Globe Vienna 1 or 2? Worth paying that bit extra?

[missnomers]

Hi there,

I am probably going to buy a Specialized Globe Vienna bike. My first bike since I was a child. I've tried to research the practical differences between the "1" and "2" versions. (The price difference is that "2" is a bit more expensive.) The only comprehensible (to me) practical difference is that the "2" has 8 speeds, while the "1" only has 7. There are other differences, but to my eyes it's just numbers and minute measurements and brand names of different components - and not many differences like that. Basically, I can't see any difference that argues for "2" being a better bike. (I don't really care about having 1 extra speed.)

I'd be really grateful for any opinions.

I will mostly use the bike for commuting, in London, but will certainly use it for cycling on tracks, paths, etc, on day long trips.

Thanks!

Missnomers

[featuretile]

I looked up the Vienna on the Specialized site. Then I looked up Altera vs. Alivio derailleurs on Google. Although both are lower end components, the people on the MTB review rated the Alivio as terrible - clunky shifiting and breaks after a short while. The Altera was rated better. The Altera is on the Vienna 2, so I think the $80 more is probably worth it.

[pinkbikes]

I looked up the Vienna on the Specialized site. Then I looked up Altera vs. Alivio derailleurs on Google. Although both are lower end components, the people on the MTB review rated the Alivio as terrible - clunky shifiting and breaks after a short while. The Altera was rated better. The Altera is on the Vienna 2, so I think the $80 more is probably worth it.

I'm not sure where you were looking but when I looked them up the Globe Vienna 1 had the Altus rear derailleur and the Vienna 2 has the Acera. You don't get an Alivio until you get up to the Vienna 3. And I didn't see any with Altera at all.

Actually I searched for Shimano Altera and can't find any such product, so perhaps you meant the Acera? But it is a lower product than the Alivio?

I think that it is probably unfair to diss the Alivio derailleur based on the response from MTB folks (and I am one) when this is using it on more of an urban fitness style of bike. I readily agree that the Alivio derailleur is probably a lower end component for using in an MTB environment where you are going to clag it up with mud and expect it to still work faultlessly. I would probably not use one in that role.

However, Alivio would be considered to be a good mid-range, even pretty high-end rear derailleur for a hybrid-style bike. I had one on the Merida hybrid I bought years ago, and later sold to a friend. It is still silky smooth and beautiful to use. So I expect that in that environment it is just great and probably justifies its place on the top of the range (other than internal hubbed) Globe Vienna 3.

Both the Altus and Acera are lower level derailleurs than the Alivio. I have experience with both since my husband had one and my daughter the other on their knock around bikes.

The Altus is an entry level derailleur but my daughter's Trek has been running one for about two years now. I rode her bike the other weekend (she wanted to try mine) and it still rides quite well. Bear in mind that she is a little girl who doesn't weigh a whole lot, probably doesn't tax the drivetrain too heavily, and is actually surprisingly mechanically sympathetic.

DH had the Acera (the next one up from the Altus) on his introductory MTB. He is a very big bloke and he rode it hard and it stood up ok for a while. He was not happy with it in the long term for an MTB but found it just fine for riding in a recreational sense on paths etc.

I think that unless you are unusually large, mechanically unsympathetic, or intending to thrash them on a MTB, you will find both these derailleurs solid performers (if a little uninspiring).

My rule of thumb after buying an awful lot of bikes in the last few years, is always to get the best rear derailleur and wheels you can afford because they are the components that probably influence the quality of your riding experience the most (between like-minded bikes). I would almost certainly stump up for the Alivio on the Vienna 3 if I could afford to make the jump. In this case I would pay the extra for the Vienna 2 for the better derailleur and the better wheels.

As for the rest of the specs, it is a bit hard to compare them because there is so little detail that is meaningful. Looks like a lovely bike though - I'd certainly enjoy adding one to my stable!

[missnomers]

Thank you, Featuretile and Pinkbikes.

It's good to realise that what's important, in my case, is Altus vs. Acera (vs. Alivio.) I had not thought to compare them using google. That's a real help. I've just done a bit of my own research.

I still don't know what I'm gonna do, but I understand the difference between the bikes now, yahoo! Thanks very much for taking the time to look up details for me, and for your advice.

(One very reassuring thing is that through all the research I've done, I've found no one with a bad word to say about the Globe Vienna.)

Missnomers