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Submitted by
Ilovebikes2
a Weekend Warrior
from Marietta, Georgia, US
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Flat Rock Park Columbus | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$440.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Solid Frame, Color, Alex Rims | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, Front Suspension, Bike Geometry, Front Chainring slips | | Similar Products Used: | Discount Store Schwinn, and Diamondback | | Bike Setup: | Novora Aspen 2008 Stock | | Bottom Line: | Ok first off I love Novara bikes I've had four of them. Now I have the Buzz, the Novara Float and I love both of them. This bike however is way overpriced to be built the way it is. First of the front suspension (RST Gila) is like riding a pogo stick over bumps, seriously this is the kind of suspension they put on walmart bikes for $150. Second is the upright riding position handlebars seem too high up, some people might like this so I will not hold it against novara. Frame Heavy, and Heavy like a rock. When pedaling uphills the front Chainring slips this is a pain when I'm clipped in and have to unclip and walk it up the hill. Thanks for REI's return policy because this bike went back to the store. Bottom line Novara makes great bikes this is not one of them. Great bikes that I can say I've owned and loved- The Novara Strada, Buzz, and Float. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fr3nch
a Cross Country Rider
from Tahoe, NV
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Great Value, Great Brakes, | | Weaknesses: | Uncomfortable seat | | Bottom Line: | I did a lot of shopping around for a hard-tail. I found a lot of overpriced gimmicks on other brands and when this bike went on sale at REI I grabbed it. I couldn't find these components on any other bike for less than $500. It climbs great and is very controllable on the downhills. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to get into some semi-serious mountain biking and hardly spend any money. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NeoMoses
a Weekend Warrior
from Farmington, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Novi Tree Farm | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Value says it all about this bike. Good components at a great price. Nowhere else could I find a bike with dual disc brakes and these components for less than $500. The Novara was less than $400. I now have over 800 miles on this bike, ~500 hard trail riding and ~300 urban commuting. I've potato-chipped my rear wheel after a nasty spill, but was still able to ride thanks to the disc brakes. Tires seem good, but rear is almost out of tread in the center. | | Weaknesses: | Seat is not very comfortable for long rides. I replaced it with a Brooks saddle and am very happy now. Have used it for some commuting in the early spring (40 miles roundtrip) and it works well. Not the most efficient bike for commuting, but the most versatile for climbing over snow piles. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7.3 | | Bike Setup: | Basically Stock, with a Brooks saddle and some headlights/tail lights. | | Bottom Line: | The best value in a good quality bike, period. Expect many trouble-free miles out of this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Racer
from Middlebury, VT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | local REI | | Strengths: | Greatest bike ever. I bought this one in 1996 and have been on it nearly every day since - I've used it as a commuter bike for the last 6 years and its held up to the rain and the road salt and the sprinting and the brake-slamming wonderfully. A little chipped paint and some rust spots on the bottom of the BB cage is all the wear she shows. Solid frame, easy-to-adjust components, and solid ground feel - if you find one on E-bay, buy it up. | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy for a trail bike, great for the roads though | | Similar Products Used: | various commuter bikes that fell appart after a year or so | | Bike Setup: | factory basic. Haven't adjusted the front derailleur (besides attaching a new cable) yet. | | Bottom Line: | get it if you can | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m knorr
a Weekend Warrior
from logan, UT
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | devils toothpick | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | predictable, nimble, stable, somewhat bulletproof | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy, cant stay in only one gear on hills when shifters are out of whack | | Similar Products Used: | Jamis Exile | | Bottom Line: | this bike is as old as ever, but with a little attention, rides as good as ever. derailers are hard to adjust right (rear cassette skips often on hills from that). I know the brakes arent the hottest things in the world, but they have never let me down. after years of neglect and punishment, the only things its needed were new tubes & tires, and handlebar grips.
good stuff... should be pretty cheap used, and if its anything like mine, a lot better than some Walmart special, even used, for the same price. the new Aspen's look like a waste of bread though. suntour? spend an extra hundred bucks and buy a nice GT or jamis... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bho
a Weekend Warrior
from long beach,ca
Date Reviewed: August 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
redondo beach bike trail | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
rei product | | Weaknesses: |
rusts easily | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
stock bike | | Bottom Line: | primary bike back in '89. feel that there are better models outside of the novara line nowadays and would get more bang for the buck | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
b waters
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I use the aspen for road and mountain biking. i've had it for 3 years and have had no problems with it that i couldn't fix. It's a good beginner bike for people getting into mtb, but if you're really serious about mtb, you might want to save your money and get a novice or expert bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a cross-country rider
from
Date Reviewed: February 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
For the price in 94 of $400 it's still a back-up bike.
For the price in 94 of $400 it's still a back-up bike.
For the price in 94 of $400 it's still a back-up bike.
For the price in 94 of $400 it's still a back-up bike.
For the price in 94 of $400 it's still a back-up bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Mills
a weekend warrior
from ca
Date Reviewed: December 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I checked out a lot of bike before I bought this one.
I should have bought some thing else. This was my first mountain bike.
Not sure I would clasify it as a mountain bike though. More like a
a piece of junk. I have seven other cycle's. First thing this bike did
was rust. You would think a mountain bike would have more rust protection.
When I say rust. I mean rust very quickly. The next thing was the shifters went
out on me. Would not hold on a hill. NO way to adjust them.
I was VERY disapointed with REI and this bike. You would think someone who
speacialty is the out doors would come up with some thing nicer.
DON'T waste your money!!!!!!!! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a weekend warrior
a
from CA
Date Reviewed: December 17, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I have been riding a Novara for about 3 years, and I think it is AWESOME! This bike has everything you will ever need on a mountain bike. It even has a low price so everyone can enjoy the bike. The bike I currently have is an A7000. This bike is awesome. I feel sorry for the losers who spend a hell of a lot of money on a bike priced more than a Novara. They are just throwing their money away. If you are thinking about buying any other mountain bike, or road bike for that matter, than you should seriously reconsider. Buy a Novara. It will last for a long time and you will love it. Trust me. Look what my Novara did for me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Barnett
a racer
from Corrales NM, USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike needs everything changed. The compnents suck, the frame sucks, the shifters suck, even the damn saddle sucks. If you are thinking about a bike. Think somewhere else. This is definately not a good choice for any kind of rider. | | Overall Rating: |
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