Seven Bicycles: Feedback:

Anyone own a Seven? Anyone know anyone who
owns a Seven. Do you have any knowledge about
Seven? What are your thoughts about the company
and their bikes?

I ordered a Seven Verve from The Bike Empire in Poway CA. I specified that I would use a Marzocchi Shiver fork front and rear racks with a touring load for on and off road touring. The bike shop and Seven both told me that they could build me a great touring bike usning the Verve signature frameset, modified for the fork and compensated for heavy loaded touring.

The bike is so unstable with my touring load, I cannot ride it safely. Seven is now saying I need to use a rigid fork in order to ride with a touring load.
Their response statementto my complaint is:
>"There are other options that can be explored to help
> all of us determine the
> best solution. We suggest that you try riding the
> bike pulling the B.O.B.
> trailer. If you still find the ride to be
> sub-optimal, then we can discuss
> other options. Unfortunately, this will most likely
> mean a different fork
> Seven has built more than 8,000 custom bicycle
> frames, more than any other
> manufacturer in the world. You are free to ask for
> another frame builder's
> opinion. However, keep in mind that there is no
> other frame builder who has
> our breadth of experience with fitting, designing,
> and fabricating custom
> bicycles.
>
> There are other options that can be explored to help
> all of us determine the
> best solution. We suggest that you try riding the
> bike pulling the B.O.B.
> trailer. If you still find the ride to be
> sub-optimal, then we can discuss
> other options. Unfortunately, this will most likely
> mean a different fork.
snip
> Marzocchi is a great company who manufactures
> excellent suspension forks.
snip
> You are correct that there are many 200-plus-pound
> riders out there using
> the 120mm Shiver quite successfully. The issue is
> not with the total
> weight, but with how the weight is attached to the
> bicycle.
> As we have stated, Seven Cycles has always had a
> policy of respecting, and
> accommodating, the customer's choice of components.
> We do not make
> recommendations for, nor do we pass judgment on fork
> selection.

snip
Another option is to try riding the bike with an
> accurately designed,
> suspension corrected, rigid fork.


I now have a $2750 frame that I can't use for the purpose I specifically described in detail including all of the components I would be using at the time I ordered it.

Many people are happy with their Seven Bikes, if you are planning to get a "standard" bike from them, you may be happy. I am not happy with the semi-custom bike I got from them.

The Bike Empire gave me a full refund for the Seven Frameset. The shop and Seven both agreed that if I wasn't happy with the frame, I shouldn't have to keep it. I'd call that good customer relations for both Seven and the bike shop.

I have a Seven Alaris on order that was supposed to be shipped on the 7th but it will be another week or 2 before it is shipped.
The ones that I have seen look real good, great welds and the people that I have talked to that have them really like them.

I have a Seven Elium SG on order that is supposed to ship to my bike shop on 9/22. I can let you know what it's like after I get some miles on it if you're still interested. I am a girl, actually woman since I turn 50 tomorrow(!), and was not able to get a good fit on a stabdard bike. I also have some issues with discs in my neck that needed accomodation. I loved the road feel of the Seven bike I tested. It's very different from an all carbon bike. I'm getting Campy Record components on it.

Sharon - congrats on your bike and your birthday. The person you're responding to hasn't posted in three years. Sometimes that's not obvious when you find a thread through a search engine so it's up to you to investigate a bit.

but on the plus side we can all be envious of her new purchase!

I purchased my Seven SG from Robinson's Wheelworks in San Leandro, CA, in 2000. I now have over 28,000 miles on it and just love the bike and the service I have received from both Chris Robinson and Seven. I had the opportunity to visit Seven's manufacturing site outside of Boston a couple of years ago when I was in the area on business. They prearranged a tour of their facility. I was impressed with their orgainzation, craftmanship, attention to detail and customer satisfaction. I would highly recommend them and am in the process of ordering a second bike.

MOOTS > Seven > Merlin = Litespeed

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates