I bought one of these last week and my god it will beat the absolute crap out of you I couldn’t imagine riding this is gravel but that really doesn’t matter because that cheap derailer snapped the second day I was riding it so I took it back and bought a Ozark trail ridge mountain bike and that was the best decision of my life. Definitely up grade that drive train it doesn’t cost much.
@@JFacko it’s a shame they put a $16 drive train in the bike it looks amazing, the bike itself won’t have any problem with trails just the skinny tires and the drive train, the fork up grade was a very good idea I bet it rides a thousand times better now! They are killing looking bikes! I definitely wouldn’t worry about the trail breaking the frame, just the lower quality parts on it, the trail ridge mountain bike use to come with the same drive train but they upgraded it to a shimano micro shift and there is no comparison I’m really surprised they didn’t upgrade this one as well.
Drivetrain is fine, Shimano Tourney 7 speed is a great choice for a low maintenance bike. I'd just ride the bike and not upgrade anything on it, because the frame probably has bad dimensions from being an Aluminum frame bike from China, so the more speeds you add the more wonky the shifting is gonna be. If you absolutely must waste money on this bike, tires then wheels in that order. You're pretty much wasting money though, because wide knobby tires are wide knobby tires, the Kendas are fine.
As far as the saddle goes, it's gonna be awhile before you harden up and know what to look for. I can tell by looking at that bike that its a bit small for you, and if you are going to ride with that much bar to saddle drop you are going to need a hard road riding saddle. The squishy saddle will work for short rides but eventually you are going to want a harder one you perch on the sit bones with. Pretty much impossible to ride with that much drop with a squishy saddle.
I have that bike and love it. Putting a suspension fork on it would kind of defeat the purpose for me. I have a mountain bike and a cruiser with a suspension fork. I use this one purely for distance. I did upgrade the seat, pedals and put a 2 1/2 inch riser on the handlebars. That made it perfect for me.
@@JFacko Does that mean those 700c wheels fits with a 27.5 mtb fork.? I also have an old bike which is very similar in terms of frame geometry and I'm planning on adding a fork.
@@imkavindu any suspension fork (with straight steer tube) will work but I would go with the 27.5 just so you have some clearance because with a 26" fork, you might have tire rub. Example: The 26" fork max tire size is a 26 x 3" tire which has a circumference of 2170mm. Then the max you can go with 700c is 700 x 35mm tire which its circumference is 2168mm. If you go 29", it might just be overkill because the fork is taller and made for 29 x 4" tires which are more bigger than a 700c x 50mm. Take note that the geometry of the bike will change slightly on the trail, reach, and angle of your bike bringing the front end of the bike up.
I love that you like Kickstands. I was starting to think I was the only one who understood how useful they are.
For casual riding they are fine.
Nice bike, love your upgrade on the fork!!! Looking great
Kickstand Krew represent!
I picked one up too. I am thinking about getting the carbon fork in favor of ability to put bags and stuff on the mount
Shit looks unique bro
Fucking sick.
I’m tempted to get one of these to fuck around in
I say do it it's the fun I had in a long time with a bike
I bought one of these last week and my god it will beat the absolute crap out of you I couldn’t imagine riding this is gravel but that really doesn’t matter because that cheap derailer snapped the second day I was riding it so I took it back and bought a Ozark trail ridge mountain bike and that was the best decision of my life.
Definitely up grade that drive train it doesn’t cost much.
Yeah the added suspension fork made it ride so much better won't take it on a trail tho I'm sure it's only got one trail ride in it and it's done
This is why road riders wear gloves also change the saddle 100%
@@JFacko it’s a shame they put a $16 drive train in the bike it looks amazing, the bike itself won’t have any problem with trails just the skinny tires and the drive train, the fork up grade was a very good idea I bet it rides a thousand times better now!
They are killing looking bikes! I definitely wouldn’t worry about the trail breaking the frame, just the lower quality parts on it, the trail ridge mountain bike use to come with the same drive train but they upgraded it to a shimano micro shift and there is no comparison I’m really surprised they didn’t upgrade this one as well.
Drivetrain is fine, Shimano Tourney 7 speed is a great choice for a low maintenance bike. I'd just ride the bike and not upgrade anything on it, because the frame probably has bad dimensions from being an Aluminum frame bike from China, so the more speeds you add the more wonky the shifting is gonna be. If you absolutely must waste money on this bike, tires then wheels in that order. You're pretty much wasting money though, because wide knobby tires are wide knobby tires, the Kendas are fine.
As far as the saddle goes, it's gonna be awhile before you harden up and know what to look for. I can tell by looking at that bike that its a bit small for you, and if you are going to ride with that much bar to saddle drop you are going to need a hard road riding saddle. The squishy saddle will work for short rides but eventually you are going to want a harder one you perch on the sit bones with. Pretty much impossible to ride with that much drop with a squishy saddle.
Is the head tube tapered? Love the mod btw, puts bike brands that jack up the price for having suspension fork on their gravel bike to shame 😹
The headtube is 44-44mm but there are headsets adapters that will allow for tapered steered forks to be installed.
@@chaotic2insanity I see. That still allows for all sorts of low end forks. Tapered high end forks would be overkill anyways.
People ask me what I do bike commuting when it rains. I tell them the truth. I get wet.
I have that bike and love it. Putting a suspension fork on it would kind of defeat the purpose for me. I have a mountain bike and a cruiser with a suspension fork. I use this one purely for distance. I did upgrade the seat, pedals and put a 2 1/2 inch riser on the handlebars. That made it perfect for me.
Yoooo I was wondering what specs of suspension fork was compatible with this bike
Idk I grab the suspension fork off a 27.5 mountain bike and it worked maybe it's a 1 inch
@@JFacko Does that mean those 700c wheels fits with a 27.5 mtb fork.?
I also have an old bike which is very similar in terms of frame geometry and I'm planning on adding a fork.
@@imkavindu any suspension fork (with straight steer tube) will work but I would go with the 27.5 just so you have some clearance because with a 26" fork, you might have tire rub. Example: The 26" fork max tire size is a 26 x 3" tire which has a circumference of 2170mm. Then the max you can go with 700c is 700 x 35mm tire which its circumference is 2168mm.
If you go 29", it might just be overkill because the fork is taller and made for 29 x 4" tires which are more bigger than a 700c x 50mm.
Take note that the geometry of the bike will change slightly on the trail, reach, and angle of your bike bringing the front end of the bike up.
You can also look into cheapo suntour hybrid suspension fork with a straight steerer.
@@drill_fiend1097 thanks mann I didn't know WTF straight/tapered/etc meant lmaooo this helps alot
Mtn bike..no.but gravel and bike packing ...kick stands are awesome.
Now you just need to put a Rear 700C 500watt 48volt ebike kit on the bike, and some straight 90mm riser handlebars on the bike. 🙂