Customer Reviews

GMC Denali Road Bike (Medium 22.5"/57cm Frame, Yellow/Black)

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(95)
3 star:		(38)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

Putting it together:

The bike came with the typical assembly needed for a bike shipped in a cardboard box. Attach the steering column, front tire, seat, pedals, reflectors. Then adjust brakes and fine tune gears. No big deal. Several different size allen wrenches, open end wrenches, pliers, and a screwdriver were needed. It was not hard, but if you've never put a bike together before it might seem like a lot of work, and you still might wind up at a bike shop for proper gear and brake adjustments.

Initial thoughts:

It is a nice looking bike and since road bikes are pretty much only sold in bike shops, most people will assume it cost a LOT more than it really did. A friend asked if I spent "over $1,000" on it.

I have no problems with build quality. The welds look good, the bike seems solid, the seat tube fit fine. I was surprised how well the frame fits my 6'0" size.

The Good Things:

> Nice looking bike

> Could pass for a much more expensive bike

> Lightweight

> Great gears, I hit 38.5mph on a downhill with some gear remaining, and managed 32.4mph on level ground with a tailwind (measured using handlebar mounted GPS receiver). I can cruise overall in the 16-20mph range for the first hour.

> Seat post clamps down nicely and is plenty long enough

The Bad Things:

> Seat angle does not appear to be adjustable and since I am male I will have to purchase an adjustable seat due to the high front angle

> No top pull brake levers, have to move hands into the drops in order to operate brakes

> Brakes are marginally effective, I've had cheaper toy bikes with better brakes. Am going to try different pads.

> To reach higher gears, the left gripshift turns toward you, but the right gripshift turns away from you.

> Considering the frame size would fit an average 6' tall person, they should have made the handlebar stem an inch or two longer for proper ride height adjustment.

> Due to the handlebar mounted twist grip shifters, there are very limited mounting positions available for accessories. I had to fabricate custom mounts for both my gps receiver and my headlight.

> The pedals are too narrow. I will have to purchase wider pedals. Considering the frame size of the bike, it would be reasonable to provide slightly wider pedals.

Parts Availability:

I bought this bike with the thinking that for the price if it wore out in a year I could buy 5 more for the price of a single entry level road bike at our local bike shops.

That thinking got tested sooner rather than later. Against my better judgement, I allowed a relative to ride the bike just a few days after I purchased it. He proceeded to ride into a longways crack in a sidewalk which abrubtly closed up locking the front tire and causing him to rotate over the front of the bike. He is fine (scraped up), but the bike did not fare as well.

The front rim sustained deep grooves and the entire braking area of the rim was scraped up from the side of the concrete. The tire was ripped and the tube was punctured, both in several places. The grip shift mechanisms were gouged by the concrete. The rear derailer was bent, knocked sideways, and the spring was knocked off.

Of course, none of this is the fault of the bike. Actually I was able to reattach the spring and fix the derailer, so all I really needed was a new front tire (rim, tire, tube, liner). Easier said than done!

None of my 3 local bike shops stock 28 x 700c tires.

But the bigger concern was with the manufacturer, Kent. All the phone numbers on the bike and in the manual refer you to them. I have still been unable to obtain parts from them, almost a month later. They are nice but just keep saying they are "waiting for parts".

In the meanwhile, I ordered another same model bike from Amazon and have already received it and have been using it.

Interestingly, the latest bike has much beefier tires (still the same size). The older model (by a couple of weeks) had very smooth tires with no real tread depth. The new bike's tires have more meat around the shoulder area and look like they will hold up a lot better. The newer tires seem to be of significantly higher quality.

I plan to keep the other bike for spare parts and will continue calling Kent so that hopefully someday I can get a new front tire.

Final Thoughts:

Overall I am very pleased with the bike. You just can't beat the price. I could buy 5 of these bikes including shipping for the price of the cheapest bike from my local bike shop. Obtaining OEM parts may be hard to do. The bike is lightweight, has very good gearing, and can be very fast. It goes better than it stops. Replacing several key components will improve the bike significantly. It is not perfect, but when you factor in the price, it is a great deal.

It is sold at the price of what bikes in a toy store sell for. Just keep that in mind and realize you aren't buying a professional model bike, and it should meet or exceed your expectations.

