Request for Help: Purchase Question
 

Moving to Caribbean.
Need mountain bike as general commuter.
100 mile long island. Bumpy roads. Would destroy a road bike. Also much sand in stretches.
I am 6'4", heavy, long torso, shorter legs, deciding on a bike. Will have no car, only this bike.
Island VERY hilly.
As theft is risk, and bike will be assailed by sea air, and because I'm poor, looking for entry-level.
Not like I'll be zipping along trails, hopping stumps, etc.
Longest ride will be 45 miles one way to extreme end of island.

Looking at 22" Giant Yukon in near new condition priced at $300. Is that fair pricing?
The one thing I really like about bike is crooked frame, in middle, so you don't hit bar or your nuts if you have to hop of rapid--it is also very windy on island at times.
Should I get hybrid tires or mountain bike?
What is the best super bright front headlamp?
What is a good rear pannier-like cage for groceries, laundry, etc. Nothing that totally impedes some adventurous riding.
Mudguards, anyone know a good brand that is sportier (not talking aesthetics but function).

Thank you for any time anyone can spare.
If there are any good bikes anyone sees on ebay for under $400 that are better deals, please advise, 22" or 23", I currently live near Seattle not that that matters.
I know road bikes, but not mountain, and am super grateful for anyone that has a minute.

LR

Which island? Any bike the right size in your price range would do.

I'd get wider road-tread MTB tires for better on-road behavior. I run fat 1.95 slicks on mine.

A good rigid alloy rear rack of any brand would do, and search on folding pannier baskets or "grocery panniers." Lots of those out there.

Lots of good fenders out there, too. I have ESGE (now SKS, I believe), Blumels, Zefal and Planet Bike on my bikes. All good.

Good luck. Post pix when you arrive.

Of your requirements, budget is gonna be the biggest limiting factor. Any rigid or hardtail mountain bike can be made to work with smooth but wide tires.

If budget was less of a concern, I'd say Salsa Fargo.

Use whatever tires come with the bike until you've put it through its paces at your island. Then, if you find yourself sinking in sand or soft dirt often, you'll want the fattest tires that will fit on the bike. If you're riding more on roads, then a less knobby narrower tire.

It's always a trade off: knobbier tires give you traction on dirt but waste energy on paved roads. Fatter tires provide cushion and floatation on soft dirt, but are heavier. Feel the terrain out before getting new tires.

This overstock Fuji is less than $300 w/free ship if you use the discount code SAVE10. Should be your size. I ordered a bike from them and got it in three business days.

https://www.randombikeparts.com/coll...speed-new-2012


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...g?v=1514996211