Are These Sub-$200 Chinese Bicycles Any Good?

poppingtags on 19/06/2017 - 00:50
Last edited 19/06/2017 - 00:54

Hi there,

I recently rescued an old Peugeot bicycle from the 70's and have invested about $100 into getting and keeping it up and running. I only use it for short trips around my suburb, most frequently to the gym and back - which takes me about 5-6 minutes each way.

While its certainly rideable, its not in the best condition by any means and requires replacement parts every now and then, many of which are out of production. While looking for rubber brake hoods on E-bay (which look like they're going to cost about $30), I came across these bicycles:

Bike 1: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/700C-Road-Bike-Shimano-21-Speed-R…

Bike 2: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/700C-Road-Racing-Bike-Bicycle-53c…

Now I know they're not going to compare to a decent entry level $500 bicycle - but are they any good for the price and will it be better than my old Peugeot? Since I use it for such short trips, I wouldn't want to invest more than $200 on a bicycle - but given how many parts I'm buying for my old Peugeot, would this be a better investment?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

o53djz7qTPY4der on 19/06/2017 - 05:37

+1

I think it looks terrible. Proportions look out, parts are obviously very cheap. It'll have a very short life span. I'd also be very worried about the frame breaking mid-ride. Stick with your peugeot (which has lasted since the 70s!) or look for a second hand on gum or eBay.
Euphemistic on 19/06/2017 - 07:22

+1

Please don't buy either of these. They are assembled terribly, for one obvious thing they can't even get the front forks on the right way for the photo, they are backwardS. If they can't do that, how well do you think they have greased the bearings. It will also be heavy, much heavier than any decent bike and not in a good solid feel way, but in a slow you down way.

You would be far better to spend $200 on a second hand decent brand bike. Alternatively, keep your Peugeot, it was built well back in the day and will continue to work well. I rode a 40year old bike for six months after putting some new wheels on it and it went well. I have also ridden a mid 90s road bike for over 5000km and it needed very little maintenance until the shifter failed and I decided to upgrade.
BuyoTheCat on 19/06/2017 - 08:58

I looked at those 2 ebay bikes you linked. My first thought: They look nice!

Second though: They are unlikely to look like that after putting it together.
bongom on 19/06/2017 - 12:22

Gear Shifter: SHINMANO TX30 yet they have Shimano in the URL?
- D C on 19/06/2017 - 12:46
  
  They also have "Steel Brake Level" as well.
  
  I'm fascinated that beginners bikes are distinguished by having two brakes.
D C on 19/06/2017 - 12:59

It'll be on par with the average 'supermarket' bike.

They'll be heavy - that's a given since neither ad mentions the weight.

"Slip Resistance PC Pedal" sounds ominous, I think that means they're those terrible plastic pedals that have no bearings and fall aparts after a few hundred ks.

That said, I brought a $99 bike (26") and it survived rather well. I put over 5000km on it, and would have done more except someone (obviously blind) stole it.

18kg, I swapped the pedals with some surprisingly good $20 eBay ones, and the only maintenance performed was when something broke. Not much did; cables stretched, the fake shocks wore out, I broke some spokes and even managed to snap the axle! I was annoyed it got stolen, I wanted to see exactly how long the chain & sprockets would last (bike folk crap on endlessly talking bollocks in this area).
- 2ndeffort on 20/06/2017 - 14:47
  
  If you had kept it the chain and sprockets would have broken
  - D C on 20/06/2017 - 20:31
    
    Thanks Captain Obvious, despite typing "I wanted to see exactly how long the chain & sprockets would last" I was apparently unaware that they would eventually break.
    
    Cheers for clearing up.
    
    And yes, if it hadn't been stolen I would have kept it at least until the chain and sprockets wore out or broke.
    
    According to bike nerds, after each ride I'm apparently supposed to remove my chain, clean it, soak it in degreaser, and apply fresh lube that was shipped all the way from Paris after being pouring into the bottle by naked Cuban virgins who chant Gregorian hymns, and replace everything before 1000kms anyway.
    
    Obviously that's bollocks, so what if I merely dripped some 3-in-1 machine oil or similar on it at random intervals? I should buy anther $99 bike and try again.
    - Euphemistic on 20/06/2017 - 21:30
      
      all chains and cogs wear out. Cheap stuff will typically not last as long as decent stuff (other than the very lightest stuff). Keeping it lubricated helps but doesn't really make a lot of difference to the wear rates. I think your example of how much broke on your bike is testament to the build quality - rubbish.
      
      I have ridden a mid 90s steel road bike for over 6000km and all I did was replace tyres and bottom bracket that was a little rough when I first bought it. Nothing else broke or was replaced. I lined the chain regularly, but other wise performed very little maintenance. It was a decent bike in its day, but not high end and the main parts had plenty of life left in them when I retired it.
    - D C on 20/06/2017 - 21:35
      
      @Euphemistic: Oh look, it seems Captain Obvious has a sidekick.
      
