Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

What's the worst bicycle you ever owned?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

What's the worst bicycle you ever owned?

Old 11-23-15, 03:42 PM
  #1  
Agent Cooper
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Agent Cooper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Black Lodge
Posts: 329

Bikes: '04 Cannondale T800, '00 Raleigh M80

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
What's the worst bicycle you ever owned?

I'm stealing this idea from a motorcycle forum I visit. I saw a similar thread there and thought this would be a great conversation starter here as well.

We talk a lot about our favorite bikes, but what about the rest?

Tell us about your LEAST favorite bike.

As far as parameters, this doesn't have to mean the worst quality, just a bike you didn't like for whatever reason.

I can start: My 00 Trek 2000. To be fair, it was really the wheels that were the problem more than the bike.

I loved the bike when I bought it. It fit and handled well, no complaints there. Components were good - solid, reliable Tiagra all around. Plus it was pretty, it had this beautiful dark maroon paint job that I really liked.

But those WHEELS! It came with these Rolf Vector wheels, and they were terrible. I had nothing but trouble with them. They simply would not stay true, no matter what I did. And the shop couldn't fix them either. The mechanics told me they couldn't do a thing with them, they had to send them back to Rolf to be trued.

I ended up selling the bike after one season - not just because of the wheels, but they certainly sealed my decision to part with the bike.

How about yours?

Last edited by Agent Cooper; 11-23-15 at 03:52 PM.
Agent Cooper is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 03:45 PM
  #2  
RPK79
Custom User Title
 
RPK79's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE MN
Posts: 11,239

Bikes: Fuji Roubaix Pro & Quintana Roo Kilo

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2863 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times in 14 Posts
Huffy Granite. Not sure it even qualified as a bicycle.
RPK79 is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 03:48 PM
  #3  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,843 Times in 4,113 Posts
I had a kids' bike with solid rubber tires when I was about 6-7 years old. It was terrible.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 03:52 PM
  #4  
silversx80
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 1,445

Bikes: Lynskey R240, 2013 CAAD10

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 50 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I've never had a bike I didn't like. Each bike I've owned has been better than the last in its genre, so I'm sure if I went back to the first bikes I'd be appalled, but when I owned them they were great. I even loved my Huffy.

If I have to pick, it was the one with training wheels. A bicycle represents freedom, and training wheels did not. Also, it's not a bike until you're riding a 2-wheeler with cards in the spokes. So, the best and worst bikes were the same frame, trading the training wheels for cards.
silversx80 is offline  
Likes For silversx80:
Old 11-23-15, 03:52 PM
  #5  
RPK79
Custom User Title
 
RPK79's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE MN
Posts: 11,239

Bikes: Fuji Roubaix Pro & Quintana Roo Kilo

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2863 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times in 14 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
I had a kids' bike with solid rubber tires when I was about 6-7 years old. It was terrible.
I had a Knight Rider Bigwheel that I wore the hollow plastic rear tires out on and my dad replaced them with rounded off wooden blocks.
RPK79 is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 03:54 PM
  #6  
PepeM
Senior Member
 
PepeM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,861
Mentioned: 180 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2739 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times in 59 Posts
Motobecane Fixie Cafe. That thing was rusty within five minutes of taking it out. Wasn't too bothered when it got stolen.
PepeM is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 04:01 PM
  #7  
Lazyass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,337
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times in 395 Posts
Can't say I ever had a bad one. The most disappointing was my Giant TCR C2 I bought new in '06. I fell for the carbon hype and during my first real ride I knew I had wasted over 2000 dollars. The magic carbon carpet ride I had heard all about never materialized. Sold it after a year, I had other steel and alu bikes I rode more. Good looking bike, though.
Lazyass is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 04:15 PM
  #8  
FeltF2Tarmac
Woman make me faster
 
FeltF2Tarmac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 676

Bikes: 2014 Felt F2 Di2 2018 Tarmac Comp Disc

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Redline R740 with Sora shifters, triple with 8 in back. Horrible bike. Everything about it sucked. I learned a lot from it but it was literally a painful journey. Frame geometry was really off from advertisements and matched up to 3 particular bikes but not completely. Was a small medium and large depending on measurements. Redline and bike shop avoided me after I bought it. It looked normal but could not get comfortable for any ride of distance. Just a strange bike.
FeltF2Tarmac is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 04:34 PM
  #9  
hueyhoolihan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,681

Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
mid 90's Cannondale hybrid with 7 speed twist grips and 1 1/4 tires. bleck.
hueyhoolihan is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 04:48 PM
  #10  
pdedes
ka maté ka maté ka ora
 
pdedes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: wessex
Posts: 4,423

Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
if we're talking real road bikes, a colnago carbitubo
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
colnago_carbitubo.jpg (29.6 KB, 1298 views)
pdedes is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 04:50 PM
  #11  
BoSoxYacht
Banned
 
BoSoxYacht's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281

Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post


The frame was nice, but SRAM Red components are trash.
BoSoxYacht is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 06:46 PM
  #12  
alexaschwanden
Bike rider
 
alexaschwanden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: san jose
Posts: 3,167

Bikes: 2017 Raleigh Clubman

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
2013 Raleigh revenio with 8 speeds and double up front, the problems I had were the inner tubes 10 popped in 8 months and was very twitchy steering.
alexaschwanden is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 06:53 PM
  #13  
svtmike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,745

Bikes: S-Works Roubaix SL2^H4, Secteur Sport, TriCross, Kaffenback, Lurcher 29er

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw, bought as a frameset.

