I’m guessing most of us on here are bike snobs or one type or another. Some would never ride a ‘plastic bike’. Others won’t touch a bike from a big manufacturer, only buying frames from purportedly ‘rider owned’ brands who make their frames out of recycled scaffolding poles.

It’s not necessarily a rational choice – and for the sake of this thread, that’s OK.

I’ll start. I tend to like brands that don’t try to be all things to all riders (so I like Transition, Yeti, Rocky Mountain) or that I don’t see many of on the trails.

For the latter reason, I would never buy a full suspension Santa Cruz. Ever.

I know that they are, by most standards, really good bikes. And weirdly, I do quite fancy a Chameleon or a Stigmata. But I see so many 5010s, Bronsons and Tallboys that it turns me off.

I don’t see myself buying a Specialized of any kind.

So which bike brands are you irrationally biased against? And why?

Evil.

Giant. Just cos.

I don’t think I’ve got an irrational dislike of any brand – Yeti don’t work for me (I’ve had 5 of them and not liked any), similar with Kona (which I’ve also owned).

Actually – thinking about it, Evil don’t appeal – mainly due to their customer service and cracking frames. I’m sure they’ve improved but I just wouldn’t take the risk for that amount of money.

I’ll start. I tend to like brands that don’t try to be all things to all riders (so I like Transition, Yeti, Rocky Mountain) or that I don’t see many of on the trails.

For the latter reason, I would never buy a full suspension Santa Cruz. Ever.

You’ll need to elaborate on this bit for me.

But I see so many 5010s, Bronsons and Tallboys that it turns me off.

Aye, they are the most popular brand round here by miles, which made me want to try one, see if they really are that good….

Irrationally? None, I don’t think. I’m wary of some because of reputations for poor customer service / warranty wriggling or apparently high failure rates but beyond that, anything’s up for grabs IMO (including those whose reputations I’m unaware of, of course)

I’ve never had a genuinely small manufacturer’s bike (Airborne cx frame is as close as I’ve come) but that’s more to do with how much time I have to devote to travelling about for test rides etc and finding dealers than an actual aversion to them

Trek – it’d be like buying a brown kia. The day I buy a trek is the day I’ve officially given up.

I wouldn’t buy a Specialized for myself, but I would buy one. In fact I have. My son’s bike. He loves Spesh Enduros, so maybe one of those for Christmas…

Never liked any Giant MTB I’ve ridden, but their road bikes are ok.

I’d never buy an Apollo.

Giant, Trek, Specialized or anybody else who makes plastic frames.

Specialized, Canondale and Giant for me. No idea why, a completely irrational dislike of their frames to the point they don’t even register when I’m looking at bikes. Stupid, I know.

O R A N G E
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Pinarello.
Colnago.

Apart from that, if it’s the right bike I don’t think I’d worry about the brand. I’ve never really liked Trek but I’d not say no to a Madone or a Top Fuel. I’ve bought Specialized, Giant, Planet X, On-One, Kona, Focus, Orbea, Neil Pryde(!), De Rosa, Marin, Scott, Guerciotti. Nearly bought a Canyon, Cannondale.

Cannondale.

It goes back years to when I worked in a shop that sold them. We had more problems with Cannondale than with all our other brands put together. Stupid proprietary parts (3-bolt disc hubs, CODA finishing kit in particular their lethally rubbish brakes, Lefty forks, Headshox forks, weird size headsets), expensive compared to a comparable Specialized, Trek etc that we also sold and invariably several broken frames awaiting warranty service which, because they had to come from Cannondale Europe, took WEEKS.

Specialized and Trek could turn a warranty round in less than a week. Cannondale you were lucky if it was sorted in 2 months.

GT, just don’t like that funny triangle thing they do near the seat post 🙁

Specialized, Trek and Giant.
They just seem to lack rider engagement.
No doubt great bikes, but very clinical and run as large faceless companies (who sue at any hint of infringement). Cycling is after all big kids messing about in the mud, so I want to ride a brand that I think encapsulates this.
If I was ever fortunate enough to own a supercar, I wouldn’t go for Buggati, Porsche or McLaren, but rather Lamborghini, Ferrari or Zonda. It’s the fun, theater and emotions the brand and product conveys.

Brompton.

Cos I hate folding bikes, and that’s all they make…

but rather Lamborghini (VAG), Ferrari (Fiat)

Sure?

Dave Hinde 😯

@Nobeerinthefridge

You’ll need to elaborate on this bit for me.

Based on my totally subjective, non-rigourous, impression of these bike brands, they don’t try and appeal to a wide range of riders. Transition, for example; they’re squarely in the ‘let’s have fun on the mountain’ camp. Their bikes aren’t aimed at racers (except for the TR11 of course – there, I told you it wan’t rational) or adventure riders. Similarly, Yeti have actually contracted their range of bikes over the last few years and seem to have pretty much turned their back on XC racing (which was traditionally their ‘thing’) in favour of trial and endure bikes. Rocky Mountain ‘feel’ similar, though they make XC race bikes, trail bikes and even a bloody e-bike (again, my impressions are not logical).

