Anyone else got a Kent Nazz 700c gravel bike?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Anyone else got a Kent Nazz 700c gravel bike?
its a steel frame for 240$ out the door at walmart...was wondering if anyone put the bike up to some abuse.
#3
Senior Member
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kent-700c...lack/795789960
The bottom barrel components are not going to like abuse. Frame is probably over built steel so that may be survive abuse.
Look past the "double disc brakes", any decent rim brake will stop better than cheap disc brakes.
The bottom barrel components are not going to like abuse. Frame is probably over built steel so that may be survive abuse.
Look past the "double disc brakes", any decent rim brake will stop better than cheap disc brakes.
#4
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
I would almost rather have no bike at all instead of that one. It's a piece of crap. You can find decent or very good bikes with low miles for that price on craigslist and facebook marketplace.
Likes For Lazyass:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,020
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times
in
486 Posts
What a piece of junk.
#7
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,458
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3637 Post(s)
Liked 5,314 Times
in
2,700 Posts
Great choice! Buy one or two and report back.
Likes For shelbyfv:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,772
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1935 Post(s)
Liked 2,150 Times
in
1,313 Posts
I would imagine few if anyone here has that bike, but many here have seen similar bikes after they have been used for a while.
Low quality bikes generally have such poor bearing surfaces and are so poorly assembled that bearings disintegrate over time. I’ve often wondered if all the loose and caged bearings were replaced with quality bearings, with adequate grease, and proper adjustment, probably ongoing, if the result would be the same.
It uses a 7 speed freewheel and stem shifters. It would be possible to use friction stem shifters and the bike would function well enough to be ridden, although gravel riding enjoyment might be significantly diminished. The rear axle will probably need to be replaced if it bends, but that is a cheap fix.
Aside from weight and probably low performance. Cheap disc brakes are probably the biggest problem. Even though cheap rims are usually never straight and cheap stamped calipers are not good, replacing the calipers with even slightly better ones is an inexpensive fix.
I’m not sure what can be done with cheap disc brakes other than just replace the system. I would think setup and maintaining the proper gap so the bike will stop would be a nightmare.
John
Low quality bikes generally have such poor bearing surfaces and are so poorly assembled that bearings disintegrate over time. I’ve often wondered if all the loose and caged bearings were replaced with quality bearings, with adequate grease, and proper adjustment, probably ongoing, if the result would be the same.
It uses a 7 speed freewheel and stem shifters. It would be possible to use friction stem shifters and the bike would function well enough to be ridden, although gravel riding enjoyment might be significantly diminished. The rear axle will probably need to be replaced if it bends, but that is a cheap fix.
Aside from weight and probably low performance. Cheap disc brakes are probably the biggest problem. Even though cheap rims are usually never straight and cheap stamped calipers are not good, replacing the calipers with even slightly better ones is an inexpensive fix.
I’m not sure what can be done with cheap disc brakes other than just replace the system. I would think setup and maintaining the proper gap so the bike will stop would be a nightmare.
John
Last edited by 70sSanO; 10-23-21 at 10:12 PM.
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
thanks for replies
you guys are right about needing to replace all the bearings to at least mid grade products, lots of creaking coming from the bottom bracket...disc brakes work fine with adjustments, but definitely not as well as shimano hydraulic discs...most people would have their bike crap out because of walmart assembly, thankfully i know how to optimize most parts with some repair skills.
Likes For psystemupdate:
#13
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10901 Post(s)
Liked 7,390 Times
in
4,148 Posts
It has 40mm tires...and that's it. The gearing is atrocious.
Note- I am staying away from discussing the component level.
This just looks like pure marketing for the laggards.
#14
Senior Member
#15
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,458
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3637 Post(s)
Liked 5,314 Times
in
2,700 Posts
Thinking Walmart may now have stores in Manila.
#16
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
Fills a gap
I own a Kent Nazz, I own a Rocky Mountain. The Kent Nazz fills a gap for most casual riders. I wanted a drop bar bike that I could use for road, light trails and everything in between for fitness. I put most of my biking budget into my Rocky Mountain so I needed something that didn’t break the bank, enter the Nazz. I’ve logged thousands of miles on this bike over the past 2 years and haven’t had any issues other than braking the plastic chain ring guard. With normal bike maintenance the bike has held up great it fits the bill for a budget friendly bike that I can use over different surfaces as a tool to maintain my fitness. Yes it’s steel, it’s heavy, that only makes training better. The only people who would turn their nose up at a guy riding a Nazz are bike snobs. At least they are on a bike and not the couch is my opinion.
