saint mucus

The anti snobbery bike pic thread

Mine, Diamondback Insight 1 from Nashbar, just over $300 after shipping and taxes. So far have added bar ends, steel peddles, mounted a small water proof Bluetooth speaker, not super loud but loud enough that I can listen to music and still hear traffic and what not, also a mini pump and a under seat tool bag. Only had for a couple weeks but after 200 miles and for the price I'm loving it.

idiotekniQues

Do used bikes under $400 count?

wphamilton

Single Speed, boxed and assembled, came to $279 as pictured.

The road bike build was $350 with down-tube shifters, but since then is closer to $600

saint mucus

Sure, that would show us newbies (like me) on a budget whats out there My wife and I are getting what we're hoping are a couple $300 bikes that will serve until we decide what we need/want from a bike and to see if cycling is even something we really want to make a part of our lives. I know I do, I can't believe how much I enjoy riding around on a bicycle, it helps that it's the first bike I've ever owned that wasn't too small, it fits me perfect, all the leg room I need.

The second $300 dollar bike (for my wife) is ordered and on the way, Nashbar Flat Bar Road Bike I'll post a pic of it as soon as we get it and put it together.

bikemig 

If you allow used bikes on the thread, there are a huge number of bikes that will work at your price point. On a used bike, the rule of thumb is half new and that's for a relatively recent bike. The prices are lower for much older bikes. I picked up a 1996 bianchi volpe recently for $250; it cost me around another $50 to get it road worthy. A new volpe runs $1300. I like the parts better on a new volpe but the frame is no better quality than my 1996.

Lazyass

Sub $101

wphamilton

$139 Denali, here about 5 years old and somewhat reconfigured.

dksix

Here's my early 2000's Fuji Nevada, bought a Craigslist for $125 about 20 months ago. Very comfortable and easy to ride ride for hours on some regular gravel rides I do.

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gilpi

Picked this K2 Mach2 for $150 from CL last year. Has become my main road ride, feels and rides great, done nothing but put new tires and a new chain, ride it about 2-3 times a week.

gilpi

I want one of these, looks like my size too

baldilocks

Bought this roughly 20 some years ago from the LBS. (Before you could buy them at the big box stores) It was either 300 or 350. Dumped more into it with a new seat, toe clips, lights, mirror, seat post rack. It's delivered papers as a young man and hauled kids in a trailer. Stripped down, I've beaten the snot out of it at a fairly technical trail.(Rum Village Pathway Mountain Biking Trail Mountain Bike Trail in South Bend, Indiana || SINGLETRACKS.COM
I've commuted to work on it including in the snow. (3 degree day last year) I've probably had half a dozen new inner tubes, one set of new brake pads and a new chain. This bike is why I struggle believing I need to spend at least 1000 dollars to get a good bike.

Lazyass

I got that one for $100 and I got my '87 for $80 and put my Ultegra 600 group on it.

idiotekniQues

$350 2010 Jamis Coda Elite bought in 2015. Some modifications done to the bike. Rides like a dream.

exmechanic89

There are lots of decent sub $400 new bikes available imo. That's one of the sad things about many cyclists, they've convinced themselves that anything that doesnt cost at least $1k is unrideable junk, and then dispense this misconstrued advice to others that are just starting out. Often discouraging newbies from taking up riding due to financial restraints. In reality we live in a time where modern production methods and overseas labor make it possible to get something very rideable for not a lot of cash if desired.

NYMXer

I bought this Mercier Galaxy AL new from BD for $399, so it just makes the cut.

It is a very fast bike for the money and not a single adjustment or part replaced with 2,400 miles on it.

saint mucus

Yeah I'm just getting into cycling and didn't know anything at all about what to look for or even what bike I really needed. I joined this forum to kinda educate myself a little before I bought, man was I shocked, I can't believe the prices of bikes today, I had no idea. I started a thread and asked for advice on buying a sub $300 bike that would hold up and thankfully was directed to Nashbar and a Diamondback Insight 1. I'm loving the bike and now that I have it tuned up properly (took me a few times ) I'm impressed with how smooth and easy it is to ride, no complaints at all and my rides are 20 to 30 miles.

gilpi

Very good point. I've gone through this with some newbies and casual riders that think there's nothing out there under 1K that would suit them.
Another thing some obsess over is the bike's weight...

Jean3n16

$5 Nishiki
$40 for my huffy and hubbys bike.

exmechanic89

I always tell people, dont be discouraged thinking you have to spend a fortune on a bike to have something rideable. Because while there's nothing wrong with spending $1k or more on a bike, it's certainly not necessary. There are many rideable choices in the sub $400 new bike market. And in the end its really about the rider as far as strength and ability, expensive bikes do little to make someone significantly faster despite all the marketing hype and gram counting.

The important thing is to get out there and ride.

jefnvk

In the interest of keeping this an MSRP of under $400, here is my Scott Peak I got as a Christmas present in 1997, which my father believes he paid $179 for, an inflation adjusted value of $270.

In reality, every bike I have listed cost me under $400, including all refurbishment costs, even if most of them would have commanded an inflation-adjusted value above that new.

wphamilton

This one gets my son to his part-time job and also sometimes to his university classes and back. I think it was around $250.

jeffreythree

My Mongoose Malus because spending a bunch on a fat bike for around here is kind of crazy. I use it for cruising the hood and parks with my daughter, and hauling my camera and fishing gear through some sandy and/or trail-less areas I like to visit. I added some better tires and a few lighter MTB bits out of my parts bin; so about $275 total since the bike and tires were on sale.

T Stew

I don''t think I've spent over $400 yet on a bike except when including s/h on one and lots of upgrades on another, and my Paramount which has inflated price due to it being more collectible and sought after I guess.

All under $400 (avg price around $200)









This old Voyageur I even fully trust and enjoy on fully loaded trips/tours, though racks and bags put it over $400 the bike itself was far less:


You get the idea. These are all fine riding bikes. And you can upgrade them with modern components too if you like.

Here is one I upgraded to mostly all new and newer components. I bought the bike complete and rideable for $100 and change, but stripped it to frame and put all new stuff on it. It has over $400 into it now (used wheels were almost that much alone) but just goes to show even a cheap bike can be made nice as modern bikes and you can take your time and split up the cost over a while (I collected parts for over a year until I was ready for the upgrade).

bud16415

Ten bucks at garage sale.


Five bucks at garage sale.

AlexCyclistRoch

1986 Cannondale, bought for $250.