So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Taylor74 » Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:02 pm
First issue is that it automatically changed gears from 1 to 4 or 5 over 1000 meters, frustrating when your going up hills. Next was the handle bars kept twisting back towards me as I was riding. Now I'm a mechanic by trade so when I say I had them tight, I mean super tight. Fixed that issue by sliding the bar from the clamp, center punching the bar and reassembling with lock tight.
The bike came with slightly buckled rims, if you use the front brakes they would wake half the neighbourhood dogs with the high pitch squeal.
The pedal crank creaks as your pedaling, compaire the crank length to any other MTB ant they are short making it hard work to ride, ohh yes, and the seat hurts your bum.
The only reason I brought one was I was not sure that I would stick to cycling so I didn't want to waist my money on a good bike if I wasn't going to keep with riding.
It almost destroyed all ideas of keeping with cycling, just lucky I met some people that loaned me a decent bike until I got my new one.
Surely there has to be a way to have these bikes taken off the market for not everyone know people that can keep them interested in cycling once there ideas are broken by these pieces of junk!
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Sun Feb 23, 2014 7:45 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby phineas » Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:18 pm
I did the same just over 12 months ago.Taylor74 wrote: The only reason I brought one was I was not sure that I would stick to cycling so I didn't want to waist my money on a good bike if I wasn't going to keep with riding.
Bought a Diamond Back from Big W, annoyingly not the cheapest. Just under $200.
Random gear changes, pedals broke (replaced them), seat started to get a lean on it (clearly I don't sit straight).
Realised I was really liking riding and so it was worth spending more at a bike shop.
Then the pedal came completely off with it's attached metal part, couldn't work out if it was fixable, so off I went straight away to get a better bike. The Diamond Back lasted about 6 months.
Spent about $600 on a Giant Seek and 30 secs into the first ride, was absolutely kicking myself that I hadn't bought it (or any quality bike!) first.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby tekapo » Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:55 pm
Probably a good reason to go Aldi, if you really want to get a BSO. Hassle free return process.ldrcycles wrote:On the other hand, I bought a Diamondback Bronco for my father-in-law 2 Christmases ago and it's still going strong. The problem is they have zero QC, and if you lose the chinese lottery, you lose big time as you found.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby munga » Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:42 am
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:24 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby munga » Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:00 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Marmoset » Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:41 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby koshari » Tue May 20, 2014 9:27 pm
anyway anyone willing to take a punt on the "Hyper 700c Racer from BIG W"
Versus the Target Cyclops 700C Alloy Road Bike?
BTW whats the deal with the bars on both these models being so low you would never be able to reach the brake lever if you wanted to ?
maybe its a rule in the 6speed rear freewheel racing class?
i also find it interesting they share the same livery? all the way down to the 3 stripes on the top and down tubes.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby warthog1 » Tue May 20, 2014 10:08 pm
Bloody hell they are a new low even for those 2 stores surely?
WTH is going on with those handlebars
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Tue May 20, 2014 10:13 pm
If i had the money i would be buying at least one of those 2 straightaway and entering a race on it for giggles .
Maybe the brake lever thing is getting the "tips lined up with the drops" rule a bit confused? Not too surprising about the colour schemes though, it would be pretty likely they are out of the same factory.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Wed May 21, 2014 10:06 am
There's a couple I've seen now and they aren't that bad to look at. The LBS looks forward to them but the punters do tend to arc up when the basic service costs more than the bike...
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Mububban » Wed May 21, 2014 1:20 pm
Pfft, who needs brakes? You buy a racing bike to go fast, brakes make you slow down, thus they are obviously not requiredkoshari wrote:BTW whats the deal with the bars on both these models being so low you would never be able to reach the brake lever if you wanted to ?
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby TDC » Wed May 21, 2014 3:01 pm
Imagine if you wonldrcycles wrote: If i had the money i would be buying at least one of those 2 straightaway and entering a race on it for giggles .
