Cheap for a reason

[Cyclezee]

Of course expensive bikes can break - we've had a couple of horror stories.

But they break less often and I reckon they last longer.

A lot of the niggles are caused by cheap OEM equipment - Kenda tyres being a good example.

This thread is about the customer, not the retailer.

Retailers - of cheaper bikes - posting merely to say their bikes are great does not take the discussion forward.

Don't get me wrong, I value the contribution of retailers..

But, like children, they should have their place.

I am talking about my experience long before my involvement in the trade when I was a customer myself not as a retailer.
One of the bikes that I refer to had expensive Continental Touring Plus puncture resistant tyres, on my first ride I didn't get a mile before suffering the first puncture, a couple of weeks later the rear SKS mudguard broke, just 2 examples.

 

[RobF]

I am talking about my experience long before my involvement in the trade when I was a customer myself not as a retailer.
One of the bikes that I refer to had expensive Continental Touring Plus puncture resistant tyres, on my first ride I didn't get a mile before suffering the first puncture, a couple of weeks later the rear SKS mudguard broke, just 2 examples.

When I volunteered on London Edinburgh London there was a bike with an expensive, handmade frame which came apart at the head tube.

Someone didn't weld it properly.

 

[trex]

Of course expensive bikes can break - we've had a couple of horror stories.

But they break less often and I reckon they last longer.

A lot of the niggles are caused by cheap OEM equipment - Kenda tyres being a good example.

what's wrong with Kenda tyres?
The K1047 on oldie's bike costs £34 a piece on Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenda-Bicycle-1-75-1-95-Mountain-Tires/dp/B00FBCOLDE

they are not puncture resistant but not especially cheap.
It's about the best tyre for grip on MTBs.
The puncture resistant Kendas are the KShield series with kevlar armour.

 

[Gubbins]

In my view bike buyers fall into 2 categories.. 1/ buy it, try it, don't like it so dump it in the shed.
2/ buy it, like it, ride it! If your one of the former it doesn't matter what you buy, but if your the latter, when you find your machines limitations you will soon want to up upgrade, thus wasting your original outlay.
Buy the best you can afford from a trusted brand name. Well, that's my view based on my own experiences.

 

[EddiePJ]

p

It's about the best tyre for grip on MTBs.

Grip on what surface?

Road and cycle paths maybe, but it's certainly not going to be mud.

Certainly not the best choice of MTB tyre.




.

 

[SRS]

p


Grip on what surface?

Road and cycle paths maybe, but it's certainly not going to be mud.

Certainly not the best choice of MTB tyre.
.

Or anywhere outside of an Asda car park on a dry day.

 

[trex]

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wheels/tire/kenda/small-block-eight/prd_413220_151crx.aspx

Kenda K1047 tyres:

As I said, they are not puncture proof but they are not cheap. Oldie has fitted Schwalbe MP to his now.

from the review:

Strengths: These are great tires lying for what they were made for: mild XC race course in dry conditions, cycling paths, hard surfaces such as rock. In these conditions they have a great balance of low rolling resistance, lightweight and grip.

Weaknesses: Loose conditions, mud and weak sidewalls. Definitely better as a rear tire than front due to lack of serious side knobs and round profile.

Bottom Line:
If you are a Xc racer on typical groomed courses these are great. They are also perfect for the commuter on both Road and bike paths for the same reasons as the racer, they are easy to maintain speed and grip well in ideal conditions. They could be a great trail tire for the summer as a rear tire as they due grip well so long as the surface isn't mobile itself.

 

[jerrysimon]

Or you could convert your Brompton for about £1,000:

http://www.nanoelectricbikes.co.uk/

The conversion is neat, but you would will still have the Brommie's harsh ride and twitchy steering.

I like my Brompton Nano, but am glad I don't have to rely on it as my only ebike.

On thother hand again, with you light weight, a Brompton Nano would really fly - it would certainly feel a lot more powerful than your existing bike.

With a few DIY skills you could convert your Brompton for a lot less than that. I agree I would not like to ride my Brompton for long commutes/road trips but IMHO having tried many different small wheeled portable bikes (and converted many of them to ebikes) I have not been able to find anything as practical and perfect for short city commutes as a Brompton, especially if you want a small fold and keep your bike off the street at either end.

I have also just purchased a full sized road bike to convert. Actually its an old 521 framed bike. Details to follow

Jerry

 

[Jimod]

Although I've put two posts on this thread, I still don't understand the point the Op was making.

I've done nearly 3000 miles on my Chinese ebike and although it's had a couple of niggles in that time I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

[jackhandy]

Kenda K1047 tyres:
They could be a great trail tire for the summer as a rear tire as they due grip well so long as the surface isn't mobile itself.

That's the caveat, right there:
Tarmac & hardpack only.

 

[trex]

That's the caveat, right there:
Tarmac & hardpack only.

that's what the bike was sold for but I am not defending that bike.
The OP's point was 'Kenda tyres are cheap Chinese rubbish' based on repeated punctures on oldie's bike.

 

[mike killay]

RobF
You are Eddio and I claim my £5

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

that's what the bike was sold for but I am not defending that bike.
The OP's point was 'Kenda tyres are cheap Chinese rubbish' based on repeated punctures on oldie's bike.

I was sponsored by Kenda for a couple of years for racing offroad..... I and pretty much everyone else who was supposed to be running their tyres used to paint out the Maxxis or Michelin logos on our tyres and run them instead.

I can confirm, they are far from the best offroad tyres.... they could very well be the worst.

