Should i buy a Viking bike

[whybrowr]

I am a complete novice when it comes to biking. I am looking at buying my first bike since i was about 15 i have been looking for the last few days and the only bikes i can find in my very smalll price range £160 ish i have been told to stay clear of connica and have found a few bikes they are all viking make. so are viking bikes worth getting.
here our the links to the ones i have found what would people go for please

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Race-Pro-Gents-Mens-700C-14-Speed-Road-Racing-Bike-Bicycle-Yellow-/311227609917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item48769c733d
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Team-Pro-Gents-Adults-Road-Race-Bike-Bicycle-700C-14-Speed-Matt-Black-/131318660873?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item64435a5988
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Citifix-700c-Fixed-Wheel-Fixie-Frame-Road-Bike-Single-Speed-Flat-Bar-2014-/131207664406?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item643930d525
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vittesse-Sprint-21-Speed-Alloy-Racing/dp/B003DZ15CQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1434394002&sr=1-4&keywords=road+bike

 

[biggs682]

@whybrowr if that is your budget limit then why not , only thing i would suggest is getting your Local Bike Shop to give it once over as some times the lower end of the market are not put together that well and a quick once over with an expert eye might help .

Have you thought about a 2nd hand bike as for £150 and a starter bike you can quite easily pick up a better quality bike although it might have some wear and tear .

if you were nearer to Northamptonshire i would say like i say to any cc'er you would be welcome to come and try a retro bike in that budget range and get an idea what is about , this is one of a couple i have in that price area Raleigh Ventura Road Racing Bike

 

[whybrowr]

thank you in the end i did go to my local bike shop a few times and looked at viking bikes at other shops and was not impressed so put the budger up and got a GIANT DEFY 5 2015

• ALUXX-Grade Aluminum Frame
• Aluminum, Alloy OverDrive Steerer Fork
• Shimano Claris 16 speed drive train with FSA Tempo chainset
• Tektro TK-R312 Giant Specific, Dual Pivot brakes
• Giant S-R2 wheel set

other than changing the seat as its like a lump on concrete im really happy with it

 

[ufkacbln]

Viking helmets have snag points:

So I wouldn't buy a Viking helmet

 

[cyberknight]

Nice , @simon the viking started on a errr Viking and ended up with a giant .

 

[simon the viking]

Tagged in by @cyberknight I can offer some advice......
EDIT after reading further post....
I offered some advice on Vikings then saw you Bought a Defy 5 which was pretty much my advice..... enjoy it

 

[Saluki]

Nice , @simon the viking started on a errr Viking and ended up with a giant .

Does that now make him @simonthegiant then?

 

[simon the viking]

Does that now make him @simonthegiant then?

I did think about asking Sean about changing it .... but in the end couldn't be bothered

 

[ufkacbln]

Does that now make him @simonthegiant then?

He still has the helmet

 

[simon the viking]

He still has the helmet

Its great for headbutting cars that pull out on commutes

 

[ufkacbln]

.... And a true Viking would also have a supply of beer in the horns

 

[stoatsngroats]

Just to add a little about Viking - ( in case anyne else is looking at this end of the market) I think they are OK, and have some reasonable quality kit. You can get much better components of course, but for general cycling, I'd be happy to purchase again.
Ours was purchased 2nd hand, and we have had it for 4 years, covering up to 1000 miles a year, (maybe!), and I have just changed drivetrain, for the first time! It lives outside in all weathers too.

A couple of saddles, a couple of tyres, a new front wheel - that's it in 4 years. ( I'm reminded of Trigger, and the broom he has had for 14 years...)
As you now, ours is a tandem, and the costs can be high for these, but at entry level for new around £400, I'd class Viking as extremely good value for money.

There are obviously a wide variety of bikes available, and Viking are pretty decent, nothing special, but certainly in my experience, reliable.

 

[Saluki]

.... And a true Viking would also have a supply of beer in the horns

The horns are the wrong way up and Simon would get wet ears

 

[Apollonius]

I think you made a very good choice, but beware the soft saddle. They are fine for short trips, but become bum-wreckers with time, sweat, miles and heat. You may well come to appreciate the hard saddle you rejected.

As for Vikings, I have two. One from the Wolverhampton era (1963) and one from the Northern Ireland era (1979). These are both good quality hand-crafted machines with good components.
Since then they have declined in quality and are really only a bundle of poorish quality components with nothing in common with the respected bikes of the past in this marque. I believe even Sports Direct are selling them, and you only have to look at Newcastle United FC to see what that means.
The Giant Defy, on the other hand is probably the best £500 or so you have ever spent. Well done!