General Cycling Discussion - New bike donation

well iv wanted to start mountain biking or atleast good mountain trails....and iv been given an almost new Magna GlacierPoint 12 speed bike...i was wondering if anyone could tell me if this kind of bike sucks or what. any info appreciated. please email me too.

Well, I think it's worth what you paid for it. You did ask...


I'd go over it and make sure everything is fairly tight, then go ahead and ride it until it breaks. If the bike doesn't act as you think it should, don't assume all bikes are like that - get a decent one from a shop. I'd hate to see anyone get discouraged from biking because their bike was crap, although they could afford a much better one in the first place.

When you decide to upgrade, which should be before too long, check the MTB forum, it has a sticky suggesting some bikes around or under $500, which are still competent mountain bikes.

Good luck!

To be honest, that bike is crap. The frame, whether hi-ten steel or cheap aluminum, will be heavy and weak. The components will suck. The brakes will be weak and difficult to adjust and therefore dangerous. If it has steel rims (check with a magnet.. if it's magnetic, it's steel), it will lose virtually all braking power if they get wet, turning the bike into a potential deathtrap.

If you jump, the fork may break off, and you will break your face and other body parts.

Don't ride it offroad. Please. I had a bike like that a long time ago and I know. I thought 'well, i know it's junk, but i have it already so i'll ride it until it breaks'. Well, it broke, and 12 years later i still have scars to prove it.

Magna and brands like it are designed so that cheap stores like Walmart can make money selling these things that _resemble_ bicycles to ill-informed consumers. They are designed not so much to work properly or be safe as they are to _look_ like real bikes.

It's not worth it. Even a $200 bike from a real bike store will be a world of difference.

well thanks for the advice....just glad i didnt pay nothing....and its to bad because a bicycle store near me was having awsome sales on Mountain Bikes....my friend got a nice one marked down from $350 to $200 just for that one day sale....but i am not nearly as well off as his family and still couldnt afford it...so when the offer of a bike for $0 came up i took it. and about the offroading....well i guess ill have scars...i dont really want to waste my summer and living so close to mountains makes me want to ride. maybe ill get lucky and come up with a couple hundred bucks...but if anyone knows of a place where i could get a good one for around $200 please tell me. thanks

check local bike shops for used mountain bikes. that'd probably be your best bet.

the good part of that bike is it actually will allow you to ride...how well is another question. Good Luck.

well thanks for the advice....just glad i didnt pay nothing....and its to bad because a bicycle store near me was having awsome sales on Mountain Bikes....my friend got a nice one marked down from $350 to $200 just for that one day sale....but i am not nearly as well off as his family and still couldnt afford it...so when the offer of a bike for $0 came up i took it. and about the offroading....well i guess ill have scars...i dont really want to waste my summer and living so close to mountains makes me want to ride. maybe ill get lucky and come up with a couple hundred bucks...but if anyone knows of a place where i could get a good one for around $200 please tell me. thanks

How old are you? go mow lawns or do yard work im sure u could come up with a couple hundred in a few weeks...

almost 16...yeah ill try but my neighborhood isnt the richest...that and i dont have a lawn mower..lol