Novara Big Buzz Bike

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.

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.

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!

Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

I bought this bike primarily for commuting to work, and have been telling myself to review it ever since! Today I hit 2000km (I'm metric), so decided now is a good time.
First, it is incredibly sturdy, has great components (for the price), excellent tires (one flat in that time - a goat head!), and is very fast for such a robust machine. I added a Topeak rack to put my youngest daughter on (using their seat - ensure you get the disk-break version), and we have had a lot of fun just booting around.
The grip-shifters are new to me, but I actually like them a lot, and have had no problems. Obviously, I've had to make minor derailleur adjustments as the cables stretched but that is all.
So I highly recommend this bike.
I should also mention that I find it smooth, but then my other bike is a Trek 5200, which is very, very hard going, so everything is relative. I add this as I read that others find the bike harsh.
My only minor complaint is that when I got the bike, some spokes were loose. Quickly I tightened these up, but the wheel had gone out of alignment and I had to true it; and given the disk breaks, I needed a truing stand (I am old-school and true using the brake-pads, normally). That's a minor thing, given that this is a great bike for the money. But do check it yourselves, as is the case with most things.
Great bike, and I'm glad the folks at my REI made me take a look at it.

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.

Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

I use this bike to commute everyday, a total distance of 11-12 miles. So far, the bike has been great! It handles well, I have not gotten flats like I used to on other flimsy road-bikes. [...]If you're looking for bike to commute, run errands, ride around town, casual rides, this is a great bike to get for the price.

Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

I won a bike in a raffle and upgraded to the Big Buzz. I use it to commute to and from work which is up and down hills. Compared to my road bike the gearing is much easier, which is good because I really load the bike down with stuff. The twist gears are a little hard on my wrists and the placement of the brake levers close to the stem make the control of the bike ever so slightly harder. Not a deal killer but might be worth a slight design change. I have several high priced bikes and this one can really hold its own in the group.

Comments about Novara Big Buzz Bike - 2009:

I use the 2008 model as my winter bike. It fits studded tires and fenders. If your riding for recreation or fitness, there are few other similar bikes that can beat the price. If you don't like the handling of a road bike and aren't ready for a cruiser, or just need a reliable commuter, this bike is great. The components are lower maintenance than road bikes. And the disc brakes allow you to stop in any condition. There are other similar bikes on the market, but this is priced about the best [...]

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.

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.