Tax Refund=New Bike...what do you think?
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Posts: 478
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tax Refund=New Bike...what do you think?
A very good friend of mine owns a bike shop near me, and I almost always go to him for purchases...his shop is where I bought my Marin Muirwoods commuter bike, which I am very happy with.
I am looking to get on a mid level road bike, and he sells KHS brand bikes. He has offered me a discount on a 2008 KHS Flite 500, which he normally sells for a little over a grand, for 700 dollars. I have researched them and they seem like good bikes, but I can't get a review online anywhere...
It has carbon chain stays, fork, and seat post...the rest is double butted aluminum. I am going to test ride tomorrow probably, but I won't purchase until I get my tax refund.
What do you guys think of this bike?
https://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_500_08.htm
I am looking to get on a mid level road bike, and he sells KHS brand bikes. He has offered me a discount on a 2008 KHS Flite 500, which he normally sells for a little over a grand, for 700 dollars. I have researched them and they seem like good bikes, but I can't get a review online anywhere...
It has carbon chain stays, fork, and seat post...the rest is double butted aluminum. I am going to test ride tomorrow probably, but I won't purchase until I get my tax refund.
What do you guys think of this bike?
https://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_500_08.htm
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Davis, CA
Posts: 1,183
Bikes: K2 Zed 3.0; Motobecane Le Champion; Pedal Force RS; IRO BFGB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tax Refund = Pay Off Credit cards and put towards wedding if there is anything left.
#4
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Tax Refund = I.O.U. if you live in CA
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#5
Prefers Aluminum
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Honolulu
Posts: 2,669
Bikes: Wife: Trek 5200, C'dale Rush Feminine, Vitus 979 Me: Felt S25, Cervelo Soloist, C'dale Killer V500, Miyata Pro (fixie)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Sounds like a good deal. One thing you may want to consider - Tektro brakes don't come with very good pads. Upgrade to Kool-Stops and you should be fine. It's a very inexpensive upgrade.
Congratulations on your weight loss - that's quite a feat!
Congratulations on your weight loss - that's quite a feat!
#7
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,369
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,203 Times
in
689 Posts
I know Funny, too, because they charge you a $2 "fee" if you owe them money (because they didn't get to make interest off of it) but I doubt they will give you any compensation for keeping your money. I wish I could send them my return with an invoice for $2 extra
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 229
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have that bike and I don't have any complaints. Although if I could go back in time I would have saved up $1200-ish and bought a bike with at least a 105 groupset. Unfortunately I didn't realize that I would take to road cycling as much as I did so I chose not to spend that much on my first new bike.
I don't want to offer too much of a review because I have so little to compare it to but feel free to ask any specific questions that you might have.
I don't want to offer too much of a review because I have so little to compare it to but feel free to ask any specific questions that you might have.
#9
Edificating
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland
Posts: 2,452
Bikes: Spooky + Sachs
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
You do realize people are buying negative yield treasury bills right?
I give ~$20 more on each paycheck than claiming 0 so I dont spend it on bike shwagg... if more americans did that.. or other forms of actually saving money we would have a lot less problems.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,174
Bikes: 2007 Pergoretti Marcelo
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Of course this only applies to your state return.
for now!
for now!
__________________
Visit my blog -->MyOrangeBike
"There is love and there is work, and we only have one heart." Edgar Degas
Visit my blog -->MyOrangeBike
"There is love and there is work, and we only have one heart." Edgar Degas
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Hammerville
Posts: 779
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
for an entry level bike it looks good. I have heard fine things about the microshift shifters. for 500 with that much carbon go for it.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 526
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tax Refund = Bike shwag = Good for the economy
Unless you are drowning in debt and/or losing your home to foreclosure, save up a bit more like the others have said and get a bike with at least a 105 group. Don't want to sound like such a shill here, but do look at Bikes Direct. For the same amount of money, you can get a much better bike with better components. If you can save up just an additional $195 on top of that $700, you can get one of these.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../falkirkIX.htm
I personally think the specs on this bike is far better than the KHS offering AND you get Ultegra! Free shipping and no sales tax. Both my bikes are mail order too and I love em!
