Is shimano RSX group o.k.???
Aljan12
I went shopping for my first road bike this weekend and came away somewhat
dismayed. I was financially prepared to spend about $650 on a nice new bike
with Shimano RSX components. What I got was a salesman who told me to spend
another $250.00 for a bike with RX-100 components and a carbon fiber fork. Can
anyone tell me if I should listen to this guy? Do I really need a carbon -
fiber fork?? I ride about 1500 miles a year, won't the RSX group hold up o.k? I
would really appreciate any advice from you guys since I saved long and hard
for this bike. Thanks, Crazy Joe...
Scott
Sorry I can't help you much here as I've been away from the scene for
way too long...but here's my two cents worth:
Buy what you want and makes you happy...not what will make the sales
man's wallet happy (commissions and such). Find some info. on it at
other shops and check prices too. If all else fails....go to your local
library and check out consumer reports,etc.
-Scott
An informed shopper is a happy owner.
Matt Daniel
RSX is just fine for the mileage you're talking about. Truth be known, the
lower rated Exage group would be ok too (if you could tolerate down-tube
shifters). When and IF you need the pricier stuff you'll know. if you end
up cycling a whole lot more in the future, you'll probably spend more on a
frame too.
Patrick Sheridan
Scott wrote:
>
> Aljan12 wrote:
> >
> > I went shopping for my first road bike this weekend and came away somewhat
> > dismayed. I was financially prepared to spend about $650 on a nice new bike
> > with Shimano RSX components. What I got was a salesman who told me to spend
> > another $250.00 for a bike with RX-100 components and a carbon fiber fork. Can
> > anyone tell me if I should listen to this guy? Do I really need a carbon -
> > fiber fork?? I ride about 1500 miles a year, won't the RSX group hold up o.k? I
> > would really appreciate any advice from you guys since I saved long and hard
> > for this bike. Thanks, Crazy Joe...
Good question. I have never ridden RSX components but...
Any Shimano product will endure 1500 mls/yr of road riding. I have had
several bikes go through my hands that had 7-8 yr old components on it
that were just fine. I must admit not RSX though but the quality of 10
yr old 105 SC and todays RSX won't differ much. If you don't plan on
doing serious racing you don't need those really expensive high-tech
componets. But beware of the carbon fiber fork. Those are expensive to
make and one of the easiest ways to cut on production costs is by
reducing the quality requirements. However a well equiped bike will
always last longer and be more fun to ride than a cheap one.
Cy Galley
We had a rider go down when a carbon fiber fork failed. He is now in a
wheel chair as he can't walk.
Scott wrote in message <34CC15...@allowed.com>...
>Aljan12 wrote:
>>
>> I went shopping for my first road bike this weekend and came away
somewhat
>> dismayed. I was financially prepared to spend about $650 on a nice new
bike
>> with Shimano RSX components. What I got was a salesman who told me to
spend
>> another $250.00 for a bike with RX-100 components and a carbon fiber
fork. Can
>> anyone tell me if I should listen to this guy? Do I really need a
carbon -
>> fiber fork?? I ride about 1500 miles a year, won't the RSX group hold up
o.k? I
>> would really appreciate any advice from you guys since I saved long and
hard
>> for this bike. Thanks, Crazy Joe...
>
Claudia Routon
Aljan12 wrote:
>
> I went shopping for my first road bike this weekend and came away somewhat
> dismayed. I was financially prepared to spend about $650 on a nice new bike
> with Shimano RSX components. What I got was a salesman who told me to spend
> another $250.00 for a bike with RX-100 components and a carbon fiber fork. Can
> anyone tell me if I should listen to this guy? Do I really need a carbon -
> fiber fork?? I ride about 1500 miles a year, won't the RSX group hold up o.k? I
> would really appreciate any advice from you guys since I saved long and hard
> for this bike. Thanks, Crazy Joe...
Punt the fork and, for that matter, punt the whole bike until you've
read (at the library) Greg Lemond's book on cycling. Read the chapters
on choosing a bike and fitting a bike. He'll tell you what size to get
and you need to realize that he's probably right and the fork salesman
is somewhat misinformed. Carbon forks have their place, but you need a
good pair of pedals, some Sidi shoes, a nice jersey, a raincoat, some
quality shorts, and gloves before you need a fork. The RSX stuff is
serviceable, but if you want to race don't buy a triple with a 48 front
ring, you'll need 52 at least. As far as frame material goes, get a
bicycle made from Cr-Mo or Cr-Mn, or Ca-Mn, in other words Reynolds 525
or 531 or Columbus Cromor True Temper has some nice seamed and butted
sets to choose from as well. If you don't know what butted means then
you really need to see Mr. Lemond. If you buy an aluminum frame in that
price range you are asking for discomfort. There are some nice,
resilient aluminum frames out there but not for less than $1000. The
carbon frames, although light, tend to be heavy in that range. Steel is
the answer and keep your geometry less than 74 degrees. PS.. you'll
need a helmet.
Don't forget something else, new bikes come from the factory built by
monkees, if the cables are too long have them trimmed, if the front hub
is not silky and I mean silky smoothe, have them re-pack it. If there
is a truing stand at this shop, and there sometimes isn't, take off the
tire, put it in the stand and check the wheel for roundness. If it
isn't round then the tension is wrong, the dish is probably wrong, the
true is wrong and the whole rest of the bike is wrong. You'll be
looking at a new headset next year if that hasn't been professionally
done. Do not, do not fall for the lifetime service bullshit plan. A
quality build is worth a hundred lifetimes of monkees working to correct
a bad build. If you have any questions call me Paul at 402 435 7722
Deluxe Bicycles of Lincoln. We offer one year unlimited service and
complete overhauls out of the box. No compromises on price, no
compromises on service. That's about the best you can hope for.
