Probably assembly would be the main concern. They are generally put together by people that are not skilled in bike mechanics. I've heard of people buying Walmart bikes and then having a bad crash caused by something falling off the bike. You might instead just experience frustration changing gears if the shifters are not adjusted well etc. The biggest indication of what Walmart thinks of bikes? Clicked on the link you sent and bikes are classified under the top level of "Toys".

Also obviously for the price they are selling the bike for, very little human time can have been spent on adjusting the bike. Very different when it comes to buying a second hand bicycle.

Try spending the equivalent amount on a used bicycle preferably from a bike store or a recycle-bike-type coop where someone has put some effort in making sure its mechanically sound. Craigslist is risky unless you can take a friend with you that has some knowledge of what to look for. Best bets are something that has been lovingly cared for by an enthusiast, or something that someone bought a quality bike from a bike store that did a good job of assembling and adjusting, but basically did not ride and stored indoors.

If you test ride the bike, there should be no strange noises, or feeling that something is dragging. The wheels should spin freely and not wobble (try watching them relative to the brake pads, easiest to pick it up and spin them for this). The brakes should stop the bike well and not squeal, and of course the pads should not rub on the wheels while they are not engaged. Try a whole range of gears, shifting should be relatively smooth. Ask the seller if the bike has been in a crash. Inspect the frame does not have any visible dents/damage or rust.

Sometimes a used bicycle may just need trivial repairs (it has a flat tire etc.) but if you can't test ride when you go to look at it its hard to judge how the rest of the bike is doing.

virtually indestructible, it does not really matter where you buy them from.

1 speed, coaster brake, big comfortable saddle, sturdy as a hammer and probably just as reliable.

... and inexpensive!

Geared stuff might require a deeper investement in money to make you happy in the long term.

The greater question is whats wrong with Walmart. / the serious answer would be service. And I do not believe in undercutting my local bike shop. Those are whom I turn to for expert advice and service.

you will get stronger.

sounds good!

Unlike some here I have actually looked at this bike. Wal*Mart issues aside, it appears to be an OK bike.

I think it would work fine for your one mile commute and short rides with little kids. I would even consider it OK for longer commutes of 5-10 miles. I like that it doesn't have 27 speeds, a crappy front suspension or mountain bike pretensions. It is just a straight forward commuter bike.

The handlebar is different than any stock bicycle I have ever seen and the plastic pedals are quite cheap. But if you take it to a local bike shop or to your friend to inspect, tune, and adjust it for you it should be fine for your stated use.

If you ride it a lot be prepared to do some tinkering on it to keep it in tune. The inexpensive brakes are known to require some maintenance.

What does your friend say? It's easy to be snobbish about box-store bicycles.

If you are really strapped for cash, you could probably find an equivalent bike (maybe, even better) for less money than the new Walmart bike.

Maybe, if you point to the craigslist entry, people here might be able to point out things that might be appropriate.

Your biggest problem is the size of the bike. Keeping your eye on "hybrids" might make it simpler for it. Given how cheap a used bike can cost, the other details might not matter too much (as long as it is in decent shape).

Keep in mind that you'd have to pay the bike shop to do this.

Your neighbor could be a very good resource!

Or you could look in the trash.
I pulled this one out of the garbage on my way home one night. I aired up the tires and have been using it to haul the kids around in the trailer and getting groceries.

Nice find.

See if your neighbor will help you look for a used bike. He will be invaluable in showing you what to look for. (Note: Many bicyclists can be enticed to help with the use of a pie or cake) Better help to prevent a mistake than fix it.

I have seen that bike and it is a decent value, the pedals will need to be replaced they are probably the worst component on the bike. Every now and again WM gets a decent bike, I have no clue why, most of what they sell is basically rolling scrap.

Aaron

Picture is of the typically Huffy welds that WM is currently selling for around $90...welcome to the race to the bottom

I would bring your neighbor along, and have him check it out. If it is reasonable, then go for it! Also, you could use the post purchase inspection for your first tutorial, and have him go over the bike with you and make sure that it is all proper.

It'll be fine.Biggest problem with those bikes is how it's assembled.If your friend can help you take it apart and put it together correctly,it should last awhile.Plus you'll get to learn all about how it all works.

