Raleigh USA Bicycle Company 1999 R500

Price Paid:  $500.00 at ecology sports

Favorite Ride:
tour and trails

Bike Setup:
raleigh durailleurs crank hubs shimano shifts

Summary:
I bought a raleigh touring 18 speed one year looked like a great bike had raleighs be for wanted to up date to the touring 18 speed

Strengths:
none it was a big dispointment junk eveything went wrong on 500.00 bike it was the bigest piece of junk I ever bought

Weaknesses:
wheels front and rear headset durailleurs shifts came loose all the time had to replace the rear axles and hubs chain rings were not spaced right chain fell between them durailler went in to the spokes it had a mind of its own crank axle was grinding brakes were off set real bad also the cable gide broke off the frame wrote the comp and they did nothing

Similar Products Used:
my other raileigh that was cheaper worked better then this bike steel frame

Price Paid:  $500.00 at The Cycle Shoppe (Toronto)

Bike Setup:
Canadian 2000 Raleigh Grand Prix, with Bontragger clipless pedals. (I use this bike as a cross trainer for my mountain bike)

Summary:
Dont buy this bike. Its super un-reliable; Im 6 breakdowns for 6 rides. Very dissapointed and I think Ill stick to my mountain bike.

I have to give this bike the lowest of ratings as I have been stranded with a broken mech tab 3 times now... not fun.

If your at all fit, know what a good bike rides and like to spent more time riding your bike than fixing it... dont buy this bike! Oh did I say that before... dont buy this bike!

Strengths:
Cheap, looks great (Ive got the 2000 model thats plain aluminuim) Great to ride when its going... accelerates well and is stiff but reasonably supple.

Weaknesses:
Shimano Sora doesnt work! This gear set will work its way out of adjustment mid-ride leaving you stranded without bottom gear on a steap hill. So while the other guy is power off up the hill your stuck in a gear thats more suitable for going down than up.

The mech tab has broken on several occasions resulting in a bent mech, brocken spokes, scratched frame, bent wheel and several weeks wait to get it fixed under warranty.

This bike is a little heavy, but for the price its pretty reasonable weight wise. I have grown out of this bike very quickly, 6 rides and Im already craving something lighter.

More problems... the wheel strip (the plastic/rubber strip that sits between the wheel and tube to cover the spoke ends) plastic on this bike over time will get small folds in it and cause flats... Replace it with a rubber strip.

Similar Products Used:
20 year old Citane Jaguar (1000's of kms), 2000 Specialized S-Works FSR (My main ride)

Favorite Ride:
Grand Teton National Park

Bike Setup:
had to install clipless pedals,otherwise good set-up.

Summary:
I love this bike. I haven't ridden the high end road bikes so its hard to compare, but for someone who rides maybe 80 miles a week tops, it's perfect! I've never had any trouble with, not even a flat tire. I highly recommend the Raleigh R500 for beginner road bikers.

Strengths:
light weight, durable, easy handlebar shifting

Weaknesses:
None, I love this bike, it's my prized possession!

Similar Products Used:
It's my first road bike, but I like it more than my Mtn. or beater bikes...

Summary:
This is my first road bike, I have been riding MTB for several years. this is a good transition level bike.

Strengths:

Light weight, RSX works well. good company, backs products. Low cost.

Weaknesses:

Replaced seat post already, bolt head stripped out(covered by warranty) Harsh ride on rough roads.

Similar Products Used:

Mongoose road bike, model unknown.Same price range

Favorite Ride:

Osha trail, cloudcroft NM

Bike Setup:

Only frame, fork, Front der., and seatpost original

Summary:
Hard to review this by category. My R500 is a warranty replacement for my RT600. All the components were transferred, so I guess this is more like a R700 with a steel fork. My seatpost went after a year, and the steel fork does not match the rest of the frames ride quality, but the frame itself is a joy. Rides quite well... beyond my expectations for aluminum, and is pretty darned light too. Excellent starter bike, with a frame worthy of upgrades down the road. Plus, the folks over at Raleigh USA were outstanding in their handling of my warranty.

Strengths:

Light, stiff frame

Weaknesses:

seat post, fork

Similar Products Used:

1986 Trek 560 (531 steel)
1992 Raleigh RT600