My "Priority 600" Bicycle Review (after 1 Year)
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2023
- The Priority 600 is an All Road & All Conditions Bicycle.
It's Robust and Reliable.
these bicyles come with an alternative gearing system that is more like a Transmission (called a "Gates" Drive system). the Bicycle Does not Use a Traditional Bicycle Chain; instead it uses a Drive belt that is very similar to Serpentine Belts used in Automotive Engines.
The bicycle is easy to Keep Maintained. Much less Maintenance that would be expected from a Standard Bicycle with Chain, Rear Cassette (gears), Front Cassette, Rear Derailer & Front Derailer; All These components need Frequent maintenance to keep optimally operational. this is not the case with the Priority 600 Bicycle.
Thank you for the great review, we need more of those!
I appreciate the true review
I've had mine for a little over a year and still love it. I did need to get a new rear tire because I kept getting flats, but with the new tire things are great. I also broke a lot of rear spokes, but losing some weight (~50 lbs) seems to have helped with that. They told me not to load more than 270 pounds and I was pushing that with just me. I only wash with water and find that I need a little spritz of water to keep the gear from making what I call the unzip sound. I am getting some more creaking sounds but I'm not sure if that means I need to wash it better or if maybe it's time for an oil change (haven't done that yet - I think I'm up to something like 3000 miles). Thanks for the update!
Yes, earlier oil changes are the typical recommendations when the gears are under a heavier load/ friction. The zipping noise sounds like you need to adjust the belt tension. Definitely clean those components with soapy water before making any adjustments.
Thanks for a very informative review. This bikes on my short list, also considering a gravel bike and a quality e-bike . One thing that makes me nervous is buying online but the reviews on Priority customer service are generally very good. Still , I’m used to having a LBS tune and take care of any issues. I’m in my early 60’s and just rediscovered my love of biking, in decades past I did a lot of riding and now I’ve got a granddaughter who’s on a bike , motivation for doing rides together and working on mg fitness. I have a Trek FX which I really like but the appeal to me of the 600 is the gearbox and belt drive system. Priority told me I’d have plenty low gears to get up the steepest climbs. The weight of the bike is concerning however. Wish I could test ride one before buying. Thanks again
the way the gear box functions is a bit more complicated than i was able to so simply express in my review. this gear box doesn't come without its caviots. For one, Down Shifting is different than Traditional bike gears. for example, I cross a dried stream bed on a regular basis; i drop into it and come out, when i'm coming out i need to down shift into a lower gear......i cant pedal while doing this. so i lose momentum getting over the obstacle. in summery, Downshifting requres very little force applied to the pedal or to stop pedaling.
On the other hand, Upshifting is different; you can apply force to the pedal while shifting, it helps keep the momentum while building speed, and this bike Feels FAST going down hill at 35mph. Another thing i like about this bike is that i can change gear while stopped. and with the grip type shifter it makes it fast and easy to change gears. additionally, downshifing isn't really an issue when riding on road, the caviot becomes more apparent in the off road obstacle. (where a sudden and immediate change of gear is necessary to get over an obsticle.
I've been learning more about the differences between these bikes and normal bikes, and i think i will prefer a traditional geard bike for off road adventures, i've been wanting to build my own bike from scratch. also, recently Priority has Relasease a new off road model, they worked with the company pinion and develped electronic shifting which is supposed to help with this aspect of Pinion Gear box shifting.
I use to watch a lot of Bicycle channels and this one guy was showing off these very affordable bike frames made in china (one model which is certified by tour de france...or something like that type of certication)
ohh, I made some adjustments to my bike seat, and there was an immediate improvement in comfort. pedaling can be miserable when experincing discomfort. comfort makes all the difference! having a low maintence bike like Priority bikes is part of comfort (i think). i cant decide if i recommend this bike or not.
