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Novara Big Buzz BikeOnly At REI
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Novara Big Buzz Bike

Item # 775488

$799.00

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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City streets beware! Our Novara Big Buzz is a "No thanks, I'll ride" street machine that will turn the concrete jungle into one big playground.

  • Kinesis 6061 aluminum frame combines mountain bike geometry with road bike tubing for a lightweight, heads-up ride that flies up and down the hills
  • Alloy straight blade fork with tapered legs takes the edge off of rough urban roads
  • Two forward chainrings and nine rear cogs create 18 speeds of versatility to conquer city hills and cruise country roads
  • The PowerGlide chainrings of the Truvativ Elita C 2.1 crankset offer enhanced tooth profiles, delivering quick and precise shifting
  • SRAM X-7 Twister shifters sport a 1:1 actuation ratio and SRS technology for light, precise indexing; quick view indicator shows what gear you're in
  • Tektro Aquila mechanical disc brakes easily decelerate you
  • Puncture-resistant Vittoria Randonneur 700c tires with reflective sidewalls give a fast, smooth ride; deep tread grooves allow water to escape quickly
  • Alex TD24 lightweight double-wall rims offer workhorse reliability
  • Just get on and ride, no fancy shoes required—BMX platform pedals accommodate a variety of casual shoes
  • Specs are subject to change

After its initial break-in period you might notice your bicycle performing less responsively than the day you brought it home. Not to worry, this is typical of all new bicycles and simply reflects that cables have stretched or their housings have seated themselves into final position. To keep running at peak performance, all REI bicycles come with a FREE warranty tune-up, which should be accomplished between the first 100-200 miles of riding or after the first two months if you're accumulating miles less quickly. Contact your nearest REI bike shop for details and an appointment for this important service.

Imported.

Item 775488

Novara Big Buzz Bike Specs

Specification

Description

Frame6061 aluminum
ForkAlloy straight blade
CranksetTruvativ Elita C 2.1 50/36
Bottom bracketTruvativ Giga Pipe
ShiftersSRAM X-7 Twister
Front derailleurShimano R 440
Rear derailleurSRAM X-7
Rear cogsSRAM PG-950 11-28, 9-speed
Number of gears18
BrakesTektro Aquila mechanical disc
Brake leversTektro
RimsAlex TD24
Front hubFormula DC20 disc
Rear hubFormula DC22 disc
TiresVittoria Randonneur 700x32
HandlebarKalloy butted aluminum flat
StemKalloy
Seat postAlloy
SaddleVelo BUZZ
PedalsPlatform
HeadsetTH integrated semicartridge
ChainSRAM PC-951
GenderUnisex
Bike weightWhy we don't provide weights

Novara Big Buzz Bike Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009
 
4.1

(based on 7 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Handles well (7)
  • Attractive design (6)
  • Durable (6)
  • Great components (5)
  • Lightweight (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Commuting (6)
    • Road biking (4)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Avid cyclist (5)

    Reviewed by 7 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-7

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    Nov

    26

    2008

    (25 of 26 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    1st Commuter Bike

    By Bo

    from Seattle

    About Me Casual Cyclist

    Pros

    • Attractive Design
    • Handles Well

    Cons

    • Rough Ride

    Best Uses

    • Commuting

    Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

    The Big Buzz is a pretty ideal bike for getting around Seattle, which is what I purchased it for. I hadn't ridden in 6 years but decided to make the switch when I moved closer to downtown, where I work. The Big Buzz is very nimble, and quite responsive. It looks good, and has the added advantage of disc brakes, a neccessity bombing down the wet hills in my neighborhood. It may be a little slower going up those hills, but the road bike-like cams have a lot of oomph on straightaways. I'm having a great time riding again, and would recommend this bike to others, with a single caveat; do not ride this bike if you don't like feeling the road, and I mean -really- feeling the road. On uneven pavements and surfaces the bike delivers a fairly brutal beating on the arms and butt. I kind of like the connection to the road, but it can get a little jarring after a while.

    • Gift:
    • No

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (25 of 26 customers found this review helpful)

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    Aug

    26

    2009

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Well balanced hybrid

    By Infinite Insight

    from Owings Mills, MD

    About Me Avid Cyclist

    Pros

    • Attractive Design
    • Durable
    • Great Components
    • Handles Well
    • Reasonably Lightweight

    Cons

    • Poor Handling on gravel

    Best Uses

    • Bike Path
    • Commuting
    • Exercise
    • Joy Riding
    • Pleasure riding
    • Road Biking

    Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

    This bike is very well balanced. I ride it often (I just hit 100 miles on it) for exercise and for pleasure.

    Mostly I ride on paved bike paths but I have no doubt that I could take this on the NCR or put a tire with big knobby treads and hit something a little more remote. I wouldn't take this on a single track though. The tires that come on the bike are puncture resistant and have a reflective strip. They have very low rolling resistance, and as such they are not good on loose surfaces (loose dirt, gravel, etc.)

    I got this bike because it was one of the only bikes I test rode that I could not get the chain to pop off of the chain rings. No matter what gear combination I am in, and no matter how much resistance there is at the time, no matter how much cross tension, the shifting never fails. This was very important to me because once I get enough stamina to commute to work I will. The roads here are busy and without much of a shoulder so I can't afford for the bike to fail on me. It is too dangerous.

    Before buying the bike I heard that SRM components were very nice. Turns out that all the other bikes I got on and the chain popped off were Shimano dérailleurs (front and back). The rear dérailleur on the Big Buzz is a SRM and the front is a Shimano. Interesting combination yes, but the first time I got on the Big Buzz and rode it around I knew that would be the bike I got. I test rode it one more time a few days later after riding some more different bikes and settled on the Big Buzz.

