Entry level bike for $400-500

tron07
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Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:54 pm

Hi, I am looking at getting a road bike so I can cycle to the city and lock it some where on the street without worrying too much about the parts getting nicked, so I am limiting myself to something below $500. I have not ridden anything for a while except for stationery bikes at Spinning classes.

So far I have shortlisted the Reid Ospery as its now $400 and I think its a good value for money.
Others in the list are Cell SS2200 and Merida Speeder S1, but I fell Ospery have better components. The Reid Ospery looks nice on picture as well, but I will need to go do a few test before committing to it. The Sydney Reid and Cell shop are quite near each other so I can probably check them both at the same time.

reidcycles.com.au/osprey-road-bike.html

I think I had posted this at another thread like New Bike Under $500 or something, but it seems to be missing.

I think there should not be a huge difference for entry level bikes, but any feedback would be appreciated.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby rodneycc » Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:20 pm

Hi mate. I really recommend you stump up an extra $59 and go the Falco Sport for $559 rather than the Osprey. Its a much better bike for the money. Otherwise if a flatbar is more your liking the Cell SS300 with 105 and Tiagra for $549. But yeah think you would regret going that extra $150.
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:31 am

Thanks for the feedback.

I notice that Reid bikes upgrade the groupset for every $80 pr so, but the other components are basically the same, except maybe with the higher end you get some better parts, but the frame, handle and fork looks to be the same part.

Osprey $399 with claris
Ospery elite $479 with sora
Falco sport $559 with tiagra
Falxo advance $639 with 105

Would these components play such a huge difference?

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby TonyMax » Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:49 am

If you end up going for a Reid use code VIP on the online store and that gives you 10% off even the sale prices, and get them to match that in store if you buy from them. Brings your Osprey down to $360 and the Falco Sport down to a smidge over $500.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby rodneycc » Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:02 pm

tron07 wrote:Thanks for the feedback.

I notice that Reid bikes upgrade the groupset for every $80 pr so, but the other components are basically the same, except maybe with the higher end you get some better parts, but the frame, handle and fork looks to be the same part.

Osprey $399 with claris
Ospery elite $479 with sora
Falco sport $559 with tiagra
Falxo advance $639 with 105

Would these components play such a huge difference?
Wouldn't just be the group. The frame quality on the Falco's would be better. I'd stay away from the Claris group unless you want to do some regular adjusting!
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:09 pm

At $360, i think i will go test ride it NOW.

If Claris need regular adjusting, what about the sora?

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby m@ » Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:09 pm

$639 is a terrific price for 105 - guessing it's not a full 105 groupset as otherwise it'd have to be below cost??

Remember that a bike's more than just a spreadsheet of components though ;) Aside from more expensive parts being lighter, mid-range (say Tiagra and up) shifters and deraileurs will make a noticeable difference - though Sora and some Claris/S2200 parts are fine for commuting/path riding. My wife's bike has a mix of non-series, Claris, Sora and Tiagra and runs very nicely.

I can't comment on Reid (though see the BNA reviews for the Aquilla and Harrier), but the S2200E frame looks similar to my 2008 CELL Team, which I think is pretty decent. Both shops should let you take a test ride (the guys at CELL insisted I go for at least half an hour!), which will give you a better idea of how the bikes compare than comparing on paper.
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby rodneycc » Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:59 pm

tron07 wrote:At $360, i think i will go test ride it NOW.

If Claris need regular adjusting, what about the sora?
Yeah Sora would be the min I'd suggest for anyone to buy. It is better. If you look at the Big brand bikes like Giant, Trek etc. Sora is the usual minimum for a reason (e.g Giant Defy 3 for example). But still its not all about the group. I'd rather a nicer frame as my first priority and then the group. But hey go and test ride them all yourself and see what suits. And above all else get one that fits right (all important and doubley so on a road bike).
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby lobstermash » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:42 pm

The difference in the frame between the Osprey and Falco is the geometry. The build quality is very similar (nothing flash, but a good quality, stiff and fairly generic job). One of my colleagues has one and he's pretty pleased with it. The groupset works just fine and it's stayed pretty much in tune since I gave it a once-over for him about 6 months ago. As well as the lower order groupset, Reid finish the Osprey with a low end bottom bracket and crankset. As a package, it works just fine, but the Falco Sport is a lot more bike for not a lot more coin.

If what you really want is a road bike that won't be interfered with, I'm not sure a Reid or Cell would do the job, as they don't look as low end as their price tag. I'd go a 2nd hand older roadie. Save for a few forum members on here, most people don't recognise the value in even the nicer old roadies. You can usually pick up a good condition, nice to ride and functional old roadie for $50-150. Bikes to avoid in this category are anything with stem shifters, kick stands, steel wheels and nutted axles.
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby mikesbytes » Thu Jul 10, 2014 2:16 pm

tron07 wrote:I think I had posted this at another thread like New Bike Under $500 or something, but it seems to be missing
[updated: duplicate post removed]
If the R-1 rule is broken, what happens to N+1?

