01-28-2007, 11:10 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
| | Re: Biria Bikes?
Ryan Cousineau wrote:
> In article <45bd311c$0$28170$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
> "Bill Sornson" <askme@ask.me> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> The manual and paperwork are probably routinely witheld from the
> customer, not out of malice, but because most don't even want to know
> the gory details.
I'm used to seeing bikes with those plastic bags full of material
rubber-banded to the handlebar.
>> 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?
> Less than $300 for a bike with a Nexus-3 hub sounds quite reasonable.
> It's a specialty bike, so there's not a lot to compare it to, but if
> the aluminum frame is built well enough, that sounds pretty good.
>> 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.
> The only thing I'd be worried about is whether someone who would want
> a low-stepover bike would be strong enough to lift a 31-pound bicycle
> into a car. For that matter, what does she drive, a PT Cruiser? I'm
> seriously interested.
She just bought a Prius, so the back is pretty big and open. She seems
pretty confident that she can get it in there OK, despite a bad shoulder
(more sugery than *I've* had on my wing).
>> 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.
> Seems to be that if the blems were the reason for the low price, she
> has no complaint. Otherwise, I might mention it to the shop.
That's pretty much what I thought, too. The dent in the fender /could/ be
her doing, I suppose (or at least the shop guy can claim so); the rest is
not as clear-cut (or maybe clear coat?  ...
Sure sounds like the guy sold it "as new" but really should have said "as
is".
I'll suggest she consider saying something just to get it off her mind;
otherwise, forget it and enjoy the bike.
Thanks for the reply.
B
|
|
|  |