Would you buy this bike? Is it good quality?

[Schminx]

I need a bike and this one looks good. What do you think

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221010929483?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

[Joe_W]

You'd get what you pay for... low price and very likely low quality. I am almost sure that at least the wheels are built shoddily (I tried not to use an expletive), entire wheel sets cost more than that. Cheap rims are also... well, cheap. The joint is usually all but smooth. I know, I used cheap ones for building wheels... cheap hubs )I tried finding them, seem to be by "Quando", a Chinese company) are less problematic, they probably need grease and a tune up. As long as the bearings are intact they should work well.
Still, with time, patience, the correct tools you could make it work. The whole... bike is probably built like a tank (except for the wheels, bad build = fails fast), so it is heavy but also sturdy. There's no reason why a single speed bike has to weigh > 11kg (I guess in the smallest size w/o pedals)...
So: as a beater you're not afraid to lock up somewhere: why not? However I would definitely like to take a look at it before ordering to see how much time I'd have to invest in it.

[Schminx]

What's a good place to buy? In my town there is nothing. A place online?

[DaveM]

http://bikesdirect.com/
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/

I've always liked Torker's bikes: http://www.torkerusa.com/bikes/commute/2012-udistrict

Anything much below $300 is probably going to get pretty junky. Look for something with a "cromo" or cromoly frame. In and of itself it's not hugely important, but it is an indicator that the bike isn't made with complete bottom of the barrel stuff. Avoid anything with suspension. A single speed is not a bad idea to get a decent bike at lower cost (as long as you don't live somewhere super hilly.) 3-speeds are great all-rounder bikes but you'll pay a bit more for anything geared than a single.

You can look for stuff used on craigslist. But of course it helps to know enough to know what a fair price is...

[Painkiller]

No matter if you got given a bike, if it needs wheels trued, new cables/housing, Tubes/ tires,brake pads, complete lube,new chain/cluster etc...that can be over $100 doing the work yourself. I say go for it ! I say this because it will be better that a dept. store, and from the pics you seem cool with the single speed thang and from the pics it shows a flipflop hub what better price to get to try out a fixed gear and freewheel single speed action. Many swear by fixed gear bicycles. What the hell, treks taken Gary fisher and pumped those out of china

[Schminx]

What kind do you guys ride? Post pictures I need some ideas. I need something to get around with. Save on gas

[nfmisso]

(04-16-2013, 09:35 PM)Schminx Wrote:  What kind do you guys ride? Post pictures I need some ideas. I need something to get around with. Save on gas

These are mine:
GT: this is now my primary commuting bike:
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-3167.html

SR: back up commuting bike, I keep it at work:
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-3036.html

World Tourist: back up back up, kept at home:
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-3216.html

Our tandem:
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-2920.html

And projects:
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-3598.html
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-4198.html

Tell us about where you live, and where you want to ride; how far, types of surfaces, etc.

My commute (current route) is 12.9 miles each way, and rather flat, except for the under passes. Of my bikes, only the GT and the T50 have the gears for steep climbs. And all of my bikes get modifications from time to time. In the whole fleet, there now is only one wheel that I did not build my self - the front wheel on the GT.

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(04-16-2013, 11:17 AM)Schminx Wrote:  I need a bike and this one looks good. What do you think

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221010929483?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

No.

1st the seller is somewhat misleading - the lead off picture is not what is shown in the following pictures, nor described.

If you want a fixie or single speed; get this one:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/17206771?adid=22222222220092011986&wl0=e&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=27455105396&wl4=&wl5=pe&veh=sem
just as good, and half the price.

Personally, at 50+ years; i need gears.

[DaveM]

I ride an Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com/), but those aren't the most affordable or practical bikes for everyone.

If you want transport, I'd go with something like this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/oxford.htm
Throw a rack on it and you've got something pretty useful and affordable.

Single speeds are a great way to get an inexpensive bike that will be solid and dependable. But if you have hills, they're not always the best. If you're somewhere where it rains on occasion, fenders make biking in the rain similar to walking in the rain - not a big deal. Not all single/fixies will have the mounts and clearance for a rack or fenders.

I personally wouldn't buy a $100 walmart bike unless I really only had that much to spend. But I'm sure it's a decent enough bike for what it costs and that may be what you can do right now.

(BTW - You'll probably get as many different answers to "what bike should I buy" as there are people you ask. Don't worry to much about it. Almost anything will get you around well enough. But do think a little about how you're going to use it...and buy a decent lock.)

[torquecyclerepairs]

The one from Walmart looks pretty good for the money.

[Schminx]

My friend has the Walmart one and it's bad. The tires are super fat and it doesn't ride too good. My limit is $300. I think I can get a decent one for that price. Maybe?

