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BROWN

Novara Buzz Bike - 2013

$599.00

(10)

Item # 837487

REI Members get back an estimated $ 59.90 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

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Our Novara Buzz lets you ride through your day swiftly and comfortably, thanks to a sturdy steel frame, 24 gears and sure-stopping disc brakes, making it great for commuting, errand-running and more.

4130 chromoly frame and pinpoint fork offer a sturdy, heads-up ride that cruises up and down roads with a steely-smooth ride quality
24-gear drivetrain works smoothly and precisely to ensure clean shifts and efficient pedaling, whether spinning up the last hill before home or cruising down the bike path
Tektro Aquila mechanical disc brakes make sure, consistent work of managing speed in all conditions so you can ride and brake confidently year-round
Tough wheels are laced to loose ball bearing hubs to ensure lasting, smooth-rolling performance
Puncture-resistant Kenda tires feature a wide, stable contact patch, versatile tread pattern and reflective sidewalls for enhanced visibility
Cockpit has been designed for comfort and an upright ride, thanks to the plush Velo Buzz saddle and riser handlebar
Frame and fork feature eyelets for fenders and a rear rack (sold separately)
Just get on and ride, no fancy shoes required—platform pedals accommodate a variety of shoes
Specs on our Novara Buzz bike are subject to change

All bicycles sold at REI include a free warranty tune-up. New bikes go through a normal break-in period, after which readjustment is important for longevity and performance. Bring your new bike in to your local REI for its free tune-up within 20 hours of use or 6 months from purchase, whichever comes first. Contact your nearest REI bike shop to schedule this important service.

Imported.

Item 837487

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Novara Buzz Bike - 2013 Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Novara Buzz Bike - 2013

4.4

(based on 10 reviews)

90%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Versatile (7)
Tough (5)
Lightweight (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Street riding (8)
Commuting (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Commuter (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (10)

Reviewed by 10 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

May

2013

5.0

Buzz to Town

By car-gear-race

from MN

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Quality
Solid
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Commuting

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

Great new bike. I outfitted it with all sorts of REI bought stuff for commuting to work. It is a 13 mile ride each way. ..some urban roads, some cinder trail and some paved trail. Perfect mixed used setup. This is a really smooth riding heavier bike. Very steady performer.

Comment on this review

May

2013

4.0

Won't fit a bike trailer...

By AstroDude

from ABQ, NM

About Me Commuter

See all my reviews

Pros

Tough

Cons

Breezer Dropouts

Best Uses

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

Will not fit ball hitch found on Chariot and Trek trailers. So if you are hauling kids around, you may want to look elsewhere.

On the plus side, REI has a great return policy.

As a commuter, it works great on my 18 mi RT ride.

Comment on this review

May

2013

5.0

Great bike

By rgordo

from Birmingham, MI

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Tough
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

Great bike. It has speed, but still can handle minor potholes without any issue. I also was considering the Big Buzz (aluminum frame), but the durability/shock absorbsion provided by the Buzz's steel frame far outweighs its slightly heavier weight. I've had the bike for two months now, and haven't looked back.

Comment on this review

May

2013

4.0

Zippy commuter bike

By HelmetHair

from Portland, OR

About Me Commuter

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Fun
Stylish
Versatile

Cons

Tire Size

Best Uses

Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

My primary bike use is for work commuting, errands, and occasional biking events. I was looking to replace my old Novara with something sturdy enough for city riding year-round that is fun to ride, too. I wanted the lighter, spendier version of this bike, the Big Buzz, but was told that the handlebars could not be raised any higher. So I opted for the Buzz and had a handlebar stem extender installed. I am really enjoying the regular Buzz thus far. It handles well, shifts easily, and is a comfortable ride. I like having disc brakes as well. The installed tires are a little fatter than needed, but I can live with that until they need replacing. With the money I saved, I added an assortment of equally fun gadgets!

Comment on this review

May

2013

4.0

Efficient hybrid

By Not 20 anymore

from Poulsbo, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Smooth
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

I got the buzz to replace a 1993 Novara Aspen that was too small for me. I prefer a more upright stance than a road bike. I ride for fresh air and exercise. Most of my riding is on pavement, some of which is rough. I rode the Buzz and Big Buzz and found the Buzz was smoother on rough pavement, although it is slightly heavier than the Big Buzz.

