flippin_bikes

Let me preface this by saying that I have owned some expensive mountain bikes in the past ($1000 Kona, $2000 custom spec'd 29er) but never an expensive road bike. I had a Cannondale with full Ultegra, but that was a mid-80s frame with late 80s Shimano 600 parts on it, so that doesn't exactly count. I recently sold my Jamis Aurora ($825 new) which was my most expensive road bike, but still modestly priced in the grand scheme of things. Last weekend, I picked up a KHS Flite 220 which is their bottom end road bike with Shimano 2300 components, steel frame, and a healthy dose of generic control components.

There aren't a lot of choices out there for road bikes with a steel frame frame, lots of room for big tires, and an upright geometry. I am not made of money, so something like a Rivendell Sam Hillborn is way out of the question. A more reasonably priced option was the Salsa Casseroll, but their stock bike only comes with a triple crank and I wanted compact double. I also thought building up a Soma Smoothie ES would be cool, but again, could get pricey quick. So, I recalled that KHS still made a comfort oriented steel bike. I also know a shop owner well enough that he sells me most anything I want at cost.

So, I picked up this new, leftover 2009 model for $380 and couldn't be happier. It rides smooth, is fairly fun to throw around, but stable at speed (hit 41 mph down a hill today), and is super comfy. Other than some areas where the paint is a little thinner (around cable braze-ons and the underside of the head tube, downtube joint) the frame is pretty nice looking with clean welds and nice detail on the rear brake bridge.

The thing that was a pleasant surprise is that the bike is equipped with the newer 2300 model shifter which appear to be an 8 speed version of the new Sora shifters with the gear indicators. The specs indicate the bike comes with the older 2200 model shifters. I was also surprised that the large chainring on the Truvativ crankset is alloy. The rear derailleur and cassette leave a little to be desired. The 2300 model derailleur is finished a lot nicer than the old Sora and 2200 stuff, but is a little balky. I also don't care for the large pulley wheel that screams CHEEEAP!

KHS also specs the bike with a mountain bike cassette, 11-30 teeth. I assume this is gone to provide a greater gear range for beginner riders, but it is not needed. The compact double allows a smaller range on the cassette. The derailleur wasn't designed to take up a 30 tooth cog, so you'd get a bit of chatter, even with the B-adjustment screw all the way in. I just swapped the cassette for a SRAM 850 12-26 and that has helped a bit with the shifting and the chatter is gone, but I still don't like the looks of that derailleur. I think a Tiagra will be a nice upgrade and I can get one of those for around $40 from Performance Bike.

Another thing I don't like is the single bolt seatpost. I can't adjust my saddle just the way I need it, so I found a replacement two-bolt post on ebay for under $20 that should do the trick. Some people may not be as sensitive. I was fairly impressed with the quality of the generic handlebar and stem. The bars are very comfy and the stem looks more expensive than its unbranded appearance would suggest. The unbranded brakes are also surprisingly good. They are long reach and have plenty of room for big tires. I have some Panaracer 32s on there and there is still room for fenders if I wished to mount them.

Here is a picture from before swapping the cassette and installing my Brooks saddle. I'll repost when I have that new seatpost, hopefully tomorrow.

Spookeay Bird

Cheep is a suggestive word. I have a Wall-Mart Schwinn Schwinn Varsity that I think is a very fine bike. It was like $280, something like that.
In this photo is my friend Brandon on the bike during a 30 mile weekend jaunt.


As it came from the store, it needed a full tune up and some fine tuning but it's a sound bike a good bike. It's T6061 Aluminum, it came with lower end Shimano Tourney components but not bottom of the box stuff. I had to put drops and other road gear on it because it was sold as more of a Hybrid than any thing. Strait bars, rapid fire shifters. I have never had any one knock it outside the net and only when I told people it came from a BIG BOX store. I Love Cannondale. I think there is no better bike in the world but that's the old Ford Vs Chevrolet thing. Look it over,,, if it looks safe, you feel safe on it and it works for you! Hey go for it. Not every one can spend 3K on a new bike. Most people I know have a hard time coming up with $500.... So don't worry about the snobs and enjoy the ride!
Ya know,,,,,You have crap then you have potential. I always say look at the welds. That will tell you a lot about what your starting out with.

mikeoverly

I have a few cheap bikes, including my all-time best $$/return in cycling, a "Schwinn" hardtail assembled by some guy in the back room of Target. I paid $115 for the bike seven years ago and have nearly 10k on it -- one tire tire tube and chain lube needed in all that time. It's as well put together as any high-end bike, just heavier. Tourney is as slick as can be and reliable. I don't think Shimano makes a bad group.

Bacciagalupe

Yeah, you've gotta define "cheap." $800 is expensive to some people and dirt cheap to others.

Also, a cheap bike can turn into a money pit, especially when buying used.

Third, if you're doing 10, 20 or even 30 mile rides you've got a lot of latitude. If you ride 70 miles on a typical Saturday, the Walmart Special might not do the trick.

BHOFM

Just noticed this was road cycling, OT again, sorry.