Let me start with some history. Thirty years ago I worked a summer job as a Schwinn bicycle mechanic. I loved that job. In the process I assembled a ton of bicycles. I also purchased a Schwinn Continental 10 speed. Thirty years ago that was a great bike. Even by today's standards it would be a cool bike. That bike was stolen in 1982ish.

Move forward to 2006. I started getting the itch to ride a bicycle again. I tooled out to WalMart and bought one of those RoadMaster MtFurys for 53 bucks and rode it everyday. I decided I wanted a road bike since I was riding farther and longer, week by week. So, I ordered the 63cm GMC Denali from Amazon.

The bike arrived through the US mail in a box that looked like they dragged it behind the mail truck for a few miles. I was worried that something was broken. Nevertheless, I opened er up and the bike was fine. They packed it in a manner that allows it to take a bit of a beating in shipping. Since I was an old bicycle mechanic I never even opened the manual and put the bike together in about fifteen minutes. Basically that requires air in the tires, mount the front, put the handlebar neck in place, put the seat in place, put the pedals on, adjust the brakes, and ride. I chose to leave the reflectors off, for now.

My first impression was that I found it awkward to have to reach down to use the brakes. I got used to that fast. My second impression was how effortless it was to go fast on this bike, compared to the el-cheapo quasi mountain bike described above. The 63cm, black and silver Denali, rides really smooth and the derailers are light years better than the ones on the MtFury. I have never had, nor will I ever own and multi thousand dollar bicycle. But, I will say that this bike is really fantastic for the price. I am so impressed with the quality for under two hundred bucks.

The wheels and tires are quite narrow and 28 inches. Combine that with the aluminum frame, shimano derailers and it performs very well.

Some folks don't like the twist shifters. I find that I like it very much. I didn't think I would but, I do.

I wasn't in a position to spend a grand plus on a road bike but, I was doing a lot of daily riding. This bike has met my needs perfectly. The WalMart bike is I guess exactly the same thing except that it's a tad shorter. At 6'2 I find that the 63cm bike has me pretty much maxed out. I like it because it's tall but, if I were any shorter it would be awkward. The height lets me really get the maximum out of a pedal stroke for power and speed.

If I had a complaint it would be that the gearing is a bit short. That is that in top gear, on flat ground I max out the bike real quick. If it had a taller gear I could get more speed. The bike seems like it might be geared a bit short. On the plus side a reasonably athletic person wont need to shift gears much. Just keep her in top gear for most applications. You can get on it and boogie on down the road right now.

The seat really aint bad. If you think it is try that anvil on the MtFury. Holy cow. I like the pedals on the Denali. They fit me perfectly.

Nothing in life is perfect. But, for the price, you wont come close to his bike. I promise you that. Try it and see. I looked at used bikes before I bought this one. They were quite a bit more and looked rode hard and put up wet. The cheapest bike I found, used, near this price was a raggedy old Raleigh that the seller wanted $175.00 for. His bike had slick tires, scratches, and rust. It rode like an old bike with slick tires and rust. This bike rides tight and looks really nice. I found a Specialized bike that looked completely used up that the seller wanted the cost of three of the GMCs for. I decided that I could have three new bikes, back to back for the price of one bike that I wouldn't trust to get me around the block. I bought the Denali.

So, far I have ridden it a few hundred miles. I had one flat tire that I patched on the fly and kept on riding. It would be nice to have quick release axles. But, I carry a sawed off 15mm box wrench in by tool pouch. Works fine, last long time. They say that this bike is heavy. Come on now. It's really not bad at all. If I were in the tour de-whatever it might matter. But, for a day of riding it's a great bike. It's a heck of a lot lighter than what I was riding ya'll.

If this bike were to be stolen I would immediately buy another one.

The Denali is typical of mass produced, imported, department store bicycles. It will need some tinkering and adjustments, the extent of which will depend upon your experience, tools and desires. Most riders opting for this road bike will want to do things like true the wheels and adjust the brakes and derailleurs. They are close out of the box but need tweaking. Aesthetically, it is pretty with its anodized blue look, accented with black and silver stickers. The wheel stickers make the bike look expensive, but the metal name plates on the frame are a bit tacky and look like they're about to fall off (although you probably couldn't pry them off if you wanted to). Newer models don't have the name plates.

