Kent Thruster 700c

22 reasons not to buy

• It was very common for both wheels to arrive wobbly and untrue.

• Brake pads were highly criticized for being plasticky and ineffective.

• Braking surfaces were painted, limiting braking ability.

• Cheap plastic parts made brakes difficult to assemble and tune.

• At 30lbs, Thrusters are about 10lbs heavier than the average fixed gear bike.

• The Thruster often came with no flip-flop hub, meaning that it is not a fixie.

• A bottom bracket stripped out as it appeared to be installed over wet paint.

• Plastic-coated crank-arms sometimes came loose or bent after a few days use.

• After hitting a pothole, fork dropout welds broke, causing an accident.

• A fixed-gear cog slipped when a rider was skid-stopping, causing leg injuries.

• Plastic pedals bent and broke easily.

• It was available in one size only, suiting riders from 5’8” to 6’, at best.

• Bearings on new bikes often needed to be packed with grease.

• The 40/18 gear ratio suited hills but easily spun out on flats.

• Assembly was not easy. It took an expert 8 hours to make the Thruster safe.

• Fragile tires only inflated to 50psi and were not suited to commuting.

• At least two Thrusters arrived without a seat clamp.

• Owners decried the discomfort of the stock saddle.

• The bike does not have bottle bosses, even though they’re shown on sale sites.

• ‘Toeverlap’ was present, as is natural for short-wheelbase fixie and track bikes.

• One expert reviewer found their bike was only wrapped in thin paper.

• One buyer received a “psychotic circus nightmare” color scheme with mismatched tires, wheels, handlebars and fork in orange, red and yellow.