996

Hi All,

Does anyone have any experience with this road bike? I am wondering about the quality of the frame from Bikes Direct. I bought an old Motobecane track around 6 years ago from BD and the frame is holding up great (parts are a bit cheap, but they have been upgraded over the years).

This model comes with a great spec sheet - link below:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...road-bikes.htm

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Really interested in a higher quality steel frame. This seems too good to be true with the components/wheels and etc.

Thank you!

deacon mark

It should be a fine bike. I am assuming in steel based on specs it is still a threaded bottom bracket. If not then I would not buy the bike going steel you want a thread BB. In that case you might want to put a shinamo crank on it I think it will be much better. Finally if you are going that amount of money you might want to spend more cash and get a titanium frame. Not a lot more and if they your size there Ti bikes are a great deal. Personally since I went to Ti I would not go to steel and CF is not better either.

Darth Lefty 

It’s a time capsule. Can you not find a Lemond?

Gconan

It looks like a fantastic deal!

mstateglfr 

time capsule? How so?

Darth Lefty 

except for the sloping top tube and carbon crank it might as well be from Y2K

996

The weight of the bike is what has caught my attention along with the group set. Reynolds 853 is appealing as well. I have been thinking about Titanium too, but I have a soft spot for light steel. The BB is threaded too.

Darth Lefty deacon mark

mstateglfr 

Carbon fork, modern 11speed Ultegra r8000 drivetrain and brakes, modern carbon compact crank, road geometry angles and CS length, modern gear ratios, and quality wheels.

I'm genuinely not sure what more you are looking for in a paved road bike with regard to modernization.
there just isnt a lot of effective(meaningful) change in the last couple decades.

Darth Lefty 

Modern gear ratios lol.

It’s a fine bike... just like a Lemond Zurich. If you compare it to something like a Wraith, it’s really obviously not up to date.

mstateglfr 

Modern gear ratio, yes. It's a compact crank with an 11-34 cassette. That is modern.
It is completely different from what was offered 20 years ago, which is why it's worth mentioning as a difference. Not sure why you laugh at that since it's an extremely distinctive difference.

As for a Wraith- a paved road bike simply doesnt need disc brakes or a 44mm head tube and tapered steerer. Its trendy to utilize those things on modern steel road bikes, but that head tube and steerer(plus disc reinforcement) makes for a seriously stiff front end- beyond the stiffness many(most?) cyclists would benefit from.
A Hustle frame has the same bb drop, similar/same CS length, very similar HTA and STA, and uses quality tubing similar in general to 853(Life). Point being- how much better will it be exactly, when much of a ride's feel is geometry and wheels?
It's really nice. The frameset alone is also almost the same price as a full Gran Premio, so kinda getting towards comparing apples to oranges.

Gconan

I don't see how that deal can be beat. Fantastic group, fantastic weight (even if a pound over) and fantastic steel. All at the lowest prices. The only bummer is ", the clearances around the wheels sufficient for most tires up to 700x25c".
I am really enjoying my 32mm GP5000 Tubeless.

996

Thank you all for the input and suggestions. Will let you know what I decide.

Tusk

Go look at the mulekick in their gravel bike area.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...avel-bikes.htm

delbiker1 

That is a really nice bike for the price. Just what I need, another bike to ponder.

downhillmaster

This.
Lack of tire clearance is a deal killer for a lot of peeps.