gus6464

The problem with Canyon is they have started to get a bit overzealous with the whole proprietary crap a la Giant and Specialized. There is no reason for a CX bike to have custom headset spacers and stem/bars.

cycleworld51

[QUOTE=jon c.;20812161]They've got carbon at just a bit over your target price now.

How are the quality on the Canyon bikes? Thanks.

radroad

Bikes Direct is hyper reluctant to send bikes out to reviewers these days. And I don't think their bikes were all that poorly reviewed on the rare occasions when they have. Which is odd. Their road bikes in particular look pretty darn modern this year. Their mountain bikes look pretty good although of course there are inexplicable anachronistic features and geo here and there.

I don't think I've seen more than 1 or 2 reviews of bikes direct bikes anywhere which went beyond: "I like it." Apparently BD customers who are enthusiasts are too embarrassed to review their bikes whereas ordinary recreational riders couldn't be bothered to post on a bicycling forum.

From what I can tell, BD is a one man operation with a barebones warehouse crew, no customer service personnel and maybe a couple of paid trolls who create accounts on the 1 or 2 or 3 busier bicycling forums. Or maybe it's just the owner. I don't have contempt for this model, but the owner/s have no passion for cycling. It reminds me a lot of the e-bike business where the owners are looking to get rich quick with Chinese imports.

DowneasTTer

[QUOTE=cycleworld51;20816558]I think they are top notch. I don't own a gravel model just a couple of RoadLite CF 9.0s (one for me and one for my wife). If you are interested in my Canyon experience you can check out my thread here: https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bi...roadlites.html.

dwmckee

I'd stay away from the Bikes Direct option. I have a buddy that bought two bikes fron them. The first, a Motobeane road bike with Ultega was not too bad, he had to do a lot of tuning and truing but wound up okay, but his second bike was a gravel bike that he could never get tuned up very well. He finally took it to a shop to see what they could do with it and they put the alignment gauges on it and showed him that the front and back wheels were 3 degrees out of parallel. It looked nice and had an Ultegra derailleur, but it was a piece of crap. Derailleur hanger was bent too. I guess at that price they have to save some mioney somewhere...

greencoffee

I got the kestrel ter-x off of bike island for a $100 off the $2100 listed price from bikes direct. From what I've seen it is in perfect condition, no issues with the frame, wheels or brakes, or anything beyond what any mail order bike would take as far as set up goes. The hydraulic disc brakes were new to me and required a learning curve (youtube helped quite a bit here), but otherwise wheels were true and everything else was set up well.

I used a site, bikegeocalc to help check the bikes geometry and size against my road bike that fits well. This helped dial in the fit as well as stem height and length (which I ended up replacing).

One last comment about the wheels - these are stan's grail s1, which are 28h up front and 32h r. For gravel, these are pretty nice imo, with sturdy sapim force spokes and brass nipples.

So far the bikes is quite good - light, stiff (with a little flex during pedaling) and handles really well, even in tough muddy conditions that I've had last few rides.

The only draw back is the set up, if you don't have tools, work stand, contacting a local bike shop to see if they will do it for you might be a good idea.

ridethetown

So having done my research, I'm off the idea of CF due to the reality that a bike spec'd the way I want would run well in excess of $2k. While the Grail still tugs at my intrigue, I just don't know if I'm willing to take the plunge on a bike that's hard to customize. I'm now leaning very strongly towards the Norco Search XR aluminum with full 105 and hydraulic discs.

CodyDog

86az135i

You could always keep an eye on ebay. It will take more time but some deals can be scored. I bought a used 2016 Trek Boone. Carbon fiber, ultegra, hydraulic for 1000 shipped. Which really it's a $3-4k bike. Frame was in very good condition, just needed a few things to get it running in tip top shape. Tires, new derailleur, saddle, pads, bleed.

fietsbob

Swapped Avid Mechanical disc calipers, for TRP Hy RD, so .. like a bike otherwise , just has Cable Disc Calipers? Hy Rd is an option.

tangerineowl

Another alu option is the previous model Eddy Merckx Strasbourg 71.
Full 105, 2x hydraulic. Takes a 40mm.

