seeking advice about Proflex 087

[barcelonabiker]

I am looking to buy a starter bike for my girlfriend, and was looking at a Proflex 087 in bright green today. The specs look pretty good for the price (€307, in Barcelona), but I have always ridden Kona or Scott, so I don't know how good this bike might be.

It doesn't need to be a downhill king: just good enough to handle the odd offroad excursion. I can't even find a review, or a Proflex homepage (can't see it on K2's page)

Can anyone advise? Post here or email me at:

corcoranb13@yahoo.com

Cheers.

[shovelon]

Me thinks that is the new Spanish bike.

Terry

[orange]

Sounds like it - nothing to do with the original Proflex I'm afraid....

[Colin]

barcelonabiker,
Got any pictures or sales blurb for it?

I think they just bought the name...........not the designs/patents, which I guess Iron Horse might own now?

Col.

[whisperdancer]

Here they are:

http://www.unionbike.net/kona/bicicletas_proflex.htm

Hope they aren't FLEXible rigid bikes...

Cheers from Portugal!

[shovelon]

Here they are:

http://www.unionbike.net/kona/bicicletas_proflex.htm

Hope they aren't FLEXible rigid bikes...

Cheers from Portugal!

Well, here is my impression.These are Far East bikes. I would bet Mainland China.

The only one that has some merit is the 287 model. The frame is of 7005, self hardening straight gauge aluminum, and has some Ok components.

The others are made of 6061, and most probably straight gauge, and for that price, I bet my wife that it is not heat treated to T6., therefore very heavy for safety. The component spec is really bad too.

I would look for a descent K2/Proflex.:-)

Terry

[barcelonabiker]

Thanks for the help folks. I have done a bit more checking out about Proflex' apparent return to the Spanish market, where they have been absent for some time.

It looks like the brand has been bought by a Spanish disrtibutor called Gummersport:
http://www.gumersport.com/

Although obviously no longer built by K2, Gummersport have a Proflex team in the National Championship and from what I am told their higher en bikes are pretty good.

having said all of that, it looks like I am going to go with something i am a bit more sure of for the missus: a Trek 3700.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1014600&f=18

Thanks for all the help, and any further info is welcome.

Good biking.

[Colin]

No, I think Gummer sport are just a distributor for fairly reaosnable, genuine, K2 bikes.
The Proflex's (Note: NOT Pro~Flex) are another thing completely...................
............I feel sick................they look lke rubbish.................no disrespect to anyone who's bought one, but God help you!...........

I swore I'd peel the K2 stickers off my bikes when they produced the Zed Sport etc......... but I can't bear to peel the Pro~Flex stickers off! thank God for the tilde (~)

Col........

[orange]

Ah but there is a squiggle...have a look at this:

http://www.rapiddescentscotland.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=11&MMN_position=16:6

The banner has a squiggle but it seems the bikes may not (not entirely clear)... ;-)