"Dawes Jack folding bike."

Had a Dawes Jack folding bike as a retirement present from my firm. I was a little bit worried because it was delivered in a box. Needn't have worried setting up was easy. Just unpacked and put the saddle on. It's a lovely ride. Worth the extra bit of money for the great quality.

"Too many defects."

After much deliberation on what folding bike to buy I narrowed the field down to 4 models. The one that had all I needed to convert it to an ebike was the Dawes Jack.
After unpacking I checked to discover the handlebar was not turning the front wheel. The stem riser bolt was totally loose and after consulting with the supplier for it's torque setting, the bolt was tightened.
I next discovered that the rear v brake pads are not in alignment and one is rubbing on the rim. So far unable to find any instructions on how to remedy it, as this is my first encounter with this design. Time to contact the supplier again.
I then decided to check the front brake and one pad was not even in contact with rim.
For a new bike not even ridden, this is an extremely bad situation, riding it with faulty brakes could have resulted in an injury.
This bike is only going to be used in fairer weather off road so there is more than enough time left fix things.

"I didn't even receive my parcel.."

I didn't even receive my parcel... They sent it to someone else and I bought it though Decathlon website who uses Dawes Cycles as their partner. And they said it was delivered to Checho Salwaki which is not even my name. How can they do that?

"Dawes ARC II - Let down by poor components."

Not at all happy about the quality of the bike - Dawes ARC II Folding E-Bike - £1,299.00 but told as it is a budget ebike then I shoudl expect poor quality!

Recently took delivery of this bike through my employers cycle to work scheme and at the time of writing the bike is a little under 3 months old.

I have been using this bike to commute to and from work, and since delivery I have used this for commuting the 7 mile round trip a maximum of 25 times.

The quality of the bike is let down by a large number of the components starting to rust quite badly.

Pretty much all the fixing bolts, the chain, the rear cassette, the main crank etc.

I have had the bike serviced, (very early in my opinion) to see if anything could be done but the comments from the bike mechanic used is that the bike looks like it was over a year old and was shocked when I said I got it in the middle of November.

I appreciate that the bike is at the budget end of the market but it was still £1,300 and not the cheapest ebike I could have ordered (I was torn between this and buying one outright from Decathlon) however when I contacted the supplier I was told that that this would not be covered under the manufacturers warranty and that “This is not something that would be covered by us or the manufacturer and will fall under general upkeep of the bike.”

When contacted the retailer appeared to suggest that I should have expected poor quality because this e-bike is at the cheaper end of the market and that therefore I should expect it to be rusting in less than 3 months.

I cannot agree that this can be considered ‘normal wear and tear’. - It’s a 3 month old bike - I have looked after this bike, it has always been garaged overnight and kept in an underground car park when at work. The excessive rust is only as a result of the bike being used in my 25 minute commute.

The supplier informed me that I should upgrade the components – I agree that I would probably have considered doing this at some point – but only after 3 months?

I wish I had bought the one from Decathlon now.

"Dependable Galaxy"

I bought a Dawes Galaxy about ten years ago and I regard it as very good value. The geometry is very comfortable for everyday riding and everything seems well made and durable. The paintwork is pretty robust too. I have covered thousands of miles with it, much of it on tracks and forestry roads and am very pleased.

"Dawes Duchess Deluxe - cheap finishes let it down"

Got the Dawes Duchess Deluxe at a local bike shop two days ago. It is a cheap bike at £420 and so I wasn't expecting top of the line anything but am disappointed by the finishes... The silver detailing on the rear fender is a cheap sticker that has chips all along the edges from the day I bought it... The wire basket already had scratches all over. Will be complaining via the retailer, but ultimately highlights the cheapness of this bike. Other Dawes bikes are £250-300 and that seems more appropriate for what was received, don't be fooled by Dawes calling this "deluxe" (I only got this pricier model as it was the only one available as a 15" frame)... Also, the mudguard has a floral pattern which isn't visible in the photos online. Cheapens the whole design, but I settled with it as I didn't have better options for my size. Just a shame they add this detail!

"I bought a Dawes Duchess Deluxe for my wife. I so wish I had not wasted my money.…"

I bought a Dawes Duchess Deluxe for my wife January 2019. It has only been used for short 2 mile commuter journeys on proper roads in a town famous for its bicycles.

Do not be seduced by the frame design. It is a cheap product with cheap parts that are badly constructed. I recommend potential customers to avoid at all costs:

1) On delivery it was clear the finishing of parts was low quality. For example, the part holding the basket to the headset was so sharp in places it would have cut anyone running their hand along an edge.

