Northrock XC27 Mountain Bike
- Thread starter diyjake
- Start date
- Status
What is your riding style/use/duty cycle look like? What is your experience? How many miles per year?
I'm a bike snob, so take my opinion for what it's worth.
The non starter for me is mechanical disk brakes. When you've had both mechanical and hydraulic, you won't even look at mechanical again. If you are going to ride consistently, you're going to want better quality components. The wheels aren't strong wheels and will go out of tune fairly often, which will have you either purchasing a truing stand and learning how to true your wheels or taking it to a bike shop and having them do it for a fee. The derailleurs are cheap and will need to be tuned more often than a set of good quality derailleurs, so you'll be buying a bike stand and learning how to adjust derailleurs or paying a bike shop to do it.
If this bike is for occasional soft use, then it will be fine.
The non starter for me is mechanical disk brakes. When you've had both mechanical and hydraulic, you won't even look at mechanical again. If you are going to ride consistently, you're going to want better quality components. The wheels aren't strong wheels and will go out of tune fairly often, which will have you either purchasing a truing stand and learning how to true your wheels or taking it to a bike shop and having them do it for a fee. The derailleurs are cheap and will need to be tuned more often than a set of good quality derailleurs, so you'll be buying a bike stand and learning how to adjust derailleurs or paying a bike shop to do it.
If this bike is for occasional soft use, then it will be fine.
I am at the periphery of the bike business (motorized, retail a few very specific components) and it absolutely floors me they can sell a bike so inexpensively. I have zero idea of Costco's margins, but I am guessing they are getting these for $250-275 or so. Of course they aren't in the bike part mark up ridiculous food chain. We on a couple items (like special tools) know this multiple mark-up game all too well.
The others gave good answers and asked the right questions. It's a cheap bike. I wouldn't buy one and use it daily as my mountain trail bike - pretty hard, even on my property and all of Whatcom county, for example. Even good mountain bikes take a thrashing and take looking after ($) - cheap bikes just take more in some ways, but often people don't ride them often, so the trade off is easy.
Is the fork serviceable? I've seen rear derailleurs just snap in two. Brakes just be hella scary. I have no idea what the bottom bracket for example. Even the wheel bearings will be garbage.
Contrast with a serious full suspension MTB. Really under $1000 is a non-starter and go up rapidly from there when you can find one. $4000 is mid range (yeah I know, nuts). I paid $5000. And my 52T cog looks pretty beat (but isn't noticeable when riding), yet nothing else even seems close to needing a tune after some months of fun easy-medium-hard riding. I write this mainly to contrast with what is out there.
So yeah, I'm some kind of bike snob I guess. I didn't used to be. Until I got a good bike. Stuff to think about.
The nice thing? $350? Man just as a thrasher bike. So cheap!
The others gave good answers and asked the right questions. It's a cheap bike. I wouldn't buy one and use it daily as my mountain trail bike - pretty hard, even on my property and all of Whatcom county, for example. Even good mountain bikes take a thrashing and take looking after ($) - cheap bikes just take more in some ways, but often people don't ride them often, so the trade off is easy.
Is the fork serviceable? I've seen rear derailleurs just snap in two. Brakes just be hella scary. I have no idea what the bottom bracket for example. Even the wheel bearings will be garbage.
Contrast with a serious full suspension MTB. Really under $1000 is a non-starter and go up rapidly from there when you can find one. $4000 is mid range (yeah I know, nuts). I paid $5000. And my 52T cog looks pretty beat (but isn't noticeable when riding), yet nothing else even seems close to needing a tune after some months of fun easy-medium-hard riding. I write this mainly to contrast with what is out there.
So yeah, I'm some kind of bike snob I guess. I didn't used to be. Until I got a good bike. Stuff to think about.
The nice thing? $350? Man just as a thrasher bike. So cheap!
Last edited:
Buy 3 for the price if you aren’t terribly hard on bikes. As Pablo mentioned, mountain bike prices are crazy for something halfway decent. If this is something to see if you like biking definitely try this and if it lasts a year without major repairs then you can step up to a better bike. If you ride it twice and it sits in the garage, you didn’t waste much money.
I have bought my last two bikes from here, and been nothing but impressed with the value
http://www.bikesdirect.com/
http://www.bikesdirect.com/
Appreciate the feedback Gents!
I don't ride very often and hardly ever go off roading so I had purchased this bike:
https://costcofan.com/costco-infinity-boss-three-hybrid-bike/
It was the only bike at Costco and priced at $219 but the following week I was at Costco I saw the Northrock XC27 for $349. Since I have not used the Infinity bike yet I thought I might as well update.
On a side note how horribly is the infinity bike?
I don't ride very often and hardly ever go off roading so I had purchased this bike:
https://costcofan.com/costco-infinity-boss-three-hybrid-bike/
It was the only bike at Costco and priced at $219 but the following week I was at Costco I saw the Northrock XC27 for $349. Since I have not used the Infinity bike yet I thought I might as well update.
On a side note how horribly is the infinity bike?