You might be able to find a discounted NOS at a dealer.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/05/06/rev...1-gravel-bike/

CliffordK

Another similar option is to hunt for a frame that strikes your fancy, and buy the component group to build it up.

Of course, you have the same issues with rapidly changing standards recently.

QR is out.
Hydro Discs
Thru Axle
Direct Mount brakes...
Etc

So, you may not get the bargain basement frames.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Giant-...e/264226152216

$650 frame. + $45 shipping.

R8020 Groupset, About $1000.

That leaves you with about $300 for the wheels, seat, handlebars, and finishing stuff. Tight, but you could come pretty close to making a bike to your specs without going too far over budget.



R7020 $745
https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano...et-119887.html

And, you're down below the tariff cutoff.

And a little more relaxed for finding the finishing components.

Of course, you can look at other brands too. SRAM, Campagnolo, etc.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SRAM-Force2...f/202616189685

gus6464

The Kestrel is not a bad choice given the budget. They come from the same place as Fuji frames given they the same parent company.

chas58

Screwed unless you want to swap the whole thing out (I know people here that have). That is the biggest drawback (or advantage depending on how you look at it). I love the look and feel of the cockpit, but its not for everyone.

chas58

As good as anything on the market. Pro level quality.

It seems that most any bike that gets shipped in the box is very likely to have a bent derailler hanger. Stories of that with all kinds of brands are rampant with bikes shipped to the customer.

One exception is Canyon - they do an amazing job of packing those bikes up.

OP - if you had asked last year I would have told you to get a Raleigh Rokker. It is one of the best gravel designs out there and was going for about $1700 on closeout. Doubt that there are any left, but you might find something on Ebay. As above, they were rarely delivered to the door with a straight hanger.

Metieval

limiting is dependent on "WHO"

tyrion

On whom.

Metieval

my grammar may suck, but at least I am not sucky limited by a 42/32.

ridethetown

So much praise about Canyon - I still haven't heard a single bad word. Damn I'm conflicted. I might have to fly down to So Cal to ride one before I make up my mind..

redlude97

plenty of bad(not that bad) if you look. Proprietary parts that change from year to year that you wont be able to source from Canyon because they dont make them any more and fail to keep any stock like hangers and headsets etc. Maybe not an issue with how big they are now, but was when they were new and not available in the US

gus6464

The biggest bad and reason why I will never own one is proprietary crap. A $2000 bike should not have special stems, handlebars, and even stupid headset spacers.

ridethetown

I guess I should clarify that the only gripes I'm seeing are exactly in line with my own - complaints about all the proprietary nonsense on principle. It looks ridiculous and it's completely stupid that you can't replace parts for fit, or due to the very likely event of the eventual wreck on a gravel or cross bike. Seriously, WTF? That said, all I see is praise about the functionality, comfort (by and large), and performance of the bike. Damn Germans, why can't they just do this the normal way?!?

redlude97

To be fair, all the big name manufacturers are doing it too, ie dfuse seatpost, futureshock, 1-1/4" steerer tubes, isospeed, bb30a etc.

gus6464

Look at all the MTB only brands making cross/gravel bikes. No proprietary crap on the bike at all. Also 15x100 TA on cross/gravel needs to stay so people can use the plethora of XC wheels out there available at cheap prices.

ridethetown

Enter two new contenders on my quest to find my perfect next steed - both from Kona: The Rove NRB DL, and the Sutra LTD. They're carried by my favorite local MTB shop, who I'd far prefer to give my business to than online or driving down to Sacramento/Bay Area.

The spec on each bike is nice for the just-over $2k price point, each has hydraulic discs, and they run 105 (compact) and Rival (1x11), respectively. The Rove is obviously going to be quite a lot lighter than the Sutra and probably handle closer to my road bike (but with 650's), but it looks like a bike with a bit of an identity crisis. I'm sure the Sutra will tip the scales in excess of 25 lbs but looks much more comfortable after 50+ miles on gravel and just looks like a fun beast of a bike, plain and simple.

If anyone who rides either bike or has tried both can chime in, I'd welcome any feedback.