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Which bike?

Old 07-27-06, 07:23 PM
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Which bike?

Ive been looking at and researching new bikes, and with my budget at $400, theres not many to choose from. Its gonna be mainly a commuter bike, on the roads and trails, trails mostly. Im a guy who likes a road bike, so no comfort bike mushyness for me For small trips around town under 10m, and longer 20mile round trips to community college. I dont want a bike that takes all the fun out of biking, like a comfort bike.

FWIW, im a light guy, 6', 135lbs.

Ive pretty much got it down to a couple bikes.

Trek 7.2FX-----$379
Kona Smoke----$399
Kona Dew------$399


Ive ridden the Trek, and I like it, the 7.3 is even better, expecially with the shifting, but I cant justify spending $459 on it, when $500 would get me a Specialized Sirrus, and I dont want to spend $500, hehe.

Also rode a Giant Cypress SX, $369, too much of a comfort bike for me.

I havent ridden the Smoke yet, the bike shop didnt have one assembled, so Im going to go ride it tomorrow. Im sorta worried about the tires, it has slick mountain bike tires, 26x1.5, and low gearing. Seems like that might be rather sluggish. Dunno, the bike seems to be good, but more of an urban SUV, and I wont be doing much gnarly urban riding.

I havent seen a Dew yet, saw it on their website. The bike shop wont have a Dew in for a week or a week and a half. Dunno if its worth the wait to look at? It looks like an equivelent of the Trek, but Kona is known for making really tough bikes.

I also looked at the $369 Specialized hybrid, but it has front shocks, so that sucks.

If the difference between the trek and the dew are negliglible, Ill prolly go with the trek, since I wanna get fenders and those handlebar thingies so I can lean over the bars.

Last edited by Man In Black; 07-27-06 at 07:47 PM.
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Old 07-27-06, 08:21 PM
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Layaway is your friend my man!

Scott Speedster 50 - $649 and a GOOD BIKE
Fuji Newest 2.0 - $589 and will kick a trek 1000's ass on value
Felt F90 - $599
Fuji Absolute
Scott Sub20

Save your pennies, because these bikes are fully worth their price tags as NICE entry level bikes.
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Old 07-27-06, 08:38 PM
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Nice bikes, yeah, but its a lot of money and thief magnets. Dunno....I dont do much recreational riding, and while Id like a road bike, I dont know if its worth it.
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Old 07-27-06, 09:54 PM
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I should probably add that I dont have any place to keep a bike inside, so it will be hanging outside under a wide overhang. Prolly not the best place for a Really Good bike.
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Old 07-27-06, 10:18 PM
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Do you really need new? You should be able to get a higher quality bike if you shop around for a gently used one in your price range. That Sirrus or Dew Deluxe (maybe even Dr. Dew) could be found.
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Old 07-27-06, 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by hubcap
Do you really need new? You should be able to get a higher quality bike if you shop around for a gently used one in your price range. That Sirrus or Dew Deluxe (maybe even Dr. Dew) could be found.
Well, I need wheels right away. I might be able to get my hands on a decent cheap old bike so I have wheels right now and take my time looking for a good used bike. Any ideas where to look, other than craigslist?
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Old 07-27-06, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Man In Black
Nice bikes, yeah, but its a lot of money and thief magnets. Dunno....I dont do much recreational riding, and while Id like a road bike, I dont know if its worth it.
Go for used, dude. You can get such good value on a used bike, especially a commuter-type bike.

Or if you're mechanically inclined, build your own. I lusted after the Trek 520 (lovely steel touring bike) for months, but it was out of my price range, so I decided to build my own. I carefully assembled parts from swap meets and craigslist, then built it up. For $325 I had a bike which is nearly identical in components. I've been riding it every day for about 14 months, and I love it... best bike I've ever owned.
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Old 07-27-06, 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Man In Black
Well, I need wheels right away. I might be able to get my hands on a decent cheap old bike so I have wheels right now and take my time looking for a good used bike. Any ideas where to look, other than craigslist?
Okay, well the time frame makes it harder obviously ... but I've bought and sold many bikes on craigslist, and managed to find one I liked in 2-4 days time often. Only reason not to try craigslist that I can think of would be if you're far from a metro area and can't easily get there.

