I'm looking at this bike on craigslist but I don't know enough about bikes and scared
 

Hello,

I'm looking for a 7- speed cruiser bike. I'll be using it just for on the street to and back from work no big hills. I prefer the the cruiser style bikes. I find this one on craigslist and am ready to purchase it but I'm scared I really don't know anything and I'm worried about being ripped off.

White color , 18'' 7 speed white step through city bike / cruiser

If that link works for you, could you check it out and let me know? Thank you!

Vancouver is a big city. Certainly there must be some bike shops or 2nd hand spring good stores where you can choose a bike that fits you and get some sort of warranty or return policy. Also, with a bike shop there's a better chance the bike is on good working order.

ya probably, but then I'm paying over $500.

From the looks of it, you're buying a new entry level bike at a retail price. I'd do some more looking around, and buying a bike from a LBS might cost more, but when you need adjustments, and you will on a new bike, most shops offer one time free adjustments.

it's a cheaply-made chinese bike with very low-end components.

there's no way I'd pay $380 for it.

was discussed here before...

http://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...rd-vorlad.html

You could buy a better bike brand new with a warranty for about the same. You are very right to be afraid. If you insist on buying it, offer $150. Don't pay over $160

sorry, ad says 'no offers'...

the OP shouldn't even pay $20 for that pile of crap.

I would pass.

I don't see it being worth that much but I don't know the market you're in. I don't recognize the brand and Google turned up nothing, I assume it's sold at one of the discount chain stores. I'd say pass.

I agree, but the owner could learn a lesson getting a lowball offer. Perhaps the owner thinks that the crazy Vancouver housing market transfers to second hand bikes.

vorlad

Not that I'd pay half that for the bike either, but the company does exist.

I must have typed it wrong or something. And I was thinking about half the asking price would be the max I could see paying for that bike.

Thanks guys!! I actually found something perfect at a real bike store and paid a little more and I get free service and tune ups for a year, I feel good about this purchase, glad I didn't go for that craigslist one..

To OP - try Kijiji over CraigsList.

Equivalent quality (if a little older) bike - $75 Norco Bikes, Ladies Mountain | mountain | Delta/Surrey/Langley | Kijiji

Mixty Vintage Bike | other | Vancouver | Kijiji

Cruiser Bike | cruiser, commuter & hybrid | Vancouver | Kijiji

Sorry, didn't see this, I'd left a window open looking for stuff local to you. Glad you're happy - what did you buy?

Good to hear ! What did you get ?

Congratulations, and welcome to the addiction —er, I mean sport.;)

I got this one for $540

http://www.marinbikes.com/ca/bikes/d...-kentfield-cs1

That's what I think too.

ON THE OTHER HAND, how well do you like the bike? You can fret endlessly about price. Meanwhile, the summer is going by and you don't have a bike to help you enjoy it. Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing so, in the end, there will ALWAYS be somebody who will tell you that you paid too much.

We bicycle people have learned to slice the baloney really thin. Shimano makes bicycle components in a whole bunch of price ranges and the more expensive ones really are a little bit nicer. The dirty little secret is that even the lowest end Shimano components, with minimal maintenance, will perform quite well for a very very long time.

So how do you feel about the bike? If you like the way that it looks and you are picturing yourself riding on it, it could be calling your name.

Nice ! That looks like a good starter bike, let us know what you think after a few rides. :)

You can buy a brand new city/cruiser bike for that much at bikesdirect.com

She ended up buying a new bike from her LBS. :)