They might be ok riding in a straight line, on a flat surface, in the dry.... but then in those conditions you could probably just use an innertube on its own and it be about as much use as most Kenda tyres I've had experience of using and working with.

The sidewalls were made of soft cheese, so if you cornered hard on them you could pop them off the rims.... not ideal on an offroad tyre.

The OP is correct.

The famous quote in the bike industry was made by Keith Bontrager, he who's name appears on all the Trek components - because Trek bought his brand.

"Strong. Light. Cheap. Pick Two."

you can equally, change "strong" to "reliable".

There is always going to be exceptions, but generally you do get what you've paid for. If its cheap because you're missing out people in the supply chain... that is something many people can cope with, but you have to think about which people you're missing out. Quality control in a Chinese factory is one person I'd not want to be missing out, especially if I was going to leave my eBike battery on charge in my house unattended!

Col

 

[los monty]

Cheap ebikes - much like cheap anything - are cheap for a reason.

.

Suppose you are going to tell me that you still shop at Sainsbury's. At last the big 4 supermarkets accept the threat from Lidl and co as customers vote with their feet. Even the CEO of Asda has quit and gone to B&M no mug there then.
Sometimes money buys quality but often it is more about advertising and brand image. We own a VW Passat but I am aware there is little difference between it and the equivalent Skoda and shares many parts. It did not surprise me that there is a VW Passat production facility in China.
My first Chinese bike is still going strong and has cost less than £1 a day and this cost reduces with each passing day.
The Eco at £249 with 12mth warranty will be even cheaper to run.
Don't get me wrong I have no problem with people paying more the choice is theirs, what I object to is the people who look down their noses at others who are obviously happy with their purchase.
Hopefully the advent of cheap ebikes will expand the market and increase the use of cycles which will benefit everyone.
Nice to see Cycleeze are stocking these and undercutting Tesco. If you could reproduce those shitty plastic connectors I am sure you would attract even more customers, likewise with the number being sold there could be a thriving parts business.
Just in case you think I have a vested interest in China I think there Human Rights record STINKS

 

[Cyclezee]

Just got back from Aldi, the car park was crammed and overflowing with Mercs, VWs, Audis, Skodas etc., that's partly due to the number of staff those companies employ in MK.

There is more than one reason people increasingly shop at Aldi, Lidl etc., not just because they are cheap, but also because they offer excellent value for money.

BTW, I went there on a cheap Chinese bike and it got me home again

 

[Gubbins]

Just got back from Aldi, the car park was crammed and overflowing with Mercs, VWs, Audis, Skodas etc., that's partly due to the number of staff those companies employ in MK.

There is more than one reason people increasingly shop at Aldi, Lidl etc., not just because they are cheap, but also because they offer excellent value for money.

BTW, I went there on a cheap Chinese bike and it got me home again

The pound shop is selling 10 x AA batteries for a pound! I do buy them but they don't last long so not sure about value for money!

 

[flecc]

Suppose you are going to tell me that you still shop at Sainsbury's. At last the big 4 supermarkets accept the threat from Lidl and co as customers vote with their feet.

I still shop at Sainsburys. I've tried Aldi and Lidl and found many of their lines fine but others falling well short, and I've also been irritated by the lack of choice. Since prices are of no consequence to me and I don't want to have to go to two places to get what I want, Sainsburys still wins.

This has nothing to do with snobbishness, I've also had to rule out my local Waitrose as not meeting my needs.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That comment is bordering on the vindictive and unpleasant.

I wish no one - or their bikes - any ill on here.

How do you think that all those people that can't afford expensive bikes felt after your opening gloating comments? Personally, I see them as "vindictive and unpleasant".

 

[trex]

I was sponsored by Kenda for a couple of years for racing offroad..... I and pretty much everyone else who was supposed to be running their tyres used to paint out the Maxxis or Michelin logos on our tyres and run them instead.

I can confirm, they are far from the best offroad tyres.... they could very well be the worst.

They might be ok riding in a straight line, on a flat surface, in the dry.... but then in those conditions you could probably just use an innertube on its own and it be about as much use as most Kenda tyres I've had experience of using and working with.

The sidewalls were made of soft cheese, so if you cornered hard on them you could pop them off the rims.... not ideal on an offroad tyre.

The OP is correct.

The famous quote in the bike industry was made by Keith Bontrager, he who's name appears on all the Trek components - because Trek bought his brand.

"Strong. Light. Cheap. Pick Two."

you can equally, change "strong" to "reliable".

There is always going to be exceptions, but generally you do get what you've paid for. If its cheap because you're missing out people in the supply chain... that is something many people can cope with, but you have to think about which people you're missing out. Quality control in a Chinese factory is one person I'd not want to be missing out, especially if I was going to leave my eBike battery on charge in my house unattended!

Col

The UPS plane that crashed in 2010 did not transport e-bike batteries.
In fact, no notable Lithium battery fire involved e-bike batteries, just laptop batteries.
Col, I did not know that Kenda make competition tyres but if you took their money, you should at least do the job you were paid for! painting over a brand name is passing off, you woudn't like it if someone sticks KTM stickers on a Chinese bike would you.

 

[los monty]

Since prices are of no consequence to me .

Not sure there are many on this forum in such a fortunate position, most have a budget and finite funds. Never been irritated by lack of choice but sometimes feel ripped off when I find that I have paid over the top for something. When things get me down I think of those less fortunate and realise how blessed I am "Even with a cheap Chinese bike"