MBC Shogun or Shogun Metro SE

DRS said:

I'm about to buy a hybrid and I've set myself a limit of $500 for the bike proper. MBC Prahran have
two Shoguns that fit the bill, the MBC Shogun 27 speed and the Shogun Metro SE (both at
bikes.com.auenter.htmlOpen ↗). The differences seem to
my uneducated eye to be fairly minimal:

1. 27 speed v 24 speed. I really don't give a rat's [censored] about the extra
12.5% gears but the guy in the shop said they were more "professional".

Go the 24 speed. 27 doesn't make much difference for general use. It can be fussier when adjusting
the derailer though.

Quoted message said:

2. The 27 speed has suspension front forks. Are they actually useful around town or are they just
another thing to go wrong?

For that price, suspensions forks are not really worth it. Spend the money on a good frame instead.
---
DFM

Deep Freud Moors <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACUALLYiREALLY!l.nu > wrote in message
[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS said:

I'm about to buy a hybrid and I've set myself a limit of $500 for the bike proper. MBC Prahran
have two Shoguns that fit the bill, the MBC Shogun 27 speed and the Shogun Metro SE (both at

bikes.com.auenter.htmlOpen ↗).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The differences seem to my uneducated eye to be fairly minimal:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. The 27 speed has suspension front forks. Are they actually useful around town or are they
just another thing to go wrong?

For that price, suspensions forks are not really worth it. Spend the money on a good frame
instead.

You've got me utterly confused. I mean, the forks either work or they don't, and given the bike has
been ostensibly discounted by about 40% I don't where any extra money is coming from.

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DRS:

Quoted message said:

1. 27 speed v 24 speed. I really don't give a rat's [censored] about the extra
12.5% gears but the guy in the shop said they were more "professional".

When you get told that kind of blurb, it's usually a good indication NOT to go for it. I don't ever
use all the gear combinations on my 27-speed bikes, so as far as function goes either will be
suitable. I think 8-speed components might be a tad cheaper than 9-speed these days, such as chains
and cassettes so that might be more advantageous.

Quoted message said:

2. The 27 speed has suspension front forks. Are they actually useful around town or are they
just another thing to go wrong?

Cheap forks usually are pretty simple devices, with springs but no (or ineffective) damping. These
usually require minimal maintenance and are pretty hardy. If you like a springy front to take the
edge off road bumps, then go for it but bear in mind that without damping, bob might be more of an
effect on climbs.

Quoted message said:

3. The SE had a weird looking Tioga seat, like it had a big split down the
middle. It supposedly give blokes some necessary relief in the nether regions. Do these saddles
work?

You just have to try it out, or have the shop swap it for another. I hear really good jokes which
pass for "true" anecdotes on this type of saddle, the best one so far being how one guy (a friend of
a friend of a friend, of course) supposedly got his sensitive parts wedged in the hole while riding
and how he needed help to extricate himself from his bike. Jokes, all of them.

Quoted message said:

Any and all advice appreciated.

The most important thing you need to consider is fit; the frame needs to be the right size for you.
Everything else can be adjusted/replaced.

Jose Rizal <_@_._> wrote in message [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS:

Quoted message said:

1. 27 speed v 24 speed. I really don't give a rat's [censored] about the extra
12.5% gears but the guy in the shop said they were more "professional".

When you get told that kind of blurb, it's usually a good indication NOT to go for it. I don't
ever use all the gear combinations on my 27-speed bikes, so as far as function goes either will be
suitable. I think 8-speed components might be a tad cheaper than 9-speed these days, such as
chains and cassettes so that might be more advantageous.

Oh, around town I don't expect to ever use 27 gears. I never used all 21 on the bike I had 10 years
ago and probably would never have used all 10 if I'd had a 10 speed as a kid. But I was wondering
if more "professional" meant something in terms of the quality that would make a difference in the
long run. IOW, are the Deore shifters qualitatively superior to the RapidFire shifters, that sort
of thing. The www.shimano.com.au isn't much help here, I'm afraid. I mean, we're talking an
ostensibly $799 (discounted a whopping 40%) bike v a $459 bike. I don't know enough to know whether
the RRP has been artificially inflated to make the discount look good or whether the parts really
are that much better.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. The 27 speed has suspension front forks. Are they actually useful around town or are they
just another thing to go wrong?