Titmawz

I have a Gavin with Shimano sora components, aluminum frame and carbon fork. I am very happy with my bike =] and I lovee it when i spank the people on carbon Cervelos <3

Braxt

I picked up a Windsor Wllington from bikesdirect. Bike plus helmet plus other gear for under $450. Love the choice I made

Nachoman

Who rides a cheap bike?

I don't.

mymojo

Im riding a 10 year old Trek that I picked up for $300. Does that count?


(although, truth be told I have a nicer bike on lay-away)

Ansir

I love my KHS flite 300, granted the only thing left stock is the frame and fork but as it came I put my first precious road biking miles on it. Now with several rebuilds and another underway the bike is custom for me and provided a great base. Plus it has all the braze on mounts for panniers and such should I decide to cross country tour with it.

Stock

flippin_bikes

I could tell by your kitchen alone that you don't ride a cheap bike. Ti is quite tasty, I must say. If money was no object, I might have something like that in the garage. My motorcycle might get jealous that I spent more on a bicycle than I did on it.

flippin_bikes

Ansir,

I was always impressed with how well those Flite 300s rode. I borrowed a friend's a few years ago and was expecting a really harsh riding, dead handling bike. I was quite surprised how nice this was, other than the bike I rode being too big for me. I'd say your bike is more worthy of upgrades than mine (still doesn't stop me from doing stuff to my bike).

Do you know what KHS stands for?

"Knowledge, Health, Strength"

Doohickie

I thought you were talkin' about CHEAP bikes. You know, like this one I traded for another bike I paid $50 at the pawn shop.



That's my best and only road bike.

miyata man

My answer is; they are called hybrids and you should try one. It fits every darn one of your criteria.

Duo

Who rides a Cheap Bike?

I do.

Giant 1980's Hi-Ten steel 12 speed. Been refurbing it from front to back. The bike is a great teacher for me, i learn my repairs on that bike and then work on my better bikes. The bike is fun to ride and i experiment with mods on the thing.

Just got done tonight adding a higher stem to the thing and taping the bars with some cheap tape. Never done that before but know how now.

Really would wish some Bike Forum would have a Cheap Bike section. Too many new riders are asking how cheap can they go; well as cheap as you wanna go. It's all about having fun. If your all worried about your expensive status symbol, then what fun is that?

i paid $15 for this bike at a Garage Sale, i would say that's pretty cheap. Bang for the buck........no contest: this bike beats EVERY bike i have ever ridden, and we are talking about decades of riding.

My Fuji Touring bike is a little nicer to ride, but doesn't even come close in the Fun for the Buck comparisons. The Fuji was bought used for very cheap too; the only thing i would learn from buying new would be how to crack open the wallet.

Goes for a lot of things. You can buy a new computer or Build Your Own. Again the only thing i learn from buying new from the Big Box is how to tear off the shrink wrap. And then i miss all the fun of building a computer and see it come to life.

Bikes are the same way, get a good bike that has been beat up a bit and go to work on it. After a while a sweet ride emerges, you know every bolt on the thing and what to do when things go wrong.

Suddenly the bike is really yours, your work and imagination. the bike has some soul.

You don't get this way by reading about it, and many may never get it. Some have called it the path less travelled, but it makes all the difference.

Ride on.

flippin_bikes

I think I should have included in my original post that I was thinking more of cheap and new bikes. My idea behind this thread was to be the antithesis of all the other "hey my bike is better than your bike" threads you see in this section.

Old bikes are cool, too. I have had many of those in the past 7-8 years, most of which were purchased at Goodwill. My first road bike was a 1983 Trek 400 I purchased for $20. I have also scored many other road bikes for really cheap that were purchased for reselling, but were really nice nonetheless. My favorites were:

1.) Bianchi Eros w/ full Campy Mirage Ergo drivetrain, Veloce brakes and crank - purchased for $300, sold for $600
2.) Bianchi Tangent CX w/ Suntour XC Comp/Pro parts and "command" shifters - purchased for $300, sold for $300 plus an early 90s Diamondback Overdrive 29er
3.) Centurion "Dave Scott" Ironman Expert - Garage sale find for $10, sold for $350 after spending about $50 refurbing it

Duo

The term 'cheap' is relative to who is using the term. When B Gates says he got something 'cheap', you can bet you prolly can't afford it.

My other bike, a Fuji Touring was bought for less than your cheap/new bike. It has a better groupo but i needed to go through the bike to make it road worthy.

Nice old collection of 'cheap' bikes btw. Personally i don't call a $300 used bike cheap, because if you buy it right, there is plenty out there with some quality at that price on CL.

This thread is refreshing though, as most of what goes for threads around this forum is 'look at my expensive bike'.

Get's old.

That's why i would like to see a sub forum for used or 'cheap' bikes. There are enuf new riders looking to get into bicycling cheap and most are steered to buying expensive road bikes. A few years later these bikes hit Craigs List and a new thread is posted on what a great deal i got on my cheap but great bike.

BD seems to specialize on the lower end of the cheap/quality bike, and probably why they are so successful. The added benefit is that the new rider gets to learn how to work on his own bike, chances are he will fail, but not entirely. With perseverance this new rider will become a rider and mechanic; and that's where i find myself after working on a few 'cheap' bikes.