Adam Eberbach
In article <19980125232...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
alj...@aol.com said...
> I went shopping for my first road bike this weekend and came away somewhat
> dismayed. I was financially prepared to spend about $650 on a nice new bike
> with Shimano RSX components. What I got was a salesman who told me to spend
> another $250.00 for a bike with RX-100 components and a carbon fiber fork. Can
> anyone tell me if I should listen to this guy? Do I really need a carbon -
> fiber fork?? I ride about 1500 miles a year, won't the RSX group hold up o.k? I
> would really appreciate any advice from you guys since I saved long and hard
> for this bike. Thanks, Crazy Joe...
You don't need that fork really, but you might like it. I have read that
a carbon fork will give the front a little more flex and not transfer so
much shock to the hands - but that might not be so. I would rather spend
the extra cost on better rims or other components.
I have RSX right now. I don't love it but I have to admit it has always
worked well with some regular maintenance on my part. I think I have
about 1500 miles on it now and it is still OK, although the drivetrain is
making a little too much noise for my liking.
It's not as pretty as the more expensive stuff, and it is relatively
heavy. Just how much better is RX-100? Probably not $250 worth.
--
Adam Eberbach
Rob Quiles
Don't get fixated on any one brand of bike or group. Most good shops
will have several different bikes within each price range. If yours
doesn't, go somewhere else. Shop around, compare and you might find a
good deal on a bike leftover from '96 or '97.
--
~~~ Rob Quiles rqu...@tacticsus.com
~~ Tactics, Inc. rqu...@sprintmail.com
~ http://www.tacticsus.com
WRobinette
I just bought a '97 Trek 1400 ($750). While is has a mix of both RX100 and RSX
components, the majority of bikes I was looking at had RSX. The way I look at
it is that I am just getting into biking. I do not want to underspend (dept
store) but I also do not want to overspend (OCLV, carbon). I told myself that
if I get serious enough about biking in the next year to two, I can treat
myself to a really good bike, but until that time, I will stick with a lower
end bike. I will be able to justify the cost of a really good frame and all
the goddies that go with it if I prove to myself that I really _need_ them. I
am sure that RSX is good enough for me for the next year.
As someone alluded to, it seems service is important, but a good bike shop
should provide it. My bike shop gives one year of service on the bike included
in the purchase. They really stressed that I need to bring it back to them
after 30-60 days to ensure everything is still adjusted and lubed properly.
Seeing how they don't charge for it, I feel no reason not to. FWIW.
Jim Robinette
WRobi...@aol.com
Jim Robinette
WRobi...@aol.com
James Hadley
I suspect you'll be perfectly happy with RSX. My son (21 years old)
got an RSX road bike last summer - he wanted to cross train for MTB
riding with road riding and do some group rides and centuries. The
bike works great. I've worked on it for him and have adjusted parts
as well as rode it myself to test it. It is very nice. Unless you
can tell a big difference betwen the RX 100 bike and teh RSX bike AND
can afford the more expensive bike, don't bother with it.
Jamie
Kevin Walz
As a bike shop manager, I have had lots of experience with this
question. For the type of riding you said I would not bother with a
carbon fork. However, the one drawback I have with the RSX groupo is
the crankset. A RX 100 crankset has the larger chainring which makes
all of the difference. Some companies (Schwinn) has bikes with combo
RSX and RX 100 that would be perfect for what you are looking for.
Varun Madhok
Kevin is right about the chainring size.
However, some improvisation may be done.
I have a bike that came with a 26-36-46 RSX set-up.
I got a 54 ring, dropped the 36 and left the 26 as dummy.
However, I was told by the mechanic that a 54 is the largest
I can fit (, and still have adequate performance).
This is a feasible (and cheaper) option that you might want
to consider.
Varun
Andrew Getter
cat...@webtv.net (Kevin Walz) writes:
>
> As a bike shop manager, I have had lots of experience with this
> question. For the type of riding you said I would not bother with a
> carbon fork. However, the one drawback I have with the RSX groupo is
> the crankset. A RX 100 crankset has the larger chainring which makes
> all of the difference. Some companies (Schwinn) has bikes with combo
> RSX and RX 100 that would be perfect for what you are looking for.
Trek and Cannondale also do this though these bikes cost around
$900-$1000. Schwinn does this on their $800-$900 bike too, I think.
They sell a $600 bike but that bike is full RSX.
One thing I wonder though, with the RSX group, you get
46,36,26 (if it is a triple) on the front and 11-24 on the back.
The highest gear is 46/11 = 4.18 ratio. On a standard 8 speed
set up with 53,39 and 12-23, you get 53/12 = 4.42 ratio. This
is not a huge difference in top gear. Also, 1997 treks set up
the 2100 and 2120 with a 13-26 cogset on the back which gives
a maximum gear of 53/13 = 4.077. For anything but racing, I
don't see how the RSX equiped bike is limited.
Virgil Cheung
hi y'all,
when i bought my cannondale r300 last yr, i shopped 13 shops b4 coming 2 a
decision. i settled on a bike shop that had a 96 model that was selling
$100 cheaper than the 97 model, and get this: the components were better
than the 97 model! but i wanted a 53 ring, so the guy said that he would
do it 4 free. it turned out that the ring wouldnt fit the rsx crank, so
he had 2 upgrade 2 a 105 crank. now the front derailler wouldnt fit! so
he bumped that up 2 a 105 as well! best of all, these upgrades were all 4
free. moral of story: shop around and b prepared 2 only shop with stores
with experienced personnel and can offer good prices.
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Milton Stratos
Have put more than 2000 mi in past yr.on a Specialized Allez w/ RSX I
bought used, no problems at all.
Milton Stratos