Ive just bought a specialized x 3.0 to use as a winter hack. Nothing to get excited about and i wouldn't normally even bother mentioning it, but jeeeeeeez, mr specialized, get a grip of what your turning out!
The bike has done 60 miles....and is basically new. Came from someone i know and trust...hes not a fiddler. Its been back for a crank recall ( more on that later) but the way its been put together is appalling.
Yes, some components are cheap, but thats not the issue, its factory / dealer build quality..or lack of.
So here goes, not sure if this is now typical of modern bikes, but come on! No wonder the industry is in the poo.
1. Both wheels cones so tight they hardly spin. Filled with grease so hard, it could be used on a supertanker prop shaft. Helps also if the grease is actually on the bearings..not inside the hub shell! No wonder he felt the bike was a bit sluggish!
2. Gears "have never been quite right" yes, thats because the cable was 4 inches too long, but instead of cutting it down, they stuffed it onto the downtube in a figure of 8 to get rid of it.
3. No grease in headset....zero.
4. Cranks been back for recall..apparently they didn't torque them correctly and they fall off. Dealer fix....locktight on everything except the bolts! On the spline, bearing surfaces of bottom brakcet, tension bolt....lashed on. Then do up all the bolts to 10 times the required torque...thats not coming off on my watch!
5. Rear brake caliper finger tight.
6. Spoke tensions all over the place and far too loose on front wheel. Not suprised its not true and has wandered out of true on basic road duty.
Is this how things are now? Its been 40 years ish since i worked in a shop, but any of that lot would have got me booted out the door.
What's happened to PDI?! I assume that's long tone too in some money saving scheme.
The bike has done 60 miles....and is basically new. Came from someone i know and trust...hes not a fiddler. Its been back for a crank recall ( more on that later) but the way its been put together is appalling.
Yes, some components are cheap, but thats not the issue, its factory / dealer build quality..or lack of.
So here goes, not sure if this is now typical of modern bikes, but come on! No wonder the industry is in the poo.
1. Both wheels cones so tight they hardly spin. Filled with grease so hard, it could be used on a supertanker prop shaft. Helps also if the grease is actually on the bearings..not inside the hub shell! No wonder he felt the bike was a bit sluggish!
2. Gears "have never been quite right" yes, thats because the cable was 4 inches too long, but instead of cutting it down, they stuffed it onto the downtube in a figure of 8 to get rid of it.
3. No grease in headset....zero.
4. Cranks been back for recall..apparently they didn't torque them correctly and they fall off. Dealer fix....locktight on everything except the bolts! On the spline, bearing surfaces of bottom brakcet, tension bolt....lashed on. Then do up all the bolts to 10 times the required torque...thats not coming off on my watch!
5. Rear brake caliper finger tight.
6. Spoke tensions all over the place and far too loose on front wheel. Not suprised its not true and has wandered out of true on basic road duty.
Is this how things are now? Its been 40 years ish since i worked in a shop, but any of that lot would have got me booted out the door.
What's happened to PDI?! I assume that's long tone too in some money saving scheme.