Problem areas on my Denali were the brake lever hoods (which began splitting after a few day's use), less than desired stopping power, and a bottom bracket lock ring that needed tightening. Installing upgraded levers with better hoods eliminated the splitting, and better brake pads improved the braking, although better calipers would help even more.

The ride is smooth, light and nimble, and the Revo grip shifters are excellent but take up a bit of top bar space. The seat is comfortable for a road bike, and the Denali pedals easily, making long rides a breeze. The kickstand is a welcomed addition (and removable for those who balk at kickstands).

If drop bars turn you off, a viable option would be to replace the stem and split road bar (needed to accommodate the grip shifters) and replace them with a 22.2mm mountain bike stem, flat handlebar and mountain bike brake levers, keeping the Revo shifters. This would involve installing new cables and grips and may be beyond the budget/capabilities of most riders, but what a wonderful, inexpensive hybrid you'd create!

If you're looking for a bicycle that's dialed in for you with personalized dealer support, go to a bicycle shop and be prepared to pay quite a bit more. If you want a true bargain, have some tools/experience and are willing to tinker, get the Denali. It's a hoot to ride!

I've always had mountain bikes, and wanted to dable in road bikes, but didn't want to spend a bunch of money only to find out that I should stick with my mountain bike.

The package arrived fairly quickly from Amazon, but the box was heavily damaged. Luckily, the bike only had a few scratches on the frame. Setup took me about an hour (not rushing it). The look and feel of the frame are great, but the rest of the components are and look cheap.

The brakes, even with a good adjustment are pretty bad. Tires are easily punctured, and the derailleurs are horrible and will require professional adjustmnet by a bike shop. All in all, for the money I can't complain.

I have upgraded the tires to Michelins Dynamic ($20 a piece), and also upgraded the brake calipers to Shimano's SC ($40 for front and rear with pads). I had the derailleurs professionally adjusted ($10), and now the bike is much better and rides 10x better.

I plan to upgraded the pedals and brake levers in the future. For a beginner, I would recommended it, but you will quickly find that it needs some fine tuning to make a descent bike.

The good

- Looks good
- Nice frame
- Not too heavy
- Good build quality on the frame
- Cheapest road bike you can buy

The Bad

- Horrible cheap brakes
- Crappy derailleurs that require fine tuning by the pros
- mediocre Kenda tires (puncture easily)
- non-adjustable seat angle

I use it to commute half the distance to work everyday, and I've put over 200 miles on it so far. I've spent $90 dollars after the fact trying to improve it. Still a great deal, even with the money I've spent on it.

The GMC Denali is for real: a well-designed, durable road bike, with good quality components for an inexpensive mass-produced bicycle. It was exactly what I hoped for and expected. It performs flawlessly for me.

About me as a reviewer: I am not a bike pro or "serious" cyclist or athlete, but rather an older cyclist who has been a casual rider for about a year. I do use a bicycle for commuting transportation and recreation, on average about 100-150 miles per week, so I took this seriously. Before purchasing I had read every review I could find and all of the expert opinions which almost uniformly disparage "department store bikes" in general. I even educated myself on the physics and engineering of cycling (with a physics degree as my only qualification for this, other than actually riding all the time).

When you buy this bike, before you take a single pedal stroke adjust the brakes and derailleurs (gear changers) and get the seat and handle-bars height right. Take care to get the front forks installed right and not backwards (I'm not joking). These steps take care of at least 90% of the complaints and almost all of the rational for spending hundreds if not thousands more at a bike shop.

On to specifics. The bike weighs 29 pounds. That's about 10 pounds lighter than a mountain bike and about ten pounds heavier than top-line road bikes. Weight is all important to racers and people who own expensive bikes - they pay thousands of dollars to trim those pounds. How important is it for an entry-level bike? Only in two situations: it's noticeably harder to go uphill, and acceleration is slightly harder. It does not affect your top speed, a physical fact. At the faster amateur speeds (18 mph -22 mph) the only significant factors are: aerodynamic drag and friction. Air drag is dominated by the rider position (and not frame shape, aero wheels etc) while friction with the road is almost entirely controlled by the type of tires, mainly how much air pressure you can put in. So your Denali is respectable in these respects that influence your cruising speed: correct rider geometry, decent road tires and, less importantly, relatively light weight. The top speed is limited by the crank gears (48 teeth) and the cassette gears (14-28 teeth), which are actually mountain bike gears. Pedaling like mad at 90 cranks per minute you'll top out at 24-25 mph so you're not really going to be racing with this bike. One option I'd like to see is a double crankset and smaller cassette gears, but this stock setup is good for just riding in general. Recreational riders will be grateful for the low gears on those big hills.

