Planet X road bikes?

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Discussion

Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

192 months

Tuesday 19th July 2016
quotequote all
I am rapidly outgrowing my first road bike I bought for Halfords last year - a Carrera TDF "ltd edition".

I've been looking around my LBS, Evans etc and today popped over to Planet X in Sheffield to look at their offerings. I have heard good things and seen some very good reviews of their Pro Carbon Road bikes @ £999.

However, when in the store the Aero Road Bike caught my eye - it's an incredible looking bike, is pretty damn light (compared to my Carrera anyway), felt nice to ride and seems to have a good spec on paper. I'm interested in the Planet X Aero Road Ultegra bike at £1499.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/road-bikes/ec-1...

I did a quick search on google and it didn't appear to have the best reviews.

Anyone on here got one? Any thoughts?

944fan

4,962 posts

184 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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I don't have the road bike but I do own a Planet X Stealth. How tall are you? Planet X (like most cheaper makes) come up very small and if you are tall like me then you wont get one to fit you properly.

I have had no issues with mine other than the sizing.

rickbrown74

250 posts

241 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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I've been looking at the Planet X aero bike myself - I think they had it on offer not that long ago for £1299 so maybe worth waiting to see if they bring that deal back in again (though that may have been a different SRAM groupset)

On their website it shows a mag review which seems very positive. I think the E-130 is the frame used for the Planet-X team race bikes so should be decent. It depends what you want the bike for really. I've started doing some local races so fancy something race orientated for my next steed. Maybe the Ribble aero bike would be worth checking out too as the 2 seem very similar?

pembo

1,203 posts

192 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Yeh they come up small but if you can walk in to the store and try them out that shouldn't be an issue.

I have a Pro Carbon and have put it through a decent amount of punishment over the last two years without any issues. It's been pretty comfortable on some long distance rides and feels fast enough in time trials and circuit races.

That looks like a very good deal so if you like the looks and feel comfortable on it I don't think you could do any better for the same money.

Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

192 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks guys. I tried the bike and the medium seemed to work quite well for me (I'm only 5'9").

I'll give it a few weeks to see if the price drops but in the mean time, I'll check out the Ribble alternative.

Thanks,
Matt

Black can man

31,816 posts

167 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
If you're not in a hurry for you're new bike, then have a look at these bikes .

Mine's beautiful

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/road/ro...

counterofbeans

1,061 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
I've never really understood the love for Planet X, is it simply because they are very cheap or is there anything else to it?


Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

192 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
counterofbeans said:
I've never really understood the love for Planet X, is it simply because they are very cheap or is there anything else to it?
On paper, the specs look good for the prices IMO. I think people see them as the Sports Direct of the bike world, with constant trickery on sales etc.

counterofbeans

1,061 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Stupeo said:
counterofbeans said:
I've never really understood the love for Planet X, is it simply because they are very cheap or is there anything else to it?
I think people see them as the Sports Direct of the bike world, with constant trickery on sales etc.
Yes I think that's probably true

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
counterofbeans said:
I've never really understood the love for Planet X, is it simply because they are very cheap or is there anything else to it?
Cheap & good value
Good website with good descriptions
No Nonsense: do what they say on tin
Good range of bikes and good prices
Not too long lead times
British company!! (OK far east product)


I like Planet x, the bikes are no nonsense and do what they say

Having said that never bought one though, bought plenty of other stuff from them

mcelliott

8,626 posts

180 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
They're great bikes, I've had mine for about 4 years (Carbon Pro with Chorus). DOn't listen to the crap about low end technology, carbon weave, all that bks. These people haven't a clue what they're talking about. Highly recommended, but by all means, pay twice as much for exactly the same spec on a Giant or Trek.

944fan

4,962 posts

184 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
TwistingMyMelon said:
counterofbeans said:
I've never really understood the love for Planet X, is it simply because they are very cheap or is there anything else to it?
Cheap & good value
Good website with good descriptions
No Nonsense: do what they say on tin
Good range of bikes and good prices
Not too long lead times
British company!! (OK far east product)


I like Planet x, the bikes are no nonsense and do what they say

Having said that never bought one though, bought plenty of other stuff from them
Yeah there is a lot of bike for the money. They also don't cut corners on components. My Trek 1.1 had a no brand crank (which I bent) and ste bontrager wheels (which I buckled). That cost £550. My stealth came with full 105 through out (except the aero shifters which are dura ace) and RS10 wheels on a full carbon frame for a grand.