@MrSteveb1 I have a mobile bike mechanic that works out of a sprinter van, his prices are surprisingly good. (I think it has to do with not paying the cost of real estate)
Thanks for the review. I too have owned a "600" for 6 months and love it. I recommend you upgrade to a Scwalbe tire suitable for your road conditions. I have been Using the Marathon Plus for years bicycle touring (pavement) and very rarely get a flat. I will be getting a foldable "Click Stand" before i start touring to hold the bike up when loaded. Because I was never able to use the gauge app, I bouught a Continental 9001 Krikit tension gauge which measures down to 30 pounds tension to test the belt againt Gates recommendations. If you belong to Costco, Priority bikes is affiliated under Costco Next and other Priority bikes than the "600" and accessories can be purchased online at a discount. I was wondering what is brand/model of your frame bag?
just get a brooks leather saddle. The saddle will fit you perfectly after it breaks in. Weight is clearly not an issue. Super cool bike.
i was thinking about it, and i wouldn't want to break in the leather by sitting in the wrong position, it might effect the shape of the butt bone impression.
Nice review! For future reference, please try to minimize movement while filming, as constant motion can make the video difficult to watch. You might want to consider taking a course on video shooting techniques to enhance your skills.
Thank you! personally, I like making unplanned videos with the emotional energy I have in the moment. I have explored software to help correct excessive camera movement. I think maybe with my next phone I will consider something that has the feature-built in.
Im interested in technology and mechanics so I can appreciate the pinion gearbox. But one of the reasons I hear people say for opting for it is the low maintenance. I have the same bike second hand bike I bought for €500 about 15 years ago and I rarely spend time maintaining it. I’ve done triathlons, commuted, toured etc. and as I say I’ve never once thought I need a lower maintainence bike. Ok, maybe if I was going a a major expedition it might be a consideration but at that price I think it’s OTT for most people.
yes its very expensive which most definaly can deter people from buying it. in my situation, I am permanelty disabled and staying physcially active is a top priority on my list. (no pun intended). I am also mechanically oriented and have long term experience with automotive mechanics. and before i was riding this bike i was on a awesom light weight road bike, it was the BEST bike i had, and i used it VERY OFTEN, i miss it now that i think about it, it was super light and fun on the Gravel trails. but there were certain aspects of the bike that caught my attetion over time, and made me want to look for an alternative to standard bikes. one thing was the Chrank Gears, how big they were, if i was going down a curb or up a curbe on on a dirt road, the gear hangs much lower than the lowest point of the bike frame (especailly when standing up with the pedals in a horizonal position, which is what i would do if i was on a trail) the gear teath would always impact stuff, and the clearance wasn't that great for going over obsticals. the other thing i didn't like was the maintantence, well i didn't like the part were i have to do it perty much all the time (if i want to be riding my bike in optimal function) otherwise little things start cropping up quite frequently, like derailer alignment, Dirty Chain/ stiff chain (which could make all the difference if im trying to get up the hill on my neighborhood to get to the main road). dirty chain had a significant impact on my ride quality. being disabled, i didn't have that much money to be spending on gas all the time, and i would often rely on my bike to get me to the bus stop, so i can go shopping for weekly gorceries. saving money or not spending money on gas was a big deal.
so, overall having a reliable bike was very imporant. so, i asked my bank for a loan and was able to split the $2,400 cost of the bike into more affordable monthly payments. (i thought of it as a vital purchase, like buying a car)
in hindsight, i feel its too heavy for where i live, i live in a culdesac type of neighborhood with only one street that i can take to get to the main street, it is very steep hill and the bike is much heaviers than the road bike i previously had. also, mounting the bike on the bus bike rack takes a notable amount of effort, and i have developed a method of lifting it that makes it somewhat easier to lift, but its still heavy.
my next bike is going to be ultra light weight.
Schwalbe Touring Tires are wonderful.
Sweeeeeet ride. Worth more than my car.
Shanks!
