badkarma said:
Tires is the only thing worth upgrading. So you're taking a $150 bike, and if you put $75 worth of upgrades into it, you just spent half the worth of the bike on upgrades.
Those come with such poorly made components, it's not worth putting them on a better frame.
Honestly, if you just keep checking ebay or craigslist, you can get a very nice used commuter bike for ~$300, but I'm not sure what your budget is.
I know, I know... way to dig an OOld thread. However, I caught this thread in a search and must respond.
Everyone I've been reading has been posting the same attitude. Buy used bike and spend more. What if you don't have more, hints the reason I'm looking for a "cheap" bike.
I have a few points.
1. If I wait to buy I'll spend the money before I can get a bike.
2. Waiting to buy because the "cheap bike" doesn't have all the bells and whistles, we're talking about cost here. Oh, excuse me I couldn't possibly ride a $50 walmart bike. Who cares if its $50 at least your riding! $50 is a lot of money to some people.Pick the thing up, does it feel sturdy?
3. At what point do you stop trying to get the next better bike? example: I'm looking at a cheap $50 bike, oh but this $100 bike has better suspension, oh but this $200 bike has better suspension and brakes, oh but this $300 has a better tires suspension and brakes, oh but this $500 bike has a better frame but not as good brakes, oh but this $800 bike has an even better frame suspension and brakes etc etc.. where do you stop???
4. Safety is important, know your limits, live within your means. If you don't own even a cheapo bike you can't get any exorcise. If you don't get any exorcise you'll get fat and never want to ride a bike.
5. what if you got a "Cheapo bike" for "FREE" ? wouldn't you want to fix it if it were missing a tire and the brakes sucked?
Don't shoot everyone down just because they're looking at a cheapo bike, constructive criticism people, please. Sure you want to recommend save and get a better bike. Offer some helpful constructive criticism if I were to get a cheap bike. I'll get a better bike when I'm old and have a fat wallet. But for now I'll just ride