Originally Posted by
T-Mar
Their poor reputations stams from the inexperiended, cheap labour they used to assemble these bicycle. All they really needed were competent mechanics, which was the ace up the LBS' sleeve.
Not only that, but the poor quality parts the manufacturers spec'd them with. I've had and have some Schwinns, Dawes, Peugeot, Raleigh, and others that weren't primo as a frameset, but not junk, either. Taking off the junk parts...Simplex, Huret, Shimano, Sunrace, and bottom of the barrel Suntour ...and replacing them with the good stuff makes a world of difference.