June 8th, 2011
If you are reading this, chances are you have heard about Bikes Direct and you are wondering if you should purchase a bike from them. In this review I am going to attempt to help you answer that question. In answering that question, I'm going to share some of the research I did that played a major roll in my decision to purchase a mountain bike from them, and I hope that this will help you decide whether or not to buy your next bike from them.
At first, I was really leary of Bikes Direct. I had read a lot of bad things about them, primarily in online forums, such as mtbr.com. However, what I discovered is that most people who said bad things about them didn't purchase a bike at all from them - they were just bad mouthing Bikes Direct because they don't carry "big names" like Trek or Specialized.
After doing more research on some of the bikes that Bikes Direct carries, I noticed that the parts that many of them had were as good or better than the parts you would get on a bike at the bike store, except you would save several hundred dollars for a similar bike. I also discovered that in some cases, their bikes were actually re-branded versions of name brand bikes like Fuji.
After doing more research, it seemed like most people who actually purchased form Bikes Direct were happy with their purchases, although things did go wrong, at times. For example, someone might be missing a small part that they need for their brakes, or they might have some other minor problem, which Bikes Direct promptly took care of.
In the end, I was able to conclude that Bikes Direct is good company, with quality products, that took care of its customers, so I placed an order for a mountain bike. Overall, I'm very happy with my bike. I will say that one of the drawbacks of ordering from Bikes Direct is that you need to do your own maintenance and adjustments, which can be very difficult if you are not very mechanically inclined. However, if you want to save some money, while still getting a quality bike, Bikes Direct is a great way to go!
Tags: Bikes Direct, Bikes Direct Review, Bikes Direct Scam, Online Bike Stores
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June 8th, 2011
The 2011 Windsor Cliff 4500 is a great bike for a great price. Most of the components on it are comparable to what you will find
on Trek and Giant bikes priced between $500 and $600 aat your local bike store. In short, at $300, the Windsor Cliff 4500 is
a steal. The Tektro mechanical disc brakes are nothing fancy, but they stop fine. The RST Capa forks have a lockout feature
which allows you to have a smoother ride on flat surfaces. This is especialy beneficial when going up hills. The Shimano
Alivio rear deraillure makes shifting a breeze.
There is also an older 2011 Windsor Cliff 4500 model avaialable for $350. Besides the price, the main difference are the frame
and the fork. The newer Cliff models come with a hydroformed frame, while the older models have a more traditional geometry,
which for most people, works fine. The 2010 Cliff 4500 model also comes with a Rockshox Dart 1 fork, which in many ways is better
than the RST Capa that the newer model comes in, except it doesn't have the lock out feature.
As of this review, all of the 2011 Windsor Cliff 4500 models were sold out, but there were some 2010 models available. In
either case, you are getting a lot of bike for your buck, so don't hesitate to buy!
One more thing: if you order from Bikes Direct, be prepared to do your own maintenance, including some assembly and set up of
the bike. This part isn't so bad, but the adjustments can be rather difficult, especially when it comes to adjusting the
deraillurs. A local bike store can do this for you for about $35 after you put it together, which is almost the equivalent in what
you would pay in sales tax in many states.
Tags: Bikes Direct Windsor Cliff, Windsor Cliff 4500, Windsor Cliff 4500 Review, Windsor Cliff Bikes Direct
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February 21st, 2011
If you don't mind the chrome color, the Motobecane 700 HT is an awesome bike. With Shimano Deore front and rear (XT) deraillurs, shifting is going to be very smooth. It also has 27 speeds, which comes in handy when you need an extra gear for steep hills. RockShox Dart II forks will absorb many bumps, and provide a lockout option for long stretches or flat trails or hiss climing. Double
Wall rims add extra strengh when jumping.
If you do purchase this bike, one thing to keep in mind, as with all mail order bikes is that you will have to do the assembly and maintenance yourself, which a local bike store will provide for free if you purchase your bike from them. Of course, you will have to pay an extra $200 - $400 for the same calibur bike, so that is something you will have to keep in mind as well.
One of the weaknesses of this bike is the seat, so you may need to invest a few dollars into a new one. You may also have problems with the seat post. You may also find the rear deraillur a bit tricky to fine tune, which a local bike store will do for you at a small cost. In any case, the Motobecane 700 HT is a very solid bike for the money, and fiding a comparable bike for the same amount of money at your local bike store will be extremely difficult...
Tags: Motobecane 700 HT, Motobecane 700 HT Review
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February 21st, 2011
The Motobecane 600 HT is a great bike for under $500. You can get one from BikesDirect.com, and they won't charge you shipping, or sales tax for that matter in 49 states.
The Motobecane 600 HT is similar to the 500 HT in many respects, but there are some minor differences. The first thing you will notice is that the 600 HT has RockShox Dart 2 forks, which are very rare to find on a bike for less than $600 at your local bike store.
The other difference is in the shifting - the Motobecane 600 HT comes with an Alivio front derailleur (one step above the Altus) and a Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur. You will also notice a difference in the shifters.
The Motobecane 600 HT also comes with a better wheelset and brakes than the 500 HT. It does cost $110 more, so if it is in your budget, it is a relatively small price to pay for the upgrades you get. Either way, you are going to get a fun bike to ride on the trails, and you won't find it too hard to keep up with the guys on $800 bikes!
Tags: Motobecane 600 HT, Motobecane 600 HT Review
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February 9th, 2011
If you are reading this, you are probably asking yourself whether or not you should buy a Motobecane 500 HT. Well, if all you have is $320 to spend and you are looking for the best bike for the money, the the answer is a definate yes!
