Bicycles Online > Comfort and Hybrid Bikes > Novara Jaunt Comfort Review

Novara Jaunt Comfort Bike Review

Read the reviews on the Novara Jaunt Comfort/Cruiser bike (if you can find them) but don't bother searching the internet for the best price (unless you're considering a used Novara Jaunt).

Why do I say this? Because Novara is an REI store brand and you will only find them for sale (new) at REI anyway so searching for the best price is just wasting your time.

Novara bikes are made very well and with high quality (non-proprietary) components. The Novara Jaunt has an excellent comfort/cruiser type design, comfortable upright seating position, swept back handlebars and high quality components.

I had the opportunity to review the Novara Jaunt Comfort Bike at REI recently and I found the Jaunt to have everything that you need in a comfort/cruiser style bike. You sit in a very comfortable, upright position  and the extra padded seat is also very comfortable.

On top of that, you have high quality SRAM Grip twist shifters, 24 gears and a fairly light aluminum frame (this bike is lighter than other bikes in this class).

I usually lean towards name brands that I know to be high quality and stay away from store brand bikes but I do not have any reservations about the Novara brand (as you may have noticed from other reviews on this site).

Note: As of 2/1/2012 the Novara Jaunt is selling for $449 (new) at REI with free shipping options. See Novara Jaunt Comfort Bike for the latest price and customer reviews.

For the low step-through design model see Novara Jaunt Women's Comfort Bike at REI.

Since this is an REI brand bike, you will have excellent shipping and delivery options. If you have an REI store near you, you'll have the option to have your bike delivered to the store and fully assembled for you for FREE of course (with some restrictions).

If you choose home delivery, then REI will assemble your bike before it is shipped (to your home) then partially de-assemble it (just the handlebars and pedals) for shipping. When you receive the bike there is a minimal amount of (re) assembly required and REI members get FREE standard shipping on orders of $75 or more.

If you've browsed this site, you may have noticed that I favor REI for certain products and I am also an REI member. If you purchase an REI bike online and are not already an REI member, you will want to join for the free shipping. A lifetime membership at REI is just $20 and there are quite a few advantages.

About-Bicycles Review:

The Novara Jaunt is a well designed and very well made comfort/cruiser bike that has a comfortable seating position and comes with high, swept back handlebars, an extra padded seat, high quality grip twist shifters, 24 gears and a fairly light aluminum frame.

The Novara Jaunt comes in an east step-through women's design and a gender neutral design.

There are a couple of items that this bike does not come with but that can be added later if you choose. There is no rear (seat) suspension and there are no fenders although there are fenders available and there are eyelets in the frame for easy installation.

One of the nicer things that the Jaunt has that many other bikes in this category do not have is the high quality, 24 gear drivetrain which will give you plenty of control over the amount of effort required for pedaling on flat surfaces and especially against the wind or on hills.

I would definitely recommend the Novara Jaunt to anyone looking for a well made comfort/cruiser.

Customer Reviews:

The 2012 Novara Jaunt is new and at the time of this review there were no customer reviews available online although we still have customer reviews of the 2011 Novara Jaunt available.

For 2011 the Novara Janunt was rated (5 of 5 stars) by customers who have purchased this bike at REI.

Comments about Novara Jaunt Bike - 2011 (source: REI Achieves):

"It's been 30 years since I rode a bicycle, but wanted to get more active so decided to give it a try. I bought the Jaunt about a month ago and have ridden it almost everyday since. [...] I like the comfortable ride the suspension provides, the unisex design with the lower top rail (which has prevented more than one painful injury to my (guys you know where I mean!). All, in all I'm very satisfied - and hoping the extra exercise will keep me away from a return to the cardiac wing of my local hospital. • • Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend."

Novara Jaunt Key Specs and Features at a Glance:

• Bike frame material Aluminum
  
• Frame 6061 aluminum
  
• Fork Cromoly
  
• Crankset SR Suntour XCT, 42/32/22
  
• Shifters SRAM 3.0 Twist
  
• Front derailleur Shimano FD-TX50
  
• Rear derailleur SRAM
  
• Rear cogs SRAM PG-820 11-32, 8-speed
  
• Number of gears 24
  
• Brake type Rim brake
  
• Brakes Tektro 855AL linear-pull
  
• Brake levers Tektro
  
• Rims Weinmann XTB-26
  
• Front hub Alloy, 32h
  
• Rear hub Alloy, 32h
  
• Wheel size 26 inches
  
• Tires Kenda K841A, 26x1.95
  
• Handlebar shape Moustache bar
  
• Saddle Velo
  
• Pedals Platform
  
• Weight 29.81 pounds
• Gender Unisex and Womens

More helpful online bike sales resources:

See Best Buy Bikes Online - for the latest sales and deals on quality brand names bikes for sale online.

Most popular bike brands in US - WIth so many bicycle manufacturers, bicycle types and popular brand names sold in the US, that it can be difficult to find a comprehensive summary of the top 20 bike most popular bike brands.

See Online Bike Stores - for a complete listing of where to purchase the most popular brands for all bike types online.