Decent Hybrid/Commuter Bike for $500? Deal or Not?

• 

  Drakesy on 28/06/2022 - 10:55

  +1

  It's alright for an entry level bike, the hydraulic brakes are good for the price.

  The bike will be on the weightier side though with suspension and a fairly robust frame.

  Depends on what you want it for,
  If you're doing daily commuting it'll be fine, albeit a bit heavy. There's nothing wrong with it though.
  It'll do the job.

  • 

    xdigger on 28/06/2022 - 11:11

    +1

    Thanks, I did ask the 99bikes webchat and they said the bike was 17kg.

    • 

      Seraphin7 on 28/06/2022 - 11:28

      +1

      Yeah, there's no getting away from the fact it's a heavy, entry level bike.

      There's no "performance" aspect here, but that's not what your looking for/going to get with this style of bike at this price point. The drive train componentry is all reasonable and from reputable manufacturers.

      If you're looking for a bike that will let you commute/pleasure ride 20kms or so, this will adequately do that for you. Not sure about it's off road/trail credentials … it's definitely a "hybrid", not a trail bike.

      If you keep it clean and well maintained, you'll get years of use out of it.

    • 

      Euphemistic on 28/06/2022 - 12:17

      +1

      I wouldn’t be surprised if 17kg was its weight in the box. E.g. the webcast person just read the shipping details.

      Any decent but budget alloy bike shouldn’t really be more than 13-14kg.

      • 

        xdigger on 28/06/2022 - 14:18

        Yes thanks for this, I just went in store to check it out and it felt like 14 kg!

• 

  Euphemistic on 28/06/2022 - 12:22

  +1

  It a budget bike, but with hydraulic brakes is probably better value than something you’d pay $700 or more for in a bike shop brand.

  Aside from the suspension fork that the marketing department made them put on it it’ll likely be a decent robust bike that’ll ride fine and last long enough. Just don’t expect much out of the fork.

  It will have some cheaper components to bring the price down. These generally might have poorer corrosion protection so you might find some surface rust on parts after a while - more parts than a bike shop branded bike, but likely nothing serious.

  There are some odd specification details in that list too. Like, it doesn’t mention if the seatpost or handlebars are steel or allot (probably means steel) and no idea what the bottom bracket means.

• 

  shaybisc on 28/06/2022 - 15:11

  Alloy? What's that supposed to be? Since they haven't given a weight I guess it means lard-arse.

• 

  ReverseKanga on 04/07/2022 - 09:07

  +1

  I hate suspension when riding on the road/footpath, so I went to see if there was anything on 99bikes website in a similar price point. But this bike with hydraulic brakes and the Acera groupset is remarkably well priced.

  • 

    xdigger on 05/07/2022 - 13:12

    It has lockout suspension mate could turn it off anytime.

    • 

      ReverseKanga on 05/07/2022 - 16:33

      -1

      That definitely helps, but the unnecessary weight when you don't need suspension is still a killer for longer rides

      • 

        Euphemistic on 05/07/2022 - 18:52

        +1

        While suspension does suck some of your energy, the additional weight makes about as much difference as going to the toilet before you ride. Tyre pressure and thread pattern will make significantly more difference to riding effort.

• 

  Oldmate88 on 17/12/2024 - 15:57

  I know this is an old post, but did you end up getting the bike?

  There's a 2.0 on sale for $500 and I don't know if I should grab it.

  I'm just looking for something to ride around on locally (roads/footpaths) + maybe some gravel paths. Maybe 10-20km per ride

  • 

    Oldmate88 on 17/12/2024 - 15:57

    For reference - https://www.99bikes.com.au/pedal23-hawk-2-blue

    • 

      Euphemistic on 17/12/2024 - 18:44

      That looks like a regular price $500 bike. Its not wirth the higher RRP. Has mechnical not hudraulic brakes and a non specified drivetrain, so lower end stuff. 7 gears at the back also indicates it is probably a freewheel hub so the axle isnt as strong as an 8 (or more) speed variant.

      Servicable, but probably not worth $500 new.