I'm looking for an affordable (under $150) but reliable bicycle to commute to and from the train station. Total travel would be approximately 5km both ways. Terrain is mainly flat residential streets and a small main road stretch.
Is it safe to go with the cheap bikes from Kmart?
spent marginally more and buy a branded bike from one of the main companies. i.e. giant. A year in your biGW bike will be a rust bucket. Also, the branded bikes are a lot smoother.
You'll thank me later.
You will definitely see, hear and feel the difference between a $150 Kmart/BigW bike and a $220 real-brand bike. The tyres will be better, the gears shift smoother, the suspension more convincing, the hubs quieter and the brakes more responsive. And come winter you won't be scraping rust off the cheap-as-chips spokes. As a bonus, if you go to a bike shop someone competent will be putting it together for you, and they'll help you find one that fits your shape perfectly.
Another $70-100 now will save you a sore back and the need to buy another bike a year from now.
I think it depends on the requirement and price you want to spend.
I bought target bike to ride to office, but unable to use because it is quite heavy and uncomfortable to ride. Then I bought Gaint bike(Cheapest $400), used for few weeks. Timetable changed for bus and now bike is resting in my garage.
If you want to try and see that you will be able to use bike, go for Kmart one assuming you will use it for max 6 months. But for longer period go for Gaint, Trex etc which starts at $400+ (new one)
Look around other places as well… the biggest killer with some cheap bikes is the weight, some are like a Russian tractor in weight. :-(
Check gumtree for local quality used bikes, might be able to pick up something quality around that price?