The frame is relatively thick aluminum with solid welding. It weighs about four pounds. A super-expensive frame weighs a couple of pounds less. The difference is not significant for an entry-level bike in my opinion. For most riders the trade-off for greater strength is a plus in fact. The components (changers etc) are low-end well-known brands, which trades off lower cost for more weight. After several hundred miles, with minor adjustments they all work smoothly and flawlessly. The front forks are steel, which is supposed to absorb vibrations from the road, but unfortunately these are straight blades without the shock-absorbing forward curve of the higher end forks. You'll feel all of the bumps and rough road, and this is my biggest issue with the Denali. It's not a deal-breaker in my opinion but be forewarned.

My bike shipped with 32 mm tires (that's the diameter of the tire itself) instead of the 29 mm as advertised. The smaller tires with higher pressure would be a bit faster, but on the other hand the 32mm tires absorb shock a little better so personally I didn't really mind it. Another consideration is that I have not experienced the common report of pinch flats (due to the deep V rims and slipping rim tape), so the substitution may be a fix of that reported problem.

Finally the saddle, shifters and pedals. Personally I've found the stock seat to be the most comfortable I've used, but larger riders complain that it's too small and/or hard. The pedals are narrow but just right for my size 9's. I actually like the revolving shifters on the handlebars, unusual for road bikes but mainly it's just a matter of getting used to. The brake handles and shifters, no complaints from me.

In short, for commuting, paved trails, exercise and basic transportation don't be afraid of this bike. Learn to do your own adjustments, get it right and the GMC Denali is a good bike.

I purchased this bike as a bike to use for commuting, from walmart. The one I got was very well built. I had it only for about two weeks, but I had no problems with it except for two things. The minor issue is that during shifting it would skip, and sometimes not work, but this is common on department store bikes. The major issue for me however, was the grip shifters. I live in a hilly area, and I did not like constantly having to move my hands between the shifter and the brakes.

For that reason I returned that bike and got a much more expensive trek mountain bike. If you are planning to commute every day, you may want to give the bicycle shop a look. If you are limited on funds, or just want an occasional ride, then this is a good bike.

Oh, and I agree with the previous poster about the brakes, they are not worth much, but it is easy to replace.

I purchased this bike to start exercising so that I may reduce my cholesterol level at the recommendation of my doctor. After few rides, I realized I love biking and now put about 50~60 miles/week. I love this bike because it let me get back into biking, which I abandoned since High School. I now have over 500 miles on it and plan to put 1000 miles by end of summer.

Since the bike is so in expensive I figure the bike will pay for itself after 1000 miles when compared to driving my Toyota Highlander.
Here's my calculation:
$140 for the bike / $3 per cost of gallon of gas x 20Mpg on highlander = 933.33 miles

The bike uses bottom of the barrel components and the price reflects it.
The bad news is that the components will wear/fall apart sooner and need to be replaced. The good news is that just about any type of upgrade will be a major improvement, and you can learn to fix and maintain a bicycle. I learned how to adjust derailleur, true a wheel, wrap a handlebar tape, and adjust the brakes and much more. This doesn't mean it will prevent you from riding the bike in the beginning. Any and all bikes require some sort of fine-tuning. With a bit of tinkering and polishing, Denali becomes an excellent commuter bike.

I've also compiled a list of Facts and Myths surrounding this diamond in the rough.
FACT:
The bike is a great bargain: There really is no comparison on the market.
The bike is considered heavy for a racing bike: However the bike weight is more than acceptable for touring or commuting purposes.
MTB Components: 48/38/28t chairing and 14-28T freewheels are MTB components for easier hill climbs, rather than 30Mph racing. Probably cost cutting measures.
Brakes are weak: At minimum, the front brake pads should be replaced for any sort of hill descents.
Weak handlebar tape: The tape does not have adhesives and will start to come off after few hundred miles. Any aftermarket will remedy this problem.
The original tires are very heavy. You will notice immediate speed improvement after upgrading.

