Viking bikes, what's the PH consensus?

[mattikake]

Just looking for some [non-snobby] opinions on these.

I've spotted one that appears to match all my needs - alu frame, carbon forks, only 16 gears (I tend to use high gears only, including hill climbs), stylish, Shimano levers/front-rear gears etc., but... it's sub £300 which from my Specialized background = tat.

Serious looker, but serious performer?
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5260.html?mv_pc=gp1&...

Basically my Specialized got nicked a few days ago, so I'm having trouble justifying spending loads on a new bike again.

[Dammit]

I think you'd get more bike for your money spending the cost of the Viking on a second hand "brand" like Cannondale, Specialised, etc.

[craigthecoupe]

it's all basic stuff, so whilst it wont set the world alight, it'll do for riding about for a while, when it wears out, you can choose if you want something nicer or not. you could probably find a decent steel framed bike for that money, that will probably ride a lot nicer, and probably be a bit less nickable than a shiney new bike. i hate the ride my ally giant gives, very buzzy compared to both carbon and steel.
just my two pence worth.

[mattikake]

Decent 2nd hand bikes are a biatch to find quickly is all I will say. It took me months to find the Specialzed I had. I need one asap.

[av185]

My first 'proper bike' was a Viking 'Medallist'. Great machine. Go for it...

[esuuv]

If you want a road bike then a lot of people on here swear by the decathlon Triban bikes - i think there is one just under 300 with a steel fork and one about 350 with carbon, if you are close to a shop then you can go and collect it.

theres also a merlin bike at 300 - theres a thread about it round here somewhere, but apparently thats out of stock for the foreseeable.

[Dammit]

I wonder what it means by "side pull brakes"?

[mikees]

I'm selling a couple of bikes on bikeradar at the moment.

One the same price as the Viking a Cannondale Caad8 near you so pm me if interested.


This isn't a sales pitch just trying to help.

Mike

[mattikake]

^ link?

I want a straight bar though. Hate the racing position.

Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 29th October 23:14

[Greenish]

Im surprised it has got this far without saying - do NOT buy one.

Avoid Viking. Listen to the advice on this thread.

Snap up the caad8 or just buy second hand, just don't buy a Viking.

Unless of course, you wear a reflective tabard, have a gut, a social nervousness and a general need to wear a mirror on your helmet.

Or you average 12mph. (Non snobby, just factual)

[mattikake]

But what is actually wrong with them? Build? Frame? Reliability? Ride? Components?

I mean, the BB went on my Specialized in a few months of vigorous hillclimbs and it was pneumatic-hammer-syndrome murder over anything but the smoothest tarmac, of which little exists in this government spending world.

Viking have a good long history of manufacture.

[Greenish]

I think we need more info on your Spesh - model year / mileage / what it went through.

[Greenish]

mattikake said:

But what is actually wrong with them? Build? Frame? Reliability? Ride? Components?

I mean, the BB went on my Specialized in a few months of vigorous hillclimbs and it was pneumatic-hammer-syndrome murder over anything but the smoothest tarmac, of which little exists in this government spending world.

Viking have a good long history of manufacture.

It must have been an Allez.


Second hand?

[TheLemming]

mattikake said:

But what is actually wrong with them? Build? Frame? Reliability? Ride? Components?

I mean, the BB went on my Specialized in a few months of vigorous hillclimbs and it was pneumatic-hammer-syndrome murder over anything but the smoothest tarmac, of which little exists in this government spending world.

Viking have a good long history of manufacture.

Every single one I've seen seems to be lowest possible barrel scraping on spec.
The ones that aren't BSOs just about creep over that line - and there are lots of decent options out there for budget starter bikes at similar money that are actually very rideable.

This one doesn't look terrible at first but there are two big things jumping out at me. The 12.5kg weight is heavier than my MTB, The brakes also appear to be cantis, which aren't known for their stopping abilities even on good ones and I very much doubt these are.

Personal advice? I wouldn't and I wouldn't recommend it.

Are you set on a flat bar hybrid instead of a road bike? The suggestions so far as alternates have been drop bar?

[anonymous-user]

mattikake said:

But what is actually wrong with them? Build? Frame? Reliability? Ride? Components?

I mean, the BB went on my Specialized in a few months of vigorous hillclimbs and it was pneumatic-hammer-syndrome murder over anything but the smoothest tarmac, of which little exists in this government spending world.

Viking have a good long history of manufacture.

Whats wrong with them? Its a cheap alu frame which will be heavy, the carbon forks will be carbon blades mated to an alu steerer tube, you do not get carbon forks on a £300 bike. The components are heavy and yet still full opf plastic which wil wear, the derailleurs, shifters etc. Thje saddle will be a traditional padded gel thing, awful for longer than 10 miles regardless of what you are wearing. The wheels will be heavy, the hubs will be poorly sealed and have open bath berarings not sealed cartridge style bearings thus they will attract dirt and wear out quickly, the finishing kit, handlebars, seatpost etc will be heavy and low grade aluminium. Google says its about 29 lbs.

As an alternative, I'd be looking at the Pinancle Neon range from Evans, they are far superior in every way and well worth the extra outlay. Put it this way, you you get more than £150 worth of bike for £150 extra and Mrs pablo's Neon 2 is 22 lbs....

[Mr Will]

mattikake said:

Viking have a good long history of manufacture.

Had. They had a good long history. Then they folded and the name was purchased to be applied to cheap far eastern tat.

[donfisher]

I see various Vikings around near the office that are obviously used for daily (and that means nearly every day, all year round) commuting duties. Aside from looking a bit cheap and garish they obviously keep working. For some reason though they just don't appeal to me as a bike I'd want to go out on for a few hours on.

I also see a few older btwins that are also used for year round commuting which to me look a bit nicer. Stuff like these:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-flat-bar-road-b...

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-500-flat-bar-road-b...

If you’re in a rush, like you I’d also be tempted to go for the newer less expensive bike rather than hoping you get lucky, quickly with a s/h bargain.

[Beer Man]

Mr Will said:

Had. They had a good long history. Then they folded and the name was purchased to be applied to cheap far eastern tat.

Maybe they should stick a BMW sticker on. Will shift loads of them then regardless of how crap they are.

[mcdjl]

I've had a Viking Roma for a few years now, the first road bike I bought. The only problems its had are that I've worn the tyres out and snapped a chain. The only maintenance its had has been a clean of the chain. having just put a steel framed/carbon forked road bike together the Viking is maybe harsher on bad roads, but no worse i think (not having ridden them) than some friends more expensive steeds.

[Barchettaman]

The Raleigh Airlite SF100 on that site looks the better bike, more sensibly geared at any rate.