Last edited by Earl5607; 07-03-22 at 12:07 PM.
Likes For Earl5607:
#17
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times
in
1,439 Posts
That's why all the pros ride cheap, heavy, steel bikes when they train.
Nah, it's not snobbery, it's just knowing better. And it's "their."
Nah, it's not snobbery, it's just knowing better. And it's "their."
Likes For Rolla:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,338
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,885 Times
in
1,646 Posts
In any event, it's been a couple of decades since professional frames (i.e., those used in races by riders on professional teams) were steel.
That said, your Kent Nazz looks as if it would be an enjoyable ride, especially since it sounds as if you know what you're doing with respect to maintenance. I have a bunch of high-end bikes in carbon, aluminum, and steel, but I'm just as happy riding my old hybrid that weighs around 36 or 38 pounds with rack and panniers. It's still the same rider, regardless of what bike I'm on.
Last edited by Trakhak; 07-03-22 at 01:46 PM.
Likes For Trakhak:
#20
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times
in
1,439 Posts
No professional outside of BMX rides a 4130 chromoly frame. And that Kent is not 4130 chromoly. Now, you can rationalize buying the thing any way you want to, but the myth that riding a heavy bike "makes training better" has long since been debunked. A watt is a watt.
Likes For Rolla:
#21
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10901 Post(s)
Liked 7,390 Times
in
4,148 Posts
Likes For mstateglfr:
#22
Full Member
What a beautiful piece of junk...
#23
Banned.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kent-700c...lack/795789960
The bottom barrel components are not going to like abuse. Frame is probably over built steel so that may be survive abuse.
Look past the "double disc brakes", any decent rim brake will stop better than cheap disc brakes.
The bottom barrel components are not going to like abuse. Frame is probably over built steel so that may be survive abuse.
Look past the "double disc brakes", any decent rim brake will stop better than cheap disc brakes.
For a budget modern gravel bike, it should at least have sealed cartridge bearing wheel hubs with freehub rear cassette, sealed cartridge BB bearings, and threadless headset with sealed cartridge bearings. 1x drivetrain would be advantageous as cheap as these go, having less # of parts will be beneficial. These would be more expensive, probably at least $350 but is sure to stand up to the abuse of gravel riding.
Likes For koala logs:
#24
Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 3
Bikes: 2022 Triban RC 500 - Sora
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I would imagine few if anyone here has that bike, but many here have seen similar bikes after they have been used for a while.
Low quality bikes generally have such poor bearing surfaces and are so poorly assembled that bearings disintegrate over time. I’ve often wondered if all the loose and caged bearings were replaced with quality bearings, with adequate grease, and proper adjustment, probably ongoing, if the result would be the same.
It uses a 7 speed freewheel and stem shifters. It would be possible to use friction stem shifters and the bike would function well enough to be ridden, although gravel riding enjoyment might be significantly diminished. The rear axle will probably need to be replaced if it bends, but that is a cheap fix.
Aside from weight and probably low performance. Cheap disc brakes are probably the biggest problem. Even though cheap rims are usually never straight and cheap stamped calipers are not good, replacing the calipers with even slightly better ones is an inexpensive fix.
I’m not sure what can be done with cheap disc brakes other than just replace the system. I would think setup and maintaining the proper gap so the bike will stop would be a nightmare.
John
Low quality bikes generally have such poor bearing surfaces and are so poorly assembled that bearings disintegrate over time. I’ve often wondered if all the loose and caged bearings were replaced with quality bearings, with adequate grease, and proper adjustment, probably ongoing, if the result would be the same.
It uses a 7 speed freewheel and stem shifters. It would be possible to use friction stem shifters and the bike would function well enough to be ridden, although gravel riding enjoyment might be significantly diminished. The rear axle will probably need to be replaced if it bends, but that is a cheap fix.
Aside from weight and probably low performance. Cheap disc brakes are probably the biggest problem. Even though cheap rims are usually never straight and cheap stamped calipers are not good, replacing the calipers with even slightly better ones is an inexpensive fix.
I’m not sure what can be done with cheap disc brakes other than just replace the system. I would think setup and maintaining the proper gap so the bike will stop would be a nightmare.
John
thank you John for your input. I also just bought this bike, yesterday actually because my budget is cheap right now and I liked the way it looked. I appreciate what you suggested for possible upgrades
#25
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,458
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3637 Post(s)
Liked 5,314 Times
in
2,700 Posts
Is it too late to return it for a refund?
Likes For shelbyfv: