Bikes Direct...

[real stonie]

I have a pal who wants to start riding. He's on a budget and refuses to adhere to my advice suggesting a GOOD used bike form Craigslist. As such, he's discovered Bikes Direct. Has nayone actually bought a bike through BD and how was/is it?

[S2H]

Does Trek make good bikes?

[real stonie]

Does Trek make good bikes?

That's basically what I'm asking. I have knowledge of the bike market, but not the uber-discount bike market.

[Marc]

I have a pal who wants to start riding. He's on a budget and refuses to adhere to my advice suggesting a GOOD used bike form Craigslist. As such, he's discovered Bikes Direct. Has nayone actually bought a bike through BD and how was/is it?

Is your friend prepared to put the bike together himself...and what does he propose to do when the hardware needs adjustment, as it will within the first few hundred miles? Most shops have complimentary maintenance for at least a year or more...mine has lifetime adjustments I believe. That pays for itself quick.

BD bikes use the same hardware any other bike uses. Quality is the same so long as the person who put the bits together knew what they were doing. Catch being you only save money if you know how to do your own wrenching.

[tihsepa]

Does Trek make good bikes?

>No?<

[Peanya]

The worst thing about buying a bike from BD is knowing that you bought from there. And, that everyone else will too. Other than that, the bikes aren't bad, and a fair deal. Personally, I'd buy a Scat from Performance first.

[Christine]

Got my fixie from them, they were awesome. Very little to put together, and they have instructions on YouTube if needed. Customer service was great- they shipped the right bike after I called to tell them I wanted a different size.

[heybrady]

I don't doubt their bikes are decent quality but where they get you is on the specs of the bike. They will call it a 105 level and show msrp of that but then turns out the only 105 are the derail. Usually tektro brakes, FAA crank, sora shifters, etc. If you bought from lbs you would get full 105, albeit at a higher price.

Again not taking anything away from them, just saying look at the specs and don't believe the msrp is close to accurate. They are a great source of lower cost bikes for those looking for value and don't want to go the craigslist route.

[JohnHenry]

chinarello

[the_don]

They do have some bikes with complete groupsets.

Many brands mix their low end end sets as well.

Personally, only the track bikes are worth getting on BD.

[My Own Private Idaho]

I refuse to buy from BikesDirect, because of the advertising they do (used to do?) on this site. Think of it this way, if he doesn't like it he can strip off the components, ebay the frame, and still make money.......

There are other companies with the same business model that I would use first. Ibex, Fezarri, Leader. Whatever. Just not BikesDirect.

[Cbookman]

I don't doubt their bikes are decent quality but where they get you is on the specs of the bike. They will call it a 105 level and show msrp of that but then turns out the only 105 are the derail. Usually tektro brakes, FAA crank, sora shifters, etc. If you bought from lbs you would get full 105, albeit at a higher price.

If you look at the market as a whole, most bikes in the sub $1500 range have mixed component sets, and some above that do too. There are simply tradeoffs everywhere if you wish to remain profitable and still hit the right pricepoint for your customers. Take the 2011 Cannondale CAAD10-3. Ultegra group, aside from the brakes and crank. That bike is around $2100 through the dealer, so BD isn't the only one playing that game. Lower end bikes of all types have this going on too.

[Dave Hickey]

The worst thing about buying a bike from BD is knowing that you bought from there. And, that everyone else will too. Other than that, the bikes aren't bad, and a fair deal. Personally, I'd buy a Scat from Performance first.

This.... I've bought two bikes from them.....Bike are fine for what you pay..

You are not getting a $2,000 bike for $1,000...you are getting a $1,000 bike...

[QuiQuaeQuod]

... refuses to adhere to my advice ...

Does he disagree with your advice, or does he refuse to consider your advice?

If he disagrees (for example, thinks used may have unseen issues and he doesn't want to have to worry about that), then that's one thing. Provide better advice, re-word it, find example bikes on craigslist, find posts on RBR where people found good used bikes and are happy with them, etc. But try to keep in mind that his values are not yours, he might value "new" more than "best", and there is nothing wrong with that if he ends up happy with a good bike.

If he refuses to consider your advice, then it depends on what kind of "pal" he is. Generally, I would lean towards shutting my mouth and preparing my Nelson Muntz laugh.

