Bikes you were disappointed with

mfin

Seeing as everyone always seems to think the bikes they have are the best thing since sliced bread, how about some reviews/comments on bikes that just were a bit disappointing to ride in various regards? (not warranty moans)

imposter2.0

I bought an S-Works Tarmac because they were fast (I'd seen them on the telly) - unfortunately, the one Specialized sent to me has been nowhere near as quick as the ones ridden by the pro riders...

crispybug2

Digging back into the mists of time.....The Raleigh Chopper!!!




11 year old me desperately wanted one


11 year old me got one for Christmas 1975


11 year old me very quickly realised that they were a total heap of shoite!!!

Anonymous

Iconic to look at, colonic to ride!

They never really did it for me so I dodged that bullet.
Read somewhere that they caused a collapse in the cycling industry.

I would give all my bikes to be able to go back to a sunny 1977 weekend though

Anonymous

mfin wrote:

Seeing as everyone always seems to think the bikes they have are the best thing since sliced bread, how about some reviews/comments on bikes that just were a bit disappointing to ride in various regards? (not warranty moans)

Personally I say it how it is, good or bad.
My bikes genuinely are all pretty good........ because I picked them.

Only thing that stands out as bad is that my CX bike is just too heavy.
Do not want to mention the 'C' word, but I won't be making that mistake again.

To be fair I was probably expecting too much of it.
Its still great for two of the three things I wanted it for, and I now have another bike to take care of the third

mattv

I had a 1st generation Boardman pro road bike. It wouldn't shift into 10th, even after undoing the limit screw and removing the cable. Turns out the frame was made crooked. As we're the 2 warranty ones sent. Eventually got the full carbon one as warranty, after hassling them for around 6 or 8 weeks. Then I mashed up my shoulder and couldn't ride....
Or a GT I drive. Good frame on paper, but a fork with chronic damping issues, no lockout, and brakes not man enough to stop the bike.

Giraffoto

Carbonator wrote:

I would give all my bikes to be able to go back to a sunny 1977 weekend though

That'd be one of about two of them then . . . Queen's Silver Jubilee, chucking it down and everyone moaning about the difference from "last Summer" is what I remember from 1977

navrig2

2nd hand Commencal full susser. I never got to grips with it and eventually moved all the components onto my GT hard tail and the frame is now sitting in my garage wanting to be sold.

Anyone want a Commencal full suss frame complete with rear shock?

964cup

Genesis Croix de Fer. Bought it as a combo commuter and winter bike, but despite throwing money at components just couldn't get it light enough to be enjoyable to ride. It's not just that it *is* heavy, it's that it *feels* heavy. It's ended up as my awful weather/left outside bike when I have meetings away from the office. It's about 13kg with full guards, locks and security bolts everywhere, and I just accept that I will go more slowly. The most disappointing thing: after all the guff on here about steel ride quality, I have to run it with 28s and a carbon fork and seatpost to stop it giving me a headache every time I go over a bump. *All* my carbon bikes, including the zero-compliance S5, are more comfortable to ride.

veronese68

Navrig2 wrote:

Anyone want a Commencal full suss frame complete with rear shock?

Is it any good?
I don't think I've been disappointed by a bike. More often in myself or the bike being stolen. I'm not enamoured with my Pinnacle MTB, although there is nothing wrong with it. I bought it off a neighbour virtually new for a price so low I couldn't refuse, it just doesn't do it for me. My old Marin felt more special in some way, although the Pinnacle is undoubtedly a better bike. Is it just a psychological thing that as I didn't buy it new I didn't choose it?
I think most modern bikes will be good for their intended purpose, if someone is disappointed it's likely that they bought the wrong bike for their intended use or the wrong size.

slowbike

I can't say that I've been disappointed with any of my bikes. There's an order of preference in riding them - but the one at the bottom of that list is good for what it can do - it's a CX rather than a full carbon road bike - so things like giving my niece a ride on the rack (with cushion) the other day was possible - not possible on the others.