Unless you are drowning in debt and/or losing your home to foreclosure, save up a bit more like the others have said and get a bike with at least a 105 group. Don't want to sound like such a shill here, but do look at Bikes Direct. For the same amount of money, you can get a much better bike with better components. If you can save up just an additional $195 on top of that $700, you can get one of these.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../falkirkIX.htm
I personally think the specs on this bike is far better than the KHS offering AND you get Ultegra! Free shipping and no sales tax. Both my bikes are mail order too and I love em!
#13
Despite all my rage, I am
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,613
Bikes: LeMond Zurich, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Posts: 478
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How much would it be to just replace the stock stuff with 105 or Ultrega, or better yet Dura Ace?
#17
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Posts: 478
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What is the reasoning behind wanting 105 or even full tiagra? Is there anything wrong with the flite 500 set up?
#18
Prefers Aluminum
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Honolulu
Posts: 2,669
Bikes: Wife: Trek 5200, C'dale Rush Feminine, Vitus 979 Me: Felt S25, Cervelo Soloist, C'dale Killer V500, Miyata Pro (fixie)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
This is something you need to experience yourself. Ask your friend if you can try out a few of the bikes in his shop so you can feel the difference. Then you can decide if it's money well spent.
#19
I don't even own a cat...
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 424
Bikes: 2008 LG sonix 6.4, 2002 KHS Flite 500, 1999 Big Sur Gary Fisher
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a 2002 KHS flight 500. I perfectly think that it is worth the money for entry level. My bike is still going strong for only having Sora stuff. It shifts well for a triple crank. It is what got me to buy a higher end bike. I plan to upgrade my components on the KHS because I love the feel of the steel and it is a basic classic design. It will be my heavy fun thrasher bike.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,020
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't know. I've never tried anything but 105 (except for two very brief occasions), but I might be worried about reliability if your plan on really riding this thing.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SE Minnesota
Posts: 12,275
Bikes: are better than yours.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Tax Refund = Bike shwag = Good for the economy
Unless you are drowning in debt and/or losing your home to foreclosure, save up a bit more like the others have said and get a bike with at least a 105 group. Don't want to sound like such a shill here, but do look at Bikes Direct. For the same amount of money, you can get a much better bike with better components. If you can save up just an additional $195 on top of that $700, you can get one of these.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../falkirkIX.htm
I personally think the specs on this bike is far better than the KHS offering AND you get Ultegra! Free shipping and no sales tax. Both my bikes are mail order too and I love em!
Unless you are drowning in debt and/or losing your home to foreclosure, save up a bit more like the others have said and get a bike with at least a 105 group. Don't want to sound like such a shill here, but do look at Bikes Direct. For the same amount of money, you can get a much better bike with better components. If you can save up just an additional $195 on top of that $700, you can get one of these.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../falkirkIX.htm
I personally think the specs on this bike is far better than the KHS offering AND you get Ultegra! Free shipping and no sales tax. Both my bikes are mail order too and I love em!
A very good friend of mine owns a bike shop near me, and I almost always go to him for purchases...his shop is where I bought my Marin Muirwoods commuter bike, which I am very happy with.
I am looking to get on a mid level road bike, and he sells KHS brand bikes. He has offered me a discount on a 2008 KHS Flite 500, which he normally sells for a little over a grand, for 700 dollars. I have researched them and they seem like good bikes, but I can't get a review online anywhere...
It has carbon chain stays, fork, and seat post...the rest is double butted aluminum. I am going to test ride tomorrow probably, but I won't purchase until I get my tax refund.
What do you guys think of this bike?
https://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_500_08.htm
I am looking to get on a mid level road bike, and he sells KHS brand bikes. He has offered me a discount on a 2008 KHS Flite 500, which he normally sells for a little over a grand, for 700 dollars. I have researched them and they seem like good bikes, but I can't get a review online anywhere...
It has carbon chain stays, fork, and seat post...the rest is double butted aluminum. I am going to test ride tomorrow probably, but I won't purchase until I get my tax refund.
What do you guys think of this bike?
https://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_500_08.htm
#24
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Berea, Kentucky
Posts: 478
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#25
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Yeah - aware of that, but I'm with the other poster - I don't like to make a habit of giving the state a long term interest free loan.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell