(04-17-2020, 03:49 AM)GeoEng Wrote: Me and wife recently decided to get in to riding bikes and we have been looking for bikes but our budget around $200 each we can stretch a little further if need be. When we are at costco today we saw 2 bikes that they don’t sell online and for that reason I have not been able to find any reviews on it. They are called Boss.three the womens is a comfort bike and the mens is a hybrid...
Originally bought my wife a huffy beach cruiser from walmart for $80 bucks that isn’t that great and either the rim or fender on that is bent and it seems to have a hard time stopping properly.
Sorry if someone else has asked about these already. Couldn’t figure out how to search the forum from my phone.
I am not familiar with these bikes, but I did read a couple of reviews about Infinity Boss bikes which were overall positive; of course to be taken with a "grain of salt" since I don't know on what level the users were commenting from: serious cyclist or novice.
Two general comments about buying bikes from large retailers:
1) lf you can't take a test ride (more than once around the block is not sufficient to get the feel of it, braking and shifting- all gears, butt and back comfort), then there would be no reference as to your personal fit and riding comfort. I consider these two of the most important factors for overall enjoyment of a bike regardless of type, quality, or price. You can purchase a bike over a $1000, but still be displeased with the ride if it's not comfortable for your riding style and purposes. Most bikes can be used for various purposes, but try to get one that is going to provide the right features for the majority of riding you will do (racing, touring, commuting, shopping, etc.) and, expected average distances and terrains/surfaces, etc that you will be riding on. Also, frequency of use since that would affect the required maintenance to keep them in a safe and more problem free condition. Simple bikes (no suspension, gears, etc.) are both easier to maintain, and have less performance issues in general, given the bike is of fairly decent quality.
2) Assembly and adjustment of ANY bike must be done correctly! The best bike in the world can be a "death machine" if either of these are not taken into consideration. Thus, test riding a bike that is improperly put together and set up may not give a good indication as to comfort and/or performance. If you know someone experienced with bicycle maintenance (could be yourself, I don't know) I would have them go through it top to bottom checking components and hardware for proper installation/operation BEFORE taking on a test ride. An actual bike shop would certainly do this for a nominal fee (if over $50, I defer to a different shop since this can be done in about 30 minutes or less by those experienced, unless doing a complete assembly- more time, more$) if you didn't buy it from them. I would hope there is a return policy for full refund if you find that the design, quality, and/or comfort does not meet your needs; this allows for a decent amount of riding to determine these factors without getting stuck with something you can't or won't use in the end.
A good bike should be a joy to ride for its intended purpose. I see too many people unsatisfied by those factors previously mentioned who are out hundreds to thousands of dollars for a bike they won't use, have to store, and/or end up trying to sell (often ridden only once or twice) for substantially less than it's worth.
Hope l have been able to provide some useful information to you so as to provide you with a good baseline to start at.
I have over 40 years of riding and maintenance experience to draw upon and even I have had a bike that I purchased and didn't ride; specifically, the wrong fit for my body size and riding style. Luckily, since I purchased it used at a very good price, I did out lose out when selling it.
Quick note about used bikes while still taking into consideration all of the aforementioned points: there are some great high quality bikes for sale online (Craigslist, et al.), at local bike shops, and even thrift and pawn shops. I stay away from ebay (overall pricing, plus shipping). Just be careful and use due diligence as if buying a new bike.
This site, and other forum sites are good resources for used (newest bikes often aren't posted yet) bike reviews and insight from those who have, or had them already.
Take care,
Jesper
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