My dad, an airplane mechanic, has the saying "No-one can afford a cheap airplane".
The Wal-mart bikes have three main issues - safety, maintenance, and poor riding characteristics. You'll go slower, struggle more, break down more often, spend more on strange proprietary parts made out of cheap plastic, and have to worry about the brakes failing as you're driving in traffic, or the pedal snapping as you go to power up a hill.
If that's acceptable to you then go for it. I know that here, a tune-up runs about $40-$50, which needs to be added to the price of a chain store BSO.

I think with an airplane it's definitely a matter of being better off with NONE than a cheap one

I wonder though if a bicycle that meets CPSC standards is really as dangerous as you make out?! Brakes failing in the middle of traffic? I guess that was my original question - am I going to DIE if I buy this bike, or am I just going to not be very cool and possible need to replace some or all of it within a couple of years?

From other responses, I've decided to go ahead and get this one, have my neighbor check out the assembly and teach me all about it. I'll probably replace the pedals - I guess I need to go to a bike shop for that? I bet my neighbor has one he uses and likes.

Hopefully the bike bug will bite me, and in a couple of years I'll upgrade to a "real" bike

By the way, for the most part you all weren't as scary as I'd feared, and I'm sure as I embark on this adventure I'll be back for more advice. Thanks!

I believe there are at least two threads active within the past two weeks about people suffering life-altering injuries or death due to poor assembly of Wal-Mart bicycles.
Make sure it gets looked over well and thoroughly checked out.

This is the problem: everything you buy at walmart is designed to maximize profit. <--period!

Dedicated bicycle companies(Trek, Specialized, Giant, Cannondale and especially the smaller ones) primarily design their bicycles to be ridden. Profit is usually an important secondary consideration. These dedicated companies exist solely on their reputation for excellent products. There is a huge difference here. This is a trend you will see in every single product you can think of to some degree. Dedicated vacuum cleaner companies(Miele, Sebo) design their vacuums to work well, be reliable and user friendly. The current corporate trend is to buy the reputation of these smaller companies when they are in trouble and attach this name to a product designed to maximize profit. Schwinn was once a great American bicycle company that built quite a reputation selling quality products. They floundered, got bought out and their name is now *****d out to big-box stores. All the "brand" names you see in Wal-Mart pretty much followed this pattern.

Just from personal experience, I've had vacuum cleaners that only last 1 year(plastic gears in the motor!!!) to coffee grinders that grind coffee but are a nightmare to clean(serious design issues) to bicycles that self-destruct in 100 miles(drop outs breaking, derailers going into the wheel, cranks going lopsided). Blenders that stop working after a month... Humidifiers that work sporadically... I was quite the sucker for a long time.

Enough is enough! I will never buy anything with moving parts from Wal-Mart. I try not to support this corporation that burned me time and time again with badly designed products. I highly suggest you do the same. Walmart bikes are designed to maximize profit. Think about it.

I have almost bought one of those 2 or 3 times then something vintage pops up and it gets put off. I rode one around the back of the store (I know the manager) It would due for an around towner. It ain't an old school steel 3 speed (my favorite around towner) though
Roy

better off getting one maybe at a sports store, at least they will have a area where they repair them, like sport chalet. The guy at our's actually is a good mechanic, and they have some good prices on starter bikes like Fuji's and diamondback, marin

or craigslist.

My sister used a WalMart Mongoose bike to get to and from work. One day, the handlebars BROKE as she was riding up a steep hill. She fell into the street. Car swerved, she luckily wasn't hit, but had a huge bruise on her knee and couldn't work or anything for over a week.

I rode a WalMart Huffy wannabe road bike a few weeks this summer to and from. The brakes weren't brakes. They were "slowers." I didn't really realize this at first, and almost went careening into the path of cars. Emergency stops are impossible, and its was really annoying having to start braking 100+ feet before where I actually needed to stop at.

My biggest issue with WalMart bikes is safety.

I'd shoot for any of the lower-end of the name brands like Trek or Giant, just to name two. I see these these reputable brands ALL OVER THE PLACE on craigslist and such. Try thrift stores too, there are good finds to be had there.

Well do you have a suggestion for someone with my budget then?

I guess like all products, I ask myself whether I'm better off with the cheap product, or none at all until I can afford the more expensive. Coffee makers - eh, we drink coffee but not enough to really care... we use a $20 Mr. Coffee that we've had since college (~8 years). It isn't programmable, it can't really do anything other than brew coffee, but it hasn't burned down our house and it still works. I'm fine with that. The airplane is actually a great example, because I took flying lessons a few times and actually would LOVE to get my license and own a plane. But it's nowhere near in my budget now, so I've given up on it - at least for a looong looong time. I'm not going to buy some homemade paper mache airplane just so I can have a plane ha ha. With the bike, I figure $124 is not that huge of an investment, and if it gets me to work and back and around the park with the kids, and teaches me about bikes and what I like/don't like, for a year or two, then I'm happy. My other option is to shelve the idea of biking for a couple of years until I can afford a more expensive bike.

