Hey all!

Need help selecting between two bikes.

I have just moved to the Houston area, which has a large biking community that my wife and I have befriended through work connections. She has been on a bunch of rides and uses a cruising bike. I myself have always been partial to BMX due to the manueverability and just the fun of riding on pavement with them.

However, I havent ridden in quite a few years so I while I want to get a solid brand, I still want to keep it low end.

Shopping used in a low-end price range has led to nothing but wasted gas and disappointment.

I have shopped around and a bike shop a few towns over has a 2016 Haro Downtown DLX and a 2017 Haro Leucadia DLX. They are extremely similar bikes (i test rode both of them) and there is a $10 price difference. However, the online MSRP is quite different. When researching online the only difference I could find would be that the Downtown has a sealed bottom bracket while the Leucadia has a loose ball. I wont be riding much in crappy weather (my wife hates the elements) so I dont know how much of a factor that will be. They both have plastic pedals that will be switched out asap and crappy seats that I will also change.

Can anyone else offer any expertise into any difference these bikes have?

The forum wont let me post URLs so here are some hard links:

Downtown:
Http://m.vitalbmx.com/product/guide/Bikes,6/Haro/Downtown-DLX,9838

Leucadia:
Htp://m.vitalbmx.com/product/guide/Bikes,6/Haro/Leucadia-DLX,9843

Thanks for any constructive input!

so you'll be riding bmx? or will you be riding with your wife? what kind of riding does your community do? I ask beacuse while that's the type of bike you used to ride, it may not represent the kind of riding you will be doing now. I may be off line asking, sorry, but you mentioned those other things. maybe you need 2 bikes? 1 to go play on & 1 to join your wife with?

It will mainly be for going for group rides/cruises, and also some short rides around the neighborhood after work. But as stated, I prefer BMX style bikes. Houston is extremely flat, no real need for gears and dont mind standing for the majority of pedaling. I just enjoy riding BMX bikes.

I think either one will be fine for the 2 rides you try it out on. Then you can push it into the corner of the garage when you get an appropriate bike with 26" or 700c wheels.

But on second thought, consider SE's big bmx cruisers , they have a 26" OM and a 29" Big Ripper that would be much better for this type of use

Fairdale Taj is a neat bike at a low price - Fairdale is based out of Austin as well

^I tried a larger Haro "cruiser bmx", it had a bit larger of a frame and like 22" wheels. It felt awful and awkward. I think its best to go either either a straight up BMX or a straight road bike. The in between just felt wierd as hell.

However, my last BMX bike (back in NY) was an SE Mauler 2.0, and i absolutely loved that bike. Maybe Ill look into what SE Racing bikes I can get near my price range too

Also open to other suggestions for around $300. Tube must be at least 20" but would love if it was a bit longer.

Check out the Sunday Primer and the Sunday Scout. Few more dollars than your stated budget but worth it. Sunday makes some nice bikes.

furyus