Oneder

More troubles with my junkyard bike, the $25 Magna Great Divide I have already put 120 bucks into including tools and so on.

This bike has a really weird brake arrangement you can't adjust much. You can only clean and lube it out and hope it goes back into normal shape. I finally took it all apart and put some WD 40 in there but one side of the brakes still rubs on the front wheen slightly which makes me insane. At this point I guess the brakes just need to be replaced which is almost a relief since messing around with them is very annoying.

Am I stuck with this TYPE of setup? And what exactly is the whole break kit called? I see tons of brake PADS online, but probably I am just not searching on the right name. And any recommendations?

fietsbob

you can probably find more junkyard level V brakes .. the principle is the same
long V brake arm leverage needs a long cable pull brake lever..

Generically, Relative to the rim, the frame brake posts, are at about same height..


People abandon those Magna at bike shops regularly when told the repair will cost more than another bike..
so ask if they have some in their basement.. to cannibalize parts from..





..

Kapusta

If you have cantis now, and you want use V-brakes, you will need V-brake levers.

Oneder

Well if I need levers too I should probably get all new brakes all around. Looking online that is kind of expensive for this bike though so I ended up just taking off the front brake. I will save the money towards a new bike I think.

70sSanO

Wisest direction for a bike like this. Only advice is to do a bit of research so you don't go from one discount store bike to another, such as Mongoose, Roadmaster, Huffy, Schwinn, etc.

Depending on what you are riding, an older lightly used Trek, Giant, or Specialized will ride and hold up better than any new Walmart offering. You do need to be careful buying used, but it is pretty easy to tell if a bike has hardly been ridden.

John

shelbyfv

Yes, time to move on.

Oneder

I'd like to get something new and properly assembled which I won't have to hassle with any time soon. At mcghies they have a few mountain bikes with wide tires under 500 bucks. They do more than bikes but they seem to have a very good reputation.

I think they are trek frames but don't remember for sure. Most of the parts look like bontrager and shimano. I will probably get one of those if I can get one that is big enough and doesn't have too many gears.

Andrew R Stewart 

If a bike has too many gear just don't use them all. Of course you'll wear the ones you do use quicker.


The really cheap brakes that come on many of the big box store bikes are often compromised by cost limitations on top of the factory quality (or lack of) and the assembly (if any). If you expect the bike to work well for a while shop elsewhere, a LBS has the feedback loop that makes them usually offer a better basic grade (and of course at a cost).


Years ago when Huffy was a common big box brand the CEO was quoted as saying their bikes had an average use life of 76 miles... These days the brand names are different but the attitudes are much the same. Andy

dabac

Fat Bikes?
They’re great for soft surfaces, but quite punishing to ride on roads.
Wheels and tires are more expensive than regular width stuff.
Unless the ride surface calls for it, avoid.

Oneder

I weigh 300 lbs so the wider tires should be a big help. Road comfort is nice but durability under my weight is the biggest issue for me.

SkyDog75

Just doing a quick Google image search for 'Magna Great Divide', I see bikes with v-brakes. Some of my kids' friends have department store bikes with cheap v-brakes and those things are just about impossible to adjust and maintain. If you bend the springs just right, you might be able to get them to stop rubbing on the rim.

When you can replace those @#$% v-brakes for as little as $3 with halfway decent Tektro v-brakes, there's no point in trying to make them work.

Tektro TRP 841A V-Brake Caliper Front or Rear | V-Brakes | Brakes & Levers | Components | Bikewagon.com

dabac

Many tandem teams weigh more than that and ride regular tires.
If durability is important, don’t look at Fat Bike tires.
They’re made to be run at fairly low pressures, to squish and adapt to the surface for maximum friction. Cut through, they’re quite thin.
If you want durability, stay with regular width rims, then look for tires intended for commuting and/or touring.

le mans

I had two identical magna mountain bikes that got given to me, made a good one out of the two, but i still needed to source other brakes from scrap bikes that had adjustment tension screws either side of the brake arms

after making it presentable i discovered these were just target specials, dang

but a fella still bought it for a $100

Oneder

Yeah, I gave up on the fat bike thing. It will probably just lead to more expense and hassles for my case.

It's a very nice looking bike. Aside from the crappy brakes and stock tires it seems to be decently durable. If I were a better bike mechanic and had cheap parts lying around then fixing up 25 dollar junkers and selling them off might not be a bad idea.

le mans

I used a set of tyres off the magna on this bike...

it's something different to what i usually collect around here
You can feel it on footpaths, but i bet they're good on trails

Oneder

Mine were bald and rotted, may have been OK when new. Someone rode this bike like crazy before I got it.

squirtdad

Ok....first I suggest you check out Cyldes and athena...they have a lot of infor for us bigger guys and are helpful https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdal...-200-lb-91-kg/


overall IMHO

Hate to say it but that bike is junk.....do not throw parts at it.

Don't get a fat tire bike if you want to ride on roads or even most trails.....as you ride will get in shape and get faster and hate it

I am 266 and ride on 25 tires no problem. Strong wheels (32 spoke ) are more important especially if you are worried about durability.

why worry about too many gears? gears are your friend and especially your knee's friend. Use then so you pedal fast not push hard on the pedals

Oneder

I just hate to shift through a ton of gears to get to the ones I want to use. I also don't use the granny gears too much. I mostly stay on the middle rung. of the front gearing.

My wheels seem pretty flimsy and keep going out of true, but most of the replacements I see cost more than a new bike.

shelbyfv

You could get a new Magna or similar from Walmart, would not have suffered the abuse of your present one, nice fresh tires and chain. For the riding you do it should be perfectly adequate. Get the fewest gears available. I think they offer layaway, they could hold it until check day. Sometimes basic stuff is all that's needed.

Oneder

You use layaway? TMI bro