Cheap forks usually are pretty simple devices, with springs but no (or ineffective) damping. These
usually require minimal maintenance and are pretty hardy. If you like a springy front to take the
edge off road bumps, then go for it but bear in mind that without damping, bob might be more of an
effect on climbs.

The Suntour CR880 specs can be seen at
srsuntour-cycling.comtechspecs.xmlOpen ↗. If I read them right
there's no damping. I wonder how much difference altering the preload would have.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3. The SE had a weird looking Tioga seat, like it had a big split down the middle. It
supposedly give blokes some necessary relief in the nether regions. Do these saddles work?

You just have to try it out, or have the shop swap it for another. I hear really good jokes which
pass for "true" anecdotes on this type of saddle, the best one so far being how one guy (a friend
of a friend of a friend, of course) supposedly got his sensitive parts wedged in the hole while
riding and how he needed help to extricate himself from his bike. Jokes, all of them.

It's damned hard to find a decent image (not even the Tioga web site has one).
bicycleshop.com.auprocomfort.jpgOpen ↗ is as good as I've managed to find. You can just
see the split runing from the rear about two-thirds the way forward. What's not so clear is the, for
want of a better term, ventilation shaft running from underneath the front up into the split,
presumably to stop the boys from overheating.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any and all advice appreciated.

The most important thing you need to consider is fit; the frame needs to be the right size for
you. Everything else can be adjusted/replaced.

Is there a way of relating frame size to height? I'm 178cm/5'10". BTW, I think the guy said
something about a Merida frame. Does that make sense for a Shogun bike?

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DRS:

Quoted message said:

But I was wondering if more "professional" meant something in terms of the quality that would make
a difference in the long run. IOW, are the Deore shifters qualitatively superior to the RapidFire
shifters, that sort of thing. The www.shimano.com.au isn't much help here, I'm afraid.

Rapidfire is Shimano-speak for their line of click shifters. Most of their shifter range (Deore,
Alivio etc) are Rapidfire. I'd guess that the Metro shifters are Alivio Rapidfire, the other Deore
Rapidfire.

In terms of the range spectrum, you can have a better idea at shimano-europe.comcyclingOpen ↗
This is a much more informative site than any of Shimano's other sites.

You'll see that for 8-speeds Alivio is the top of the range, while in 9-speeds Deore is the bottom
of the range.

Quoted message said:

I mean, we're talking an ostensibly $799 (discounted a whopping 40%) bike v a $459 bike. I don't
know enough to know whether the RRP has been artificially inflated to make the discount look good
or whether the parts really are that much better.

8-speed drivetrains are usually cheaper than 9-speeds (which isn't necessarily a reflection of
poorer quality). The suspension fork will also have bumped up the original price of the 9-speeder. I
think the 9-speeder is better value, provided the fit is correct.

Quoted message said:

The Suntour CR880 specs can be seen at
srsuntour-cycling.comtechspecs.xmlOpen ↗. If I read them right
there's no damping. I wonder how much difference altering the preload would have.

Not much, probably. I've had cheap RST and RockShox forks with preload adjustments, and these
provided little effect on spring rates.

Quoted message said:

Is there a way of relating frame size to height? I'm 178cm/5'10".

Not if you want to achieve a good fit. Things to consider are your limb and torso measurements.
There are fitting programs available on the web; look at
cyclemetrics.combike fit links.htmOpen ↗

Some charge for either the software or manual interpretation of measurements, but some are free.
I've read some good feedback on the wrenchscience.com fitter for specific bikes.

Quoted message said:

BTW, I think the guy said something about a Merida frame. Does that make sense for a Shogun bike?

He probably mentioned that Shogun frames are made by Merida, or the other way around. Regardless,
Shoguns are generally good value bikes.

DRS said:

Deep Freud Moors <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACUALLYiREALLY!l.nu > wrote in message
[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS said:

I'm about to buy a hybrid and I've set myself a limit of $500 for the bike proper. MBC Prahran
have two Shoguns that fit the bill, the MBC Shogun 27 speed and the Shogun Metro SE (both at

bikes.com.auenter.htmlOpen ↗).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The differences seem to my uneducated eye to be fairly minimal:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. The 27 speed has suspension front forks. Are they actually useful around town or are they
just another thing to go wrong?

For that price, suspensions forks are not really worth it. Spend the money on a good frame
instead.

You've got me utterly confused. I mean, the forks either work or they don't, and given the bike has
been ostensibly discounted by about 40% I don't where any extra money is coming from.

