Viking Bikes

[darth vadar]

A new bike shop has opened near me selling mainly Viking bikes.

The road bikes seem to be fairly good value at £250 - £350 and some of them have those strange looking Shimano gear changers mounted on the handlebars (14 speed) Weight wise they feel ok'ish for someone like me.

Whats the feeling on here about Viking bikes and those type of gear changers which would be ideal for my requirements.

Is it worth buying one? I already have a Giant hybrid and a Giant flat bar road bike.

I just fancy somat' else !!!!!

 

[rowan 46]

I have a hybrid by viking and although not amongst the greats it's solidly built and does the job. I know angelfish has a viking road bike and he appears to enjoy his. yes they are at the cheaper end of the price range but they are not crap.

 

[Hip Priest]

I nearly bought a Viking road bike. Lovely looking bikes, quite retro in style.

 

[Rob3rt]

They are decent bikes for the money, no frills, but I think you might be a bit dissapointed if you are coming from a Giant as its likely a bit of a downgrade.

 

[abo]

Viking do a road bike with STI shifters too, the Roma.

 

[Wades]

As mentioned in another thread I got Mrs Wades a Viking hybrid a couple of years ago. Very nicely built and certainly nowhere near a 'supermarket' special.

Only complaint was the tubes had the appearance of something around 30 years old and leaked like old sieve.

Would be interested to see their other offerings in the metal.

 

[HLaB]

AFS bought the Viking Giro Italia and from his reports it sounds like a good VfM bike

 

[apollo179]

As mentioned in another thread I got Mrs Wades a Viking hybrid a couple of years ago. Very nicely built and certainly nowhere near a 'supermarket' special.

Only complaint was the tubes had the appearance of something around 30 years old and leaked like old sieve.

Would be interested to see their other offerings in the metal.

Forgive my ignorance but how does a bike leak ?

 

[Wades]

That would be the inner tubes, Sorry matey!

The rubber was really dry and cracked in places like it had been stored badly. No other signs of poor storage though which was odd (chrome all ok etc).

 

[darth vadar]

Thanks for your advices folks.

 

[Globalti]

This is worth a read: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/cheap-full-suspension-bikes-bargain-or-waste-of-money-31627

 

[Norm]

This is worth a read: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/cheap-full-suspension-bikes-bargain-or-waste-of-money-31627

Possibly, but not in the context of a thread about road bikes.

I bought my Viking road bike in the late 1970s. Does that count as retro?