Novara Buzz Road Bike

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

This bike was a great value for the components and works well as a commuter/urban bike, long rides, or light touring. I especially like the dual control 105 shifters and rear derailleur, disc brakes, dirt drop flared handlebars, and medium length chainstays for a stable ride. As other people mentioned, a steel or carbon fork would make this a smoother ride, and I'd prefer more spokes as a commuter/urban bike. What is really necessary is a 5mm bottom bracket spacer because the chain rubs the inside of the big chainring when on the low chainring in front and the hardest (smallest) cogs in the rear. I installed a 5mm spacer and problem solved.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

I can't recommend this bike. Which is too bad, because there's lots to like about it.The Tiagra shifters are a real dream to use, the brakes are good (though they can get quite noisy when wet, they still brake just as well), and the WTB handlebar is very comfortable.Also, I much prefer the aluminum frame over what's available in other commuter road bikes; the weight on the road isn't such a big deal (I'm heavy, my gear is heavy, etc. so even a five pound difference on the bike isn't significant), but the bike hangs up at the end of the day, and is occasionally carried on a roof rack. It's much nicer to be lifting and carrying this bike twice a day than a steel road frame.The rims and tires are also great. The reflective strip around the sidewall of the tire is a nice touch, especially coming home from work this time of the year.For me, the two biggest issues were a) the bike frame itself is poorly constructed, and b) it doesn't fit me very well. For many, the latter point might not be an issue; I'm 6'4" and while the 59cm frame seemed fine on the test ride, on the longer commute I just found the riding stance too aggressive. At its highest, the seat was still a bit too low and the crank a bit too short. And the handlebars weren't high enough.Also, the bike is actually reasonably responsive at speed. This is probably a plus for many, but for me on my commute, the last thing I want is a bike that is quick to turn. I've got lots of long straight road to cover, and I'd rather the bike show some stability rather than me having to constantly stay on top of it to keep it from wandering off a line. Unfortunately, ironically I found the bike hard to figure out in low-speed turns, even after a couple hundred miles of riding; it almost seemed _too_ stable in that part of the envelope and I was always having trouble getting a smooth-but-tight corner.The poor fit was the main reason I returned the bike (*), but I also had serious concerns about the potential longevity of the frame, based on the construction of the frame which showed various signs of lack of attention to detail. Things such as a crooked braze-on fitting on the fork, and paint that not only was easily scuffed by soft plastic (such as the vinyl on the outside of a U-lock), but the cable housing that rubbed against the head tube wore right through the paint after just a hundred miles or so of riding! And on top of all that, the bike was delivered to me without a braze-on bolt for that one crooked fitting, and when I asked for an extra from the local REI shop, they just grabbed a random one that didn't come close to matching the look of the others (knurled instead of shiny chrome, and not even the same head dimensions).Other minor issues include that the two-chainring setup makes for a really awkward shift zone in the middle (a couple of slight up-hill sections in my commute, I would have to double- or triple-shift to get just the right change in gearing), and that the bike can't really accommodate fenders _and_ a rack, never mind a trailer (REI carries the Topeak disc-compatible rack, but the stand-off mounts are so large, and the mounting point so close to the axle, there's no way to get the disc-compatible trailer hitch that attaches to the axle/skewer to fit with the rack attached). Another issue is that the handlebar tapers immediately from the stem out to the tape, eliminating any good straight section of handlebar where accessories such as a reflector, light, or bike computer can be mounted. It can be done, but it's not pretty.Bottom line: as much as there was about this bike that I really liked, ultimately the issues I cared most about (and in particular, just how the bike felt and rode) were deal-breakers. Kudos to REI for offering a bike with such nice components, but nice components can only be as good as the frame on which they're mounted. And this frame just didn't do it for me.(*) [...]

Service and delivery comments:

REI service was excellent. Delivery happened sooner than expected, if anything. I picked the bike up at the local store, where their technician made sure it was set up as best as possible for me.

I had some problem with cable stretch in the first week or so (irregular shifting/hunting), and when I took it back to REI, another tech adjusted the cable for me, as well as listened to some of my other feedback about how the bike was feeling, and adjusted the handlebar and brake levers to give me a better feel.

I have only good things to say about the techs in the store who actually worked on the bike and provided technical customer service to me.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

This bike is AWESOME! I've been riding it for the past 6 months to commute between home and work. I've put over 100 miles on it thus far (not that much, I know). I just recently sold my car and I don't have any qualms relying on this bike for my primary mode of commuting/transportation.

I will admit that the bike does transfer a lot of road feel through the frame but it has not been anything out of ordinary or unmanageable. In my opinion, that transfer of feeling/force works in two directions; the power transfer on this bike from pedal to road is very efficient. Also, the bike is surprisingly lighter than I expected.

I will also say that the geometry of this bike is very good. I'm 5'11" and I have a large size bike. When I'm commuting, I'm at the perfect angle to maximize force and decrease wind resistance while still being able to maintain good situational awareness.