It was more general advice. Suspension forks cost most than regular forks, but are not always good
value. If you are getting shocks at the expense of something else, you may be making a mistake.

As for "forks either work or they don't", perhaps you have not ridden enough bikes with [censored]
forks! I would stick with a decent pair of regular forks instead of opting for shocks.

Keep it as simple as possible!
---
DFM

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Drs
I'm about to buy a hybrid and I've set myself a limit of $500 for the bike proper. MBC Prahran have
two Shoguns that fit the bill, the MBC Shogun 27 speed and the Shogun Metro SE (both at
bikes.com.auenter.htmlOpen ↗). The differences seem to
my uneducated eye to be fairly minimal:

1. 27 speed v 24 speed. I really don't give a rat's [censored] about the extra
2.5% gears but the guy in the shop said they were more "professional".
3. The 27 speed has suspension front forks. Are they actually useful around town or are they just
another thing to go wrong?
4. The SE had a weird looking Tioga seat, like it had a big split down the
middle. It supposedly give blokes some necessary relief in the nether regions. Do these
saddles work?

Any and all advice appreciated.

SPECS:

MBC Shogun 27 speed ($799 discounted to $499):

Frame: Alloy Shogun Frame. Fork: SR Suntour CR880 AL suspension fork. Brakes: Tektro V brakes with
Shimano Deore levers. Drivetrain: Shimano Alivio front & Shimano Deore rear derailleurs; Shimano
Deore shifters, Shimano cranks. Wheels: Alloy rims & Formula Alloy hubs with quick release &
stainless steel spokes. Freewheel: 9 speed cassette. Extras: Alloy suspension seat post; non slip
pedals & Tioga comfort seat.

Shogun Metro SE ($459):

Frame: Light Alloy Frame. Fork: Rigid steel fork Brakes: Tektro V brakes with Shimano levers.
Drivetrain: Shimano Alivio derailleurs; Shimano Rapid Fire shifters, Shimano cranks. Wheels: Alex
X101 Alloy rims & Alloy hubs with quick release & stainless steel spokes. Freewheel: Suntour 8 speed
11- 28T Extras: Alloy suspension seat post; non slip pedals; Velco* comfort seat.

*The one's on the shop floor had Tioga seats.

--

Forget the nuber of gears (27 v's 24) & look at the quality.
I would choose the Deore over Alivio any day.
"Suspension Forks" at that price point do nothing other that reduce road vibration & add weight, but I think that's the point on a hybrid. 😉
A seat is a very personal choice. Only you, or your bum, will know what's good. I've never tried the split or vented style seat but friends who ride on them claim they're comfortable.

I recently bought a Shogun Metro LX...

Anyway, I am really happy with the bike. I especially like the shocks and I think it makes a big difference on the road, especially if you use a comfort bike a little off road or you travel over briges made with with boards or on bik paths that have a few curbs up and down..

Funny enouh tho, is that I swapped the original seat with a Tioga one with the split (like the image someone here linked).

Works well for me, but it is up to you and your bum to make the decision 🙂

I find a good pair of riding shorts with plenty of padding a help with the butt tho.

if it were me, I woul go for the 27 speed bike. Its got better components, and it seems more bang for your buck.

Jose Rizal <_@_._> wrote in message [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

DRS:

[...]

Quoted message said:

their shifter range (Deore, Alivio etc) are Rapidfire. I'd guess that the Metro shifters are
Alivio Rapidfire, the other Deore Rapidfire.

Looks like it.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I mean, we're talking an ostensibly $799 (discounted a whopping 40%) bike v a $459 bike. I don't
know enough to know whether the RRP has been artificially inflated to make the discount look good
or whether the parts really are that much better.

8-speed drivetrains are usually cheaper than 9-speeds (which isn't necessarily a reflection of
poorer quality). The suspension fork will also have bumped up the original price of the 9-speeder.
I think the 9-speeder is better value, provided the fit is correct.

That's the sort of judgement I'm interested in. So, in your view the 9-speeder is worth the extra
$40 (if not an extra $340 :-) ).

[...]

Quoted message said:

the web; look at cyclemetrics.combike fit links.htmOpen ↗

Some charge for either the software or manual interpretation of measurements, but some are free.
I've read some good feedback on the wrenchscience.com fitter for specific bikes.

Now I need a tape measure. :-)

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