Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More - View Single Post

01-28-2007, 02:26 PM

A dear friend of mine (older lady, sedentary but in good health and shape)
just bought a Biria bike from an unknown-to-me shop in our beach area. A
quick net search indicates she got an EZ Boarding Top 3 (Nexus 3-speed):
http://www.biria.com:80/bicycles/ez/eb_top_3.jsp.

I stopped by to see it and it's very cool, but the front fender (a bit
off-center) has a small dent and the white paint has an unsightly blem on
the down tube. (Looks like grease but doesn't come off.) Also, the springs
on the front brake looked rusty to me -- not terribly so, but not brand new
either. (The handlebar has a small scuff that looks like a bell or
something was installed on it.) The bike was represented as new to her.

She's having buyer's remorse somewhat, so I told her I'd research a little.
She paid $270.00 out the door for it, but the guy didn't give her an owner's
manual or paperwork until she went back and then it was just a tag and the
Shimano Nexus Hub technical instructions. I doubt they were for that
particular bike. No registration material, either.

Still, the bike seems solid and well made. The prices I "quick saw" on the
net were a good deal higher ($350 +), so maybe she did OK?

I seriously doubt she'll ride the bike much, but the design is ideal ("easy
boarding" is quite apt) AND it fits in the back of her car without removing
anything. Other than a folder, I can't imagine anything better suited to
her needs.

What do you folks think? I wrote her a "preliminary" reassuring e-mail just
now, but also said I'd ask around for more opinions.

Thanks for any input,

Bill "well, the hub is pretty cool" S.

01-28-2007, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bill Sornson Posts: n/a	Biria Bikes? A dear friend of mine (older lady, sedentary but in good health and shape) just bought a Biria bike from an unknown-to-me shop in our beach area. A quick net search indicates she got an EZ Boarding Top 3 (Nexus 3-speed): http://www.biria.com:80/bicycles/ez/eb_top_3.jsp. I stopped by to see it and it's very cool, but the front fender (a bit off-center) has a small dent and the white paint has an unsightly blem on the down tube. (Looks like grease but doesn't come off.) Also, the springs on the front brake looked rusty to me -- not terribly so, but not brand new either. (The handlebar has a small scuff that looks like a bell or something was installed on it.) The bike was represented as new to her. She's having buyer's remorse somewhat, so I told her I'd research a little. She paid $270.00 out the door for it, but the guy didn't give her an owner's manual or paperwork until she went back and then it was just a tag and the Shimano Nexus Hub technical instructions. I doubt they were for that particular bike. No registration material, either. Still, the bike seems solid and well made. The prices I "quick saw" on the net were a good deal higher ($350 +), so maybe she did OK? I seriously doubt she'll ride the bike much, but the design is ideal ("easy boarding" is quite apt) AND it fits in the back of her car without removing anything. Other than a folder, I can't imagine anything better suited to her needs. What do you folks think? I wrote her a "preliminary" reassuring e-mail just now, but also said I'd ask around for more opinions. Thanks for any input, Bill "well, the hub is pretty cool" S.