GMC Denali Road Bike

Price : $159.00 - $285.00

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The GMC Denali 700C 21-Speed Road Bike is built around a lightweight aluminum road bike frame for racing or commuting. You'll stop on a dime with the alloy calipers and brake levers, and the high-profile alloy Vitesse racing rims look as good as they perform. The Shimano derailleur and Shimano Revo shifts make it easy to change gears quickly and smoothly, and the high-performance 700c tires are up to the challenge of rigorous street racing. Lastly, this road bike will help you stay hydrated with the included alloy water bottle cage.
Specifications:

• Frame: Aluminum 7005 straight gauge
• Fork: GMC Series 7000 steel
• Chain: KMC Z 51
• Crankset: Prowheel Alloy 335P6 28X38X48 170mm
• Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-TZ 31 Index
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30GS 7SPD
• Shifters: Shimano Revo SIS L2/R7
• Brake levers: Promax BL-250AP Aluminum
• Brakes: Promax 501A Alloy Caliper Brake
• Rims: Vitesse Alloy black 700CX14GX36H
• Tires: Kenda Black With Grey Band 700X28C
• Stem: Aluminum black EXT:100mm 0D.
• Handlebar: Maesbend W: 430mm D:22.0mm
• Saddle: Cionlli Black
• Seat post: HL Aluminum Micro Adjust 27.2 X 300mm
• Pedals: VP-990S plastic body with steel cage
• Weight: 29.0 lbs

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying GuideFinding the Right BikeTo really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:
The Right RideIn general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

• Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
• Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
• Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right PriceA bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

• Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
• Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
• High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right SizeFit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

• Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
• Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
• Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right AccessoriesWhen you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:

• Helmet (this is a must!)
• Seat pack
• Lock
• Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Mens GMC Denali Light weight aluminum road bike has a 21 speed Shimano derailleur. ~ For any service questions contact Kent at 1-800-451-KENT (5368), EST.,for replacement parts, repair kits, tools and warranty information.

Product Details

• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000FDDWB6
  

Product Features

• 21-speed road bike features a lightweight aluminum frame
• Alloy calipers and ally brake levers
• High-profile alloy Vitesse racing rims
• Shimano derailleur and Shimano Revo shifts makes it easy to change gears quickly and smoothly
• High-performance 700c tires are up to the challenge of rigorous street racing

 

GMC Denali Road Bike

 

