Customer Reviews

GMC Denali XL Road Bike (22.5"/57.5cm Frame)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm a beginner and didn't want to pay $600 - $700 for my first road bike and determine I don't like the sport. This bike was a good compromise. The bike arrived with a broken rear brake handle. i contacted Amazon on Monday morning and they had a new bike at my door on Wednesday(a day after July 4th!). The new bike is in great shape. This was the first bike I assembled and I did it in less than an hour.

I got the XL because of my height and the fact the XL has an aluminum fork. The regular Denali has a steel fork. The XL also has Shimano rear AND front derailluer. If you contact Kent Bicycles they will fax you the specs.

The only complain i have so far is the fact that the front derailluer has problems up-shifting from 1 to 2. I'm sure it's a matter of adjustments, but I haven't cracked the code yet! If i hadnt recieved a defective bike the first time, I would've given it 4 stars. Overall, it's good bike for the money.

Cheap price but you get what you pay for.
Brakes are the antique caliper style that can be upgraded to side pull cantilevers with a little work.
Gears are generic gripshifter style but nothing close to the Shimano 105 standard.
Bike is all aluminium and is quite heavy.
Also the front cogs are small, good for hill climbing but not great on the flats.
The handlebars can't be raised any higher also. They are fixed.
I would not buy this bike if you are taking road biking seriously but it's OK for a cheap introduction to the sport before you get serious and upgrade with a new bike!

Simply put, I wanted a fast bike, I wanted speed...high speed but without any loose nuts and bolts. This bike is pretty fast and if YOU assemb;e it right, it works like a charm. Yes, it arrived in proper condition, with all the parts unbroken. The wheels were not bent even slightly, and there were no spokes broken. Everything was fine. Only I wish they would put in an "Assmebly Manual" and a "Modifications Manual" for the user to follow.

Also, most bikes in the speed category start from $600 and can go beyond $2000.So GMC's got a pretty good thing going here with this bike.

So far, it's been working fine. The gears switch well, although at times it skips a switch but I think that's because the drivetrain has a lot of sand stuck in it. I've been maintaining it as often as I can, and I haven't had any flat tires, loose chains etc. Oh yeah, I'm 6'4'', so I adjusted the bike for my height, it works. Except I need spacers for the front to raise the handlebar.

All in all, I think this is a great budget bike...and it's something that's reliable. Look after it, and it won't give you problems..just like any other vehicle.

I have worked in several bike shops here and there selling and building mountain bikes, recreational bikes, and road bikes. I can deffinately say that bikes in this price range do not typically pack in as much value as the makers of this bike(Kent). I agree with one other reviewer that mentioned the necessary proper care and adjustment of this bike, but that is true to a degree for all bikes. This bike is best for those who will ride occassionally to semi-frequently with a moderate degree of rigor. I used it for my first triathlon and it suited me well. I dont suggest this bike with the intent of upgrading it later. Just sell it and move on when the time comes (likely a year or so of satisfactory use). Oh, and I would stay away from the non "XL" version of the bike - this version has a substantially higher quality level, while still in the entry-level category.

I was on a budget when I purchaced the bike, and for the buck, it has held its arm. But there are a few items that I don't like.

- I bought the bike and had to assemle it. The gears need to be tuned.
- When I put the bike together the 3rd high shift wasn't porking. When I turned a little the calibration screws over the pedals, the high and middle gear works, but the low gear now doesn't work. I need to pay $50 or so to a bike shop to have the gears professionally tuned to avoid wear and tear of the teath.
- I love the bike. Beats my old mountain bike. It is light and I can do 34mpg on it. However, do not go into potholes!!! If you take care of it it will last!!

Get one today, start working out and See ya at the Biathalon in May NYC(don't forget to register)!!!

Pros:
-It's an inexpensive bike to buy new, so it's great if you're a student on a budget who gets an Amazon gift certificate.

Cons:
-The build quality of the bike is shoddy.
-The placement of the gear shifters is awkward.
-The gears don't shift well; the chain falls off easily.
-The teeth of the gears aren't very strong; I've had the bike three months and some of the teeth are completely worn down.
-The wheels aren't strong; last week I bent the front wheel so the bike is now wobbly.

Bottom line: You get what you pay for.

The bike was great for the price. Not perfect-but better than expected once adjusted and ridden for awhile.
Pros: price, a great starter road bike, large frame(I'm 6'), super easy to pedal, frame fairly lightweight, wheelset-saddle-gearset is ok.
Cons: Small pedals, my bike had 1" headset-not 1 1/8 as stated, cheap brakes. Should have a quick release front wheel.

In general you must know how to assemble a bike-as with all bikes you buy-check behind even the already put together bikes. I had to align the brake pads, adjust front wheel cones(bearings too tight), widen the seat post&clamp-clamp was tightened without post installed to keep the clamp on the bike for shipping-but then the post won't fit- easy fix. Adjust gear shifters. The bike is getting smoother as time and miles go by.
Beats paying $500 up for something I will ride on group rides only a few times a year- it should hold up fine.

I bought this bike as a beginning road cyclist that cycled as a form of transportation. This bike has been little more than trouble for me since I received it. At first, I was excited that the bike was quicker and rode more smoothly than the moutain bike I was used to. However, After about a month's worth of use, it started giving me problems. At first, I noticed that the numbers on the gear shifters did not match up with the actual gears. I was able to deal with this by making a mental note that if I put the shifter for my large gear halfway between one and two, I would be on the second gear, whereas if I put the shifter on "2", I would be in 3rd gear. However, it only got worse.

The tires do little to protect the tubes within them. I had a flat tube within two weeks of use. I can understand that things like that happen from time to time, but it only got worse. Now, two months later, I have gone through three different tubes.

I have also had problems with the wheels. Last week two of my spokes began to fall off. Then, I found today that my wheel has started to bend. After two months of use, I already have a bent wheel. The structure of the wheels is so weak that they don't do much prevent bends and warps. I would say that if you are going to buy a road bike, you should pay a little extra and not get a bike made by a car company that probably just wants you to drive in a car in the first place. I will never buy a bike from a dealer that is not a reputable dealer again.

The bike arrived on time and in good order. I assembled it easily with no trouble. I was on the road within the hour and realized the bike needed some adjustment.

The bike would not shift properly so I took it to a bike shop. They recommended that I return the bike. The shift cables were soft; wrong shift housing, so any adjustment into low hear meant that high gear would not work and the other way around.

I thought the bike was incomfortable.

This would be a great bike for a pre-teen or teen just ride around the neighborhood on. If you are really into cycling the I do not recommend this bike. It would be uncomfortable for a long ride of 12 + miles.

NICE ROAD BIKE
there is no bike for this price that has all its qualities, I am giving this bike a four star because it's not perfect, but for two hundred dollars is the most bike that money can buy!