Roadmaster Granite Peak

29 reasons not to buy

• One expert received his Granite Peak with open holes in the welds on the seat-tube and chain-stays, where the frame was separating. The bike was considered unsafe and was returned.

• The head-badge was often crooked and off-center.

• Cranks were thin. They sometimes sheared off or rounded the axle, pointing in the same direction.

• No-name parts were rife, including the Tde derailleur and ‘Ground Assault’ suspension fork.

• An expert received his bike with packaging ripped open and pedals loose in the box.

• This same expert received a bike with a decent gouge in the downtube.

• Other damage included a seat-tube flattened on one side and a headset locknut that was folded in, making insertion of the seatpost and stem impossible without repair.

• Brake cables often arrived heavily frayed.

• For one expert, the suspension fork leaked oil after 24 hours use.

• Copious numbers of buyers described a brutal comfort level on a rock-hard saddle.

• Gears slipped and were clunky, from the shifter - through to the front and rear derailleur.

• It’s a hefty beast at 37 lbs, making it inadvisable and almost impossible to bunny hop, like a Granite Peak.

• The shock bottoms out easily and frequently, even off curbs. One expert said that suspension felt non-existent.

• The front wheel was badly buckled from one expert’s test-ride on a moderate trail.

• Handlebars came loose frequently and repeatedly, even after professional fitting.

• Brake assemblies literally fell apart on the road, for more than one cyclist.

• Components were generally considered poor quality.

• Instructions are described as ambiguous and incomplete.

• Numerous riders felt that the Granite Peak was not suitable for daily or commuter use.

• Near misses occurred due to component failure, for a portion of owners.

• Wheels were weak, with rear hubs and spokes sometimes breaking.

• Customer service was deemed terrible and returns seemed impossible to some.

• The chain occasionally snapped, for one cyclist it did so on the second ride.

• Riders’ feet occasionally hit the turning front wheel. This ‘toeverlap’ may have been due to owners having the wheel facing the wrong direction, as brake levers were often factory-installed back-to-front.

• Two reviewers reported injuries, with one occurring after a pedal snapped off, the other apparently resulting in broken limbs due to brake failure.

• Many buyers found it difficult to assemble, with brake adjustment being troublesome.

• Untrue wheels were common.

• There are no water bottle mounts on the Granite Peak. Perhaps it isn’t intended for long-distance rides.

• In one instance, local bike-shop staff half-assembled an owner’s Granite Peak before calling the owner and declaring it unsafe to ride.