I agree with Wallop, too. No Giant for me. I try to like them; they’re good(ish) value supposedly ride well… but they just don’t float my proverbial.

As mentioned above, Irrationally? None! Definitely wouldn’t buy. Trek or Specialized, would be extremely unlikely I’d ever look at other big brands like canyon or Comencal. Had Several Yeti, great bikes but their reputation for cracking and total lack of warranty support puts me off now!

@ton

Oh God, yes. They bore the shit out of me.

Commencal – I bought 2 of the things and when I had a problem they were arseholes to deal with and tried their best to wriggle out of it and blame me.

Don’t have any irrational ones, if a bike rides well and company aren’t dicks I’ll buy their product.

On one or Planet X . Never ever ever again. Shoddy products poorly designed and made and woeful customer service. Always amazed when people defend them.

Cove – don’t like the porn names they have given their bikes, no need for it.

Evil for a similar reasons.

Trek – always thought whey were very boring bikes all the way back to the late 80’s. I suppose they are decent bikes but I struggle to see why you’d buy one over another brand.

Cove – don’t like the porn names they have given their bikes, no need for it.

yeah I never liked that either. stupid I think.

On One/Planet X.
Don’t like gambling.

I also have a perfectly rational dislike of mass produced overpriced Taiwanese built stuff bought by snobs.

Apart from that, not fussed.
I’d happily buy an Aldi or Tesco branded bike if it was what suited me best.

Cube, Merida and Giant here. And Ellsworth.

Specialized – tried a couple, didn’t like them.
Orange – single pivot doesn’t do it for me.
Evil – on looks and the horror stories.

Wot? No-one hating on Ellsworth yet?

As for me Planet X as my dealings with their customer service was a shocking experience.

Wasn’t there a thread on MTBR (or here even) with an angry ’boutique’ bike company owner who really showed how much he lacked customer experience too – or did I dream that?

Troy Lee and Loose Riders apparel, yes not a bike brand but related, its so de rigueur around here it just puts me off, its like some kind of uniform people seem to think they have to wear when they buy a bike.
*they both seem like good gear and my friends really rate them so irrational on my part.

Orange bikes, yeh, we get it, you like to ride a single pivot bike made of cast iron that looks like it was build in a 1050’s welding college.

Carrera.

Cube, Merida and Giant here. And Ellsworth.

Dammit a minute too late!

Commencal – I bought 2 of the things and when I had a problem they were arseholes to deal with and tried their best to wriggle out of it and blame me.

Oh, yes, them too. Dealing with Greg The Liar was a joy.

Santa Cruz. They just seem to be very poor value for your money.

…….and this*

Troy Lee and Loose Riders apparel, its so de rigueur around here it just puts me off, its like some kind of uniform people seem to think they have to wear when they buy a bike.
*they both seem like good gear and my friends really rate them so irrational on my part.

*I like the Trail helmets though, mostly because they fit me well.

Trek – not because I disliek the bikes themselves, quite the opposite, but I can think of six or seven that have broken amongst my friends (though warranties were all dealt with very wel to be fair)

Yeti – because of how I’ve seen them fail dangerously, and the subsequent denial of warranty

Evil, enough said

Giant. Just cos.

Hmm. Personally, I really rate Giant bikes – the brand doesn’t carry much kudos, but the bikes themselves are well designed and generally decent value for money.

I’ll start. I tend to like brands that don’t try to be all things to all riders (so I like Transition, Yeti, Rocky Mountain) or that I don’t see many of on the trails.
For the latter reason, I would never buy a full suspension Santa Cruz. Ever.

Hmm, a Tallboy is about as targeted a bike as you’ll find – pure XC – so not quite sure I get this. I can think of other reasons not to buy them (the price being one!) but accusing them of producing versatile bikes? Not sure I get this…

I get why people reject Specialized as a big brand but they hardly ever build a bad bike

superstar

Spesh or Trek

No good reason; they make excellent bikes. And I own a Giant and would have another

The only faulty frames I’ve had have been from smaller boutique brands.
Never, ever had a QC issue with Trek or Spesh.

All of mine are Customer services and/or warranty issues

Kinesis; because they only give a 3 year warranty on a (now) £1700 frame which says to me they dont have confidence in their product.
Yeti, Commencal and Cannondale – too many broken frames.

And of course On One/Planet X because their products are branded and marketed by a 12 year old. Bish bash bosh, nope. Full monty, nope. Pickenflick, Nope. Plus the paint jobs make them look like a turd rolled in glitter. I really want to like them, as QC issues aside they are well ish designed products at a fantastic price but I just cant…. I bought one of the bargain Stelvio frame and forks to bimble about on it, but the faux retro paint job is just too much of an eyesore. Sorry chaps 🙁

I actually really like Trek for their innovation eg 69er, Stache, Farley 27.5 fat, and when they stop using pf bbs will happily buy one of their bikes

Any expensive brand. Bikes are so good now that shelling out for some boutique mediocrity seems perversely anti-cycling.

Expensive bikes are fine, if you can afford a 5 grand specialized or whatever then good for you – that bike is awesome. Dropping similar on an evil or orange, though, is like setting money on fire. A vulgar practice to be avoided at all costs.