MYTH:
Gearing is junk and will skip unintentionally: All Gears need adjustments and fine-tuning. If your gears are not shifting properly, you need to adjust the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur. If the chain is rubbing against the Front derailleur, you need to tighten the cable as well as learn trimming. Grip shifter on road bike is unusual, but much better than down tube shifter like in the old days.
Used bikes on craigslist or EBay is better: Depending on the condition, used bikes may cost more in terms of maintenance and reconditioning to get it ride-ready. For beginning rider it is extremely difficult to pick out a bargain bike from used list.
The bike is poor quality: Kent makes other higher level bikes such as the limited and the pro version with carbon fiber fork and Shimano STI shifters, both based on same frame from the base model.
This bike has too many issues: All bikes require maintenance and adjustments. sheldonbrown and bicycletutor are great sites to learn about both.

I really started to enjoy biking and purchased a Motobecane Mirage Comp as a weekend bike, and now use the Denali as a 12-mile daily commuter. Only downside is that I think I kind of went overboard with accessories and upgrades, since they cost more than the bike itself. However, I think it just adds to the fun factor and motivates me to ride even more.

Following is the list of purchases I made towards the bike:
Kool stop eagle claw brake (Must for the front) = $8
Bell Handlebar Tape (Original will come off sooner or later) = $8
700x28c Continental Ultra 2000(front, found at LBS clearance box) = $12
700x28c Continental Super Sport (rear, found at LBS clearance box) = $10
2 x 700x28c tube = $10
Ventura rear rack = $14
Mirrycle mirror = $14
Schwinn bike computer = $10
M-Wave Large Saddle bag = $10
Planet Bike Blinky = $10
Planet Bike 5000x Xenon light = $35
20Oz Polar water bottle = $5
Bell Gel seat cover = $10
Shimano Sora 3304 STI shifter (left side only to accommodate the mirrycle) = $30
Bell Shift and Brake cables + housing (I might as well since replacing the left shifter) = $6
On-guard mini U-lock (must for commuter) = $15
Wellgo RC-713 Pedals (Hand me down from Mirage Comp) = free
Reduced Cholesterol and Triglyceride level, and losing 10 pounds in one month = Priceless!!!

Some other additional purchases, which I share with the second bike:
Schwinn Helmet = $15
Bell Gel Glove = $15
2 x Jersey = $50
2 x Shorts = $50
Schwinn floor pump = $30
Bell multi-tool = $15
Avenir Spoke Wrench = $10
tri-flow = $8
Finish Line Dry lube = $8
Finish Line Grease = $8
Pearl Izumi Quest MTB Shoes = $33
Shimano SH-56 = $15
M-wave bike stand = $18


-- update 7/30/10
Upgraded the front brake caliper, as it was flexing too much during downhill descent.
Tektro R536 with standard nut mount fits perfectly: Tektro R536 Caliper - Front, Standard Nut

OK, this review is to update my previous review given several months to ride this bike and see what and how. Previously I gave this bike a near perfect review. I was wrong. To be near perfect one needs to make a few inexpensive changes. I will list the strengths and weaknesses and what I replaced to improve this bike.

I will start with the strengths. The GMC Denali bicycle is a great deal, if you just cant spend more on a bicycle. For the price of this bike you can get, like three of them before you can buy a "better" road bike. The frame is strong and reasonably lightweight, especially for what it cost. The seat is great. I like the handlebars and the pedals. I don't need, or wish, to clip in to bicycle pedals. The wheels are thin but fast. I have added slightly bigger tires because I like them better than the ultra thin tires that come from the factory. The best part about this bike is it really looks great and you can fix the weaknesses pretty cheap to have a darn great bicycle.

Weaknesses: My biggest gripe with the GMC (Pacific) Denali is the chain and gears. The rear gears are garbage. They are bad from the first day you ride this bike. I am a big guy who can generate a lot of power on a bicycle drive train. What that means is that the chain jumps off of the sprocket on the back wheel and you might just kill yourself. Yes, the chain can't hold that cheap set of gears on the back wheel so what happens when you go for quick acceleration you make lots of noise and embarrass yourself. I replaced the rear sprockets and bought a good chain for around forty bucks. I removed the plastic chain guard on the rear wheel and on the front sprockets. They are trash and break instantly.