It had a God-awful unforgiving, buzzy, jarring ride even with 700x32 tires.
svtmike is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 07:16 PM
  #14  
Herbie53
Senior Member
 
Herbie53's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,621
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 485 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
CAAD 9, harsh ride, creaky BB30 and not all that stiff all in one package... there I said it.
Herbie53 is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 07:23 PM
  #15  
jbchybridrider 
Senior Member
 
jbchybridrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: adelaide, australia
Posts: 2,804
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 222 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times in 147 Posts
Easy! Raleigh Commando I got new for Christmas as a kid. Brakes never worked the seat was like sitting on a rough brick and cotter pin cranks always had slop in them.

jbchybridrider is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 07:42 PM
  #16  
big chainring 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wilmette, IL
Posts: 7,318
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 746 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times in 347 Posts
Originally Posted by jbchybridrider
Easy! Raleigh Commando I got new for Christmas as a kid. Brakes never worked the seat was like sitting on a rough brick and cotter pin cranks always had slop in them.

Whoa!?#!?!
That's a new one on me. Coolest bike EVER!!!!!
big chainring is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 07:58 PM
  #17  
c_bake
Senior Member
 
c_bake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 762

Bikes: Kestrel RT900SL, 1975 Viner, Specialized StumpJumper

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
2007 Kestrel Evoke. I bought it as a frame set from Bikesdirect in a group buy here on Bike Forums back in 2007 and built it up myself. The quality of the frame was excellent but it was one size too big and I could never get it to fit right. My neck and shoulders were always sore after long rides. I had it for a year and a half before I sold it. I bought a different Kestrel frame the correct size and am still riding it. It fits like a glove.
c_bake is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 08:18 PM
  #18  
Atakuweh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
Posts: 83

Bikes: 2014 Jamis Icon Pro, 2013 Jamis Allegro Elite

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Back in the 1960s I had some big-box-store type of monstrosity; a single speed with a coaster brake, 26" wheels with 2-1/2" wide tires, all steel frame with way too many elements, chromed fenders, chain guard, kickstand, top tube fairings that enclosed a headlamp, luggage rack. The thing must have weighed 50 lbs. It was like a 1960 Buick for kids!
Atakuweh is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 08:19 PM
  #19  
jon c. 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,812
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,015 Times in 570 Posts
An old green Huffy, c. 1970. Don't recall the model, but it was a tank. The Raleigh Record that replaced it was to me at the time a lithe racing machine.
jon c. is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 08:21 PM
  #20  
banerjek
Portland Fred
 
banerjek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,548

Bikes: Custom Winter, Challenge Seiran SL, Fuji Team Pro, Cattrike Road/Velokit, РOS hybrid

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 232 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 35 Posts
Probably this one. But I thought it was awesome at the time
banerjek is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 08:51 PM
  #21  
Vicegrip
Senior Member
 
Vicegrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 437
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Worst built bike was an Iverson Grand Sport. 44 pounds of gas pipe and stamped steel. Great big hunk of junk but I loved it.

Worst bike was a non name brand knock off of a Schwinn sting ray.

Best bike for me is my Tarmac
Vicegrip is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 10:42 PM
  #22  
Shuffleman
Senior Member
 
Shuffleman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,296

Bikes: Colnago CLX,GT Karakoram,Giant Revel, Kona Honk_ Tonk

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by BoSoxYacht


The frame was nice, but SRAM Red components are trash.
I love that bike. I agree that it should be spec'd with Campy but either way it is an awesome frame. I could suffer with the Scram if I could have the frame.
The worst bike that I ever had was a trek 820 mtb. I hated that bike from day 1. It never fit right and I just did not like it. I couldn't stand the owner of that shop and have hated Trek ever since. Good bikes but I can't get past the jerk that owned the shop.
As for your cx 7, it's beautiful
Shuffleman is offline  
Old 11-23-15, 10:44 PM
  #23  
Shuffleman
Senior Member
 
Shuffleman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,296

Bikes: Colnago CLX,GT Karakoram,Giant Revel, Kona Honk_ Tonk

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by banerjek
Probably this one. But I thought it was awesome at the time
Come on. You were rocking that bike. Does any town do those type of parades anymore?
You were awfully big for training wheels
Shuffleman is offline  
Old 11-24-15, 04:18 AM
  #24  
chaadster
Thread Killer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,373

Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3078 Post(s)
Liked 1,631 Times in 1,005 Posts
Back around '90, I had an '88 or '89 Cannondale SM800, the old style design with the cantilevered dropouts. Damn that thing rode harshly, yet was not really responsive. It's the one bike I never learned to ride; I just could not flow with that thing on the trails.

For road bikes, it was a '91 Diamondback Master TG that was the most vague and dead feeling thing I have ridden ever, and despite 36h rims, it broke spokes constantly.
chaadster is offline  
Old 11-24-15, 06:24 AM
  #25  
RoderWrench
Senior Member
 
RoderWrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 280

Bikes: Cannondale Slate and the rest don't matter anymore.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
When I was stationed in Korea in 90-91, I bought a new "MTB" off base to commute from the barracks to the airfield, I think it was $80. I don't remember the brand name, but it was a Korean made POS. The derailleurs were never happy and within a couple of months, the square taper on the right crank arm wasn't so square anymore. It was awful, but I was riding!
RoderWrench is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.