[nfmisso]

(04-17-2013, 03:39 PM)Schminx Wrote:  My friend has the Walmart one and it's bad. The tires are super fat and it doesn't ride too good. My limit is $300. I think I can get a decent one for that price. Maybe?

Depends on your wrenching skills and tools you have accessible to you.

You have not supplied the information that we have requested about you and your riding conditions; so it is not possible to make suggestions.

32mm tires are not super fat; and regardless, are easily replaced.

The Walmart bike with a tune up - as described in the reviews of the bike on Walmart's website, and possibly replacement tires if you are only riding on smooth surfaces is a great deal for someone wanting a fixie or ss.

Basically all bikes not purchased locally through a competent bike shop are going to need a tune up (covered many places, not repeated here). If you cannot do it yourself, the tune up will cost $100 to $150 at a competent bike shop. The tune up is basically what you are paying for with the higher prices at a shop. If you can't do it yourself, buy from a good local shop; even if you have to go 100 miles or more.

Bikes Direct, Nashbar, Niagara Cycles, Amazon, and others have some good deals - but all require a tune up by the purchaser.

My GT started out as a bare frame off of CL; my SR started out as frame, fork, headset and BB off of ebay; our T50 only has the cranksets, BBs, timing chain, frame, fork and headset left from what we purchased. I build my bikes to suit me; as do many others on this site.

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(04-17-2013, 01:29 PM)DaveM Wrote:  I ride an Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com/), but those aren't the most affordable or practical bikes for everyone.

If you want transport, I'd go with something like this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/oxford.htm
Throw a rack on it and you've got something pretty useful and affordable.
.....

Hi Dave;

The http://www.xtracycle.com/edgerunner-overview is really cool. A lot of thought went into the 20" rear wheel.

I like the Oxford from BD too; my SR is presently a similar style.

[DaveM]

(04-17-2013, 03:59 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  Hi Dave;

The http://www.xtracycle.com/edgerunner-overview is really cool. A lot of thought went into the 20" rear wheel.

I like the Oxford from BD too; my SR is presently a similar style.

Yeah, the edge runner does look like an improvement. High COG is one weakness of the longtails compared to a bakfiets style.

I'm also very intrigued with the Yuba 'mid-tail' (http://yubabikes.com/bikes/boda-boda/)
Seems like it would have most of the cargo capacity without being quite so unwieldly.

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(04-17-2013, 03:59 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  The Walmart bike with a tune up - as described in the reviews of the bike on Walmart's website, and possibly replacement tires if you are only riding on smooth surfaces is a great deal for someone wanting a fixie or ss.

I "kind of" disagree. I'm sure the walmart bike is good for the price. But even walmart has to cut costs to sell something that cheap. You know it has the lowest quality materials in every single component; frame, fork, bearings, spoke, etc. etc. Even carefully rebuilt and adjusted, I just don't think a bike like this will every work great or last that long.

I DO agree that almost any mid-low priced bike needs a going over, even when they come from a reputable shop. Checking spoke tension and bearing adjustments is something that should be done on almost any bike that was built at a factory.

But for someone who isn't already an experienced mechanic, I'd say start with something of at least reasonable quality and then learn a little by checking a few things, doing a couple tweaks, etc.

[DaveM]

(04-17-2013, 03:39 PM)Schminx Wrote:  My friend has the Walmart one and it's bad. The tires are super fat and it doesn't ride too good. My limit is $300. I think I can get a decent one for that price. Maybe?

You can definitely get something decent for $300.
Again, think a little about what your local conditions are and how you'll be riding. And don't forget little stuff like lights and a lock in your budget.

(But +1 on fat tires - wider tires are actually often faster and nicer to ride than skinny, super high pressure tires on most roads. However, cheap, shitty tires suck no matter what size they are!)

[surreypete]

I'm a great fan of actually being able to see something in the flesh before I buy it, I think that it definately applies to bicycles as it's quite easy to make a bike look good in a picture on the internet.

The main thing that concerns me about the bike your thinking of getting is the chain adjuster/tensioner, it looks completely out of place, cheap and nasty and of bad design, in fact to my eyes it doesn't look designed, it's just slapped on, a good cycle brand wouldn't do that.

I would be more inclined to spend my money on a good quality second hand bicycle, something you can go and see, ride and ask questions, you'll get something older but of no doubt better quality and by a brand that you might actually have heard off and can buy spare parts for.

[Schminx]

what is the name of the tape/grip on this bike? Any place where they sell it? Thanks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111058274140?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[RBurrelli]

Can't determine bar tape manufacturer from that picture. There are numerous makers of bar tape. Try Fizik if you want the better stuff.

[nfmisso]

looks like blue bar tape - Amazon has dozens of different kinds.