Hey All!
I am finding an inexpensive bike for some casual rides, completely basic. Can anyone suggest anything? I have seen some at mu local Kmart but before I buy would love to see if i could find better here at OZB.
*Budget is $150
TIA
Help Me Find an Inexpensive Bicycle
Okayy on 19/07/2020 - 10:16
Comments
aldi when they are on special buys
…you know how every video gets down-voted on YouTube automatically by someone somewhere?
I feel the same feature has arrived on OzBargain.I've just noticed quite a few comments getting 1 negged, and quiet neutral comments too, without any reason or replies to it. No-one else notice this? Maybe it's just my imagination.
Scumtree or Fartbook. There should be heaps of secondhand bikes on either of those. Most people would just about give them away.
First time I've heard of Fartbook lol
…what style, single speed (fixie style), road bike, mountain bike. Steel frame at that budget. get an appropriately sized frame.
can get a second hand one from gumtree, eBay, some op shops…
Gumtree will get you a much better bike secondhand for $150.
Just drive around the neighborhood on hard rubbish collection days and you can get one for free
Best bet is like people say Gumtree / Facebook. Popular models are Reid's if you can get one of their commuter bikes, new is around $200 - $250 so $150 is possible. Because there is many of them floating around parts are easy to get.
Because there is many of them floating around parts are easy to get.
Parts are easy to get because bicycles have quite standard parts until you get into high end stuff. You don’t need to find the same make and model for parts like you do with a car. Source: raised dozens of kerbside finds for parts while reassembling others.
Have you ever rode a bike?
I don't know what you are thinking. If you got a Reid's bike they got stores and you can go into them. Buy a Kmart bike and walk into Kmart and nobody knows anything neither are they going to be much help. Kmart bikes are basically serviceable. You would be better buying a bike shop brand with a shop near you than Kmart slap a random brand on.
Yes I ride. I own several types of bikes, there are about 20 in the garage at any time. I have repaired probably hundreds and built dozens from a frame up.
I don’t know what you are trying to say either. Yes, Kmart bikes are rubbish and staff cannot help. Take a Kmart bike to a bike shop and they’ll likely tell you it isn’t worth repairing. That doesn’t mean you cant repair or parts are hard to get. It just means it isn’t worth spending $ on them.
Bikes are quite generic in parts, perhaps with the exception that some drivetrain components need to pair up. You don’t need to have a Giant serviced by a Giant dealer, any bike mechanic will be able to repair it with parts from a dozen different suppliers.
@Euphemistic: You intentionally don't get it: buy a popular bike sold by bike shops therefore parts are common and available.
@netjock: No. You dont get it. Parts are common and available for Kmart bikes too. For the most part you could go crazy and put some pretty expensive gear on a Kmart bike. But you’ll just end up with a turd rolled in glitter.
Bicycle parts for basic bikes are the same as they’ve been for decades. Same chains, same wheel sizes, same handlebar sizes. Same shifter and brake cables. Same saddle rail spacing, but there are a million different seat post sizes. Bottom bracket threading has been the same for decades.
@Euphemistic: So you just contradicted your own post below:
Don’t buy from Kmart et al. Rubbsih bikes poorly assembled.
For someone who have 20 bikes in the garage you give some unpractical advice.
Even you said:
Find a second hand bike shop branded one for $150, it’ll last a lot longer.
"Reid's" is a shop brand, so what is your problem with my post? Just because I got in ahead of you?
@netjock: My only problem with your post is that you said
Because there is many of them floating around parts are easy to get.
Parts are no harder to get for a Reid than they are for a Kmart bike or for any other brand. My original point.
I’ll stand buy suggesting not buying a Kmart bike. They are the cheapest of the cheap built with rubbish parts and poor assembly. They are turds but they can be rolled in glitter quite easily because you can fit better parts easily because they use standard bicycle parts on the whole.
As for Reid, yes they are a bike shop brand, but they are the Great Wall or Haval of the bicycle world. They are built down to a price and use flashy techniques like upgrading visible parts and putting cheaper parts where you don’t see them.
Parts are no harder to get for a Reid than they are for a Kmart bike or for any other brand.
Sure you can get generic parts for a Kmart bike but can you fit them on properly because the bike so poorly made. Bike parts are like car parts, sure the brake disc pads are standard but some cars are just harder to fit than others because the parts are bad quality from the beginning.
If 12 months later and you break the seat, Reid's second hand replacement would be easier to find, I guess it wouldn't matter for those who like Frankenstein bikes.
I don't understand why someone who knows so much about bikes knows so little about finance. No point spending $150 for a second hand bike then spending $30 for a new seat if it breaks and it is of an odd color (alternatively odd color second hand) when you can probably find a second hand replacement for $10.
@netjock: You don’t get it and apparently haven’t played bike mechanic either. Bike parts are not like car parts. They can be interchanged between all different models and makes. And no, they aren’t harder to fit in most cases. What makes cheap parts cheap is the materials. They often rust quickly.
If you need to purchase a bicycle saddle, they are all, except some really high end ones, fitted with the same rail spacing. You can pretty much use any saddle on any bike, so no, a second hand saddle to put on a Reid bike is no easier or harder to find than one for a Giant or Trek or Cyclops or Repco.
I have switched saddles plenty of times and a saddle is one part I will often collect from a kerbside bike if in good condition for that reason. Switching out a torn saddle is easy and quickly adds value to bikes for flipping. Pedals too are easy and one of two standard sizes. I typically don’t buy saddles or pedals because they are found for free so readily.
@Euphemistic: It seems like everything you describe becomes easier and easier. Like there is nothing to it. Get serious.
@netjock: Bicycles are one of the simplest things there are to work on. A modicum of mechanical ability and a few tools are all that is needed for mists repair tasks on a bicycle.
You obviously don’t understand them but don’t want to be corrected on some simples truths about bicycles.
@Euphemistic: If you don't understand buying a common model of bike makes life a lot easier because there is a good secondary market for bikes, parts and information on compatible equipment. That is why I suggested Reid's.
I think you're talking like a bike mechanic. We're not all bike mechanics. It is like plumbers saying everything is easy in plumbing. You just need to get off your high horse.
If you don't understand buying a common model of bike makes life a lot easier because there is a good secondary market for bikes, parts and information on compatible equipment. That is why I suggested Reid's.
Well in that case I’d suggest you stop commenting. You don’t know what you are talking about.
Reid is a budget brand, and not as well known as a dozen other brands, and certainly not as desirable to sell second hand. Giant is probably the most common brand around. Giant is probably the biggest manufacturer in the world making frames for many other brands.
Buying a common model makes very little difference for bicycles because parts are so standard. The point I repeatedly make. Also, just because the brand is common doesn’t mean the model is, brands sell dozens of different models over the years.
I have been rebuilding a 50yo bike. I could build it completely with new modern components. I could also most likely do a frame swap with a Kmart bike if I was so inclined. Near everything is standard.
I have rebuilt and serviced everything from Kmart clunkers to Reid’s and $3k mountain bikes. I know how they work.
Don’t buy from Kmart et al. Rubbsih bikes poorly assembled. Possibly the exception would be something with single gear and back pedal brakes - beach cruiser style.
Find a second hand bike shop branded one for $150, it’ll last a lot longer.
Cash converters still has $50 bikes
Thanks everyone Gumtree seems great way to begin with. 😀 thanks again.
Check out decathlon. If you can stretch your budget a little, they've got bikes starting $199 which are great for casual rides. I bought one a couple of months ago and the build quality is pretty good.
Gumtree has gals of bicycles for sale. Sometimes even free