Bowery '84

Mountain_Surfer

Hi all,

Was quoted €790 for new Bowery '84 this afternoon http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/lifestyle/2469/32689/ ('09 model - thats why I'm guessing it's cheaper than when I investigated before?) and was just wondering if any of you might shed a little light on the subject? I am quite tempted, but as a student it is quite a bit of cash to part with.

So I guess what I'm getting at is, do any of you have one? If so is it worth the money? It is the sweetest (non custom build) that I've come across.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Moutain_Surfer

blorg

I have a (standard) Bowery myself and it is a nice ride but 790 is crazy money. You can have my one for 700.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

It's a bit of an upgrade over the standard though no?

blorg

If looking stupid and having bloody ridiculous handlebars for road use is an upgrade, yes it is... the Sugino crankset is admittedly marginally better but not that it would make any material difference faffing around Dublin on the thing.

As a student how do you have €790 to begin with!? You have it easy these days.

I am pretty sure I saw this same bike for a fair bit less too.

Morgan

It's only €779 on the Cycle Superstore website - maybe even cheaper for loyal customers.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=23598

Those handlebars are wrong.

Diarmuid

Lot of money for a little of bike

Mountain_Surfer

blorg wrote: »

As a student how do you have €790 to begin with!? You have it easy these days.

Easy? I think not.

I worked my ass off for the entire summer and now I'm looking to treat myself

blorg

Well for €800 you could get something better. I have a Bowery myself and very happy with it I am too but €790 is crazy money for that bike. That you are even considering it though speaks volumes as to the success of Giant's marketing approach this year with the Bowery, which is 100% form over function. The handlebars are ridiculous for road use and the wheels will be heavy and pointless... Probably not very aero anyway and even if they were you are not going to be getting up to speeds where it would matter on a 46-17...

parko202

to be honest, you can get a much better bike for the same money. With the aluminium fork it isnt going to be the best at dampning the vibration from our quality roads. You could buy a regular bowery for 525 which looks considerably better and still have money to upgrade certain parts i.e. brooks saddle, tyres etc.

The 2010 langster looks very nice but I am not sure when they will become available, it could be worth seeing if the 09 ones are still in stock as they can be had for about 500 in hollingsworth cycles. If you were sourcing the parts individually you would get a decent steel frame and have a nice build for about 500 also. From what I can see, you are paying for the look for this bike but as it seems to be quite popular, why not build something up yourself which will be unique?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

parko202 wrote:

You could buy a regular bowery for 525

The regular one looks pretty crap though.

OP if you like the bike and feel you're getting your money's worth then obviously buy it. For what it's worth, I think it's a sweet looking ride.

Value for money is pretty subjective. Some of the nay-sayers on here would think nothing of dropping €1200+ on a groupset which would only offer very marginal benefits over a €800 group.

Do shop around though and look at your other options.

blorg

Indeed, the Langster would be a better bike and for less money too. It is pretty incredible they don't have a carbon fork at that pricepoint.

EDIT: I like my regular one, I resent Sean_K's comment! It doesn't look ridiculous (most of the time.)



Also bear in mind a white bike looks great in the shop but they are hell to keep clean so maybe not the best choice for something you would use for winter commuting.

parko202

that is the thing though, with that bike you are not getting good value for money. You are getting an ok bike ( i have ridden one and it felt slightly more sluggish than my langster) which "looks good". If it is about aesthetics then go for a custom build which could be done quite easily at this price point or, if it is for speed buy the langster (with a carbon fork, and it does make quite a difference) and spend the additional money on making it look exactly how you want.

This is all subjective and completely my own opinion but I cannot see any justification for that price tag other than the fixed gear bandwagon that giant have hopped on and think that if you have worked all summer for this, you could do better for your money.

Mountain_Surfer

Thanks for the responses guys.

I think there is quite a difference between the standard model and the '84. I was chatting to the guy in the store and he showed me his very own '84. He had only sightly changed it and said it rides like a dream (even on our sh*ite roads). He also said that he took it on a spin out to Glendalough (bearing in mind that the shop is in the city centre) and it was perfect even for that!

I am still undecided, yeah it is a lot of cash to splash (and the Monaco looks pretty nice) but there is something that just attracts me to it.

I could be tempted to head down the custom route but....well we shall see.

If anyone has anything else to say about the bike/decision to be made, please speak up!

Cheers

it's mick

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=10223&f_FullProductVersion=1&f_SupersetQRY=C396&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c008921c008923c009320

here's a great deal if you happen to take a 52

and the 84 is definitely not worth it. at all. for 800 euro you could do a lot better

Mountain_Surfer

it's mick wrote: »

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=10223&f_FullProductVersion=1&f_SupersetQRY=C396&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c008921c008923c009320

here's a great deal if you happen to take a 52

and the 84 is definitely not worth it. at all. for 800 euro you could do a lot better

Looks like a pretty good offer, unfortunately Im looking for something around a 58/60 frame though

Considering this though http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f%5FProductID=9779&f%5FSupersetQRY=C396&f%5FSortOrderID=1&f%5Fbct=c008921c008923c009320! €500 including delivery - capable of all that Dublin's streets can throw at it

rob1891

the charge bikes are nicer and cheaper:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mc/cycle/7/Charge/Single_Speed_Bikes/