The derailers are quick and positive and the disc brakes are awesome. I like the upturned handlebars and the shifter windows that tell you what gear you are in. The seat is comfortable.

The shifters take a little bit of getting used to because on the right side to shift to a harder gear you press on the smaller lever, for the rear derailer. On the left side, to shift to a harder gear you press on the bigger lever, for the front chainring. I found the 28-38-48 front and 11-34 rear was not quite low enough for the numerous hills in my neighborhood, so I switched out the front chainrings to a 22-32-42 and it works great. I found the handlebar grips a little firm and upgraded to some softer ones for a small charge.

Service and delivery comments:

The bike department fitting staff at the flagship store in Seattle were very patient, knowledgeable and helpful. The bike was ready on time and in good working order.

Comment on this review

May

2013

(0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great Bike!

By des017

from Morrisville VT

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Tough
Versatile

Cons

Heavy

Best Uses

Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

This bike is great! I love the weight of it, I feel very safe and the wider tires give me good traction on dirt roads. The seat was very uncomfortable but I easily replaced that!

Service and delivery comments:

The delivery was on time but the REI store that built my bike was clearly not a "bike shop" The back brakes were rubbing, the rear tire was not mounted straight and the rear derailer started skipping gears after about 50 miles. I had to bring it in for a tune up already and I have not had the bike for a month.

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Awesome Commuter Bike!

By DreadHead TayTay

from McKinney, TX

About Me Commuter

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight
Stylish
Tough
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Commuting
Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

This is my first non-BMX bike. Love it so far. Quick and speedy delivery to a store, they put it together quickly, and have since scheduled my free tune up. This bike just down-right feels like a stable, durable, awesome bike. The components are smoothe and make riding for those of us who are new to larger gear ratio-ed bikes easy. I love the speed I can get out of it without loosing the durabilty/ability to ride through some grass or little rougher terrain!

Great price (esp. with a dividend) for a great bike!

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

well done bike

By mtnlyon

from Fort Collins, CO

About Me Commuter

See all my reviews

Pros

Functional
Value

Cons

Heavy
Saddle

Best Uses

Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

I needed a bike that I could use for riding to meet friends, commuting or loading up panniers with groceries. It is practical and subdued and made to get the job done rather than impress. I think the matte brown looks great with all the black components. At 6'1" I needed a longer seat post for the XL frame, but my REI store was great and worked with me on that. The brakes and other components can be upgraded if need be, but everything on this bike works well enough and seems to be a great deal for the money. It is a bit heavy, but the steel frame is a less rigid ride than aluminum, and will handle more wear and tear. It would have been nice if it had come with the same saddle as that on the Randonee, for comfort and aesthetics . One frustration; I had to upgrade my pannier rack to accommodate the rear disk brakes. One treat, the first time I road it at night and saw the reflective tire sidewalls. This is my fourth Novara purchase in the last 30 years.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Just what I was looking for

By glove

from Los Angeles

About Me Commuter

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight
Tough
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

I ride my bike everyday to work for about a 10 mile rountrip, but in b/w there are plenty of uneven surfaces, potholes, hills, you name it. I needed a bike that had some speed, but also the durability to match my ride.

I tried both the Marin Fairfax 2013 and Cannondale Bad Boy 9. Marin was nice but too flimsy and couldn't handle the myriad of surfaces. Bad Boy was just a failure, especially the thick slick wheels. One ride on the Buzz and I knew it was for me.

Comfortable ride, great handling, great speed. Love the tires, not too thick but not too thin. Easy shifting up and down hills. AND a Steel frame that doesn't feel heavy at all and can handle impacts. Perfect commuting bike for the la streets. Couldn't get a better value for the price.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Awesome!!!!!

By Kalanick1111

from Ventura, CA

About Me Commuter

See all my reviews

Pros

Fun
Lightweight
Smooth
Versatile
Very Fluid

Cons

Color

Best Uses

Commuting
Street Riding

Comments about Novara Buzz Bike - 2013:

I test rode a lot of other bikes prior to The Buzz, all of them had plenty of cons.The only bad thing about this bike is the color! Once you get over that it doesn't get any better than this bike! (For the price) It is VERY Fluid and smooth. Extremely fun to ride!