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:43 pm

Went to few shops and test some bikes, now i am leaning towards the Osprey Elite with the Sora groupset. Tried the falco with the Tiagra as well but dont find much difference.
mikesbytes wrote:
tron07 wrote:I think I had posted this at another thread like New Bike Under $500 or something, but it seems to be missing
[duplicate post removed]
Yes, when i posted this thread only then i only notice that my post need to be approved first, that is was why it was missing.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby Mulger bill » Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:21 pm

tron07 wrote:Went to few shops and test some bikes, now i am leaning towards the Osprey Elite with the Sora groupset. Tried the falco with the Tiagra as well but dont find much difference.
mikesbytes wrote:
tron07 wrote:I think I had posted this at another thread like New Bike Under $500 or something, but it seems to be missing
[duplicate post removed]
Yes, when i posted this thread only then i only notice that my post need to be approved first, that is was why it was missing.
What's the price difference between Sora and Tiagra?
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:02 pm

Osprey with claris
Ospery elite with sora
Falco sport with tiagra
Falxo advance with 105

$80 to jump a group

Sora have 3 chainring at the crank, while Tiagra only 2. It is one of the reason to push me from claris to the sora.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby AUbicycles » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:59 am

Which other shops and bikes did you try. You seem to have a large price and model range in mind so it would be good to know to which other bikes you are comparing these.
This retailer may also have frame differences from year to year (or potentially between shipments) so may not be a straight comparison of groupset online.

The range of gears really depends upon the riding - what area and suburbs are you riding? While this can help understand your requirements, groupset level also doesn't equal gears - the latest 105 is pretty good.

The claris is 16 speed, the Sora is 27 speed, tiagra 20 speed and 105 also 20 speed.
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:05 am

One of the main objective is to be able to lock up the bike in the city without too much of worry for a few hours so i would like to keep the cost down. A high end flashy bike would probably get stolen easilly.

I didnt try out the 105 groupset at all as it, i tried the Tiagra on the falco as it was on the small frame while the sora was on the medium frame to see which frame is better as well as getting a feel of the groupset.

I tested Cell Lappa 1.0, and some not so famous bikes at some local LBS I haappen to pass by.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby m@ » Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:59 am

If you want something that you can just leave unattended, steel and ideally singlespeed might be the go. Most of the bikes you're looking at are relatively indistinguishable from a reasonable racing bike to the casual observer (my CELL Team gets plenty of admiration, despite its lower-middle range frame). Something like a Repco Superlight isn't blingy and just looks like a bike to most people... You could of course also upgrade it to a modern groupset and have a very nice ride that won't attract unwanted attention (particularly if you uglify it a bit).

Of course, nothing is foolproof and any bike is likely to be stripped or vandalised if not stolen if left unattended in a public place for long enough. :(

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:00 pm

I will either get something i like or not buy at all. Fixie or stealie is not something I will buy. I am actually planning to double chain the bike if I am leaving it for a short while, or perhaps get one of those "D" lock. I saw a falco chained at a post in the city they other day.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:12 pm

Bought the reid ospery elite today, small size cause felt more comfortable in the small compare to the medium frame. Plus the vip discount thanks to TonyMax's tip, brings the price to around to $432. Ask for the bundles but felt most of it was not really good stuffs, and he guy gave me a Reid LED light set and the 1.2m bike lock for free. Seems like a great deal, for those who bought those bundle stuffs would probably not get the freebies. Will see if I can fet more freebies when i go collect the bike in a weeks time.

Wanted the Limar 660 helmet but didnt want to pay $76 so went around to shop for helmet and got the Rosebank Sprint black and red from BigW for $30. Not too sure about the built of Rosebank product at the moment, as it looks quite decent to me but i can always refund it as i havent open it yet.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby mikesbytes » Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:25 pm

From a safety viewpoint all helmets have the same safety rating
If the R-1 rule is broken, what happens to N+1?

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby KGB » Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:59 pm

How did you try it on without opening it?

As all helmets sold in aust have to pass the 2063 standard, they should all protect you well, AS LONG AS THEY FIT PROPERLY!
A more expensive lid will often fit better or be easier to fit, ve lighter, have more ventilation as well as other features. Fit, fit, fit!
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:00 pm

I can put it on to test fit, just with the cardboard jutting out like a extended sun shade.

I did read about helmets earlier, so i understand a bit about it, test fits and the Australia Safety Standard.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby AUbicycles » Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:20 am

Big W is hopefully a better bet considering the Kmart recall of 100,000 helmets.

Rosebank used to be a really solid brand but they went downhill in terms of popularity... just couldn't beat the stackhat.
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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:05 pm

Just notice that the Rosebank helmet have the Lifetime Helmet Replacement Policy. How cool is that.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby tron07 » Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:26 am

Guys, drop by the Reid bike shop and pick up a freebie LED light set, while stock last. Check their website for more info.

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Re: Entry level bike for $400-500

Postby Homo Suburbiensis » Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:45 pm

I don't want to disappoint you, but while the reid bike is cheap, I think it still too good to be locked for long periods in the unattended. They look (and are) much better than they cost so you need to be careful. Use two locks, a cable one through the front wheel and a fat D lock through the frame and rear wheel.

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