I have not had any weather related issues with this bike either. Rain or shine, it handles well.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

This is great bike! The only issue that I have with this bike is that I definitely feel more of the road than previous carbon fiber bike did and a steel bike does. When searching for this bike, my main focus was to find a road bike with disc brakes and STI shifters which fits it perfectly for the Portland weather. I've compared it to a bike that has the same name of the city that I live in and found that that it rides way better than that. For the sale price I got the Buzz Road for, if I don't necessarily like the frame and road feel that I get from it, I can replace it with a steel frame and it is still cheaper than the other disc brake road bikes available with the same components. I would recommend this, because after six months and several hundred of miles of riding, it still rides great, shifts and brakes extremely well.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

I purchased this bike as a rainy day / winter beater and just haven't come around to liking it so much. It could be the weight of the wheelset or the aluminum forks. Either way, I will be selling frameset and picking up a steel touring type frame. The components have worked fine - no problems there although I did find the gap between the two front rings too great - and opted to install a 42T "small" ring. The disc brakes have great modulation & reliability - but that is to be expected. Additionally, I have it in mind to use either bar end or downtube shifters for easier manipulation. I found out quickly how cumbersome the integrated shifter / brake levers are with mittens last year - something to consider if you are a nearly full-time commuter.

Service and delivery comments:

The bike arrived faster than expected but could have been a bit more fine tuned in house. Customers without bike repair experience would have had issues with cable length, stem alignment and hardware torque (not to spec)

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

This bike was purchased for me to replace my 20+ year old commuter and use it for daily commuting as well as longer weekend rides. This bike has far exceeded my expectations. The bike is super stable and comfortable. I have put about 800 miles on the bike so far and have no big complaints. I replaced the pedals with SPD's and changed the seat to one better suited to longer daily rides.

Service and delivery comments:

The headset was not adjusted correctly upon reciept.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

This is a terrific bike for commuting and weekend rides. If you're an avid rider and you're all about the lightest ride then this bike is not for you. If you're looking for a versatile road bike that can survive New England roads...this is the bike for you.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

Great bike for the money! I commute about 8 miles to work each way, this bike is very solid and comfortable... gearing is good for hills, nice cruising on flats. Feels like a Cadillac compared to more expensive carbon bikes I've ridden. I'm 6'3" and have a long torso and long arms, geometry is nice and roomy on my 59cm. The custom saddle, wheels and seatpost are nice touches, makes the bike look slick without being too flashy. Comes with nice grippy Vittoria shielded tires, with slime tubes I've never had a flat after a year of city riding- thorns, rocks, glass, etc. The drop bars are splayed out to the sides more than your average bars, which makes for easy switches to the drop position and back. Not the lightest bike out there, but I find aluminum a little more trustworthy than carbon. Mine weighs in at about 24 lbs with slime tubes, lights and seat bag. The white finish marks easily from bike racks and such, so some kind of protective covering might be a good idea.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

Solid bike due to a couple reasons. The movement of hybrids that lean toward road bikes really make sense. This basically feels like a road bike that has more weight and sturdiness to it, with a wider bar that is more manueverable and disc brakes that grab great. I have used this bike on a couple rides over 100 miles and plan on taking it on a tour across Colombia and Ecuador pretty soon.

My only reservations are the pedals, forks and battle ship graphic. My right pedal has been clicking since purchase and for some reason stops whenever I take it in so I have not been able to get it replaced. The forks are alloy. Stiff and add weight. The shipwreck graphic has been mistaken by other bikers as "who scrathed up the top bar on your bike" and it doesn't come off.

Also note that even though this thing has killer brakes they're really only useful if you have a decent sized tire on here. If you put a skinny road tire on the bike the wheels will lock up no worries but have little surface friction to actually stop you. Many people including myself never thought of that so I would say keep the tire it comes with if not a larger touring tire.

Comments about Novara Buzz Road Bike:

I bought this to be a lighter alternative to my current daily commuter,an '06 Safari. Love the looks and handling,and the dirt drop bar,BB7 discs,and Randonneur tires are all sweet bits. Putting fenders on it was a breeze;I just used longer mounting bolts w/spacers on the left side,and bent the rear stay a touch. Was a little surprised by the weight,my digital fish scale says my 55 weighs 26lbs 12oz,but that's not too bad. Overall a really sweet all-weather commuter...except for one glaring problem. The fork. It looks cool,and the lowrider mounts make mounting a fender around the disc a snap,but who in the world thought it would be a good idea to put a straight-blade alloy fork on a bike aimed at urban riders? Ok,I have mild carpel tunnel issues,and I'm not as young as I used to be,but c'mon folks. This bike was aimed at markets like Wash DC,and our roads aren't the greatest. I also own an '06 Big Buzz;it's fork isn't that great either,but I made the ride acceptable by swapping on lower pressure 32mm tires. But the Road Buzz already has these,so I'm going to look at swapping on a carbon fork. Please,please,please REI,no more alloy forks. If you can't make the numbers work to go carbon,then at the very least go steel.

If your roads are smooth,or if you're young with good wrists,this is a sweet all-around bike. But if you have bad roads and/or CT,either go with something else or have another fork standing by. With the right fork this would be a 5 star bike.