I'm Still making monthly payments....i got 50 more to go.....hahaha
If you follow cyclingabout, who is big on the gates carbon drive, he likes slack tension on the belt. He does a lot of miles, I wouldn't worry about that.
thanks for the info, im interested to hear is perpspective.... also, Sense i've made this video, i have used the phone App to Adjust my belt. The amount of tension recommends is not a specifc number...but it is a range, from 40 to 90. additionaly, while 45 can be considered "slack" compared to 90. too much slack can be out side of the normal range of operation & can be damaging to the system. (maybe not immediatly, but over the long term, where expected life span of the system could be cut short). I tested my belt, it was at 27, i spent some time adjusting it to be within the Recommended Range of operation. i adjusted to to 65. also, the belt makes a lot of squeaking noise that is from dust that builds up on the bike from the dirt roads. i was able to elimnate the squeaking by spraying the belt with "Dry Lubricant" after i wash down the bike (which i regularly do).
i just saw the video were he was talking about it. ruclips.net/video/PhXTl7gApVA/видео.htmlsi=5G2Krs4Z0yjhF4go&t=722
Had any issues with your heel clearance? My heel keeps catching on the kickstand on my new 600 and I'm not sure if my crank is slightly bent from shipping...
I never had an issues with my heels hitting the ki kickstand while cycling. However, I would have to periodically tighten the kickstand as the bolt would get loose over time. I consider that part of regular maintenance. Also, I could have used some threadlocker color blue to keep the bolt from lossening.
Interesting about the gear range. Even though theres 12 gears you have a greater range. Im guessing theres the drive gear, then the gears that switch , so its probably based on the number of teeth that give that range..
Here, I'll just Give you the Link to the Gates C-Line Web page. all the information is there. ENJOY!
Link Cited - pinion.eu/en/c-line/
Swalbe makes punkture resistent touring tiers
Great review, enjoyed it. That right there is my dream bike! I don’t get how you’re constantly getting flats though? Wouldn’t expect that from a bike of that caliber. I’m currently using a 400 euro bike. My 17km daily commute (to work and back)has potholes, bumpy roads, and regular broken glass and I’ve only had one flat in the last few months.
I think it might have been something sharp that got embedded into tire. the last time i changed the tire i had to pull it out with a pliers. i haven't used my bike much in the past couple months., the tire is still holding air.
The whole point of having a belt is to not need lube. Grim / dirt / sand will dust on to the belt and cogs over time. Just hose down and wipe dry the belt.
my belt was squeaking, in the troubleshooting section of the manual it Specifies Dust as a possible cause. I Frequently use Dirt Roads near my house & noticed a fine film of dust on my bike, so i started using Dry lube as the Owners manual says to do for that specific condition. Dry lube helps prevent fine dust from clinging to the belt. I understand there is no need for lubing the belt like a normal chain. it was one of the reasons why i bought this bike, (no maintenance) other than regular bike wash
In your tallest gears, is the gearbox noisier compared to the lower gears?
I don't hear the gear box, it is silent. However, when I am servicing the bike, (I turn the pedals by hand) i can hear the gears & the taller gears are noticeably noisier. But again, it hasnt been something ive noticed while riding......all that being said, I do have an occasional loud clunk, the gear slips and falls onto a lower gear. I believe this is caused by me, when I shift; I don't shift all the way onto the next fully started shift point... so the gear is not fully engaging the next gear and it slips off. also, I think it might be the shifter itself needs to be adjusted to have a more positive feel of the shift point selection. I don't know if It that can even be adjusted. I will have to look at the manual. I assume the new electronic shifter does not have this problem cause by user error. Again, this is all speculation. It might just need some adjustments
It sounds like you need a new rear tire, especially because you're dealing with bits of metal getting picked up, I would buy "City" tire with a hardshell, like shwalbe marathon hardshell.
I had an interest in the next generation model for the tire on the bike. Looks like They made some improvements.
Where did you get the spray for the gates belt ? Brand name ? Cost ?
I use WD-40 Dry Lube from walmart for $4 bucks it believe its silicone based
Next time buy a MIK rack, then you can take the back box off whenever you want... you changed the handle bar, too... I wish the bike dealers would sell bike without the seat and handlebars, Everyone always changes them!!! I don't understand why the frame is worth $1000 besides the mount for the gearbox...
the 2 piston hydrolic brakes by themselves are $300, its the cost of a lot of little things here and there. it adds up fast. the bike frame probably cost priority $300 bucks (wholesale price). also, the Gates Belt Drive System is a seperate Component from the Pinion Gear Box. the Gates Belt System has a price tag of about $300.
