1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

anyone buy from bikes direct website?

Discussion in 'General' started by fullmetalF4i, Jan 7, 2015.

  1. fullmetalF4i

    fullmetalF4i C. Lee #826

    looking at this site:
    http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/fat-bikes.htm

    Im in the market for both a roadie and a new mountain bike. I've been using the mountain bike for training on both the road and the trails. Would love to get one dedicated for each, especially given the little bit harder you have to ride the mountain bike on the road. Also with wanting to upgrade to a fatty or a full suspension 29er riding on the asphalt is going to be a little bit more of a challenge than if I had a road bike.

    I went to a couple of my local shops and I'm not too stoked about the prices to get into either the road bike or upgrade the mountain bike let alone both. CL also has come up uninspiring.

    Anyone with another location they grab bikes from?
     
  2. Jed

    Jed mellifluous

    I built one up for a friend. The bike itself was OK. Components were very mix and match with lower grade stuff thrown in any place a higher grade wasn't mentioned on the site description. For a road bike with a carbon fork it weighed about 5lbs more than I would have expected. Shops I know charge about $100.00 to build one up and typically move them to the back of the line.

    I'm a support your local bike shop kind of guy, but I do understand the allure of the low prices. if you are just getting into the sport I think they are fine, but caveat emptor.

    I know folks who have had luck with Planet-X bikes but they are priced in UK Pounds.

    TreeFortBikes.com price matches on components. They have bikes too.

    If you aren't comfortable building up a bike from a box you'll be spending around $100 for any shop to do the work regardless of the brand.

    Also don't forget pedals tend not to be included except for basic platforms to test rides. If you want clipless plan accordingly.

    You could get a cross bike and have the best of both worlds.

    Wish I had kept my Chili Con Crosso...

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2015
  3. misterwaterfall

    misterwaterfall squid status commence

    A cross bike does sound like a good option depending on what you want to use the mountain bike for. Light trails and gravel, perfect. Rutted single track or drops, no way.

    I have heard decent things about bikes direct but there's no local support and I have heard that some local shops aren't too excited about working on them for you. I would also check ebay as there's some decent deals to be had there. What are you looking for size and price wise?
     
  4. JJJerry

    JJJerry Well-Known Member

    I bought a lower end mountain bike from them a few years ago (700HT).

    It was as advertised, and for the price, it was a great 1st real bike. It also was a great way for me to learn bicycles. My next bike, I bought a frame, then bought most of the components used locally, then built it.

    The components that it spec'd came as they were supposed to (BB7 brakes, XT shifters/deraileurs...etc).

    The stem, bars, and wheels were are ridiculously heavy, but durable. About what I'd expect from a $500 bike.
     
  5. plater1

    plater1 former porn star

    pricepoint.com
     
  6. Mechdziner714

    Mechdziner714 More Gas Less Brakes

  7. STT-Rider

    STT-Rider Well-Known Member

    What exactly are you looking for?? For a road bike, get a 1014 or even 2013 closeout/leftover.

    For a mountainbike, buy the best you can. I prefer Shimano and SLX will treat you right and so with the equivalent SRAM set up.
     
  8. brex

    brex Well-Known Member

    Yes, I purchased a bike from them a couple years ago. Bike was exactly as described.
    Easy interaction, quick shipping. Assembling a bike from a box is mindlessly easy.
     
  9. Tristan

    Tristan Well-Known Member

    Never saw this fatbike thing coming...seemed like a niche market that was fully saturated. saw one a Walmart for like $200!
     
  10. Fonda Dix

    Fonda Dix Well-Known Member

    I have purchased many bikes from them and never been unhappy. I have to pay tax on them though since they ship from my state.
     
  11. socal

    socal Well-Known Member

    If you know your size for a particular brand buy used from Craigslist or from Ebay. No shortage of 1-2 year old Specialized or Canondale carbon frames with Ultegra for $2k
     
  12. STT-Rider

    STT-Rider Well-Known Member

    Don't mistake the crap they sell at Wal-Mart with real bicycles.
     
  13. thrak410

    thrak410 My member is well known

    I got a road back a while back that was pretty sweet at a good price. Sold it cuz I'm more of a mtn bike guy.

    My brother has bought 2 from them, and a 3rd frame only and has been very happy.
     
  14. hrc_nick_11

    hrc_nick_11 Well-Known Member

    I bought a mountain bike, pretty happy with it. I have since bought two Gary Fisher at the local bike shop, happy with them too. Read the reviews on size, the one I bought ran big and the reviews said so.
     
  15. fullmetalF4i

    fullmetalF4i C. Lee #826

    thanks for the input guys.
    I'm all for supporting the local guys when my wallet allows it, and bought my ex's mountain bike from one of them a few years ago.
    Just this time, they neither have the inventory of what I want, nor are even close to the same stratosphere of how much I'm up for spending at the moment.
     
  16. fullmetalF4i

    fullmetalF4i C. Lee #826

    not intersted in spending $2k on a bike, and I'm pretty close to the threshold of the carbon frame capacity. I'm good with steel & aluminum.
     
  17. Tristan

    Tristan Well-Known Member

    No shit Monte?!? I thought they were exactly the same :rolleyes:

    I was pointing out the popularity of the style...if WM has a cheap knockoff of it, then it's made the big time.
     
  18. motoboy

    motoboy Well-Known Member

    I got the Gravity Liberty CX from them for about $300 (cantis). It is a fine commuter. The cx tires did not last on the road, no surprise there. And I can't keep the rear spokes tight, but I am 260#, so no surprise there either. Nashbar has an $800 steel cx with 105 components that I wish I had bought instead.
     
  19. novice201

    novice201 "I'm a robot chicken!"

    The bikes direct fatbikes are crazy priced. My bike mechanic bought one, says the frame is Kinesis, the hubs are Novatec, it's a pretty good package for the cash. The one with a Bluto is a screaming deal. Since we are talking fatbikes, which don't handle and ride like a regular bike, a generic middle of the road frame design is fine. They've killed the resale value of my two year-old Mukluk though, dammit!:mad:

    I wouldn't buy a FS 29er from them though, it's a pretty bland frame design. Lightly used Specialized FSR's, Fuel EX29's, Anthem's or Trance's can be had on Craigslist for less than half of list, for a one or two year old bike. If you've got the time and knowledge to ferret out the deals.

    The carbon road bikes are heavy because the frame designs are older less advanced designs. Serviceable but dated. Or so I'm told. :D

    BD used to have such killer pricing guys would buy a bike just for the groupset and ditch the frame. Prices have crept up but still some value there.
     
  20. rocalotopus

    rocalotopus thick member

    how tall are you?
     

Share This Page