The rear "indexed" derailer is the cheapest one Shimano makes. But, it works OK so I kept it. I did however get rid of the grip "indexed" shifters on the handlebars. I replaced them with the old fashioned shifters like came on my old Schwinn from 1970 something. I discovered that I ride in high gear or in mid range. I don't need the indexing and the twist shifters on the handlebars were miserable. That fix was real cheap. I also kept the kick stand but lost the reflectors.

With these changes made I think the Denali is a great bike. The guy at the local bike shop showed me what to look for etc.. He said that these bikes are actually made by Pacific. Pacific makes a whole long list of bikes under lots of brand names to include Schwinn and everything sold at the huge retailers like Wally World. He said the frames are great but that they go cheap on the details. Some of those details don't make or break your bike. Others are really irritating. So, if you want a sweet ride get the Denali and spend a few extra bucks to upgrade the rear sprockets and chain, the shifters and tires are slightly more about personal preference, but I recommend it. Before I wouldn't trust this bike to get me across town.

My total cost for the upgrades I wanted was around a hundred bucks and I did the work.

I purchased the GMC Denali 63.5cm (black/silver) bike because i was in need of my very own road bike (aside from all the mountain bikes and a couple road bikes (i did not own) at home.). The total was to run about $200 (because of the shipping and tax from where i live), though it's still not bad compared to other road bikes which range from $500-$5000.

I had a few doubts from purchasing this because of all the negative reviews about it, but most negative reviewers seem to not know what they are talking about and provide insufficient information. Often the validity of a negative review is questioned. (can mislead and hinder someone from buying it)

Now then, when i finally received the Denali on July 2nd, 2011 (fast shipping, which was nice!), the bike seemed to be in great condition, no shipping damage, box was even in great shape. As expected, I knew I had to do some maintenance and tuning (since often manufacturers neglect to perform quality checks to ensure everything is tuned and ready to go). It was easy to assemble, no struggle with anything.

First off the brakes, seemed a little old school to tune (as seen with older style road bikes) but was rather easy. I checked the rear brake, no tuning needed. Next off the derailleurs; the rear one was good to go, but the front one... that was a bit time consuming to tune, since there were three gear sprockets instead of two, I soon realized that the shipping or the manufacturing may have bent the front derailleur cage inwards, which was why i was spending more effort than needed. but after a few hours of carefully straightening the cage, tuning and testing (under torque), I managed to get the front derailleur tuned with minimal chain contact.

So after I have completed tuning inspection, I took it for a spin, it runs and handles very nice and quiet. It's easy to get up to speed. the tires that came with uses a 700x32 Kenda tire (not 700x28c) could vary between frame sizes, very close to a 27" x 1 1/4". On nice flat paved roads, i can top out at 27MPH within 10-20 seconds, 33.8MPH going downhill according to my bike computer.

Now, some negative reviews claimed that the seat was unable to change angle.. which was B.S. it uses a couple alan bolts to fasten the seat clamp with the stem and i was able to adjust the seat angle position to where i didn't have the feeling of falling off frontwards or backwards, plus, the saddle which some people complained that it was too hard, really wasn't..

Another negative review I read common was how the brake shoes it came with were utterly horrible and could not slow you down... again, B.S. unless you don't know how to tighten up brakes properly, the brakes work fine, i can slow down very quickly (almost flew off the bike they worked that well).

Some negative reviews say that "the bike weighs too much". 30 lbs isn't much (i can lift the bike up without struggle with one arm), unless you're a weak person and neglect to do any weight lifting.

Another negative review claimed that "This bike won't even last 2 days after usage and its the worst engineered POS to be out on market" ... this was the silliest review i've read. i had this bike for about a month now with 230 miles ridden so far (I live in a valley which has numerous steep hills). it's clear that it lasted more than two days without a catastrophic mechanical failure.. i don't know where you gotten this information from.


There were a few problems and incidents with the bike but none were major;
after going down the road, the handlebar became loose and couldn't steer the wheel (the bolt that holds the handlebar in place gradually became loose on its own (uses a 7/32 hex head) and i ensured that it was tight enough, not the bike's fault).

