Nice review man. I'm a novice tour rider (American) who needs help. I have a small budget and need advice on what kind of bike I should get. Any pointers for me?
Great review.... A few questions about transport... Did you box the bikes and air ship them to Australia or did you buy them there? How much did it cost to ship?
I am looking to purchase my first brooks saddle. What modle saddle do you use. I to am over 200 pounds , i am really looking forward to the brooks. Thanks
I am looking to purchase my first brooks saddle. What modle saddle do you use. I to am over 200 pounds , i am really looking forward to the brooks. Thanks
Great review.. I'm still undecided on clipless or cages, I guess in Australia, long straight roads, clipless make sense, but I will hopefully take on Corsica, and those roads are scary! The bike looks good,I've been looking at Kona Sutra, and cannondale classic as well.thanks for a very informative review
Is there any novara experts out there?? I have one and im selling it, but i dont know for how much. and i dont want to sell it for super cheap if its a good bike. please help me i can send pictures and you can be the judge of the price. its a novara metro. PLEASE HELP. THANKYOU :)
Bueno los de habla castellana, para mi la mejor bici para viajar en la de montaña, por su buena geometria y por la facilidad de poder encontrar las refacciones en todo el mundo, simple y sencillamente es una bici hecha para todo terreno, y no necesitas una de touring para viajar, eso solo si eres un ciclista con mucho dinero,(y eso significa no ser ciclista), suerte y hasta la proxima.
I just got the 2009 model and im loving it. Its got the slx derailer and lots of upgraded parts. It came with a wtb leather seat"love it". I have the large frame wich came with 700c tires wich are 700-46c wich I changed out with 700-35c. I lot narrow, Im taking in from the east coast to the west in about a 3weeks.
hey hey.... did you also use Jandd in the rear? the rear rack that comes with the bike is quite a pile of sh*t and there seems to be no replacement as the bolts are quite funnily placed. the rack is okay for moderate loads but not for remote areas where I tour- where additional strength for carrying water and food supplies is needed. would be cool if someone explained me about the rear... if there IS any replacement....??
I have a Novara Randonee. The bike rules but I agree the racks are crap. Try a Tubus rack... Cargo in the rear and the Tara up front. Bomb proof racks.
I seem to hear that from alot of Safari rider reviews that say it's a good bike... I have had major problems with Novara products in the past and don't intend to in the foreseeable future... for my touring bike I did a 56cm LHT with DT Swiss rims XT rear dyno in front and Nice Racks the bike I was looking to get for touring was the De Vinci Caribou it looks like the LHT but is disc brake ready and seems you can get decent speeds on it cheers
Gunner. I am sorry to hear that. As far as the shifters and brakes I can only assume that they were installed improperly (unless the 08' components are grossly different than the 07'). After 3800 miles I had ZERO problems with both the shifters and the brakes (I had to replace the pads at around 3000 miles). Disc brakes can be a little tricky and unless they adjusted properly they can be very "squishy." I hope you enjoy the Rockhopper though, it's a very good bike.
Yeah, I'm sorry it didn't work out as well, but I did get a lot from your review...the Schwalbe Marathon XR tires are awesome. I wish I were riding with you guys. I spent a bit of time down under while in the military. I hope to do the REI Vietnam ride this year. Take care and be safe!
@theridersofoz To add on to this, any time you buy a bike there is a few things you have to take into account, at REI or any or your LBS the bikes get built and then they are put out of the floor to sit for potentially months, sometimes years at a time. In a utopian world every bike would be pulled off the floor every six months and given a basic tune-up to account for cable stretch and ignorant customers changing gears while the chain is not in motion (see part two)
@musicman1586 however the truth of the matter is that most bikes don't get the treatment they deserve until they are in the owners' hands, which is an odd paradox, but in this day and age payroll is just not allotted for such maintenance, so any time you are test riding a bike, you should definitely be looking much more into the handling and fit of the bike than how the components are working, because very often the bikes are in need of tuning up. (see part three)
@musicman1586 Most places after you have bought the bike will overhaul the bike and make sure nothing is aloof, but once again, payroll typically isn't given to fully tune every bike that might go out of a test ride, so if you have serious concerns about the components, talk to the techs, but if the bike is built with quality components, I would solely concentrate on how it feels and rides beyond the current status of its shifting and braking capabilities.
OK, after reading your review I went to REI and rode the Safari (with money in hand). Sadly, I was very disappointed. I love the idea behind the Safari bike because I prefer mountain bike geometry over road bikes, but it felt very clumsy to me. In addition, the twist shifters felt like they were full of sand and the brakes felt really bad...what a disappointment. I ended up buying a Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc (you can lock out the fork) and added a rack & a pair Schwalbe Marathon XR tires.
Keep in mind that disc brakes need to be broken in before they will give you full power, just like a cars brakes.
As for the twist shifters go, that sounds like an improper installation, maybe the cable was rubbing somewhere on the housing. Anyhow, good luck on your tours!
Awesome, appreciated the no b.s. review.
Dictator4life06 2 months ago
Nice review man. I'm a novice tour rider (American) who needs help. I have a small budget and need advice on what kind of bike I should get. Any pointers for me?
OsorWoW 6 months ago
Great review.... A few questions about transport... Did you box the bikes and air ship them to Australia or did you buy them there? How much did it cost to ship?
