU$1000 bike. What do you guys think? Is it a reasonable deal or is there something better i should look at?
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Meh - it's a Giant.
#6
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Depends on what you're looking for, but I can say I got my brother the mashup for xmas and he loves it. It's great for what you described, though most of the snobs don't like it because it's aluminum and has a sloping top tube, so you may not get too many street cred points. Maybe if you threw some ridiculously expensive hubs on it; I don't know...
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A guy at the LBS I try not to shop at has one. He was telling me how rad it was, but it just didn't look that cool in person. I think he switched out the fork, so that may have been part of it.
I know this isn't the most helpful thing in the world, but basically, it just didn't LOOK like a great fixed gear. I get sort of the same feeling seeing Schwin Madisons. Maybe they have similar tubing.
I know this isn't the most helpful thing in the world, but basically, it just didn't LOOK like a great fixed gear. I get sort of the same feeling seeing Schwin Madisons. Maybe they have similar tubing.
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I ve ridden one when it first came out... had it for about 3-4 months... I would still have if i didnt get hit by a suv on it. It has compact geometry and if you 511- 6'0 like i am it looks odd. A size medium to a large.. i couldnt tell the difference. Its okay for the money i guess... i had the black one with lime green deep vs and some deda drops...it was a okay bike.
Change the fork and wheel set and you have a solid bike.. and the crank.. when you have the money to do so later down the line.
I paid about 350-400 us for mine they were going for 500-600 when they came out ....i had extra money to throw into it and i got hooked up on my parts.
hope that helps
Change the fork and wheel set and you have a solid bike.. and the crank.. when you have the money to do so later down the line.
I paid about 350-400 us for mine they were going for 500-600 when they came out ....i had extra money to throw into it and i got hooked up on my parts.
hope that helps
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i personally dont like track bikes with compact geometry, but it looks like a nice started track bike.
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Wonder if people bagging this bike have actually ridden it?
If you're looking for a hipster looking fixie with trackish geometry go for the SE Lager (on sale at Goldcross for $499) or Cellbikes. Or even the Fuji Track. The Bowery has gone up in price from the 08 models because of the FX rates. The 08 model could have been had for $600.
Most entry level (read: sub At$1000 fixies) have similar components:
cr-mo frame, wellgo pedals, alex rims, basic crankset (FSA Vero etc).
Best to try before you buy.
If you're looking for a hipster looking fixie with trackish geometry go for the SE Lager (on sale at Goldcross for $499) or Cellbikes. Or even the Fuji Track. The Bowery has gone up in price from the 08 models because of the FX rates. The 08 model could have been had for $600.
Most entry level (read: sub At$1000 fixies) have similar components:
cr-mo frame, wellgo pedals, alex rims, basic crankset (FSA Vero etc).
Best to try before you buy.
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i wasn't a big fan of the way it rode when i test rode one at the my lbs, but I was also really new to riding fixed.
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I scored one for the wife off of CL and she likes it. I like the '84 model.
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generibike?
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That SE Lager definitely looks like a good deal, and also checked out the cell cingle but they all have steel frames which i've never really liked. The reason i was looking at the bowery is because its fairly cheap but unlike the other cheap models it has an aluminium frame which i prefer.
I was also interested in the trek soho s which is a similar price to the bowery and looks like a decent single speed bike. Are both brands much the same or is one better than the other?
I was also interested in the trek soho s which is a similar price to the bowery and looks like a decent single speed bike. Are both brands much the same or is one better than the other?
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i like the 84 and the other model with a year(don't remember which) look but not really the normal one.
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I would not get a giant, they wont help me with a problem I have with a bike.
Worst customer service
Worst customer service
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It does come with some decent parts but you just have to ask yourself, can I ride aluminum with a sloping top tube?
Not me.
Not me.