Dawes - are they really that bad?

[Cathryn]

We have a dawes supergalaxy which my husband rides and he had no real issues on our tour this summer apart from silly little things like the handlebar stoppers (the plastic bits at the end) coming off.

 

[sadjack]

Strange that Cathryn. I remember when I bought my Galaxy you posted to say your hubby had the same.

And the only thing I have had go wrong are the bar ends coming out and getting lost!

I really like my Galaxy but they do seem to suffer from a brand image problem with the name Dawes.

 

[Cathryn]

What's going on with the bar ends then? How weird!

 

[Crackle]

What's going on with the bar ends then? How weird!

Same on my Audax. They're the only things I've replaced

 

[Fab Foodie]

Strange that Cathryn. I remember when I bought my Galaxy you posted to say your hubby had the same.

And the only thing I have had go wrong are the bar ends coming out and getting lost!

I really like my Galaxy but they do seem to suffer from a brand image problem with the name Dawes.

Don't get me wrong, The Galaxy IS a good bike, in days gone-by they were the tourer against which all others were judged. As an off-the shelf tourer, commuter distance bike they're still good, but these days you can get semi-bespoke tourers from the likes of Thorn and Hewitts, spend a few dollars more then you're nearly into Roberts, Mercian territory et al where the level of service and choice of componentry is IMO better thought through compared to buying a stock Galaxy in your local LBS.

I hope Dawes and the Galaxy roll-on into the next millenia, but Dawes needs somebody who can sort it's higher-end product range out. I think at the cheaper end of the market they're doing OK. Maybe they need a range of classic steel road orientated bikes, and more options on the Galaxies something different from all the Alu stuff out there.

 

[just jim]

I hope Dawes and the Galaxy roll-on into the next millenia, but Dawes needs somebody who can sort it's higher-end product range out. I think at the cheaper end of the market they're doing OK. Maybe they need a range of classic steel road orientated bikes, and more options on the Galaxies something different from all the Alu stuff out there.

Perhaps something like the Koga Signature series; build the Galaxy online, choose a colour, add the personal touch!

 

[simoncc]

I think Dawes could be suffering because their standard tourers are not that popular any more. Touring bikes are deeply unfashionable and the few people who do buy them tend to be older and affluent. These people are easily tempted by bespoke bikes such as the Hewitt or oddities like Thorns. They don't want a bog standard tourer, which is a shame because they are good bikes at a good price.

It'll be sad to see the Dawes tourers go, just as it was sad to see the excellent Raleigh tourers go ten years or so ago. Anyone wanting a touring bike then will have to buy from a specialist supplier, and in my opinion those bikes are overpriced for what you get.

 

[mickle]

They have some serious issues do Dawes.

The 07 Mojave frame was suspension ready but came fitted with a standard length fork resulting in a too low BB and poor handling as the steering geometry was all out of wack.
Piss poor mudguards whose pathetic plastic retaining clips would detach at the slightest provocation.

The Ladies Red Feather 17" was made in a different factory from the 19", although superficially the same bike every component was different but the bizzare thing was a two inch difference in BB height. Why two different factories? F knows but it can only make quality assurance more difficult to manage. The difference in BB height comes down to poor communication with the factory.

The replacement for the Red Feather came with a front basket which was completely incompatible with an ergonomically acceptable handlebar and brake lever set-up.

A few months ago I wandered in to a shop an old friend of mine mechanics in, noticed a Dawes leaning up and asked if he had experienced any issues with them. Cue a long rant about their quality control.

 

[MarkF]

Despite all this, I have had zero problems/failures with three Discoveries so am sticking with the buggers, just bought my first tourer,a 2001 Dawes Horizon.

 

[John Ponting]

mark, purely out of interest, and because I read it earlier, why are you on your 3rd Discovery ? Over what period ? Over how many miles ? I still have a handbuilt frame and wheels that I bought in 1985. Don't use it very often but it is still hanging up with air in the tyres ready to ride at a moment.

 

[MarkF]

Hi John, I started out when over 40 on a well used second hand 201, got the bug & treated myself to a new one, that was stolen. I bought a 501 with the insurance money and am very happy with it, I will keep it for many years. I do mainly rough canal towpath riding but regularly do 50 road miles trips to Skipton and it handles both terrains fine for me.

I am a plodder and I'd like to keep the 501 mint, hence the Horizon for the winter riding when the canal is just too muddy to use the 501.

 

[John Ponting]

Thanks mark.

Bit like me although I was a returnee who can give you 20 years start

Bought a Scott sub30, stolen from locked shed within first week, replaced by a Scott sub20. Has given excellent service on and off road, canals, Sustrans etc. Bought a modern TREK road bike for summer fun. Sold an 80's track bike but kept an 80's road bike.

 

[hackbike 6]

Within the first 67 miles on my Dawes Audax2006 my back wheel spokes all came loose,very strange.Didn't get a refund from the shop although I didn't ask...apart from that the bike has been very reliable.

 

[Tony]

My Dawes is one of the first Galaxies with bar-end shifters. Apart from the racks, frame, brakes and levers, the rest of the bike is totally changed. I have ridden it many, many thousands of miles, with no problems that haven't come from wear and tear. It is one of my best-ever purchases.

 

[LondonCommuter]

Tony, Good to hear something positive about Dawes as the proud owner of a 4 month old galaxy. So how old is it and how much use do you reckon its seen?