Are Rapid bikes any good

[Calton]

I've been looking at buying a mountain bike and have been looking at the rapid pro 27.5. link http://rapidbikes.co.za/bikes/pro-27-5-matte-black-red/. Is this any good and does anyone have a better recommendation.

 

Thanks

[Letum911]

I would stay well clear of Rapid or any other brand that is not a well known brand that you can get support for through a reputable dealer. Also any bike which has the words "xx speed" written on them scare me.

 

Without knowing what you budget is it is difficult to make a suggestion. If you have sub R10k to spend I reckon your best bet would be to look around the Hub for a second hand 26", even above R10k budget I would start a search on the secondhand market.

[Shebeen]

Looks like a budget brand with a nice website. The main selling point would have to be price.

 

24 speed is hyperama bike territory, thru don't last long

[Genesis]

RAPID is a brand that belongs to TWO WHEELS TRADING.

In other words sister brand to MOMSEN.

 

The supply and back up is available.

Stand to be corrected but brand has been on the market for aprox 2 years.

 

It is not quite entry level but well spec'd for its price.

 

They just launched a 29er range as well.

[Rouxenator]

Today was the first time I heard of Rapid Bikes (over here http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/424326-What-mountain-bike-for-a-beginner?p=16988045&viewfull=1#post16988045 same OP).

 

To copy and paste what I wrote on myBB : I have done some more searching on this new brand, Rapid Bikes, they are based in PE so they are local and therefore worth supporting. The top spec Pro Comp 29 sells for R7,695 from leading bike shops, they list two shops here in Stellenbosch so I am keen to go check it out. Based on the price range they are playing in and the spec levels of their bikes I would say it is a good deal. If I had to buy a new bike today then they would be on my short list.

[Edge_Design]

I've been looking at buying a mountain bike and have been looking at the rapid pro 27.5. link http://rapidbikes.co.za/bikes/pro-27-5-matte-black-red/. Is this any good and does anyone have a better recommendation.

 

Thanks

 

If you want something basic to commute on then that would probably work. If you want to do some offroad riding and enter a few events then you're probably best off looking elsewhere. You also MIGHT battle to find spares for a lot of the parts on there as well as they seem to use very old technology (I'm sure there are shops that cater for that level of bike though). If you want something for a bit more than commuting then look at 2nd hand bikes - even a well used bike with decent components is likely to give you a longer useful life than one of those.

[Calton]

Thank you all or your comments.

 

I think I'm better off with a good second hand bike.

[Rouxenator]

Nothing wrong with the Altus/Acera/Tektro/Suntour parts on Rapid Bikes. My first GT came with just that and I rode it for more than 10,000km including a K2C and TransKaroo. It is a step above the stuff you find at Makro and Game. I would buy one if I needed a new bike now.

[The Bike Brew]

 

 

If you want something basic to commute on then that would probably work. If you want to do some offroad riding and enter a few events then you're probably best off looking elsewhere. You also MIGHT battle to find spares for a lot of the parts on there as well as they seem to use very old technology (I'm sure there are shops that cater for that level of bike though). If you want something for a bit more than commuting then look at 2nd hand bikes - even a well used bike with decent components is likely to give you a longer useful life than one of those.

 

 

Supplier has a full range of spares already available for these bikes  - see their website:http://rapidbikes.co.za/spares/

 

Parts used are SHIMANO - readily available and forks are SR SUNTOUR - another well known and trusted brand ... we have just received our first stock of their new PRO SERIES 29ers - best value in the market right now. 

[Edge_Design]

Supplier has a full range of spares already available for these bikes  - see their website:http://rapidbikes.co.za/spares/

 

Parts used are SHIMANO - readily available and forks are SR SUNTOUR - another well known and trusted brand ... we have just received our first stock of their new PRO SERIES 29ers - best value in the market right now. 

 

Not the experience I've had with low end SR SUNTOUR personally, but maybe we were just unlucky. I know exactly what SHIMANO is, but once again don't see all that many 8 speed parts around - maybe the shops keep it in the back somewhere? I never said they were bad bikes - they have their place in the market (as do Makro specials and Specialized S-Works) and they're possibly very competitive in that space.

 

There are probably some very happy customers who love their bikes and there are likely to be those who wished they had saved a little longer and gotten something a bit more "competitive". I fell in the latter bracket with the first bike I got for my wife (which had SR SUNTOUR and SHIMANO - it also weighed almost as much as she does).

[Red Ant]

The Trek Marlin 7 is a 29'er and is selling for R6999.00 at Cycle Lab. I think the Marlin is a pretty decent bike to start out with.

 

http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/trek-marlin-7-2015-review