It probably wasn't the right bike to buy longer term as I think I might have been better off buying a disc brake model, but at least with rim brakes I can (and do) swap and share wheels with any of the other bikes.

djhermer

Genesis Equilibrium 20. Bought it for winter commutes. Fell for everything i read and the fact i loved the look of it (burnt orange). From the first turn of the cranks i never liked riding it. Felt sluggish, heavy, unresponsive. Don't know what i was expecting, but never smiled once other than when a bunch of kids on BMXs and skateboards shouted "Nice jalopy mate".

Changed wheels, tyres etc. No difference. Loved the full mudguards but that's it.

Sold it to someone on here on Sunday. The search for this winter's bike is upon me.

Old_Timer

None of the road bikes I've owned disappointed me, not going to count the US equivalent of your Chopper, though. The Schwinn Stingray and all the clones here were what got most of the kids stateside on bicycles and we rode the wheels off of them. Basis of all the BMX going on now was from the Stingray and kids out in California waiting to get their first dirt bike.

All of my road bike gave me a freedom I enjoy to this day and each taught me something about riding that sticks with me. Fortunately I've avoided the fads or newest and bestest gadgets. Mountain bikes never did anything for me at all, a friend that owned a shop talked me into trying one out in the late 80's and it was a dud for my riding time. My kids liked theirs much for the same reason the Stingrays appealed to us in the 60's and 70's, freedom. Hopefully I can continue to enjoy bicycles until I am cold and stiff.

Anonymous

Giraffoto wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

I would give all my bikes to be able to go back to a sunny 1977 weekend though

That'd be one of about two of them then . . . Queen's Silver Jubilee, chucking it down and everyone moaning about the difference from "last Summer" is what I remember from 1977

I remember it as being sunny for the Silver Jubilee.

Was more thinking of watching Swapshop then going 'out to play' in the sun and waiting for the ice cream van.
Maybe go to see Star Wars (in a proper cinema), followed by a decent McDonalds milkshake.

clickrumble

I've just aquired my first carbon frame bike. I very disappointed as it's still just as hard work as my other bikes when it come to pedalling uphill.

Bozman

Trek, I've bought three over the years and I should have only bought one, a 2005 1500slr which was a damn sight better than the Madone 5.2 that I had for a few months before it was replaced with a Look.

jonny_trousers

Pearson Touché. Horribly vanilla single speed that's fairl heavy and an uncomfortable ride. Everything a single speed should not be.

I ended up feeling the same way about my Equilibrium as djhermer above, but only once I knew what it felt like to ride a light, stiff frame. Prior to that I thought it was the dog's.

I has a trial ride of an Enigma Esprit. Loved the look of it, couldn't believe how good the Cycling Plus review was. Within five minutes I knew it was not for me. It was comfy as hell and deceptively quick, but it was a thoroughly passionless ride, but maybe that's ti.

markhewitt1978

Trek Madone 2.1. I had a Trek FX 7.1 hybrid for 7 months and for about 6 of those months I was eyeing up Trek road bikes, with the 2.1 always top of the list, with an RRP of £1,000 I was sure it was going to be good. So when my FX got written off by a car the second my insurance money was confirmed I ran down to the bike shop to order my 2.1.

First impressions were mixed, I found the position and reach difficult but a stem change sorted that out, but I was still finding the bike unstable at speed and especially in cross winds, I figured this was just how road bikes were.

But then I went on holiday to Mallorca and hired a Carbon/Ultegra Madone 3.5 and couldn't believe how different it was, especially when I got back and found my aluminium road bike to be heavy and slow and hard to handle, I remember first ride back off my holidays falling out of love with that bike!

Then when the Westbrooks Scott CR1 offer came about I jumped at it and I've never looked back, much nicer bike and not unstable at all. There's nothing left of the original bike after I've upgraded it bit by bit, just a few replacement Bontrager parts to remind me where it's come from.

option_click

I had a Storck Absolutist 0.9.
It was very fast, brutally stiff and utterly horrible on any ride over 50 miles.
Only rode it for 500 miles or so before selling it on.

Devastazione

Lapierre Zesty 714 2010
Lapierre X control 910 2010


Both bikes were all about the "wow" look,everything else was absolutely lame,especially the X control. Sold them before they cracked.. . You don't buy bikes from the frenchies... :twisted:

sloppyschleckonds

mattv wrote:

I had a 1st generation Boardman pro road bike.

