Bike Setup: Stock except for new pedals (MKS-GR9). Added rack, Ortlieb panniers.
Summary: Lucky find: unused 2001 model picked up in 2007. Very good on all day rides. My first quality bike, and a comfortable fit for me--even the saddle, to my surprise. A good entry-level long haul rider. Good around town, too.
Strengths: Rides very well when loaded.
No mechanical problems in 4 years (light use).
Deals well with potholes, rough pavement.
Weaknesses: Terrible stock pedals--scalloped metal edges very painful to use. Replaced immediately.
Similar Products Used: Schwinn World Traveler, Schwinn Continental.
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Bike Setup: Stock with Topeak rack and pump, Axiom bags, Aztec Vibe Wrap bar tape, Blackburn Low-Riders, and Planet Bike lights, fenders, and computer.
Summary: Pleased with comfortable ride and steady road manners. This bike is extremely versatile, whether in city riding in Milwaukee or a camping ride to Illinois Beach State Park. Stock saddle gets high marks fro comfort, although I had the bar tapes replaced with Aztec Vibe-Wrap.
Strengths: First-class touring bike at an economy class price. Vittoria Randonneur tires hold up very well and adapt to a wide range of conditions. Rock-solid handling, even with camping load. Very comfortable ride. In line levers on bar top make city riding safer.
Weaknesses: A bit porky.
Similar Products Used: Falcon Mod. 92, Dawes Super Galaxy
Bike Setup: spd clipless pedals, 700X25c folding gatorskins,topeak rack & expandable trunk bag
Summary: Here are the problems I've had:
wheelset: a spoke pops after every 150 miles or every 8 hours of commuting with me + 10 lbs. 3 so far
Metal splinters in break pads: Either the pads are too hard or bad wheels?
Chain was too wide: caused shifting problems.
Frame & fork flaws: missing mid-fork rack mount on 5 of 10 '09 Auroras I've seen
missing reliefs on chainstays, for tire clearance, on 8 of 10 '09 auroras. The elite had this issue too, but less often.
It is a good bike for commuting once you replace the rims,spokes,brake pads,chain, and make sure you get one of the rare correctly manfactured frame and forks.
At the store at about half the Auroras were missing the mid-fork rack mount, and all were missing reliefs for tire clearance in the lower part of the frame near the crank. I didn't notice the clearance issue until after purchase. Biggest tire that will fit is 32s; probably would take a 37 if you can get a correctly made frame.
It's a 62cm 2009 Aurora, and I bought it about 7 months ago, and have about 400 miles on it. It would have a lot more miles but it has been in the shop a lot. I am 6'5" and weigh about 240. I usually commute with 5-10 lbs of stuff. My bike commute is 25 miles round trip on roads with occasional potholes that I try to avoid. Lots of stop and go on the first half.
I changed the tires 25s for faster commuting a few days after I got it, but have popped a spoke in rear wheel 3 times so far. I asked the shop if anything could be done to reduce how often this is happening. They said that they are just cheap spokes. I also wanted to use it for fully loaded touring with larger tires, but this seems like a real bad idea with the spoke problems when only carrying 10 lbs. I know I am heavy but my other bike did the same commute for 2000 miles over a year or so, and didn't pop one spoke on similar tires and wheels. It has 27x 1 1/8" (~28) tire but both bikes where at 105 psi. Both had 36 spoke wheels.
For the first couple hundred miles I kept finding metal slivers in the brake pads, and took it in a few times then it stopped. I don't know if they fixed it or it went away. I also just try to brake more slowly; like the bikes from 30 or 40 yrs ago. This does not inspire confidence, when I think about going down a long grade fully loaded on a tour.
It came with a chain that was too wide. I was wider than 9 spds I've seen and narrower than an 8. After a couple hours of riding it would start jumping to the adjacent gear, back and forth. I adjusted it and cleaned it repeatedly, but after an hour or so the problem would return. The issue completely went away after the shop replace the chain.
Anyway it has been frustrating, and I regret purchasing this bike. I have been doing this type of riding for the last 4 or 5 years, and it adds up to about 4-5k miles. The bikes I have are around 1/3 of cost of the Aurora, but have performed better and been much more reliable: '00 Specialized hardrock sport v-brake frt sus 24spd,'97 Gary Fisher entry level Mtn bike v-brake 24spd, 30 yr old 12spd Gitane Olympic record II bought on craigslist in 2007 for cheap. Each has between 1-2k miles w/ high pressure city tires, and none have had these issues.
In hindsight I should have bought one of the other bikes I was looking at: tricross, trek 520, or the long hall trucker etc. Do yourself a favor and by a decent bike. Don't buy a Jamis.
Strengths: comfortable, handles well
Weaknesses: Spokes,Rims,Brake Pads,Chain,frame,fork, bothersome seat post
Similar Products Used: '77 gitane olympic record II
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Favorite Ride: two mile commute; thirty mile weekend ride
Bike Setup: Fenders, rear rack -- commuter/light touring.
Summary: I love this bicycle. It is an affordable commuter, steel, with eyelets. The brakes are a little chattery, and some of the manufacturer's choices are on the cheaper side -- but I found it not a problem to switch in new and better parts when the old ones failed (and you'd be surprised what doesn't fail.) The seat is not great, but seats are a personal matter anyway.
Crank has a nice, wide range; great for mountains.
Strengths: Tough, elegant and old-style look. Steel ride is soft. Built for real use.
Weaknesses: Some parts are not of highest quality.
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Summary: I rode this bike cross country,from N.J
to washington state.The seat cause alot numbing.It was change in michigan.The orgional tire,s change Havre M.T.I was lucky to make it here Put batch on outside.The back rim broke after going through glacier natioanl park.No bike shop
would fix it untill got to sandpoint ID kiss the guy who made JB weld.When over all passes on 20 in washington to anacortes.I also rode Cincinati to Clovis N.M.I was riding over hundred miles a day.
I had no problem on the southern route.IF you don't have alot money this bike is a good choice
Strengths: pull hills great,high gears are great
Weaknesses: tires,seat,rims
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