This bike turned out to a bit better than expected. It came with a lot of great extras: lites, chain guard, fenders, rack, etc. Looks really cool, seems very well built and thought-out. A great value at $280. Major problems were a lack of clear instructions for assembly. Manual covered half doz. models, none of them even close to this bike! I had to have a pro button it all up (an extra $50).
Once all was together and safe, it turns out to be just a little too small for me. I am a bit over 6 feet tall. After trying all the many possible adjustments, I was unable create a safe and comfortable ride.
Too bad, I really wanted it to work! Recent knee problems (age 70)have forced me to need a "step-through" bike like this.
Hope this helps others!
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I would think twice before buying this bike again. I was attracted to the bike from the description because I am an older rider and like the idea of the ease of getting on and off the bike. When I called to inquire if the bike was fully assembled, I was told it was 85% assembled and that the few remaining pieces would be easily put on. The manual was a generic manual and really gave no helpful information specific for this bike. Also, you need to have a variety of metric tools including a 14 mm deep socket, 10 mm short socket, 6 mm Allen wrench, 5 mm Allen wrench, crescent wrench, 5/32 Allen wrench and 8, 10, and 15 mm open/box wrench (only the 5 and 6 mm Allen wrenches came with the bike). With great difficulty my husband and I put the bike together over a 3-4 hour period. Once finished I went for a ride only to find that the chain and gear shift mechanism weren't assembled properly at the factory, so I couldn't even ride it. $80 later, after taking the bike to our local bike store for a complete overhaul, I was able to go for my first ride. The seat that comes with this bike is not for those of us with larger girths. I felt like I was going through childbirth again, so I ordered another seat more befitting my derriere. The base price of the bike is good, however, after adding an additional $110 for the seat and overhaul, I no longer think this bike is such a good deal. I wish I had bought a bike from my local bike store where I could have gotten more personalized service and a guarantee on the bike parts.
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A well made bike with a lot of style but with poor directions for putting together. The booklet that came with the bike was for other bikes. No mention of the lighting system at all. I still can't figure how to install the wiring. The seven speeds are all I need in flat Florida. I will visit a bike shop for some help. Still like the bike.
Honest reviews on Tour De France Advantage Bicycle (Yellow/Black, 700C X 43 cm)
My boyfriend bought me this bike for Christmas. I did a lot of research before I settled on this one. It met all of my criteria:
1. Step through frame
2. Handle bars for upright sitting
3. Hand brakes
4. Fenders
5. Self generating light system
6. Although this did not get glowing reviews, most complaints were about assembly. So I took it to the local bike shop and had it professionally assembled. Because my boyfriend has Amazon Prime, I was still saving money versus retail.
7. Shocks on the front fork
8. A guard on the gears to keep my pants from being damaged.
It has satisfied all of the criteria and then some. I like that the tires have reflective stripes on them. They seem very resilient. I enjoy riding the bike and have received compliments.
Why not a perfect score?
1. It is MUCH heavier than I expected it to be.
2. It rides smoothly; BUT it's very slow. It is really made for actual cruising. I use it to get to work and sometimes this makes it less than ideal if I'm in a hurry.
3. The fenders are poorly made and easily damaged.
4.The brakes are not goodthis can probably be remedied with a trip to the bike shop.
7. The kickstand is very unreliable. I think my brakes were damaged through repeated falls.
It will do for now. But it is not my final destination in the search for a good commuting bike.
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This is a great bike. I am a female 5"8" and wanted a bike that I can ride in an upright position. Very sturdy steel construction but feel that that the mudguards could have been metal and not plastic. I would have given 5 stars but for the packaging nightmare as noted by other buyers. Loose parts were everywhere inside the box and some were broken. I had a mechanic assemble the bike and he managed to fix it so I would not have the hassle of returning it. For this pleasure I was charged an extra $40. Not happy about that, however the bike itself is worth it.