Ditto this, similar woes. Worst bike ever.

foggymike

Cannondale Six13, flexible rear end (poorly aligned too it turned out in the end and returned) and a finish that blistered and bubbled at the aluminium/carbon joins before you got it out the shop. Looked great but it was pants.

Father Faff

Devastazione wrote:

Lapierre Zesty 714 2010
Lapierre X control 910 2010


Both bikes were all about the "wow" look,everything else was absolutely lame,especially the X control. Sold them before they cracked.. . You don't buy bikes from the frenchies... :twisted:

Huh, you should have got a Commencal Meta 5 - great machine.

Father Faff

The bikes I was disappointed with were test bikes I was trying out - I only buy bikes I enjoy riding if I can!

On mountain bikes in 2006 I was pretty disappointed with a Giant Trance (boring and not great on rugged terrain) and a Scott Genius (very good on rough terrain but not that exciting) but first ride on a Commencal Meat 5 and I loved it - its still going although most parts have been relaced by now (frame still in one piece though!).

On road bikes I was looking for a fast sportive bike. Tried the Colnago CX Zero "cobbles bike" but that seemed strangely lethargic and unexciting with a rather unbalanced feel. Again I knew practically as soon as I tried it that the Bianchi Infinito CV was my sort of bike, lovely ride. And it seems the Bianchi has been much more noticeable in the pro peloton this year with the CX Zero not appearing to be a popular choice.

sparklehedgehog

Felt Z95. Looked ace, could never make it comfy with any saddle or geometry. Was desperate to make it work but never found a setup that did.

Gave up on it in the, shame.

MisterMuncher

A Focus Culebro, 2012 105 model I think. Seemed great value next to the other bikes I was looking at in terms of equipment, and looked brilliant. But it just wouldn't work for me at all, never felt planted on the road.

w00dster

2014 Giant TCR Composite 1 for me.
I wanted a more racey feel bike, already had a Domane 2.0. Really wanted a Madone with Ultegra, but couldn't afford it. Decided to get the TCR Comp 1 as it was within my budget. It was just the wrong bike for me. Possibly a mental thing rather than a real performance problem, but it just felt pap. Brakes were rubbish and the stock wheels where rubbish. After a matter of weeks I had to go out and buy a 2014 Trek Madone 4.7 - should have just stumped up the extra cash first time around.
I'm sure that the Giant is a decent bike for £1500, but because I'd already been on the Madone, decided I wanted it, the Giant didn't compare.

bobinski

On One Pometamine alfine 11 speed versa shifters.
Was supposed to be my commuting,hacking bike. Rode like a pig. Dangerous toe overlap too. I dont think it was the frame so much as all the parts together. The hub is heavy and its all at the rear end. Swapped the frame for a Kinesis pro 6. Much livelier and funnily enough for an aluminium frame, more comfy ride. I kept the on one frame to make into a single speed but never got round to it. Must sell it. The pro 6 will get all the bits off my sl pro once i get round to replacing that with something special.

Greenbeetle

Old_Timer wrote:

None of the road bikes I've owned disappointed me, not going to count the US equivalent of your Chopper, though. The Schwinn Stingray and all the clones here were what got most of the kids stateside on bicycles and we rode the wheels off of them.

We had them here too... Mine arrived at Christmas 1971 and was badged as a Puch-Steyr. It had derailleurs unlike my mates' Choppers. Not a good bike by any means, but I loved it.

theobrixton

In general my bikes have been disappointed in me.

But, I did briefly join the single speed fad a couple of years ago via a Globe Roll 2. Looked great and was reasonably quick on flat tarmac but any slight bump in the road threatened to launch me out of the saddle and on to my face. Sold it after a year's uncomfortable commuting.

Old_Timer

Greenbeetle wrote:

We had them here too... Mine arrived at Christmas 1971 and was badged as a Puch-Steyr. It had derailleurs unlike my mates' Choppers. Not a good bike by any means, but I loved it.

My first derailleur equipped bicycle was a re-badged Puch-Steyr, sold here in the states by Sears department stores. that one is the bicycle that started this whole life long addiction :shock:, dang no good Austrians and those low cost bicycles :P Those Delrin Huret mechanicals and a one piece Ashtabula one piece crank gave me a few moments, too. :roll: