Are Cheap Bikes worth it?

[kingrollo]

Im in the market for a new commuter bike but on a buget. Ive been scaning the used adverts in my local area but finding something I like in the correct size is proving difficult.

Link to argos bike


This bike from argos is £109. seems to good to be true. what are the pitfalls of buying such a low end bike. Can you make it good with a few choice upgrades. Or do you really get what you pay for and I should spend extra getting somthing of better quality
View attachment 707625 d

Don't buy that. Buy a used MTB - but even then I think your budget needs to go up a bit- but that one beyond the first few months would be £109 wasted imo.

 

[kingrollo]

I dont like the phrase "you get what you pay for" That implies just because it is more expensive it must be better.
You can still fork out a lot of money and get cheap crap in return

Yes once you get past around £1500 any gains are very small.

But here we are discussing a £100 bike - imo hardly fit for purpose.

 

[phil-b]

Yes once you get past around £1500 any gains are very small.

But here we are discussing a £100 bike - imo hardly fit for purpose.

Yes. Not just bikes but there are a lot of poor products available that are so bad they should be illegal to sell

 

[All uphill]

How can you tell it needs a new chain set from the photo.

I said " probably "

 

[Ming the Merciless]

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can anyone tell me anything about this bike. if the frame is of reasonableit might be worth fixing up

Poorly maintained, looks about 30 years old.

 

[wafter]

 

[phil-b]

I said " probably "

Oh ok cheers.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

View attachment 707754

Can you fit mudguards?

 

[wafter]

Can you fit mudguards?

Op didn't stipulate mudguards; but I'm sure you could modify some 700c items to fit 👍

 

[wiggydiggy]

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/giant-boulder-mtb-1/1466440347 £85

I don't where OP is but something like this is a good start, the seller sounds like someone that runs a business doing up and selling old bikes so it should be ready to run.

 

[Alex321]

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/giant-boulder-mtb-1/1466440347 £85

I don't where OP is but something like this is a good start, the seller sounds like someone that runs a business doing up and selling old bikes so it should be ready to run.

The OP said earlier in the thread that he is in Belfast.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The OP said earlier in the thread that he is in Belfast.

Have a look on Gumtree Belfast then? There some places also near me that do donation bikes to people that can't afford one, maybe something similar there?

 

[Teamfixed]

The price of used has come down a fair bit recently. £100 would get you something much better used.

 

[davidphilips]

£20 in Bangor must be worth looking at? https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...place_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

 

[albion]

There was a Challenge bike parked at Aldi yesterday, I assume an employee bike.

The perfect choice to be parked outside all day.