Dawes Galaxy New or 2nd hand

[Iainj837]

I am thinking of getting a Galaxy but unsure which way to go New or 2nd hand.
I was talking to someone and he said the newer Galaxy's aren't as good as the older models.
What's everyone's thoughts

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Mr TF has a second hand one and it's lovely and one of the only bikes he's ever managed to find that is the right dimensions for his freakish giant physique.

However, having never tried a new one, it would be difficult to say, although where he paid £200 in total for the bike and the work that needed doing to get him going, the same bike new would have been £1000+.

His only has 10 gears though

 

[biggs682]

older ones built to tour the world on , newer ones unsure as never owned one .

what size are you looking at ?

 

[Iainj837]

I am about 5'10 5'11 so inside leg 32

 

[fossala]

Why are you looking only at a galaxy? I was looking for a touring type bike and I found them very expensive for what you get. I ended up with a Kona honky inc for 1000gbp from my LBS but you can get them from here for 925 http://www.evanscycles.com/products...oogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle
If you look at the specs it just wins out hands down and with disc brakes can take loaded braking much better than calliper systems.

 

[vernon]

If you look at the specs it just wins out hands down and with disc brakes can take loaded braking much better than calliper systems.

No it doesn't.

It's not got low gearing. It has carbon forks which won't take pannier racks for those who want to tour with four panniers. It has no rack or mudguards.

 

[Banjo]

I bought a Jamis Aurora from Evans as an alternative to a Galaxy. Reynolds 520 tubing rack and mudguards as standard braze ons for front panniers Good range of gears. They are around £600 .

I have done about 300 miles only with light panniers but bike is very comfy and surprisingly quick.

 

[Cringles]

So because no one owns the new Galaxy's there assumed to be worse than the older ones? You'd assumed they would be much improved if not similar if the older models are regarded so well. Was thinking of a Dawes Galaxy or a Kona for me touring bike.

 

[Iainj837]

I bought a Jamis Aurora from Evans as an alternative to a Galaxy. Reynolds 520 tubing rack and mudguards as standard braze ons for front panniers Good range of gears. They are around £600 .

I have done about 300 miles only with light panniers but bike is very comfy and surprisingly quick.

Looks like a great bike, but nearest dealer is reading and I'd be looking for cycle to work scheme
as for the Kona nice bike but as vernon says no racks or mudgaurds

 

[sittingbull]

A friend of mine has a number of bikes yet the Dawes Galaxy is the bike I see him riding most. It may be a little heavier (about the same weight as my MTB) than some of his other bikes but it's the most comfortable bike he's got

older ones built to tour the world on....

...they were made to last, good clean examples can fetch decent prices.

 

[Crankarm]

You'd have to ride a 2nd hand Galaxy and then a new one and compare. Why not post your findings here?

Depending on what type of touring you anticipate doing, if short/light touring, then a lighter touring bike would perhaps be more suitable. However if embarking on an extended tour or world tour then perhaps a more rugged bike with disc brakes, hub gear, full mudguards and bosses for 3 water bottles and front and rear pannier racks something like a Roberts Roughstuff, Thorn Nomad, Condor Heritage, Dawes Sardar, Santos, Kioga Miyata, Surly LHT, Surly Troll, or Salsa Fargo2.

 

[mcshroom]

From what i have heard of the new Galaxy it's still a very good bike. Cycling Active compared the Galaxy and three other tourers back in 2010: -

http://www.cyclingactive.com/bikesgear/bike-reviews-bikes/group-test-4-top-tourers-verdict

To declare an interest, I owned a Dawes Vantage until it was broken on a bike trailer, and now have a dawes Horizon which is the step below the Galaxy. The only thing I would prefer on the horizon to it's current set up would be to have better brakes than the oryx cantis that come with it, though even they can handle a fully loaded tourer and heavy rider on 20+% gradients.

 

[fossala]

Looks like a great bike, but nearest dealer is reading and I'd be looking for cycle to work scheme
as for the Kona nice bike but as vernon says no racks or mudgaurds

Wrong, I have guards on mine and have fitted a rack but took it off as I don't need it at the moment.

 

[Banjo]

Looks like a great bike, but nearest dealer is reading and I'd be looking for cycle to work scheme
as for the Kona nice bike but as vernon says no racks or mudgaurds

I bought my Jamis in Evans Cardiff. Im fairly sure theres an Evans Cycles in Bristol as well.

 

[mmmmartin]

keep an eye on ebay, my 15 year old galaxy is going on there in a few weeks. an old one will be the same as a new one, if you get a good example. the brakes, etc, are basically the same. the newer ones can come with STi gear changers (built into the brake levers) but IMO they are a waste of money because they are less reliable than bar-end shifters. the frame will be essentially the same.