    Some people are commenting on the fork. Sure, you really do feel the road with it but I don't have much of an issue with that. It isn't as bumpy as people say (you should lift your tush off the saddle when you know you are going to hit a big bump and relax your arms a little so you don't absorb the impact).

    I'd also like to mention that you can really get some speed on this bike. I can easily reach speeds over 30 MPH, and easily 45MPH when on a decline.

    The disc breaks are ok. I can't actually lock the wheels with them, but they do provide impressive stopping power. I plan on upgrading to hydraulic eventually.

    All in all I'd really recommend this bike to people who want to commute or someone who wants a nice hybrid bike.

    The first upgrade I am actually going to perform on this bike will be to put the Shimano PD-M34 clipless/flat pedal combo onto it. I will probably also wrap it in reflective vinyl. Can't be too careful.

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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    Jun

    30

    2009

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Tough frame

    By just a human

    from Albuquerque

    About Me Avid Cyclist

    Pros

    • Attractive Design
    • Durable
    • Great Components
    • Handles Well
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Commuting
      • Road Biking

      Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

      I purchased an older model used but would buy a new one in a heart beat. I had problems with the crank assembly loosing up constantly, but was warranted and swapped out for a different one through REI for free even though I didn't buy it there! nice. I definitely recommend a larger front sprocket and shorter crank arms I'm running a 54 and I love not having the third small sprocket you'd never use. The older model I have has the quick shifters I love and use on all my bikes, I can't stand those handle bar grip shifters, it's to bad they changed that. Disk brakes will squeak and rub on you, till they where in a little I like my brakes tight with not a lot of slack so they require some constant tinkering but work much better then rim rubbers. Over all I abuse this bike with 200 plus pounds hopping curbs and the bike has held up better then any I've owned previous. You will learn to love this bike if you only ride MT bikes.

      • Gift:
      • No

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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      Nov

      4

      2009

       
      4.0

      great town bike

      By goaggies

      from San Mateo CA

      About Me Avid Cyclist

      Pros

      • Attractive Design
      • Durable
      • Great Components
      • Handles Well

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Commuting

        Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

        Been riding this bike for several months now. Love it. Ride is a little stiff, but much more tolerable than the marin aluminum with 26" wheels it replaced. I have a couple road bikes I ride for fun, but this is the work horse. I do most of my errands and shopping on it. Added a "MTX Quick Track" rack and box with zip out panniers. That is another awesome product. My only complaint is that the initial setup was lame (loose headset, poorly adjusted rear shifter) and they failed to correct the the issues during the free service. I dealt with them myself and the bike runs perfect. Really a nice ride. I often ride 10 miles to do a 4 mile errand. Just need to pick up some fenders before it starts raining.

        • Gift:
        • No

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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        Oct

        27

        2009

         
        4.0

        Great Commuter Bike

        By CaryNC_BikeCommuter

        from Cary, NC

        About Me Avid Cyclist

        Site Member

        Pros

        • 36-Spoke Wheels
        • Disc brakes
        • Durable
        • Handles Well

        Cons

        • Needs Lower Gear

        Best Uses

        • Commuting
        • Trips to Grocery Store

        Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

        I purchased the Novara Big Buzz for commuting to work and for short trips to grocery stores, post offices, etc. Since I was planning adding a rack and panniers and hauling heavy loads, I wanted a very sturdy bike. I have had the Big Buzz for about 7 months and have put a few hundred miles on it – I am very happy with the bike. The bike is a bit heavier than a lot of road bikes, but any bike built for serious commuting will be heavier due to the hardier components they have to use. For instance, the Big Buzz uses 36-spoke wheels and disc brakes. The wheels and breaks are heavier than what you would find on a typical road bike, but what you get in exchange for the extra weight are wheels and brakes that can take the extra load and brakes that can stop you rain or shine. I added a Trek Interchange rack, a Trek Interchange rear trunk pack and Trek Interchange grocery bag panniers. I have made numerous trips from grocery stores with quite heavy loads and the bike has held up very well. The only complaint I have (and the only reason I did not give the bike 5 stars) is that I think the bike should be geared differently to offer some lower gears. Any bike that is designed for commuting and carrying heavier loads should have a decent low gear. Since there is no shortage of higher gears, the bike probably doesn't need a third chain-ring, but just an adjustment of the sizes of the gears that it does have to offer some more help on steep hills with heavy loads. Since I live in an area that doesn't have a lot of steep hills, I haven't made any changes yet, but I imagine people living in hillier areas might. Otherwise, this is a truly great bike!

        • Gift:
        • No

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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        Jul

        17

        2009

         
        4.0

        Great Bike

        By probey

        from Cypress, Texas

        About Me Casual Cyclist

        Pros

        • Attractive Design
        • Durable
        • Great Components
        • Handles Well
        • Lightweight

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Road Biking

          Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

          I just bought this bike and took it out a couple of times. Wow, it is awesome, if you're looking for a good bike for a reasonable price this model is it, very fast and fun to ride. The salesperson at REI highly recommended it, I went in there looking to spend around $500, [...] convinced me to spend the extra $300 and I did and I believe I made the right choice.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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          Jul

          8

          2009

           
          4.0

          Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009 by Novara

          By e3mini

          from Long beach ca

          About Me Avid Cyclist

          Pros

          • Attractive Design
          • Durable
          • Great Components
          • Handles Well
          • Lightweight

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Commuting
            • Road Biking

            Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

            This is a great looking bike! And it handles so well--i love riding it from city to beach on road and off road it is a lot of fun. It is lightweight, fast and easy to maneuver. You definately feel the bumps but I also like to connect with the road. I do not really notice it that much. I highly recommend this bike

            • Gift:
            • No

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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            Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

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