Appreciate the feedback Gents!
I don't ride very often and hardly ever go off roading so I had purchased this bike:
https://costcofan.com/costco-infinity-boss-three-hybrid-bike/
It was the only bike at Costco and priced at $219 but the following week I was at Costco I saw the Northrock XC27 for $349. Since I have not used the Infinity bike yet I thought I might as well update.
On a side note how horribly is the infinity bike?
If you can't notice a difference, and only ride occasionally and sedately, then if you are happy...
Nothing is really wrong with them if you can stay on top of the tuning. Get a spoke key, give each nipple a quarter turn after a couple weeks, learn how to adjust the derailleur and limiter screws, headset will need tightening eventually as will the wheel bearings. Adjusting v-brakes is a bit tricky but its all online and you should be able to get over the bars with 2 fingers if you get it right. The 1by7 is a bit limiting gear wise but you can get new freewheel cassettes for $20 if you want a lower 1st gear, or $10 gets you a bigger front ring. A $1k+ bike will need less tuning but will still need some to be working right.Appreciate the feedback Gents!
I don't ride very often and hardly ever go off roading so I had purchased this bike:
https://costcofan.com/costco-infinity-boss-three-hybrid-bike/
It was the only bike at Costco and priced at $219 but the following week I was at Costco I saw the Northrock XC27 for $349. Since I have not used the Infinity bike yet I thought I might as well update.
On a side note how horribly is the infinity bike?
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
The Infinity bike can be considered a road bike that would be okay on smooth bike paths. The Northrock is a low end mountain bike that would be fine for your intended use and would work on dirt roads and easier trails. It has 27.5" diameter tires and the XC29 has 29" tires. I'm a bike snob as well and I have to remember this Northrock is far more bike than the 1987 Schwinn Sierra that was my first mountain bike and I beat the stuffing out of that bike anywhere and everywhere in the woods for a couple of years before I moved up.
I'll agree with wwillson that hydros are better than mechanical disc brakes but again for your use the mech brakes are fine for your neighborhood use and better than rim brakes. I have no experience on current low end mechanical discs but I have a set of Avid mechanical discs from around 2002 on a bike that I still ride and they work fine.
One question I'd ask is how tall are you and does this bike fit you? Price means nothing if the bike is too big or too small and this looks like a one size fits all bike.
I'll agree with wwillson that hydros are better than mechanical disc brakes but again for your use the mech brakes are fine for your neighborhood use and better than rim brakes. I have no experience on current low end mechanical discs but I have a set of Avid mechanical discs from around 2002 on a bike that I still ride and they work fine.
One question I'd ask is how tall are you and does this bike fit you? Price means nothing if the bike is too big or too small and this looks like a one size fits all bike.
I am 6'. I will make sure it is comfortable before I make a purchase.
Like AZJeff said, fit is most important. I’m betting that bike is a medium the way the top tube and down tube are welded together at the head tube. You most likely need a large.
‘I’m a big time bike snob as well but I understand you only want to ride with your kid and not hammer down a mountain. Bike’s probably fine for that. If it doesn't fit, have a look at bikes direct.
‘I’m a big time bike snob as well but I understand you only want to ride with your kid and not hammer down a mountain. Bike’s probably fine for that. If it doesn't fit, have a look at bikes direct.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Here's the company website: Northrock and it says the bike fits most riders from 5'7" to 6'1" which puts it right on the edge of being too small for you. In the bike shop world you'd likely take a large frame and this would be called a medium. Will it work? Sure. Kinda like driving a car with the seat pushed up right to where it's uncomfortable but still drivable. Can you do better for about the same money? Yes.
Oops. just confirming what NYE said.
Oops. just confirming what NYE said.
What would you guys recommend in this price range?
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
I honestly don't spend time looking at lower end bike brands. I think we're all assuming you want to ride around the block with your small child because that's what it said in the link you provided about the bike but those weren't your words. You didn't say if you're going to stay on pavement and bike paths or if you want to go on trails but since you already bought the hybrid bike you must not be thinking about rough trail riding. For smooth riding you don't need a suspension fork and that means you can get a better bike for the same money. I'd look at brands that offer at least S,M,L frame sizes. You never did say what your budget is? The Infinity bike you have might be fine, what makes you think you want to return it for the Northrock?
What kind of riding are you going to do? For rail trail type stuff I think the only real issue with the northrock is the size and the the freewheel cassette which makes the rear axle weak for harder trail riding if you get into that. If you know a bit about bikes I'd get a used "out of date" large or XL XC bike. $300 should get you something that was a ~$1k bike 15 years ago. Look for atleast an 8spd rear cog set and a threadless headset. I would avoid discs of any kind for simplicity. There's probably a used bike and repair shop in your area which make have a few older quality bike in your size and price range.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
The used bike market is like the truck market right now. $50 bikes are $200, $200 bikes are $500.
Pretty risky for a guy who doesn't know bikes spending $200-400 on something used.
Pretty risky for a guy who doesn't know bikes spending $200-400 on something used.
- Status
