[riderrenee]

bikesdirect.com isn't the cheapest. I found the Diamondback Metric 1 available at diamondback.com for the same price, and a courteous sales rep for service on the phone, though just days after my purchase. Be prepared to pay for adjustments after assembly. Don't be mislead. Their advice that shop assembly will run $50-100 is an unfair expectation. Don't be mislead. Mine arrived with front break problems, untrue tires, gear problems, etc. Are you skilled at these fixes? Would you even know if these fixes were needed? Customer service (Larry) was callous, incoherent, and inexcusable. If you appreciate professional communications and expect to deal with understanding (service-oriented) on issues, this is NOT the company for you. Reach out to brands directly, and visit a shop upfront. Spend your time and money with people who treat you with enthusiasm and respect.

 

[wayold]

I've bought stuff from both Diamondback and BikesDirect. They both delivered what they advertised. Neither of them are ideal sources for a new rider since assembly and adjustment will be required. Still, I would buy from either of them again if they had what I was looking for.

 

[riderrenee]

This is a Beginner's Corner discussion forum. I find it very important that beginners are not mislead.

 

[J.B. Weld]

Their advice that shop assembly will run $50-100 is an unfair expectation. Don't be mislead. Mine arrived with front break problems, untrue tires, gear problems, etc. Are you skilled at these fixes? Would you even know if these fixes were needed?

Any brand requires adjustments you describe out of the box. $50 is a bit unrealistic but but a lot of shops would do it for $100. Ours does, no big deal.

 

[Cleared2land]

Quietly sitting in the bleachers...

 

[r-rocket]

bikesdirect.com isn't the cheapest. I found the Diamondback Metric 1 available at diamondback.com for the same price, and a courteous sales rep for service on the phone, though just days after my purchase. Be prepared to pay for adjustments after assembly. Don't be mislead. Their advice that shop assembly will run $50-100 is an unfair expectation. Don't be mislead. Mine arrived with front break problems, untrue tires, gear problems, etc. Are you skilled at these fixes? Would you even know if these fixes were needed? Customer service (Larry) was callous, incoherent, and inexcusable. If you appreciate professional communications and expect to deal with understanding (service-oriented) on issues, this is NOT the company for you. Reach out to brands directly, and visit a shop upfront. Spend your time and money with people who treat you with enthusiasm and respect.

Renee -- This is probably correct advice for a beginner's forum, for anyone that doesn't know how to true tires or fix breaks.

That company is a better match for folks who match this description:

"If you are familiar with bicycle assembly, most take about 15 to 20 minutes with brake, shifter, derailleur adjustment and some wheel truing."

All other beginners who are not familiar with bike assembly and those tasks would be very wise to follow your advice and buy from their local bike shop. Or at least get a local price quote from their local bike shop before buying online.

(you may get some feedback from folks who ARE familiar with bike assembly that will have no problem with those tasks that will disagree with you)

 

[Sparticus]

Quietly sitting in the bleachers...

Pass the popcorn.
Meanwhile I'll cheerfully true those tires and fix them breaks.
I'll even install a new neck in the receiver, too.
=sParty

 

[Sir kayakalot]

I’m just going to bite my tongue because my New Year resolution is to not be quite the a$$ that I once was. But only for a year

 

[ctxcrossx]

I’m just going to bite my tongue because my New Year resolution is to not be quite the a$$ that I once was. But only for a year

You still have 21 minutes!

 

[Sparticus]

You still have 21 minutes!

Work it!

 

[Monty219]

I bought a $300 single speed mtb from BD for an inlaw visit bike (they live on the other side of the country). It is awesome for its intended purpose. I kinda wish i had one to ride locally as well.

 

[chazpat]

You still have 21 minutes!

too late now!

 

[Cleared2land]

This is a Beginner's Corner discussion forum. I find it very important that beginners are not mislead.

Go to a local bike shop and do business with them.

 

[Arm&Hammer]

I hate all the breaks, everything would get done faster without them!

 

[mtnbkrmike]

Paging @bikesdirect

 

[Cary]

Ahh, the new world, where people purchase the lowest cost product and then are not happy when they don’t receive Nordstrom level service. Bikes direct sells low margin bikes mail order, some assembly required. For people who want a bike that is ready to ride and tuned, there are many wonderful local bike shops. It will be more expensive at a bike shop, they have to pay for things like additional rent and employees to assemble the bikes as well as sell them.

 

[ljsmith]

BDs website says their bikes will need all of the adjustments you describe. So what exactly are you complaining about? They do not say the bike is ready to ride out of the box.

 

[834905]

$100 for a new bike assembly is totally reasonable and most shops will charge right around that if you bring them a bike in a box.

Just speaking from the experience of working in a shop here, but if you tried to put it together and couldn’t hack it, then took it into the shop it’s no longer a “new build”. I had that happen all of the time, where people would buy from places like BD and try to assemble it themselves, then bring it to us when they realized they didn’t know what they were doing. At that point I had to do all of the “new bike” stuff plus fix all the stuff they put on backwards.

 

[remanaz]

This is a Beginner's Corner discussion forum. I find it very important that beginners are not mislead.

I agree that no one should be misled. But in this case it is you that is misleading others. It says on BDs website that everything you mentioned needs to be done. They even took the time to put together a video to help with that.

On the flip side, shops do not always know how to dial everything in too. The shop I bought my Spark from did not setup the rear derailleur correctly. Shimano has even made it simple to do for the b-stop by having a line on the rear cage that you line up with the cassette. It was way off when I got it. They also under adjusted the high limit adjustment. I had to go behind them and adjust this stuff. This shop is in an expensive city catering to very affluent clientele. I certainly did not expect to have to go behind them like that.

 

[Joe Handlebar]

BDs website says their bikes will need all of the adjustments you describe. So what exactly are you complaining about? They do not say the bike is ready to ride out of the box.

Yep....and DB's site also has a crap ton of video and written tutorials and even...gasp...the manual!