MidTNBrad

It seems like every day there is a question from someone asking advice about a certain make and model of bike they are looking to purchase and wondering if it is a good bike. I don't think I've ever seen someone say "Nope, I've had that bike and hated it. Stay away." Most of the replies seem to be from people who love their bikes (including me) and want to share the reason why. Does anyone not like their bike? If so, why?
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Greatestalltime

Nope. Everyone loves their bike. If they spend enough.

freeranger

I like my bike, but it's an 06 LeMond road bike, aluminum frame. I would recommend it, if it was still made, would mention it is a little more of a "stretched out" position. It has been, and still is, a bike I could recommend. But It's a moot point. Don't know a thing about the new LeMonds.

daoswald

The Cannondale Quick I own as a commuter/utility/casual-ride bike is fine, but it's the "CX" model with front suspension. I leave it locked out all the time. I wouldn't have bought it new, with suspension. But the price was right when I bought it used.

So while I really do like the bike for the applications to which I put it, I would have preferred the non-suspended model had one been available used when I was in the market.

This is my general feeling overall; Most people who buy hybrids would be better off with a non-suspension version; lighter, more aerodynamic, fewer moving parts, often easier to mount fenders to if needed, and a little more energy-transfer efficient. So I still recommend this bike but given the choice would suggest the non-suspension model.

Seattle Forrest

I wouldn't recommend mine if you were going to do most of your riding on bad gravel, or all uphill.

WhyFi

For the most part, bikes are pretty competent... if you buy the appropriate bike for your wants/needs and budget.

Lrdchaos

I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t recommend their bike. For the most part components are the same across the board, so the only real difference in the frame. And if you bought your size frame it should fit and work fine. I have seen people for instance not recommend their aero bike if someone is looking for a endurance bike....so I guess that counts.

smashndash

Ok I’ll pitch in. I own an Allez Sprint and I wouldn’t recommend it... unless you are a SERIOUS crit racer doing 10+ races a season and cannot afford to crash a carbon bike.

The Allez Sprint has almost 0 compliance. It beats me to a pulp within 50-60 miles. The slower you go, the more it hurts.

I think there are probably more comfortable alloy alternatives, like the caad13. I can’t say for sure that the allez sprint has any real advantages over the caad in a race besides aesthetics and street cred.

Darth Lefty 

No, you can't have my bike

CliffordK

If you recommend YOUR bike... I have a pair of bolt cutters. Where do you park it, and I'll go get it?

CliffordK

There are aspects that I do like, and don't like about all of my bikes, and things that I might do the same if I was to replace it, and things I might do differently.

One thing that @Seattle Forrest alluded to. We get quite a few people that hop onto Bike Forums and ask "What Bicycle Should I buy".

One should follow up with a question of what kind of riding the person does or wishes to do. And, of course some details about the person.

One person might choose a cargo bike, while another chooses a racing bike. One person might be fine with 20 spoke wheels, and the next might do better with 36 spoke wheels.

Does a half century old bike fit your riding needs? Or perhaps a carbon wonder-bike?

I've experimented with higher gearing than some riders. But, that doesn't necessarily fit for all.

chainwhip

I'd think this reply fits the OP's original intent v. well.

smashndash:
Q1: What's the largest tire size you've run? Was that on modern, wider internal-width rims?
Q2: What's the largest tire size the Sprint can fit practically?

Russ Roth

I just didn't buy or quickly got rid of the bikes I didn't like and I'm happy to say good things about what I did.

OldTryGuy

Bought in 2002 for $100.00 at Target my 7spd, Magna Hybrid has 10,000+ minimally maintained miles.

zatopek

I’ll bite. My Cipollini RB800 beat the crap out of me after only 35 to 40 miles. It is one of the prettiest frames I have ridden and handled impeccably. But, it vibrated the heck out of me on the same wheels, tires and inflation pressures I used on my other bikes. The only worse road frame I have owned was a first generation Specialized E5 aluminum frame. I only rode that frame 3 times before I sold it.
Now, I alternate between my Alchemy Helios and HIA Velo Founder frames and I am a very happy cyclist indeed.

aplcr0331

Q1. I have an internal width of 18mm and outter width of 23mm.

Q2. I’ve run Panaracer 28’s and GP5000 28’s depending on the season. They fit fine, no problems.

I don’t race that many Crits. My fit is dialed in great, I’ve got carbon bars and run the tires below 100psi and the ride is quite comfortable. More comfortable than my Triban RC520 with Gatorskins. No problem on long rides.

Fit and tires (plus pressure)make a world of difference.

taco2ewsday

Ehh I probably should have gotten the Checkpoint AL3 but the discount on the end of year Topstone Sora was too attractive as someone who wasn't sure how serious they would be riding, The checkpoint has a more complete Sora groupset, I didn't realize I was getting a Sq taper crank just got awestruck by a deal. but oh well riding this till the wheels fall off.

billridesbikes

No. My latest bike is a custom lugged stainless steel frame and fork married with modern components so the bike weighs 17.1lbs. It was an expensive and time consuming project. It resulted in a beautiful bike with great ride characteristics. But I’m not sure I would ever recommend this route to anyone except the most fanatical custom bike devotees.

MoreLowGears

I don't recommend getting a '98 Diamondback Interval. The geometry is such that there's almost no wheel flop, and as a result the front end is super twitchy. As soon as you take pressure off the front end the bars will try to swerve left or right. I actually crashed at a stop sign because when I tried to wave a car on the bike just slid out from under me. I've ridden fast-w handling race bikes like the Tipo Corsa and the Tarmac but this was too much.

bruce19

I would not recommend any of my 4 bikes. I love each of them but I have no idea if they would work for anyone else. All I can offer is my experience.

indyfabz

Yes for the road bike. I don't want anyone to have the exact same bike as I do. One of the reasons I bought it.

No for the touring bike. It gets the job done.

smashndash

I have 25c Vittoria Corsa TLRs stretched out to 30mm on my 23i rims. I run them at 50-55psi. With rim brakes, I think the biggest tire I can run is probably a measured 32... but then I’m damn near shaving paint off the fork. Might go for a measured 32 rear soon.

Not saying my setup is the most comfortable out there. I’d go for a 19-20i low profile alloy rim with a 28mm tire if I wanted max compliance from the wheel/tire. But choosing your wheelset based on compliance for road is absurd on its face. The frame should have enough compliance to completely overwhelm any differences in rim compliance.

Here’s where things get crazy about recommendations - people’s perceptions are different. So even if I say “this bike is too harsh. I’d only get it for racing”, someone else might not think so. They might think it’s a great bike for endurance gravel racing. I’m also not saying that I cannot do long rides on this. I have done several centuries on it and not died.

Anyway, what we’ve learned here is that you can’t simply take requirements into account when making a recommendation. You have to take into account human factors like preferences and perceptions.

noodle soup

I would not recommend a Domane for a person with a long torso, or people with average proportions, that want the handlebars much lower than the saddle.

It does work well for people with a short torso, and long legs.

Cypress

I wouldn't recommend my road bike for anyone that doesn't/can't be hunkered down into a somewhat-aero position. My hoods are lower than most people's drops and my 130mm stem stretches the rider out a bit. Not quite as aggressive as my old MadOne, but hey, we all get old.

ls01

I currently own 4 Tarmacs. '07, '09, '11, and '16. Everyone should ride a Tarmac.