Originally Posted by
Mr. Underbridge
Things like brakes malfunctioning or derailers going into spokes. Decidedly un-fun. Also, because some of them use non-standard parts, repairing them can be difficult (if it made financial sense anyway).
The general consensus is that it's fool's economy to get one of those bikes. You'd want to have a mechanic inspect it if you were going to do much riding on it, which would eat up your cost savings. At any price point, there are safer, better bikes available used than in big box stores.
Some trolls will try to make snarky comments about bike snobs and whatnot looking down at cheaper bikes. That is *not* the issue here. The issues are durability, safety, and value, and those hold true at any price point from $20 to $2000.
Neato technique
- Declare that your opinion is the "general consensus" (of what group - the people who agree with you?) and preempt disagreement by declaring that only snarky trolls would disagree or point out the self interest (employment at LBS') or personal agenda (actually are bike snobs) of some of the members of the "general consensus" who share your opinion.
Even better, imply one type of bike is "safer" than another with vague statements about " brakes malfunctioning or derailers going into spokes" with no reference to actual frequency of such "un fun" events occurring to bikes of different provenances.