Bike Choice and After-Sales Support and Warranties

Misterbumpy on 12/12/2017 - 18:40

I'd like some tips and advice from all bicycle riders as I don't have any experience with bike servicing.

What do you think of Giant Cross City and Trek FX bikes?
How important is after-sales support and warranties, particularly for commuting and casual weekend rides?

I'm still tossing up between two bikes that will be the first bike I've bought in decades for commuting and part of the consideration is after-sales support and warranties, which varies greatly between local bicycle stores (LBS). The bikes I've narrowed down to are:

Spec-wise they're similar bikes with the Trek coming with some higher end components (derailleurs and pedals, etc., but sadly no internal cabling) that sort of justify the upgrade in price, but the other consideration is the extended support and warranty. In Melbourne Cycles Galleria and The Freedom Machine (TFM) both sell Trek bikes with complimentary "lifetime servicing" which includes free basic service (tightening bolts, "safety checks" and cable adjustments) and TFM goes further with extended lifetime warranty on parts, free repairs for flat tyres and 15% discounts on accessories and bikes. I totally understand that there are many limitations with these, but what is the actual value? Neither store will budge with the bike price so they've factored in the servicing in the cost. Basic servicing is about $89-99. Has anyone taken advantaged of these services? Cycles Galleria has an advantage for having a store in the CBD which is convenient for me, whereas I would have to travel an extra 5km to TFM.

As for the Giant, CBD Cycles in the CBD offers 1 complimentary basic servicing in the first year. [Flemington Cycles}(http://www.flemingtoncycles.com.au/) offers free basic servicing within the first 2 years, but I can't find the conditions. Bicycle Superstore doesn't seem to offer anything, but talking to staff it seems they can offer 1 service in the first year. There's a higher chance of getting some small discount off Giant bikes. The latter two are about 5km from where I live.

Am I over-thinking it all and these are possibly moot if I simply browse some YouTube videos and buy a good multi-tool to do my own annual tune-ups? Should I just visit a local community bike shed? How often do I realistically need to book in to service a commuter bike by a professional?

Poll Options expired

  • 3
    Giant Cross City 1 Disc 2018
  • 2
    Trek FX 3 Disc 2018
Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • tsunamisurfer on 12/12/2017 - 18:56
    +1

    I just bought the Giant Cross City 1, my third Cross City and first with Disc Brakes.

    So far its a great bike.

    Don't pay $899.

    Here is my receipt….bought from Giant (Perth) themselves no less.

    http://tinypic.com/r/x4f0o3/9

    • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2017 - 19:59

      Did you have to ask for a discount or was it already discounted?

    • Misterbumpy on 12/12/2017 - 22:50

      I want to know how you haggled to get this price ;)

  • Euphemistic on 12/12/2017 - 19:46
    +3

    Either bike will be ok. Pick the one you feel is best to ride.

    As for servicing, it’s not difficult if you are mechanically minded. Most things that are likely to go wrong are easily rectified, but having a local bike shop relationship is worth it for some of the stuff that requires special tools. I have built and rebuilt many bikes but still use the local shop occasionally.

    I just bought a new bike because it has warranty, first new bike in over 20 years despite buying plenty second hand in that time. 2x cracked frames not under warranty was enough to sway me to new this time. The frames I cracked would have had a lifetime warranty had they been new. It’s not that they cracked ‘easily’ both were mountain bikes that led a full and useful life of around 10 years of proper usage.

    • Misterbumpy on 15/12/2017 - 22:45

      I suspect I wouldn't have the same frame cracking problem with a commuter bike as long as I'm not jumping kerbs/curbs all the time ;)

      • Euphemistic on 16/12/2017 - 09:01

        True, if you plan on keeping the bike for a long time, warranty on a frame is worth it. If you are thinking you'll probably upgrade in a couple of years, then it isn't as important. I plan on keeping my new bike for as long as the last ones, and would have kept the last ones longer if they had not cracked.

  • trongy on 12/12/2017 - 21:28
    +1

    If you are going to ride a bike, I highly recommend learning to repair a puncture. Some bike shops and community groups run lessons in basic bike repair skills - ask around. It will pay off in long run, not just in money, but in self confidence. Learning from youtube is good, but having some one teach you in person is better.

    Most bike shops offer a couple of services in the first year. It's mostly adjusting the gear cables and applying lubrication. Real service costs come along once you start to wear things out - brake pads, chain, tyres, gear cables and so on. These are considered consumables and won't be covered by warranty an probably not by the free service.

    Warranty should cover defective parts e.g. a broken frame. There are occasionally product recalls if the manufacture has used a series of defective parts.

