Raleigh USA Bicycle Company Prestige

Price Paid:  $0.00

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Cougar Mt, Seattle

Bike Setup:
Stock with upgraded saddle.

Summary:
Awesome ride. With over 1000mi on the bike, I'd say it's the best ride I've ever had (switched to Raleigh from older Trek bike). Slammed into brick wall at 15mph last year and split the fork in two. Minor scratches on front wheel but frame and rest of bike remained in perfect condition.

Strengths:
Durability, smooth ride, stiff and very responsive to rider.

Weaknesses:
Stock saddle had to go and using Speedplay pedals.

Similar Products Used:
Treks

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at lbs

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
knights ferry

Bike Setup:
ultergra, durace, mavic

Summary:
I like my raleigh prestige, BUT it developed two major issues, which quite frankly will make it hard for me to ever sell it. The headset was ALWAYS needing to be tightened, so in the end my lbs had to give me a different one. Second, and most important, there are two vertical "crack" lines in the frame right behind the bottom bracket. The bike was sent back to Seattle (where the Raleigh headquarters is) and the shop people there assured me it was superficial paint cracks, and not the frame. Still I don't think I could sell this frame now. I've ridden the bike about 3,000 miles since I noticed the marks, and nothings changed, so I guess it is just paint...Still, for 2,000 bucks you would expect a nicer deal...

Strengths:
comfort, speed,

Weaknesses:
(see review)

Price Paid:  $1950.00 at highlanderbike

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Tam

Bike Setup:
Selle Italia Filte Gel, Look sprint pedals,

Summary:
Looked for a decent carbon frame that doesn't cost the world and has good parts on it. Got the Prestige for a great deal in Utah (they shipped out of state). After 6 months of using i have to say that the whole bike is a great setup with a lot of top notch Easton Parts. The Fulcrum wheels are loud but do a good job and accelerate fast, shifting works great. If you don't wanna spent a fortune on a bike but want something fast with decent comfort that is the bike. The only thing is that no matter how i adjusted the saddle my butt did not like it even on shorter rides. Had to kick it out, the crank might kill my legs on steep hills as i like to pedal higher cadences.

Strengths:
great value, top notch parts, awsome frame - rigid, great stock tires, with some additional investments you can make a sub 16lbs bike out of it (swap wheels and crank) and still save bucks compared to other brands.

Weaknesses:
saddle is crap even for a thin guy like me - put my super comfy Selle It. Flite Gel on it, crank is on the cheaper side but does fine on flats, swap for compact if you wanna
climb hills.

Similar Products Used:
Motobecane Grand Record, Trek 1500, Peugeot

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Price Paid:  $0.00 at Highlander Bike

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Big Mountain

Bike Setup:
2007 Stock

Summary:
Sweet looking bike. Rides like a high end race machine. I ride a lot of local fast paced criteriums and I felt very quick and smooth on the bike. Great Feel!

Strengths:
More bike for the $$$$, light weight, feels smooth while climbing, and feels dependable while descending.

Weaknesses:
Fulcrum Wheels are noisy, if you don't like that kind of thing. I personally like to let others know I'm coming up on them.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5500 & 5400, Look 585, Storck Fascenerio, Orbea Orca, Giant TCR, Jamis Xenith, Scott Addict.

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Craigslist

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
West Mountain Utah

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
I just wanted to let people know what a great bike the Prestige is. I now have over 500 miles on the bike and it has really been great from day one.

Strengths:
Price, Weight, Components

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Roubaix