2007 REI Novara Safari Touring Bicycle

A detailed review of the Novara Safari after 1500 miles of cycling.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• REI
• Novara
• Safari
• Touring
• bicycle
• cycling
• bike
• tour
• circumnavigation
• Australia
• ridersofoz
• review

[theridersofoz]

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.

[Dictator4life06]

Awesome, appreciated the no b.s. review.

[OsorWoW]

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?

[wilkbor]

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.

[KianSimmons]

great video and channel, thanks

[bikelover70]

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]

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

[musicman1586]

@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]

@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]

@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)

[gstrummer]

Great job.  Great review. Happy trails!