My only gripe now is as I said above they are very small and if you are 6'5'' like me they wont fit you properly.

Maracus

4,229 posts

167 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
quotequote all
mcelliott said:
They're great bikes, I've had mine for about 4 years (Carbon Pro with Chorus). DOn't listen to the crap about low end technology, carbon weave, all that bks. These people haven't a clue what they're talking about. Highly recommended, but by all means, pay twice as much for exactly the same spec on a Giant or Trek.
yes

I've had my PX Pro Carbon for 2 1/2 years. Must have ridden 8000 miles on it.

Absolutely zero issues with it.

I've regularly serviced it, which helps smile

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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I have a Planet X CX bike. Had it three years I think. Don't use it much now. The bike is pretty good, but the finishing kit is a bit poor. If you can get a Pro Carbon with the decent Vision 30/35 wheels then that would be a good start. Also be prepared to buy your bike for £1399 and it will be £999 the week after.

It was Planet X customer service that let everything down. They were appalling and very difficult to deal with. I also bought a frame and wheels from them. the frame purchase was a joke and I ended up sending it back. Wheels took nearly three weeks to arrive and no one really seemed to know exactly what was going on. However, I'd hope that they have since improved.

battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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I have a set of PX carbon forks on my road bike to replace the forks that got destroyed by the Stevie Wonder School of Driving's star pupil. They are great, they were very inexpensive and better quality than what came off, being 100% carbon composite and not "some carbon wrapped round a large chunk of steel".

Recommended.

Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

192 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks all. I've decided I will go with a PX bike.

Now my dilemma is, Pro Carbon Ultegra for £999 or Aero Road EC-130E for £1499 with Ultegra. The weight looks similar for the medium bikes, the gears is obviously the same and they come with the same wheels.

Is the Aero worth £500 more for a beginner like myself who is currently riding a 11.5KG Carrera!

Thanks all.

Matt




944fan

4,962 posts

184 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
quotequote all
Stupeo said:
Thanks all. I've decided I will go with a PX bike.

Now my dilemma is, Pro Carbon Ultegra for £999 or Aero Road EC-130E for £1499 with Ultegra. The weight looks similar for the medium bikes, the gears is obviously the same and they come with the same wheels.

Is the Aero worth £500 more for a beginner like myself who is currently riding a 11.5KG Carrera!

Thanks all.

Matt
IF they come with the same wheels you would probably be better off keeping that extra 500 notes and buying some mid range wheels a bit down the line.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
quotequote all
944fan said:
Stupeo said:
Thanks all. I've decided I will go with a PX bike.

Now my dilemma is, Pro Carbon Ultegra for £999 or Aero Road EC-130E for £1499 with Ultegra. The weight looks similar for the medium bikes, the gears is obviously the same and they come with the same wheels.

Is the Aero worth £500 more for a beginner like myself who is currently riding a 11.5KG Carrera!

Thanks all.

Matt
IF they come with the same wheels you would probably be better off keeping that extra 500 notes and buying some mid range wheels a bit down the line.
If they're the AL 30 they don't seem to be the fastest rolling wheels, my Shimano wheels on my CX roll a bit quicker.

Can't fault a PX for value, I've got an RT-58 which had to have a new frame under warranty as the rear derailleur cable got stuck internally. Fair play to them, they designed the fault out on the new frame.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
quotequote all
Stupeo said:
Thanks all. I've decided I will go with a PX bike.

Now my dilemma is, Pro Carbon Ultegra for £999 or Aero Road EC-130E for £1499 with Ultegra. The weight looks similar for the medium bikes, the gears is obviously the same and they come with the same wheels.

Is the Aero worth £500 more for a beginner like myself who is currently riding a 11.5KG Carrera!

Thanks all.

Matt
I'd personally go for the Aero Bike (EC-130 Rivet?). Looks much more modern compared to the Pro Carbon, which is actually quite an old design now. The EC-130 is quite new to the Planet X range. There i no guarantee that it will be around for very long though.


Maracus

4,229 posts

167 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
quotequote all
Stupeo said:
Thanks all. I've decided I will go with a PX bike.

Now my dilemma is, Pro Carbon Ultegra for £999.
This was on 'offer' at £799 last week.