Got a junk bike. Want to maybe use it for beginner mtn biking. Advice?
03-03-16, 04:30 AM
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Got a junk bike. Want to maybe use it for beginner mtn biking. Advice?
Decided to get a junk bike so I don't have to use my road bike for running errands and making small trips.
It shifts okay, and the front suspension still works, still has pressure. It weighs 35lb. I'll be cleaning and lubricating the chain. Removing the kick stand. The brake and shifting cables probably need to be changed. I gotta learn how to do that, as well as removing the plastic disc behind the gears.
I am looking to get into mtn biking. I'd only use this for beginner, easy trails of course. Would it be good as is? Any cheap upgrades that would make a significant improvement?
edit:
Found out it's a Walmart bike
Took off that platter. It was so brittle it chipped off like it was a giant tortilla chip.
Took off the reflectors, and some mount that was on the handlebars.
Lowered the handlebars all the way down.
Trying to find the serial number, make sure it isn't stolen.
It shifts okay, and the front suspension still works, still has pressure. It weighs 35lb. I'll be cleaning and lubricating the chain. Removing the kick stand. The brake and shifting cables probably need to be changed. I gotta learn how to do that, as well as removing the plastic disc behind the gears.
I am looking to get into mtn biking. I'd only use this for beginner, easy trails of course. Would it be good as is? Any cheap upgrades that would make a significant improvement?
edit:
Found out it's a Walmart bike
Took off that platter. It was so brittle it chipped off like it was a giant tortilla chip.
Took off the reflectors, and some mount that was on the handlebars.
Lowered the handlebars all the way down.
Trying to find the serial number, make sure it isn't stolen.
Last edited by HBxRider; 03-03-16 at 06:06 AM.
03-03-16, 06:06 AM
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To drop the handlbars, just loosen the stem(quill)/headset, and push down (and do up again when finished), plenty of guides online/youtube
For the bike as a whole, as you have noted, it's a bigbox store bike (often called a BSO), realistically, it's not worth putting any money into it, as it won't make the bike better, and there will be very little, if anything you could move onto a better frame/bike later, as the specs on your current bike aren't compatible with even current low end MTB's.
Would expect that it won't last long if you intend to ride it off road, but for basic errands, it will work just fine.
For the bike as a whole, as you have noted, it's a bigbox store bike (often called a BSO), realistically, it's not worth putting any money into it, as it won't make the bike better, and there will be very little, if anything you could move onto a better frame/bike later, as the specs on your current bike aren't compatible with even current low end MTB's.
Would expect that it won't last long if you intend to ride it off road, but for basic errands, it will work just fine.
03-03-16, 07:54 AM
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ride it as is, note everything you don't like about it so when you upgrade to a better bike you know what to look for.
03-03-16, 07:58 AM
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Why would you take off the reflectors on a bike intended for city riding? They may look a bit 'dorky' to bike snobs, but less dorky than being smushed under a dump truck.
03-03-16, 08:17 AM
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To drop the handlbars, just loosen the stem(quill)/headset, and push down (and do up again when finished), plenty of guides online/youtube
For the bike as a whole, as you have noted, it's a bigbox store bike (often called a BSO), realistically, it's not worth putting any money into it, as it won't make the bike better, and there will be very little, if anything you could move onto a better frame/bike later, as the specs on your current bike aren't compatible with even current low end MTB's.
Would expect that it won't last long if you intend to ride it off road, but for basic errands, it will work just fine.
For the bike as a whole, as you have noted, it's a bigbox store bike (often called a BSO), realistically, it's not worth putting any money into it, as it won't make the bike better, and there will be very little, if anything you could move onto a better frame/bike later, as the specs on your current bike aren't compatible with even current low end MTB's.
Would expect that it won't last long if you intend to ride it off road, but for basic errands, it will work just fine.
Thanks! I lowered the handlebars, found the serial number, put it on bikeregistry.com, made some minor adjustments. Going to take it to fullerton loop, very basic trail, see if it holds up. Taking off the kickstand, and feeling how heavy it was, was pretty satisfying.
03-03-16, 08:27 AM
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Decided to get a junk bike so I don't have to use my road bike for running errands and making small trips.
It shifts okay, and the front suspension still works, still has pressure. It weighs 35lb. I'll be cleaning and lubricating the chain. Removing the kick stand. The brake and shifting cables probably need to be changed. I gotta learn how to do that, as well as removing the plastic disc behind the gears.
I am looking to get into mtn biking. I'd only use this for beginner, easy trails of course. Would it be good as is? Any cheap upgrades that would make a significant improvement?
edit:
Found out it's a Walmart bike
Took off that platter. It was so brittle it chipped off like it was a giant tortilla chip.
Took off the reflectors, and some mount that was on the handlebars.
Lowered the handlebars all the way down.
Trying to find the serial number, make sure it isn't stolen.
It shifts okay, and the front suspension still works, still has pressure. It weighs 35lb. I'll be cleaning and lubricating the chain. Removing the kick stand. The brake and shifting cables probably need to be changed. I gotta learn how to do that, as well as removing the plastic disc behind the gears.
I am looking to get into mtn biking. I'd only use this for beginner, easy trails of course. Would it be good as is? Any cheap upgrades that would make a significant improvement?
edit:
Found out it's a Walmart bike
Took off that platter. It was so brittle it chipped off like it was a giant tortilla chip.
Took off the reflectors, and some mount that was on the handlebars.
Lowered the handlebars all the way down.
Trying to find the serial number, make sure it isn't stolen.
03-03-16, 08:30 AM
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I'd sell the bike and buy a vintage mountain bike. Those are real bikes and are inexpensive. I bought my daughter an old specialized rockhopper for $50. I bought a 1993 Trek 950 (a seriously nice old mtb) for $125 last summer. I see good quality vintage mtbs on my local CL on a regular basis; they tend to run from between $50 to $150.
A vintage mtb is better than any wally world bike by a long shot and you will have a bike that is suitable for getting into mountain biking.
A vintage mtb is better than any wally world bike by a long shot and you will have a bike that is suitable for getting into mountain biking.
03-03-16, 06:11 PM
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Take it out and ride it with not a lot of vigor and enjoy it, but if you try to really ride it ... it's a lot of weight to carry home. Enjoy it----it's a bike---but well ... hit anything hard and that fork .... well, who knows? Miracles happen. But i'd say that bike is about up to hopping curbs and not much more. it is a perfect errand bike because if it gets stolen you will probably smile.
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