Best, KB.
wilkbor 6 months ago
great video and channel, thanks
KianSimmons 11 months ago
I am looking to purchase my first brooks saddle. What modle saddle do you use. I to am over 200 pounds , i am really looking forward to the brooks. Thanks
bikelover70 1 year ago
I am looking to purchase my first brooks saddle. What modle saddle do you use. I to am over 200 pounds , i am really looking forward to the brooks. Thanks
bikelover70 1 year ago
Great job. Great review. Happy trails!
gstrummer 1 year ago
Great review.. I'm still undecided on clipless or cages, I guess in Australia, long straight roads, clipless make sense, but I will hopefully take on Corsica, and those roads are scary! The bike looks good,I've been looking at Kona Sutra, and cannondale classic as well.thanks for a very informative review
kernowrock555 1 year ago
Is there any novara experts out there?? I have one and im selling it, but i dont know for how much. and i dont want to sell it for super cheap if its a good bike. please help me i can send pictures and you can be the judge of the price. its a novara metro. PLEASE HELP. THANKYOU :)
Gatorade723 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
You obviously need to bike more...
junkmouth1 2 years ago
nice video
jpercy2009 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
WOOF!!!
pasadenagrand 3 years ago
Bueno los de habla castellana, para mi la mejor bici para viajar en la de montaña, por su buena geometria y por la facilidad de poder encontrar las refacciones en todo el mundo, simple y sencillamente es una bici hecha para todo terreno, y no necesitas una de touring para viajar, eso solo si eres un ciclista con mucho dinero,(y eso significa no ser ciclista), suerte y hasta la proxima.
Joel02m 3 years ago
I just got the 2009 model and im loving it. Its got the slx derailer and lots of upgraded parts. It came with a wtb leather seat"love it". I have the large frame wich came with 700c tires wich are 700-46c wich I changed out with 700-35c. I lot narrow, Im taking in from the east coast to the west in about a 3weeks.
bigfonsie 3 years ago
hey hey.... did you also use Jandd in the rear? the rear rack that comes with the bike is quite a pile of sh*t and there seems to be no replacement as the bolts are quite funnily placed. the rack is okay for moderate loads but not for remote areas where I tour- where additional strength for carrying water and food supplies is needed. would be cool if someone explained me about the rear... if there IS any replacement....??
allth3s4me 3 years ago
I have a Novara Randonee. The bike rules but I agree the racks are crap. Try a Tubus rack... Cargo in the rear and the Tara up front. Bomb proof racks.
atlantabikeguy 3 years ago
I seem to hear that from alot of Safari rider reviews that say it's a good bike... I have had major problems with Novara products in the past and don't intend to in the foreseeable future... for my touring bike I did a 56cm LHT with DT Swiss rims XT rear dyno in front and Nice Racks the bike I was looking to get for touring was the De Vinci Caribou it looks like the LHT but is disc brake ready and seems you can get decent speeds on it cheers
elgeneralsv 3 years ago
How does it compare to the Giant Transport LX?? Thanks.
fustah 3 years ago
Gunner. I am sorry to hear that. As far as the shifters and brakes I can only assume that they were installed improperly (unless the 08' components are grossly different than the 07'). After 3800 miles I had ZERO problems with both the shifters and the brakes (I had to replace the pads at around 3000 miles). Disc brakes can be a little tricky and unless they adjusted properly they can be very "squishy." I hope you enjoy the Rockhopper though, it's a very good bike.
theridersofoz 3 years ago
Yeah, I'm sorry it didn't work out as well, but I did get a lot from your review...the Schwalbe Marathon XR tires are awesome. I wish I were riding with you guys. I spent a bit of time down under while in the military. I hope to do the REI Vietnam ride this year. Take care and be safe!
Jeff
Gunner1x 3 years ago
@theridersofoz To add on to this, any time you buy a bike there is a few things you have to take into account, at REI or any or your LBS the bikes get built and then they are put out of the floor to sit for potentially months, sometimes years at a time. In a utopian world every bike would be pulled off the floor every six months and given a basic tune-up to account for cable stretch and ignorant customers changing gears while the chain is not in motion (see part two)
musicman1586 1 year ago
@musicman1586 however the truth of the matter is that most bikes don't get the treatment they deserve until they are in the owners' hands, which is an odd paradox, but in this day and age payroll is just not allotted for such maintenance, so any time you are test riding a bike, you should definitely be looking much more into the handling and fit of the bike than how the components are working, because very often the bikes are in need of tuning up. (see part three)
musicman1586 1 year ago
@musicman1586 Most places after you have bought the bike will overhaul the bike and make sure nothing is aloof, but once again, payroll typically isn't given to fully tune every bike that might go out of a test ride, so if you have serious concerns about the components, talk to the techs, but if the bike is built with quality components, I would solely concentrate on how it feels and rides beyond the current status of its shifting and braking capabilities.
musicman1586 1 year ago
OK, after reading your review I went to REI and rode the Safari (with money in hand). Sadly, I was very disappointed. I love the idea behind the Safari bike because I prefer mountain bike geometry over road bikes, but it felt very clumsy to me. In addition, the twist shifters felt like they were full of sand and the brakes felt really bad...what a disappointment. I ended up buying a Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc (you can lock out the fork) and added a rack & a pair Schwalbe Marathon XR tires.
Gunner1x 3 years ago
Keep in mind that disc brakes need to be broken in before they will give you full power, just like a cars brakes.
As for the twist shifters go, that sounds like an improper installation, maybe the cable was rubbing somewhere on the housing. Anyhow, good luck on your tours!
YearOfTheDog82 3 years ago
Nice review.
edudrepus 3 years ago
Thanks guys...this is exactly what I was looking for!
Gunner1x 3 years ago
Nice review. Hope the bike is still treating you well!
jrox007 3 years ago
Thank U, gentlemen. Most interesting. -MH, Kobe, Japan
Markus451 4 years ago