Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Bike Manual. No.??

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Bike Manual. No.??

Old 04-15-19, 12:11 PM
  #26  
pdlamb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,844

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2575 Post(s)
Liked 1,900 Times in 1,192 Posts
Originally Posted by Sapperc
This thread is about manuals and specifically the lack of useful information provided to the end user in some instances. Some of us feel that void and would like it addressed.
What I've done to fill that void is to go to the manufacturer's web page for the bike, print it out, and save it.

Note this is only good for a year or two. After that you buy new tires (which may or may not be the same brand, model, or size), and put on a new chain (ditto) and re-cable. A couple years later you may need to re-tape (drop bars), and perhaps change out the cassette. A few years later you may need to replace the brifters, and the original model is not longer available -- it's either change model names, or the same model name now has more gears. Etc., etc. On my 20 year old bike the fork and the brakes are original -- everything else has been replaced.

Again, either get yourself a bike repair book or familiarize yourself with the Park Tool repair site. I know this isn't what you're asking for, but it's what you need to know.

FWIW, does your car manual tell you how to change your struts or brake pads? I don't think the latest ones even tell you how to change your oil!
pdlamb is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 12:39 PM
  #27  
BirdsBikeBinocs
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
BirdsBikeBinocs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Mars Hotel
Posts: 472

Bikes: Giant Talon 29 - Specialized Diverge E5 Comp

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 283 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by Sapperc

Actually, they do produce maintenance schedules and procedures which I prefer to have. This information is readily available online from every 3rd party component manufacturer but not from Specialized. Also, every part on the frame has a parts number, from the headset parts to the cable guides specific to the frame set which I prefer to have so I don’t have to describe a part to Specialized or an authorized dealer if I need something.

This thread is about manuals and specifically the lack of useful information provided to the end user in some instances. Some of us feel that void and would like it addressed.
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ And no where in my original post did I say I can't maintain the bike. My question was "Why do bikes not come with a manual."

Sometimes I wish people could read and comprehend. And reply with helpful information. Many of you have. Some have not.
BirdsBikeBinocs is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 12:45 PM
  #28  
dedhed
SE Wis
 
dedhed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,516

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2731 Post(s)
Liked 3,361 Times in 2,034 Posts
Every manual I've ever gotten for a bike is a generic, covers all models, worthless waste of paper.
dedhed is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 12:47 PM
  #29  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
they used to

https://www.ebay.com/i/372030413491?...3D372030413491

I remember reading mine. I think mine was green tho
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 12:49 PM
  #30  
prj71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,601
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2965 Post(s)
Liked 1,165 Times in 762 Posts
Originally Posted by Sapperc

Actually, they do produce maintenance schedules and procedures which I prefer to have. This information is readily available online from every 3rd party component manufacturer but not from Specialized. Also, every part on the frame has a parts number, from the headset parts to the cable guides specific to the frame set which I prefer to have so I don’t have to describe a part to Specialized or an authorized dealer if I need something.

This thread is about manuals and specifically the lack of useful information provided to the end user in some instances. Some of us feel that void and would like it addressed.
Definitely OCD going on here.
prj71 is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 12:52 PM
  #31  
prj71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,601
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2965 Post(s)
Liked 1,165 Times in 762 Posts
Originally Posted by Razorrock
I purchased my first drop bar bike with 105 group set last year. I have ridden bikes all my life and understand shifting. Wondered why I had to click twice to drop down to the small chainring. After owning and riding a couple thousand miles I recently found out that that is "trim" and you can use it when cross chaining to the large gears on rear. Wish I would have known sooner. An Owners manual would have been nice.
So it wasn't a common sense thing when you would notices the chain rattling on the front derailleur when you were cross chained?
prj71 is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 12:52 PM
  #32  
prj71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,601
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2965 Post(s)
Liked 1,165 Times in 762 Posts
Originally Posted by pdlamb
What I've done to fill that void is to go to the manufacturer's web page for the bike, print it out, and save it.

Note this is only good for a year or two. After that you buy new tires (which may or may not be the same brand, model, or size), and put on a new chain (ditto) and re-cable. A couple years later you may need to re-tape (drop bars), and perhaps change out the cassette. A few years later you may need to replace the brifters, and the original model is not longer available -- it's either change model names, or the same model name now has more gears. Etc., etc. On my 20 year old bike the fork and the brakes are original -- everything else has been replaced.

Again, either get yourself a bike repair book or familiarize yourself with the Park Tool repair site. I know this isn't what you're asking for, but it's what you need to know.

FWIW, does your car manual tell you how to change your struts or brake pads? I don't think the latest ones even tell you how to change your oil!
^^^So much this. Very true about car manuals.
prj71 is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 03:54 PM
  #33  
BirdsBikeBinocs
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
BirdsBikeBinocs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Mars Hotel
Posts: 472

Bikes: Giant Talon 29 - Specialized Diverge E5 Comp

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 283 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by prj71
Definitely OCD going on here.

Why.??

Oh ya, I remember now. Because it's not rocket science. Nobody said it was.
BirdsBikeBinocs is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 04:30 PM
  #34  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by BirdsBikeBinocs
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ And no where in my original post did I say I can't maintain the bike. My question was "Why do bikes not come with a manual."

Sometimes I wish people could read and comprehend. And reply with helpful information. Many of you have. Some have not.
The reason is writing and printing manuals for all the different iterations of the models would be enormously expensive, and each word of them has to be vetted for liability. The reason I put up the link to the Specialized bikes is to show that they have a vetted manual they wrote in 2008, and they aren't going to substantially revise anytime soon.

If you're comparing to a car, btw, the costs of an owner's manual for a car is a much smaller percentage of the purchase price than one for a bike would be.
livedarklions is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 06:13 PM
  #35  
wolfchild
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Bicycles are so simple to use, they don't need an operating manual.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 04-15-19, 06:52 PM
  #36  
puma1552
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 740

Bikes: '17 Colnago C-RS (Full 5800); '16 Specialized Sirrus Elite

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 360 Post(s)
Liked 60 Times in 38 Posts
Got some generic warranty booklet with my Specialized, and nothing with my Colnago.
puma1552 is online now  
Old 04-15-19, 07:13 PM
  #37  
hillyman
WALSTIB
 
hillyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,798
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 280 Post(s)
Liked 384 Times in 183 Posts
Originally Posted by BirdsBikeBinocs
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ And no where in my original post did I say I can't maintain the bike. My question was "Why do bikes not come with a manual."

Sometimes I wish people could read and comprehend. And reply with helpful information. Many of you have. Some have not.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/contact-us
Not sure anyone at BF can answer your question to your satisfaction but the friendly folk at Specialized probably can.
__________________
www.bikeleague.org


Last edited by hillyman; 04-15-19 at 07:16 PM.
hillyman is offline  
Old 04-16-19, 01:02 AM
  #38  
Ironfish653
Dirty Heathen
 
Ironfish653's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,188

Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times in 534 Posts
The Owners’ manuals that come with most consumer products, including bikes, contain only the most basic operating information and are primarily for the consumer information/warranty and warnings.

Bicycles contain so many 3rd party components that it would become a massive effort to include every possible variation. Does it have an FSA headset or Shimano? KMC chain? Are the tires Specialized, Schwalbe or Kenda?
Thats why the owners manuals typically say to take it to the shop.

Anecdotally, I bought a (used) road bike, a Mercier-branded BD. It came with a box of spares that included all the little Shimano component setup insert sheets , FD, RD, Brifters, pedals, but no ‘bike’ manual. Not that I cared, since I’d bought it for parts, but those little Shimano instruction sheet were useful during the driveline swap.

Besides, after the initial setup, a bike really doesn’t require a whole lot of service besides tire pressure and chain lube. I know here at BF we trend heavily towards OCD perfectionists, but the majority of bicycle owners don’t know or care.

Some types of equipment, like gas-powered tools ie; chainsaws and trimmers, and things that require frequent attention like motorcycles, have much more detailed service information.
Most bicycles don’t really fall into that category.
Ironfish653 is offline  
Old 04-16-19, 01:59 AM
  #39  
taz777
Senior Member
 
taz777's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 865

Bikes: 5

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 19 Posts
Agree with most of the comments in this thread. If I'm very lucky then I'll get a generic manufacturer's manual that isn't of much use and some component manufacturer leaflets, which can be useful.

One of the first things I do with a new bike is take photos of all of the torque setting markings on the various bolts around the bike, and the tyre pressures marked on the tyre sidewalls. That generally gives me something to check and adjust as necessary before a first ride.

Most useful info can be found on forums and manufacturers websites.
taz777 is offline  
Old 04-16-19, 08:29 AM
  #40  
prj71
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,601
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2965 Post(s)
Liked 1,165 Times in 762 Posts
Originally Posted by BirdsBikeBinocs
Why.??

Oh ya, I remember now. Because it's not rocket science. Nobody said it was.
Refer to post 35 and 38.
prj71 is offline  
Old 04-16-19, 08:35 AM
  #41  
Cyclist0108
Occam's Rotor
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times in 1,164 Posts
Originally Posted by BirdsBikeBinocs
Why.??

Oh ya, I remember now. Because it's not rocket science. Nobody said it was.
It is Specialized.

The manuals usually are filled with liability disclaimers.

Since they didn't provide it, you should sue them, much like they sue the rest of the world.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Old 04-16-19, 08:58 AM
  #42  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,056
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18319 Post(s)
Liked 15,288 Times in 7,227 Posts
Originally Posted by Ironfish653
Bicycles contain so many 3rd party components that it would become a massive effort to include every possible variation. Does it have an FSA headset or Shimano? KMC chain? Are the tires Specialized, Schwalbe or Kenda?
Thats why the owners manuals typically say to take it to the shop.
This is the simple answer, and it has been explained to the OP several times. The fact that he comes off as if he doesn't understand it makes me go "Hmmmmm?"

Peace. Out.
indyfabz is online now  
Old 04-16-19, 09:50 AM
  #43  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by indyfabz
This is the simple answer, and it has been explained to the OP several times. The fact that he comes off as if he doesn't understand it makes me go "Hmmmmm?"

Peace. Out.

Sometimes I think people who start threads are expecting about 100 "I know, right?" responses.
livedarklions is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Timc267
Triathlon
0
03-05-18 12:26 PM
Clarence Dupree
Bicycle Mechanics
20
05-11-14 10:54 AM
BattleRabbit
Classic & Vintage
0
09-07-11 09:11 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


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.