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby koshari » Wed May 21, 2014 4:07 pm
you already have if you landed one of those babysTDC wrote: Imagine if you won
good point.Pfft, who needs brakes? You buy a racing bike to go fast, brakes make you slow down, thus they are obviously not required
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Wed May 21, 2014 4:44 pm
Crikey that is cheap! I thought it was more like $150. Even so, i am that broke at the moment . I'm a cyclist with a wife and a house rebuild, it's just a bottomless pit .silentbutdeadly wrote:Given the Cyclops bike from Target is 'only' $49...just how broke are you? Cheap frameset if nothing else...
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby PomBike » Thu May 22, 2014 6:21 am
$49? $49?? $49!!!ldrcycles wrote:Crikey that is cheap! I thought it was more like $150. Even so, i am that broke at the moment . I'm a cyclist with a wife and a house rebuild, it's just a bottomless pit .silentbutdeadly wrote:Given the Cyclops bike from Target is 'only' $49...just how broke are you? Cheap frameset if nothing else...
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Tue Jul 01, 2014 9:14 pm
Yesterday i saw my first wild Repco Preset for a long time, fitted with BMX bars, rider wearing thongs and no helmet, and a bag of shopping dangling from each end of the bars .
I've been in the local Big W looking at the Diamondback 29er as a potential cheap source of a disc braked road bike for doing hill repeats (the one and only application for which discs are not the ruination of all mankind!). The only thing holding me back at the moment (besides lack of funds) is the fact the frame has a 58cm top tube, i usually take a 56 but i have got one bike that's 58 with a short stem so maybe..
And very exciting stuff, i actually found a Repco Origami at the tip a few weeks back! I've wanted one for ages but there was no way i could justify the price ($170 or something). The mudguards were a bit battered, rusty steel V brakes, bent bars and stem and the shifter was pretty much cactus. I popped on some aluminium V brakes off another BSO, Weinmann brake levers, Alps stem, some weird super narrow north road bars and an Altus friction stem shifter and pumped up the tyres.
Amazingly (especially given i'm 6'2 so i look like a clown when i'm riding it ) it actually rides pretty well. The front end is way too low with the current bars but i'll be swapping them for some cruiser bars soon. I was amazed to find the much feared plastic TZ30 rear derailleur actually shifts REALLY well with a friction shifter, not quite SunTour Cyclone but certainly miles better than a TY18 or the old Huret Svelto on one of my bikes. So this one's a keeper, especially if i manage to unstick the frame hinge .
EDIT: apologies for poor quality mobile phone picture. Hey this is the Big W thread, you shouldn't expect anything of quality here right?
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:57 am
Just don't. The D'back is way too heavy to justify the cheapskate cable disc brakes as reasonable hill stoppers. If you want a cheapskate disc roadie then find a 700C disc road fork that'll fit one of your frames, a disc front wheel, a 140mm disc and whack a BB7 or Hayes CX caliper on the fork and away you go.ldrcycles wrote: I've been in the local Big W looking at the Diamondback 29er as a potential cheap source of a disc braked road bike for doing hill repeats (the one and only application for which discs are not the ruination of all mankind!). The only thing holding me back at the moment (besides lack of funds) is the fact the frame has a 58cm top tube, i usually take a 56 but i have got one bike that's 58 with a short stem so maybe..
Good pick up with the Origami by the by...
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:26 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby tcdev » Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:54 pm
I've just spent 2 weeks convincing my wife that buying anything less than a 2015 Giant XTC Advanced 29er 1 would be akin to flushing my money down the toilet. And now this post about how sweet your $98 ride is???
If my wife ever gets wind of this, I'm coming after you, ldrcycles!
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby koshari » Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:00 pm
bet the forks cost more than the bike did.ldrcycles wrote:The frame itself is actually half decent, and the discs are little different from the Tektros that i had when i was doing XC. The forks would account for a huge chunk of weight in spite of looking incredibly flimsy. But fitting a disc fork to a road frame is a great idea, i don't know why that never occurred to me. To ebay!
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:15 am
As for the frame itself being decent...it's decent in terms of being attractive alloy scrap. But a 1" head tube and scattergun machine welding do not inspire confidence in decency.
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