[stevesbike]

I wouldn't buy from BD on the principle that their website is a hideous monstrosity. Other than that, have your friend spec a bike from there and send you the price/specs (if he still has his eyesight). Then look around to see if there's a better deal. The one upside of a new bike is a warranty - except BD doesn't really warranty their carbon frames as far as I recall (more like a crash replacement program).

[nealric]

I'm still riding the BD bike I bought in 2007. It has served me quite well for thousands of miles.

At the time, it was an ultegra setup (minus brakes and crankset) for $1,100 with a very high quality wheelset (american classic 420s). The crankset was actually pretty nice too (FSA carbon). I check their website from time to time, and I haven't seen a deal quite that good since.

The two main caveats are self-wrenching and (more importantly) fit. Unless you live in a place with a cycle spectrum nearby (I know there is one in Houston), you can't try before you buy. The only other caveat is that some cyclists look down on BD bikes, both for snobbish and legitimate reasons.

I agree that the inflated "MSRP" is pretty silly. Some of their bikes are pretty decent deals, but they certainly are not worth 2x what you pay for them.

[Aindreas]

chinarello

Thanks for the lols, bro. I just about snorted diet rite on my keyboard.

[Ventruck]

Personally, I'd buy a Scat from Performance first.

Same. Major sale is about to end, though. R-670 (Ultegra) is $1,199, R-570 (105) is $899, CFR Comp (105) is $1,499.

Seen the bikes in person, and they look real good.

[jgrabowmst]

I bought from BD, and I don't have any problems. My bike shipped with a wrong stem, and they mailed me the correct replacement stem in 2 days.

I wasn't bargain hunting from the beginning, I was shopping in a price range, and since I've got no problem picking up a wrench myself, well, that's what ended up happening. Having something new compared to something used was my mentality. I've changed the metal spacers to CF so far, but that's about it. I've seen other riders in the area with the same bike I have, and they have no complaints either.

I'm not sure I mind if someone who had a bigger budget knows where I got my bike from..I don't think it matters much....With the internet what it is today, with the time and resources, you could do your own complete build up...but if someone is looking for a bike to just build and ride, have someone build it for them, I don't see why BD is any worse than the LBS. The way threads go around here, some LBS are just as reliable as BD.

[WaynefromOrlando]

I bought my bike from the LBS that is owned by the same company that owns Bikes Direct, so I got a bike at a great price with lifetime service to boot. I am a very happy owner of a Motobecane Immortal Pro, with an Ultegra drivetrain, 105 brifters, FSA compact crank and Cane Creek brakes. I replaced the Shimano wheels with Mavics, resulting in a bike that weighs less than 18 lbs that cost much less than lesser equiped bikes with more "respected" names.

[moschika]

my neighbor recently got a BD bike and loves it. it came with a a full Sram Red groupset, ti frame, etc. all for less, or about the same as the groupset. quality of the frame seems fine, even better then what i've seen on other makes. he got exactly what he ordered.

if he likes, have him buy it, because he'll ride it.

[j__h]

I got my bar hopper fixed gear bike from there. (a bicycle I could lock up outside and not worry too much if it go stolen) You get what you pay for. They shipped the bike out quick and it was exactly what the advertised. Although they could have packed the bike slightly better and like other here have they do need adjustment.

[BostonG]

I got my wife a bike from BD. I was happy with what I got for the $ and the service was great. Even if he doesn’t want to put it together himself, an LBS would charge like $60 or so to assemble and tune it. He may need another minor tune up after a couple months or so though just for cable stretch.

Bigger issue I think is making sure he gets the right size and then fitting the bike (he may need a different stem or something). Again, he can go get a basic fit from an LBS to do this.

If he does have an LBS do all that for him, how much is he really saving in the end? BD definitely is good at making their wares look and sound much less expensive but it may not be.

If he is OK with the online purchase risk (no try before you buy), he can also look at other places (ebay, neuvation, performance, nashbar, and the multitude of others).

Be open to things other than the LBS and if he’s a good friend of yours, accept whatever decision he makes and then help him out – could be fun.

[weltyed]

Thanks for the lols, bro. I just about snorted diet rite on my keyboard.

i thought my family was the only one that bought diet rite.

if only they still made like cola.

[Argentius]

Curses! New forum button dealie killed my response.

In short: they are bikes that do not explode, but I don't really approve of their model. Yours truly is biased, though, from working at a "real bike company."