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Mushrooshi
Mushrooshi asked in SportsCycling · 1 decade ago

Cheap bikes? Used good ones or new Walmart ones?

So, I have a small budget for getting a bike, $200

My dad wants me to get whatever walmart bike, but I want to go the used bike route. In the end, I'll spend $200 I figured. Is my logic right:

Route One:

Spend $200 on a crappy Walmart bike, that is irrepairable, and people won't service it, and is badly made (I'm staring at YOU, Huffy)

Route Two:

Buy a used decent Trek or Giant or other good bike at $75-125 on craigslist, then bring it into a bike store for a professional tuneup, maybe some new tires, and end up spending $200

Which one is the better route *rolleyes*?

Update:

I'm biased for Route Two, by the way.

6 Answers

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  • Chef Boyardee
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    route two, hands down.

    a wallmart bike will be of lower quality, all the time. the teenagers assembling your bike at a wallmart dont know anything about bikes, the stock components will be of low quality, and the bike will therefore perform poorly. in addition, many wallmart bikes are straight up dangerous. i looked at a cheapo mongoose when i was shopping at my local target, and noticed it had a disclaimer saing it shouldnt be used offroad. keep in mind this is a 100$ POS mascarading as a full suspension mountain bike! these pos bikes are liable to break in minimally stressful situations, for exapmle riding off curbs can shear the fork right off (seen it happen!)! if your dad wants to get the most bang for buck, he should go for a used bike of decent quality. it will last longer, ride better, and be safer. who can argue with those facts?

    Source(s): 4+ years xc racing 2+ years dh racing former lbs mechanic
  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    I would definitely without a question get an old one. Cheap bikes from target/walmart are terrible. They will not last, and there is no possibly way that they will be better than a 15 or 20 year old road bike. I would try to find an old trek, schwinn, or raleigh. If you are commuting, I would get a steel frame. There are tons of these on craigslist that are in your price range. I have a 20 year old Trek 400 that rides great even though it is old.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Route two. A Walmart bike will be crap, wont last long, and you will have to be taking it into a shop anyway when it breaks down or needs constant adjustments. And you simply wont be happy with it. That being said used bikes can have a lot of problems too. A lot of bike shops sell used bikes so maybe you should look around your area shops and see what they have. That way you will know it's in proper working order. You never know with craigslist.

  • DooDah
    1 decade ago

    Route 2, no question. NEVER buy a bike from walmart or halfrauds.

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  • hummerhead2002
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Naaaah---get a bargain at EBAY.com (Category\Sporting Goods/ CYCLING/Complete mt. bikes). $200 rigs have low-end stuff so if you're lucky some rider may have a mint condition machine with LX or SRAM gears---check them for a better price---

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    route two may be slower though

    better but slower

    less selection

    wle

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