Come on! I appreciate your attempt but this was supposed to be a one-year review. I really didn't need to know about your bag or your basket or anything else except for the bike and how it's held up over the past year. For example you say "I really don't like riding uphill on this bike". You know what would have been great to include? WHY! You would think that with the Pinion's 600% gearing ratio that going uphill would be a cinch. I would have loved to know how much total weight do you think you've ever rode around on the bike (you + all cargo). By the way, WD-40 is not a dry lube! Is there some special formula WD-40 makes that's dry? I mean you're on here basically telling people to put WD-40 on the gates belt drive,which to me, seems like one of the worst things you could possibly do. The title of this video should have been "How I've customized my Priority 600 over the past year". Whatever... I'm just a little disappointed. I wish you all the best. Take care, -Eric
okay, personally, its a bit hard to make a good improvised speech and also think about the detailed stuff during the conversation, I thought of several things i should have included after i was done making the video.
WD-40 Does make a Dry lube, I'm pretty sure I mentioned needing to use Dry Lube...I need too double check this, its a catastrophic mistake that will prematurely kill the Belt and Prematurely wear the Sprockets.
It's tiring Going up the hill (but my hills are very steep) I was even having trouble on my 20lb Road bike. I changed the Rear Sprockets and Derailer from 28T to 32T and It made a Significant different. on my gates and Pinion, when going up the hill i am thinking about changing the sprocket.
Bigger rear Sprocket and maybe a smaller front, but I might also need to change the belt to accommodate the different sizes. also, the top speed of the bike (which is about 37Mph) would be reduced a bit.... but that okay because I prefer slower for safety.
I was thinking about Pinion P-Line Gear box its has slightly more Gear Range 636% but more importantly is has up to 18 Gears. (which would would give you more in-between shift points for towing heavy loads)
but I don't think they make any bikes in the USA with the P Line.
also I was starting to understand the need for Electronic Shifting, because sometimes I slightly under turn the shifter and I don't get a clean gear shift.
also, it was a 6 months review. it just felt like a year to me. It was my only form of transportation because of my disability I can't drive a car.
@@marc31415 I'm sorry I came off... No. I was an a-hole! LOL! Look, I had a bad day and I was a little excited to get more info on a bike I've been wanting but haven't been able to get enough info on. I shouldn't have reacted as if you're some professional reviewer giving a bad review. Anyway, hopefully you can accept my apology as just a normal guy having a bad day. I'm usually better than this. All the best, -E
Eric....you were not a a hole,you were spot on.Title was misleading and wrong info giving out.
To many people on yt this days giving reviews that are not representing the product very well at all.
Looks like you need an offset seat post, lol.
does it look too close? why?
@@marc31415 It looks like you have your seat all the way back on it's rails, putting stress on the seat rails and seat clamp. With an offset seatpost the seat clamp would be more centered on the seat rails.
@mikewheeler9715 yes, I was thinking it would get increasingly damaged over time. I didn't know I could buy an offset seat post. Thanks for the tip!
Muc-off inner tube sealant
I'm not Fully sure what you are trying to say. can you say it differently so that i understand better?
-thank you for your feedback
@@marc31415: he is talking about a sealant that you put into the inner tube which closes small holes automatically. I would rather recommend a schwalbe marathon tyre.
It's SLOW
yes, I agree! My previous bike was a 20lb road bike, it was more satisfying in terms of get around town with ease. Especailly, if i needed to get on a bus! 20lbs is a breeze to lift on the bike rack! with the priority, i had to learn a different method for loading on the bike rack. if anything, the priority is a TANK of a bicycle! i'll give it that! (and honestly, that is why i bought it). lastly, I think I want to build my next bike (a Carbon Framed Gravel bicycle). There is a Chinese manufacture that makes very affordable Frames, one of their models is certified, officially, by Tour De France, world cup. I think I would trust this company over other cheap frames.... also, when I say cheap, I am talking about $700-$1400 price range.... very affordable for a high-quality manufactured Carbon Frame.