The Motobecane 500 HT is a great bike for money. At only $320, it has the specs of a $500 to $700 bike at your local bike store. Of course, as with all mail order bikes, you are going to have to do all of the maintenance yourself, which can be a drawback if you are not very mechanically inclined, but you can learn how to maintain your bike for free with online videos at places like youtube.com.
The Motobecane 500 HT is one of the few selling bikes under $600 that you can get with Lockout forks. These forks alone sell for as much as $96 online, so considering you get a WHOLE BIKE for only a few hundred dollars more shows you how much value you get in this bike.
The Motobecane 500 HT is equipped with a Shimano Deore rear derailure, which will make shifting a breeze. The front derailure is nothing to brag about, but you can find new Shimano Deore front derailurs on eBay for as little as $10, so upgrading it will not break the bank.
Overall, the Motobecane 500 HT is an awesome bike for the money. Are there better bikes out there? Sure, but many people are paying DOUBLE the price at their local bike store for the same quality bike, or THREE TIMES the money for a bike that isn't a whole lot better. Bottom line is if you want a good quality bike on a shoe string budget, the Motobecane 500 HT is one of your best bets.
Tags: Motobecane 500 HT, Motobecane 500 HT Review
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February 9th, 2011
At $309, the Motobecane 400 HT is hard to beat compared to other mountain bikes in this price range. For starters, it is a 24 speed, and comes with Shimano Acera shifting that is nothing spectacular, but will get the job done for entry level mountain bikers. Additionally, it comes with disk brakes, which is very hard to find in this price range. The RST Capa forks with 80 mm of travel will smoothen out rides on the trails.
If you do decide to purchase a Motobecane 400 HT, it is important to keep in mind that you will need to maintain it yourself. This is something you can usually get for free when you buy a mountain bike at your local bike store, but you would have to pay an extra $100 to $200 for the same quality bike.
At some point after your Motobecane 400 HT has some wear on it, you may want to upgrade some of the components, such as the derailurs and the forks. This can be done relatively inexpensively on eBay. For example, Shimano Deore front derailurs are selling for as low as $10. You can also find great deals on other parts, such as Rock Shox forks.
Overall, the Motobecane 400 HT is a great entry level bike that you can get at a very reasonable price. If you are looking for something a little more advanced, you can pick up a Motobecane 500 HT for only a few dollars more, which will give you better shifting and a better fork.
Tags: Motobecane 400 HT, Motobecane 400 HT Review
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February 9th, 2011
The Motobecane 300 HT is the most basic model you can get in the HT line of bikes. The MSRP is listed at $499, but you can purchase this model for $259, which is a very difficult price to match at your local bike store for an entry level bike.
The components on the Motobecane 300 HT are nothing fancy. You get tektro V-brakes Shimano Altus and Acera derailurs, with an RST Fork with 80 mm of travel. You will not get disc brakes, so if this is something important to you, it is recommened that you consider at the very minimum a Motobecane 400 HT.
Unlike the higher priced Motobecane HT models, one of the differences you will notice with the Motobecane 300 HT is that it has larger front sprockets. The advantage of this is that you can go faster, which is a benefit on flat trails or if you are going to do a lot of street riding. On the other hand, when you are on a steep hill and are climbing, it might be hard for you to keep up with your buddies!
Overall, the Motobecane 300 HT is a great bike for the money if you are on a tight budget. One thing to keep in mind is that you will have to do any maintenence yourself on this bike. However, this bike is much better than something you could find in a department store, and is just as good or better than some of the lower end models at sporting goods stores.
Tags: Motobecane 300 HT, Motobecane 300 HT Review
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April 29th, 2010
The Trek 820 mountain bike is one of the best bikes you can get for the price. The Trek 820 is comporable to other mountain bikes that cost $200 - $300 more, and is a great bike for anyone wanting to start mountain biking, or just having a quality bike to ride through the neighborhood.
The rapid fire shifting is much better than a lot of grip shifting you will find on other bikes for only $100 or so less. You can also upgrade your Trek 820 very easily with other components, since the initial cost won't make a huge dent in your wallet.
The main drawback of the Trek 820 is that is comes in a steel frame, which means it will be a little heavier than some bikes made from aluminum, but some mountain bikers prefer steel to aluminum, as steel often gives a quiter ride. If, however, you prefer an aluminun frame, you can get a Trek 3700, which is the exact same thing as a Trek 820, except the 3700 has an aluminum frame and cost about $50 more.
You may need to get a more comfortable seat after you buy one, and if you do a lot of very hard riding, you may want to consider a different bike with higher quality components that will hold up better.
All that aside, if you are a new to mountain biking, the Trek 820 is an awesome bike!
Tags: Trek 820 Mountain Bike, Trek 820 Mountain Bike For Sale, Used Trek 820 Mountain Bike For Sale
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April 29th, 2010
The Trek 4300 is contructed from a lightweight aluminum frame that is very strong. It is well suited for different kinds of terrain. The components on this bike could be a little better, but it is still a great bike for the money. This bike is best suited for light to intermediate off road use. While this bike is not is not designed for "hardcore" mountain bike trails, many Trek 4300 owners will tell you that this bike can take a beating!
Tags: Trek 4300, Trek 4300 Mountain Bike, Trek 4300 Mountain Bike For Sale
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April 29th, 2010
The Trek 4500 is a great bike for beginning mountain bikers as it was built with manueverability in mind. It is great for light offroad or paved trails, although hardcore mountain bikers might require a bike with a higher component group. This bike climbs very well and is very comfortable to ride on do to Trek's superb geometry. One great feature of this bike is that you can lock out the suspension, which will make the bike more stable if you want to take it for a ride on the open road.
Tags: Trek 4500 Mountain Bike, Trek 4500 Mountain Bike For Sale, Used Trek 4500 Mountain Bike For Sale
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