Another was where i was pedaling down the road, i could hear the crank set click and clatter each revolution under torque, turns out the crank arms, adjustment nut, and the lock nut were all not tight enough (again, not the bike's fault).

Another was where I was coasting down the road (my schwinn bike computer recorded around 100 miles at that time), i could hear the rear wheel emit a metallic squeak every revolution. Turned out that the spokes had inadequate lubrication (this was a bit tricky to figure out, it was either the spoke nipples or the spoke heads that connect to the hub or both).

Now the issue i'm currently dealing with (happened around the 180-230 mile range), the rear hub is causing to click/clatter every revolution consistently which can be heard easily and felt through the crank set. My best bet is the hub bearings (this is usually a very common cause of noise production) are in need of attention. I can only examine the side of the hub away from the cassette, because i lack a special socket to remove the lockring off the cassette. The bearings were practically bone dry, and the lube it came with was this thin pastey crap, wouldn't doubt it's the same or worse on the other side. After checking the bearings and the bearing race, they are in good shape; no flat spots on the bearings, no pits/craters on the bearing race. I packed the bearings down with special wheel bearing grease to ensure longevity. Though this did seem to have a minor effect, but the noise is not as intense as before, I'll know what I will deal with when i receive the cassette lockring removal tool.

(My apologies for such a long review).
Overall, this is a good bike to get for $200. The frame is sturdy enough for someone who is 6' 1" and weighs 240lbs. I can get up to speed fairly quickly and maintain the speed, handles very well.

If your looking to invest into this bicycle, expect and be prepared to do some tuning with the brakes and the derailleurs once finally assembled out of the box, ensure the crank set is tight as well as the handlebar bolt, and AVOID USING WD-40, as its a "Water Displacement", meaning it breaks up dirt, sludge, even lubrication and grease.
For $200, you get what you paid for. You really can't expect a out-of-the-box bicycle to be tip-top and 100% Lance Armstrong perfect. Eventually parts do require attention and maintenance.

The only bad thing i can say about the bike is that it's Made in China unfortunately.

*EDIT*
The gear cluster is a FREEWHEEL (Sunway Group Co.) .. not a cassette (i always get those two confused hahah xD ) A freewheel threads on to the hub, a cassette has these splines that fit in like slots, does require different lockring removal tools, (in this case i use a Park Tool FR-1). but be aware on applying the FR-1 tool to remove the freewheel, a crescent wrench will not work. What I was shown by a local bike shop mechanic instead was mount the tool on a bench vice, wheel and all, then rotate the wheel counterclockwise, this applies even torque on all sides and the lockring should be able to unscrew without hassle.

but i was able to take the freewheel off, take the hub nuts and spacer off, then the bearing race. Same as the opposite side, no craters/pits, bearings are in good shape. Same pastey crap grease that was insufficient in amount. I was able to remove most of the hub noise, but i still get a few seldom clicks and clatters, but definitely not as intense nor as loud. Most occurrence happens when i'm coasting around 5-10/mph.

*EDIT*

After giving it some thought after servicing the hub bearings, the wheel itself while spinning freely is smooth and quiet. while the wheel is spinning under load, the wheel flexes with the addition of g-forces, which points to the spokes.. after lubing the spoke intersections and nipples, the dreaded clicking noise went away. Again, very difficult to determine the exact cause. Though, i still recommend servicing the hub bearings soon as possible.

This is a bike of very poor quality. To begin with, the bike was received with a pierced tire tube and incorrect seatpost size (the seatpost included was too wide to fit in the hole - this was confirmed by a bike shop). When I contacted Kent Bicycles for support, I received yet another incorrectly-sized seatpost, despite my specific instructions. Eventually, the bike shop had to order the seatpost at a cost of $20. Very quickly, the front gears broke and somehow bent, making the lowest gear unavailable for use. Eventually, once other components started breaking, I contact amazon.com for a replacement, and lo and behold, the incorrect size seatpost was included. Does Kent Bicycles send out this same incorrect seatpost for all Denali bikes?

Bottom Line: Stay far far away from this product, and if you absolutely have to have it, buy it in-store, pre-assembled at Walmart.