      Who knew that a $99 bike would be rubbish?
      
      I've learned so much from this dynamic duo, please share more of your wisdom.
    - Euphemistic on 20/06/2017 - 22:08
      
      @D C: yes, but you stated that 'not much broke' when in fact quite a lot went wrong.
      
      Perhaps there was some tongue in cheek that we missed.
    - D C on 20/06/2017 - 22:49
      
      @Euphemistic: Perhaps you should read. I broke a couple of spokes and the axle on the rear wheel. That was a bit unexpected, or perhaps not given how I treated it. That was shortly before it left my possession, so maybe at 4500km?
      
      It's not like it cost me anything to fix, spare parts are available for free on most streets, especially during council cleanup.
      
      The pedals I replaced before they could break, the only "real crap" parts on the bike.
      
      The rest, like cables stretching, is usual wear and tear. Whatever. I never replaced them. These bikes are so basic you don't need to know much to service or repair them.
      
      If the OP is simply going to use this to ride to the shops and back, then yeah, buy one. It'll last ages. I wouldn't buy the ones he linked to because they're overpriced, but if they were sub-$100? Sure. Your local bike shop wants more for a "tune-up" than that.
      
      I got over 5000km out of a complete piece of garbage simply because I was curious, I basically rode it from Sydney to Perth and was headed back. That about 5000km more than the average internet bike "expert" thinks you'll get. I call that a win.
    - Euphemistic on 20/06/2017 - 23:24
      
      @D C: I still don't get why you would buy one. your average internet bike expert will advise you not to buy one because they know that a better bike is worth the money. Sure you have ridden one more than the average, but you also carried out several repairs that would render it useless for many riders.
      
      I have found/bought and fixed up quite a few cheap bikes to sell. I have ridden them a bit and they are mostly pretty bad, but do work. I have a big w fat tyre mountain bike in my garage, it's heavy (23kg), slow, and has cheap parts on it. It is designed like an off road bike, but has a sticker that says it isn't designed for off road use or stunting. I ride it for fun when it takes my mood, but I know I can fix it, and I wouldn't have a fat bike otherwise.
      
      Overall a bicycle is a simple machine and even really poorly built ones can be made to work, but not reliably or for longevity.
    - D C on 21/06/2017 - 04:41
      
      @Euphemistic: I brought one for the amusement value. I don't even remember what brand it was. Like I said, how long would an absolute piece of garbage last? How many "internet experts" have actually gotten off their couch to ride one for 5000km to see exactly what would happen? "Oh, don't buy one they're crap blah blah bollocks I need to polish my chain again."
      
      It was fine to ride to the shop & back, or to the railway station for work. It's not like I was worried about it getting stolen like I would be with one of my somewhat better $2000 bikes. If all you are doing is little trips (a few km) like that then buy one these. Parts, repair and maintenance are dead simple.
      
      My only annoyance when it was stolen (why for gods sake) was I had to walk home from the station. It wasn't hard getting another junker off the pile to replace it.
      
      [@Euphemistic:] …but not reliably or for longevity
      
      About that…
      
      Well, I just went and checked my data on that bike. I did in fact do 1686 trips totaling 6174km (3.6km average) over seven years. I think I got my money's worth out of that $99.
TheBilly on 19/06/2017 - 17:11

Depends on what you want. If you intend to cycle seriously, I would not buy it. If you are riding 1km to the gym, then doesn't matter, go ahead. But pop into your local bike store, you might actually find a good bike for $300.

What you will notice with (proper) high end bikes is that all the componentry will either come from Sram or Shimano and the componentry is tiered based on its quality strength durability from low to high etc. Manufacturers then have their own unique frame. Some big manufacturers don't even have a unique frame. Besides that everything all components bolt onto the frame and your good to go.

This ebay bike, has no well known componentry so I would say it is on par with a target or big w bike.
TheBilly on 19/06/2017 - 17:13

Only thing you need to be concerned about is the safety and quality of these bikes. Stacking it on a downhill road at 30-40kmh is not fun (been there done that). You would be surprised what parts give away on a bike (spokes, chains, wheels, handle bars) etc. and at speed it is a recipe for disaster.
poppingtags on 19/06/2017 - 23:21

Thanks so much for your advice everyone! I think I'll stay clear of this one and keep a look out for a good deal on a used bicycle.
- Euphemistic on 20/06/2017 - 07:19
  
  And you should advise anyone else who asks not to buy them either. It is possible to buy a cheap and reliable bike, but not when you've got all the added features. Single speed, back pedal brake, basic design will work if maintained. Those things are trying too hard to have all the bells and whistles and they just don't work well, or in this case even look good.

Are These Sub-$200 Chinese Bicycles Any Good?

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