On Oct 25, 10:34 am,
[email protected] wrote:
> >On Oct 25, 10:06 am, [email protected] wrote:
> >> >Actually, if I'd seen that "Motobecane" crosser for $500 that
> >> >they now are offering--I'd have bought it
>
> >> That's what I'm thinking of buying form Bikes
> >> Direct.... the Motebecane cross bike
>
> >> Any opinions on it?
>
> >I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Add some fenders and ya got the perfect
> >fall/winter do it all bike. 8spd rear cluster is fine--stop worrying
> >about winter grime and replace it and chain as needed, as 8spd stuff
> >is cheeep.
>
> >As I mentioned before, I'd repack the hubs and tension/destress those
> >wheels before it went out the front door. Those are great rims if
> >tensioned right, the wheels should be care-free.
>
> OK
>
> They have two versions tho..... more expensive one with
> Ultegra components. Would you go for that one over the
> Tiagra version?
Like I said in the other post *I* would go for the cheaper one. The
wheels, for one, promise to be more reliable if serviced initially--
and if you break a spoke, you can still ride home. Consumables are
cheap for 8spd--and it's also got a metal fork, which is nice if you
wipe out this winter or want to mount low riders for a weekend tour.
Tiagra and Sora shift great--as good as any slob that's not racing
needs. The only reason to even consider the more expensive model IMHO
is if you absolutely hate Sora shifters and the inability to drop to a
smaller cog in the drops. I'm not a big fan of brifters to begin with,
but having ridden both Sora and the higher up groups, I sorta like the
Sora the best. It's a matter of personal taste.
$300 buys you a little less weight, one more rear cog, proprietary
wheels, and increased consumables price. Yeah--the rear mech might be
a little more durable--but what's a replacement Tiagra mech these
days? $30-50?
Anyway the wheels on the more expensive bike really are the deal
breaker for me. Low spoke wheels with heavy rims are not an "upgrade"
in any way.