    As far as the bikes go, I would prefer the Giant for it's hydraulic disc brakes. Disc brakes give me much more confidence when riding in the wet. It's worth budgeting for mudguards it you want to keep the dirt off; also a pump and other accessories. If you find yourself getting a lot of punctures, it's worth upgrading to puncture resistant tyres.

    • coco1458 on 12/12/2017 - 22:56
      +1

      Commuting with puncture resistant tyres means repairing punctures would be at the back of your mind.
      Schwalbe marathon plus tyres are a great tyre for commuting

      • Misterbumpy on 12/12/2017 - 23:51

        How much do these Schwalbe Maratho Plus go for?

        • coco1458 on 12/12/2017 - 23:58
          +1

          Going for just under $40 a tyre on chain reaction cycles

    • Misterbumpy on 12/12/2017 - 23:22

      Thanks trongy, you’re right about the lifetime service - neither will cover consumables or wear and tear on components. All large bike brands seem to offer lifetime warranty on their frames.

      The Giant Cross City 1 Disc 2018 actually does come with hydraulic disc brakes. Difference is it comes with Tektro ones whereas the Trek comes with Shimano ones. Not sure of the differences.

      I’ve visited bike2bike - a volunteer-run community workshop in Port Melbourne that has a well equipped shed. My dad has helped out at the Collingwood bikeshed. I’ll make sure I learn a few things from them.

    • Misterbumpy on 12/12/2017 - 23:51

      What brand and type of mudguard do you recommend? There seems to be quite a variety of sizes and it can be quite tough to get some to fit well. Any tips on getting ones that would fit a carbon fork that has no central hole mount? I think the Giant Cross City 1 doesn’t have one.

      • tsunamisurfer on 13/12/2017 - 00:23
        +1

        Zefal Swan Road.

      • trongy on 13/12/2017 - 20:27
        +1

        Check out this youtube review. I can see a central hole in the fork and threaded mount points at the bottom of the fork.

        I can recommend anything in particular. I also have a Zefal Swan Road at the back and nothing on the front, it can get messy. If you buy accessories along with a bike, shops sometimes offer a discount and free fitting.

  • Zippy7 on 13/12/2017 - 22:24
    +1

    Go the cheaper bike (Giant) - you'll probably upgrade later anyway.
    It's my understanding the Giant has a better attitude towards warranty - only heard good things from fellow riders.
    I had plenty of problems with a previous new bike that came with Fulcrum wheels. Broken spokes 3 times before I sold it.
    Haven't had a single problem with spokes on my Giant or Specialized bikes.

    Both bikes will do a good job for the commute and social rides.
    If you get bitten by the bug for the social rides, then it's just a matter of time before you get another bike.

  • 2ndeffort on 14/12/2017 - 13:33
    +1

    Both bikes are similar. Personally I wouldn't be swayed by the offer of free servicing. As others have said the servicing wont cover consumables and the labour to fix 'MOST' bike problems is not too serious. I've had a few Trek bikes and love them, even bought one from TFM previously. Their service was good and they offered me a discount when i went back there but the running costs for your bike should not be too expensive.

    I would prefer Shimano brakes over Tektro brakes, have had both and Shimano were better for me. Have you had a look at the Melbourne Bicycle Centre Prahran, they seem to have some great deals on past season (2017 model) bikes. I ride mostly road bikes and there's a few bargains there i would love to get my hands on (if only I had the $$$). They are a tram ride from the CBD but I would expect a Scott or Focus bike to be every bit as good as a Trek or a Giant. I love my Trek (Madone 9) and i also have an older Giant Defy (OK but comparitively Meh! sits on my indoor trainer most of the time).

    in terms of servicing you should learn how to change inner tubes. It isnt hard normally and any bike shop worth its salt would show you how to do it if you asked when buying the bike. Mechanics often have competitions in the workshop to see who is fastest and keen roadies brag about being able to get tyres off without using tyre levers (only hands). Frame warranty is worth having but hard to see how those frames would fail. Neither have particularly high end or complicated components so I wouldnt expect you to need much servicing. After the first 3 months you might need a service as the cables will stretch and the various brakes and deraileurs might need adjusting to account for the stretch. None of this is hard, each is a 5 min task if you know what you are doing, all that is needed is a small screwdriver and maybe an allen key. If you need to bleed hydraulic disc brakes it is a bit more complicated. Youtube has tutorial videos on how to do most bike mechanic tasks.

    Depending on size this looks like a good deal https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/urban-bikes/focus/vic/prah…

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