If a bunch of people on here tell me that this bike is really dangerous (assembly aside - I will DEFINITELY take the suggestion of having that checked before riding it!) and I'm better off not riding a bike at all, then I might very well decide to wait. I will look for the threads about the people who had bad wrecks on Walmart bikes, to see if it was because they were Walmart bikes (by the way, my dad had a really bad wreck on a very expensive bike!) and if there's anything else I can learn from them.

Safety is definitely a concern for me, but I also want to make sure that it's really an issue. For example, I'm a car seat snob. My kids have top of the line car seats, the most expensive ones on the market, which I did a ridiculous amount of research on. I LOVE them. But I can't honestly tell someone that their kid won't be safe in a Walmart carseat - those things are VERY strictly regulated and pretty much are all equally safe. It's just some are more comfortable, pretty, etc. than others. So even though I'm a big fan of my carseat and will preach its virtues to anyone who will listen, I will concede that a cheaper new car seat (even one from Walmart) is fine safety wise.

My primary commuter bicycle is a 1986 Univega Arrow Sport. Bought off craigslist for $160 and worth every penny. It needed nothing.

Here is a general article worth reading if you are serious about buying used.

Buying used maybe confusing but there are many people that have traveled this path and can offer you loads of advice. Even doing a search for "used bikes" (titles only) will unveil alot of good information. That said, I know used bike shopping is not for everyone. It does require some degree of mechanical knowledge and motivation to do some reading. It will require patience to find an acceptable bike of the right size and right condition on craigslist. If you are willing, this would be the best way to get the best bicycle possible for your hard earned money in my opinion.

Thanks - I'll read that article. No, I am not opposed to buying used. I'm only reluctant because I don't feel like I know enough and I don't feel like I have the time...

Someone asked earlier, so here are the Craigslist bikes in my area:

15speed mountain Bike in great shape. - $85
Has not been rode much at all. Rides great breaks and gear adjustment works like a champ. Quick adjust seat and quick remove front wheel. Very versitile and light weight bike. Call for more info or if interested.


Blue BMX bike by Redline - quality bike needs a little tune. Super deal at only $40.00


24" Specialized Comp Mountain Bike - $550
12+ year old bike has been used less than 300 miles. Top of the line. The 2005 Specialized (with newer but not better technologies) Comp model last sold new for $2300 in Denver.


Lowrider bicycle for sale - $350
This is a metalic green lowrider bicycle, it has green swirl velour banana seat, twisted sissy bar, twisted springer fork, side mirrors, fenders and lights, and 144 spoke chrome wheels, with lowrider whitewalls. Anything else u wanna know just ask me.. Hope to hear from you soon, thanks and have a great day..


Trek Multitrack 700 7 speed mountain/ road bike - $100
This bike appears to be in good condition. Has the foot holder's, good tires, and some gauges that I don't know what they do. Has easy change wheel's.


Men's Mountain Bike - Diamondback Sorrento 18" - $200
Diamondback Sorrento - Very good condition - 21 speed, front shock, waterbottle holder, bike computer. Good basic Mountain bike. Recent tuneup Approx 600 miles, no problems.
$200 OBO


all the others are over $1,000 or children's bikes. Several of these are 1-2 hours away from me, so I would want to be pretty enthusiastic about it before driving that far to try it out. Any thoughts?

The trek should be ok, go with your neighbor and have him take a look.

Okay. I've been around bicycles a good part of my life so I can tell a 4 thousand dollar custom fit road bike to a WallyWorld bike. But lately,Wal Mart has been scaring me for I saw this bike there:
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663046
Look at the rims. Aluminum frame.
This bike was pretty darn light.
Look at the price tag.
For that price you can buy some good components and still be ahead.
Wal mart is our enemy.
Soon they will DEVOUR our bike shops.
I want so bad to support my bike shop.
I want a heavy duty cruiser.
Those Nirve bikes pretty much rule.
But I don't have 400 dollars.
Down the road,when I lose some weight and I'm ready for a road bike.
158 dollars is a NO BRAINER.