Raleigh USA Bicycle Company Passage 4.0

Price Paid:  $316.00 at The Bike Shop

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Raleigh Passage 4.0

Bike Setup:
The Bike Shop verified condition; tube bar, seat, tires

Summary:
Smooth, fast, comfortable ride; easy gear shifting; totally trouble-free during 2 year of biking; a pleasure to own and use

Strengths:
beautiful; sturdy; comfortable seat; responsive gears

Weaknesses:
was not made smaller than M15

Price Paid:  $400.00 at Sturto's

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Ketchum-Hailey TT

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
This review is based on my observations of a friend's Passage.

He's a recreational cyclist and when he first got this bike, he was quite stoked, s I was, since we could go riding together.

The bike starts off great, but within the first 3 months, you can expect a host of problems to crop up.

First off was the crankset, it constantly kept kicking the chain, then the wheels would not hold true and would constantly jam when going at low speed, and lastly, when we were on a simple 9 mile recreational ride he shifted and the dérailleur hanger literally snapped, kicking said dérailleur into his spokes and severely damaging the rim.

I've never once seen that happen before and sincerely doubt I ever will again.

I do NOT recommend this bicycle at all.

Strengths:
+ Comfortable ride
+ When it wants to work, it's zippy

Weaknesses:
- Poor build quality
- Terrible wheels
- The dérailleur hanger SNAPPED

Similar Products Used:
Never ridden a hybrid.

Price Paid:  $375.00 at Durst's Cycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
2007 Raleigh Passage 4.0

Summary:
I ride almost every day for exercise on a bike trail near our town. The daily nine mile trip is a real pleasure on this bike. I like everything about the design from the rider position, front shocks, and brakes to the very smooth operating shifter. I have put over 200 miles on the bike in spite of some challenging weather conditions and I look forward to riding even further as the weather improves. This is a well-designed bike and it is great for my daily excercise routine.

Strengths:
Shifter, overall rider comfort, and well-built. A great value for the money it costs.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Schwinn 10 speed

Price Paid:  $359.00 at Two Seasons Hanover

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
To & From Work

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
A 2006 model (the option was missing in the pull down). I have been extremely pleased with both the comfort, performance and especially with the value of this bike. Having recently decided upon lifestyle changes to improve health thought that the additional time spent commuting could be problematic. Am happy to report that this bicycle is such a pleasure to ride I look forward to the commute and often take small detours on the way home and find myself quite disappointed on those days that I have been unable to ride.

Strengths:
The Shimano EZ Fire-29 MegaRange 8spd drivetrain along with the Shimano EZ-Fire-29 brake levers have functioned flawlessly. The Tektro Alloy V-brake w/power modulator provide ample braking.

Weaknesses:
None noted.

Similar Products Used:
Schwinn steel frame mountain bike.