by "The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
Published 11/18/2017 at 12:43
by "The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
Published 11/18/2017 at 12:43
Tags: Bikes direct
STARS: 2
I think this photo just about covers things.
The right chain stay cracked at the weld at the rear hub. It also appears that the weld on the same tube at the bottom bracket is starting to fail too:
It happened riding on flat terrain a few weeks ago. I was pedaling along when the handling went all weird and the bike just felt... odd. I hopped off, checked all the bolts around the rear end, but everything was torqued appropriately. I kept looking and found the crack. It was a looooong walk of shame home. And because I know someone’s going to ask: no, I didn’t crash it. When my mechanic helped me get the headset cups out, he hypothesized overheated welds or a bad annealing process.
Length of ownership: 9 months.
Cost of ownership: 1199 plus a chain, some brake pads, new grips, and a few other wear items over the course of ownership.
I expect to be my own mechanic when buying a bike from bikes direct. That’s part of the deal, and I knew that going into this. I also don’t mind disassembly or reassembly- that’s easy and I like wrenching on my own bike. The part that pisses me off is the fact that they won’t cover any ($$$!) shipping costs for what’s clearly a defective frame to and from their facility. Ultimate verdict: I would not buy from them again. The prices are good and I like doing my own wrenching, but the customer service in the event of warranty issues is appalling. Caveat emptor. I’ll be buying a Surly Krampus in a month or so.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/18/2017 at 12:52, STARS: 2
After working in the bike industry for several years I came to the conclusion that while “store brands” (motobecan, fezzari, etc) appear on face value to be a great value based on design and components...its rarely worth it in the long run unless your usage is really lite. 2 bad welds? thats not a fluke.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
11/18/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 1
I went through two Redline Cyclo Cross bikes before I realized what shit the frames were. Post welding heat treatment? Who needs that. Both of the bikes broke at the chainstay connection to the bottom bracket at the weld, just like yours. I then bought a Kona jake the snake and I’ve hammered the shit out of the bike since 2008 or so and it is still going strong.
For $1200 there are quite a few decent name brand aluminum hard-tail 29ers out there like the Specialized Chisel or Trek X-caliber 8.
Did you buy the Surley? You are not going to break a Surley.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
11/18/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 0
I have broken two redline cyclocross bikes. Can confirm, I think redline is from SBC and made in China.
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
11/18/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 1
I’ve test ridden a Krampus, Karate Monkey, and a few others... yeti sb5+, Santa Cruz Hightower aluminum, trek stache. Loved the Krampus. I’ll be buying once the new frame comes back and I reassemble the bike so I can sell it.
"jimz" (jimz)
11/18/2017 at 13:21, STARS: 2
bikes direct
man is that site a bloody mess.
"Captain Brotatohead" (brotatobrotato)
11/18/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
That’s a bummer. After my dad introduced me to cycling on a 2005ish Cannondale tri-bike, I made my first adult bike purchase of a Bikes Direct Kestrel RT700 with 6700 ultegra. The bike was way oversized because I (and my dad) knew next to nothing about sizing, I’m 5'7" and bought a 56, but I rode the heck out of it putting on nearly 10,000 miles in 3 years. The bike was fine, it helped me further “get into” cycling, and I eventually sold it to a friend who still rides it from time to time today. The only issue that I’ve ever been aware of for that bike was when my buddy shifted into his spokes and tore off his derailleur hanger. I understand that broken hangers happen on all bikes, but the issue was locating the replacement - wheelsmfg didn’t have it. Apparently Kestrel has been sold off to new owners relatively frequently and that hanger just so happened to be unique and out of production. He was eventually able to find a replacement, but it’s definitely something to consider when buying these budget brands. My dad also bought a Motobecane road bike circa 2008, he never mentioned any build quality problems but he retired the bike after 20k or so miles.
A great place to find bikes is on the Facebook group online swap meet for cycling and triathlon, it’s basically ebay without them taking their cut from the sale. I was able to find a Giant Propel SL Advanced/w SRAM Red and SL1 Carbon Wheels - MSRP around $7500 for $3000. It only had 500 miles on it - it was pristine. I’m sure I got lucky, but if you know what you’re doing you can find an ultegra spec’d bike for around $1500.
I consider myself way off the deep end when it comes to cycling - 8500 miles per year, bike stable includes the Giant Propel, a Cannondale CAAD 10, a Specialized Crux, and a Trek Superfly hardtail. My personal opinion is that nobody really needs a bike that costs more than $1500 - my CAAD 10 costed about that to build and it’s every bit as fast and fun to ride as the Propel. But hot damn do I want to pick up an American built boutique bike like a Spooky or a Vynl.
Oh, I’m sure the Krampus will be nice - do tell us about it!
"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker)
11/18/2017 at 13:59, STARS: 1
Dang, what a stable. If I had the money I’d be right there with you.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
11/18/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 1
Ahh BikesDirect! The Kilo TT was like the Toyota Corolla of bikes on my college campus. You couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting five or six of them.