Customer Reviews

Putting it together:
The bike came with the typical assembly needed for a bike shipped in a cardboard box. Attach the steering column, front tire, seat, pedals, reflectors. Then adjust brakes and fine tune gears. No big deal. Several different size allen wrenches, open end wrenches, pliers, and a screwdriver were needed. It was not hard, but if you've never put a bike together before it might seem like a lot of work, and you still might wind up at a bike shop for proper gear and brake adjustments.
Initial thoughts:
It is a nice looking bike and since road bikes are pretty much only sold in bike shops, most people will assume it cost a LOT more than it really did. A friend asked if I spent "over $1,000" on it.
I have no problems with build quality. The welds look good, the bike seems solid, the seat tube fit fine. I was surprised how well the frame fits my 6'0" size.
The Good Things:
Nice looking bike
Could pass for a much more expensive bike
Lightweight
Great gears, I hit 38.5mph on a downhill with some gear remaining, and managed 32.4mph on level ground with a tailwind (measured using handlebar mounted GPS receiver). I can cruise overall in the 16-20mph range for the first hour.
Seat post clamps down nicely and is plenty long enough
The Bad Things:
Seat angle does not appear to be adjustable and since I am male I will have to purchase an adjustable seat due to the high front angle
No top pull brake levers, have to move hands into the drops in order to operate brakes
Brakes are marginally effective, I've had cheaper toy bikes with better brakes. Am going to try different pads.
To reach higher gears, the left gripshift turns toward you, but the right gripshift turns away from you.
Considering the frame size would fit an average 6' tall person, they should have made the handlebar stem an inch or two longer for proper ride height adjustment.
Due to the handlebar mounted twist grip shifters, there are very limited mounting positions available for accessories. I had to fabricate custom mounts for both my gps receiver and my headlight.
The pedals are too narrow. I will have to purchase wider pedals. Considering the frame size of the bike, it would be reasonable to provide slightly wider pedals.
Parts Availability:
I bought this bike with the thinking that for the price if it wore out in a year I could buy 5 more for the price of a single entry level road bike at our local bike shops.
That thinking got tested sooner rather than later. Against my better judgement, I allowed a relative to ride the bike just a few days after I purchased it. He proceeded to ride into a longways crack in a sidewalk which abrubtly closed up locking the front tire and causing him to rotate over the front of the bike. He is fine (scraped up), but the bike did not fare as well.
The front rim sustained deep grooves and the entire braking area of the rim was scraped up from the side of the concrete. The tire was ripped and the tube was punctured, both in several places. The grip shift mechanisms were gouged by the concrete. The rear derailer was bent, knocked sideways, and the spring was knocked off.
Of course, none of this is the fault of the bike. Actually I was able to reattach the spring and fix the derailer, so all I really needed was a new front tire (rim, tire, tube, liner). Easier said than done!
None of my 3 local bike shops stock 28 x 700c tires.
But the bigger concern was with the manufacturer, Kent. All the phone numbers on the bike and in the manual refer you to them. I have still been unable to obtain parts from them, almost a month later. They are nice but just keep saying they are "waiting for parts".
In the meanwhile, I ordered another same model bike from Amazon and have already received it and have been using it.
Interestingly, the latest bike has much beefier tires (still the same size). The older model (by a couple of weeks) had very smooth tires with no real tread depth. The new bike's tires have more meat around the shoulder area and look like they will hold up a lot better. The newer tires seem to be of significantly higher quality.
I plan to keep the other bike for spare parts and will continue calling Kent so that hopefully someday I can get a new front tire.
Final Thoughts:
Overall I am very pleased with the bike. You just can't beat the price. I could buy 5 of these bikes including shipping for the price of the cheapest bike from my local bike shop. Obtaining OEM parts may be hard to do. The bike is lightweight, has very good gearing, and can be very fast. It goes better than it stops. Replacing several key components will improve the bike significantly. It is not perfect, but when you factor in the price, it is a great deal.
It is sold at the price of what bikes in a toy store sell for. Just keep that in mind and realize you aren't buying a professional model bike, and it should meet or exceed your expectations.

The Denali is typical of mass produced, imported, department store bicycles. It will need some tinkering and adjustments, the extent of which will depend upon your experience, tools and desires. Most riders opting for this road bike will want to do things like true the wheels and adjust the brakes and derailleurs. They are close out of the box but need tweaking. Aesthetically, it is pretty with its anodized blue look, accented with black and silver stickers. The wheel stickers make the bike look expensive, but the metal name plates on the frame are a bit tacky and look like they're about to fall off (although you probably couldn't pry them off if you wanted to). Newer models don't have the name plates.
Problem areas on my Denali were the brake lever hoods (which began splitting after a few day's use), less than desired stopping power, and a bottom bracket lock ring that needed tightening. Installing upgraded levers with better hoods eliminated the splitting, and better brake pads improved the braking, although better calipers would help even more.
The ride is smooth, light and nimble, and the Revo grip shifters are excellent but take up a bit of top bar space. The seat is comfortable for a road bike, and the Denali pedals easily, making long rides a breeze. The kickstand is a welcomed addition (and removable for those who balk at kickstands).
If drop bars turn you off, a viable option would be to replace the stem and split road bar (needed to accommodate the grip shifters) and replace them with a 22.2mm mountain bike stem, flat handlebar and mountain bike brake levers, keeping the Revo shifters. This would involve installing new cables and grips and may be beyond the budget/capabilities of most riders, but what a wonderful, inexpensive hybrid you'd create!
If you're looking for a bicycle that's dialed in for you with personalized dealer support, go to a bicycle shop and be prepared to pay quite a bit more. If you want a true bargain, have some tools/experience and are willing to tinker, get the Denali. It's a hoot to ride!

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