2) On first use of the bike with an ordinary D -lock it became apparent the paintwork was substandard. It later transpired that practically any touch with a D-lock or brush with a handbag will scratch. The bike is now completely scratched all over and looks a mess. This is because the paintwork is either not enamel or has not be lacquered. In over 45 years cycling I have never seen this happen - even to the cheapest priced bikes.

If you want to have a new bike looking nice for a little while, this is NOT the bike to buy.

3) Tyres are shot. Quite what tyres the 'Komos' white walled tyres are is unclear. The 'white wall' came off after a few months and the tyres were simple black walled tyres. In little over one year of low but regular usage, at the stated air pressure, the tyre became detached from the beading.
Both tyres are now fully replaced with white walled tyres where the white will not wash off.

4) Cheap back derailleur (Shimano Tourney RD-TY300 costs £11.99 to replace) was impossible to adjust - cross threaded adjuster barrel. Not a Dawes problem perhaps, but symptomatic of problems when cheap parts are used.

5) After 13 months the saddle began to fall apart. It is now close to dangerous will need replacing soon.

6) The plate used to hold the basket to its support is completely rusted - more in keeping with a bike 18 years old rather than 18 months old. Will need replacing.

7) Wheel nuts are such poor quality soft steel that they round when the CORRECT socket is used. It is only possible to use flat spanners to remove wheel nuts for fear of rounding completely. The nuts will need to be replaced.

8) Broken spoke within first few months of use on public roads. Symptomatic of a wheel not constructed properly.

9) Brakes blocks so worn down within 18 months they needed replacing. Don't forget, the bike has only has low commuter use.

10) Chain guard not sufficient to keep chain on chainset. The chain comes off the front cog on average once a fortnight - often more. The chain guard, designed to stop the problem of a single front cog, does not work.
If you want to arrive at work without oil on your hands avoid this bike.

The bike is a complete disaster. The retail price is £419.99. We have had to add the cost of new tyres, back derailleur, and mechanic to replace spoke. We will soon have to add the cost of a saddle and wheel nuts.
In the meantime, the bike is scratched and rusty. It has not been used for journeys anything more than 'unlock --> cycle 2 miles --> lock'.

The bicycle is poor, poor, poor. The quality of parts, construction and the finish actually make it quite dangerous. Do not buy.

[for information, the bike was bought from a recognised bicycle retailer]

--> Thank you for noticing I have edited this review. It is of course absolutely none of your business and I have no idea why you thought it relevant to mention it. For your information, it takes time to recall the litany of problems that have arisen with such a substandard product sold by Dawes. With so many faults to remember there will ineveitably be edits to the review.
As it happens, I also own a 2009 Dawes Super Galaxy for touring and use a Dawes Sterling (1990s?) for my indoor training. Those are good bikes. The Duchess Deluxe is not a good bike. In fact, it is awful. The decline in quality is staggering - Dawes are not what they once were. Such a pity - but cheap components now appears the order of the day for Dawes.

It was my fault not to check the bike over more thoroughly in shop. Those who are unable to check over bikes should avoid the Duches Deluxe.

"I brought a bike for my son via tredz …"

I brought a bike for my son via tredz for Xmas. The bike unfortunately suffered an injury to the brakes. I emailed tredz, who emailed dawes who (after a short wait) sent out a replacement set of brakes. Great customer service.

"You may feel you wish to avoid"

Dawes (owned by Tandem Group) was once a great British company..I have Dawes galaxy bikes going back nearly 50 years. Now it seems to me to regard customers are idiots to be fleeced and their safety ignored.

As stated in an earlier review you should first note that many Dawes bikes are now made in Bangladesh. On the box it clearly states in large print (paraphrase) 'not to be supplied to customers part assembled or without PDI.....if done so voids warranty'. Yet Dawes openly admit they supply to outlets who then sell unassembled bikes to customers. And that once touched by the customer their manufactrurers warranty is void.

Bikes today are complex...setting up incorrectly can be highly dangerous, especially gears and disc brakes. For a once great company to be apparently so disinterested in the safety of customers is very sad.

"Quality and warranty issue"

Just purchased and assembled a Dawes Road bike for xmas present.

Bike went together well and so went to the paperwork to register the bike for the warranry.

Paperwork says failure to register will result in warranty being void.

Went to look for serial number which should be stamped under the bottom beaker she'll but it was heavily painted over and unreadable. Rang Dawes to ask for advice they said contact the dealer nothing to do with us.

Dealer said serial number was of no use anyway if stolen they get machined off. Was advised to get myself another security measure in case of theft. Told to register without serial number. Hope that holds up - seems serial numbers mean nothing.

Anyway had a closer look at the bike. Accessories all great gears, brakes, wheels etc just the frame looked a bit shoddy poor paint and welding not great.

Frame made in Bangladesh - probably where the Q.A.issue is.