Might not work for you, but in my experience it's worth giving it a shot!
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Old 07-27-06, 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by moxfyre
Go for used, dude. You can get such good value on a used bike, especially a commuter-type bike.

Or if you're mechanically inclined, build your own. I lusted after the Trek 520 (lovely steel touring bike) for months, but it was out of my price range, so I decided to build my own. I carefully assembled parts from swap meets and craigslist, then built it up. For $325 I had a bike which is nearly identical in components. I've been riding it every day for about 14 months, and I love it... best bike I've ever owned.

Holy crap, $325?! wow. Unfortuantly, I dont think Ive got the time required to do such a thing, as it would be a big learning expeience. I know how to do basic maintananace and repair...but I wouldnt know where to begin when starting from scratch.....
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Old 07-27-06, 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by moxfyre
Okay, well the time frame makes it harder obviously ... but I've bought and sold many bikes on craigslist, and managed to find one I liked in 2-4 days time often. Only reason not to try craigslist that I can think of would be if you're far from a metro area and can't easily get there.

Might not work for you, but in my experience it's worth giving it a shot!
Well, I can find a decent beater rather easily I think, I was referring to finding a good bike.
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Old 07-27-06, 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Man In Black
Well, I can find a decent beater rather easily I think, I was referring to finding a good bike.
Well, one man's beater is another man's treasure . For people like you and I who are strapped for cash, our best bet is typically to find bikes that are of a good quality but aren't trendy or new.

My favorite are Japanese road bikes from the 80s. You'd be amazed how many aging boomers have good quality 25 year old bikes sitting around that don't need much more than air in the tires and a good cleaning. I got my girlfriend a great 1983 Nishiki Sport for only $25 from some guy who was moving. The freewheel was seized up (WD-40) and the chain was rusted ($10 for a new one), and voilà it's a great bike with good SunTour and Diacompe components. Of course, being a bike dork I then repainted it, replaced the shifters and brake levers, and rewrapped the handlebars, but you get the idea
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Old 07-27-06, 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by moxfyre
Well, one man's beater is another man's treasure . For people like you and I who are strapped for cash, our best bet is typically to find bikes that are of a good quality but aren't trendy or new.

My favorite are Japanese road bikes from the 80s. You'd be amazed how many aging boomers have good quality 25 year old bikes sitting around that don't need much more than air in the tires and a good cleaning. I got my girlfriend a great 1983 Nishiki Sport for only $25 from some guy who was moving. The freewheel was seized up (WD-40) and the chain was rusted ($10 for a new one), and voilà it's a great bike with good SunTour and Diacompe components. Of course, being a bike dork I then repainted it, replaced the shifters and brake levers, and rewrapped the handlebars, but you get the idea
By beater I meant a bike to tide me over while I look for a good used bike.

The reason Im looking for a bike was because my old road bike a friend gave me for free got to the point where it needs a lot of work, and I figured it would be easier to find a used bike, or whatever.

It was a 23 year old "SR" japanese bike...7 speed i think. Need a new rear wheel and freewheel, at the very least a freewheel, Not sure if the tire is bent too much to be trued successfully. Needs New tires, tubes, chain, pedal and pedal "arm", brake pads, everythings real worn, but it was a good bike.

Ill have to do some perusing and keep tabs on craigslist and see if I cant get myself a deal ^.^

Last edited by Man In Black; 07-27-06 at 11:51 PM.
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Old 07-28-06, 06:58 PM
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I was recently in the market for a similar bike for a new 10-mile r/t commute. I checked out the Trek FX line up. The 7.3 FX came closest in my mind to balncing performance/compenents with price. I've even seen one on this board for under $400. It is very sturdy and - you're right - the shifters are spectacular, at that price point.

If the choice is between the 7.3 and the Sirrus, I'd go with the 7.3.

If you can go up to the Sirrus Sport, then it's a different ballgame. Go Sirrus Sport with the CrMo fork and regualr brakes....don't let anyone talk you into the comp fork or the disc brakes - neither is worth the extra dough.
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Old 07-28-06, 07:30 PM
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You can get a lot of used bike for under $400.
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