Jim123

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington2_IX.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...iragesport.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1000.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington1_IX.htm

Hi Guys,

I'm new and looking for a good beginner bike, below 400 is in my price range, please if you have any opinions, I'd love to hear them, also, would it be better to make my own from a used one or is this as good as it gets.

Thanks in advance,
Cheers!

substructure

Moses smell the roses. Here we go.

Jim123

thanks? lol.

KiuBWhy

OH NO!! PANDORA'S box!


On a serious note: You should browse cragislist.

Cycho

https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...26&postcount=8

Jim123

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah, I'll look in Craigs, I did it earlier it's just.. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, what's worth what and such. Any key words and price I should be looking for? Thanks.

Cheers!

urbanknight

If you don't know what you're looking for, I'm guessing you also don't know how to assemble and adjust a bicycle. Therefore, I recommend that you don't buy online unless you're ok with paying a couple hundred for a shop to assemble and tune it.

You can get a pretty decent used road bike for $400. Read up on component groups and how to determine the right size bike for you (via google or searches here), and start shopping. Feel free to respond back to this thread any time you see something you might want, list the specs, and we'll give our expert (or not) opinion.

sijray21

check out your local bike store, test ride a lower-end bike to get a fitment. remember what it feels like and test ride the ones on CL to best match it. check for true wheels (no wobbles), proper working brakes and shifting. check the frame for any cracks or bends and any rusty/worn bolts.

eventually when you buy a new bike, go back to the LBS that you got the fitment and buy a bike from them

roadiejorge 

I'm feeling lazy today and don't want to go to the similar thread you posted. If you're not a good wrench then bikesdirect bikes might not be for you since the bike doesn't come completely assembled so you'd have to pay a shop to assemble some of the parts. The bottomline is that you're better off getting a quality used bike than a cheaply made bike new.

Cycho

Not to split hairs, or go off in a different direction, but I paid $80 to get my BD bike assembled, which included a tuning and a wheel truing. Just sayin'.

Jim123

thanks urban knight.

Jim123

and everyone else of course. lol

urbanknight

I stand corrected. The OP might not consider it splitting hairs if he thinks 400 + 80 is within his budget and 400 + 200 is not.

Jim123

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/1286440546.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1285868489.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/1282367027.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/1286007063.html

Hope this isn't bothersome.

How're these bike guys?

Cheers!

urbanknight

The second one is a nice frame (or at least it was in the early 90's) but it has low end components according to what I can find here. I had a teammate who raced on that frame but with Ultegra 8s components back then.

The other two bikes are quite a bit older and I don't know that vintage. The one thing to consider when looking at older bikes is that you can spend the cost of the bike again in restoration, so check the tires, tubes, cables, and gears.

Also, I hope you're rather tall if you're looking at that size bikes. Have a look at this fit calculator if you're not sure what size bike you should be looking for.

urbanknight

This is a better choice in my opinion. Modern components (brifters) on a decent frame. If it's full 105, then the components are older (mid 90's) than the title suggests.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1281971661.html

Jim123

oh wow, you found one for me. lmao, thanks much. exactly 400 bucks! you think it's pretty worth it? I'm 6'0 by the way. CHEERS!

urbanknight

Assuming it's in as good condition as the pictures look, I think it's an ok price, but it can't hurt to negotiate a little. Make sure to test ride it. If it doesn't feel comfortable, it's not a good deal at any price. 6'0" means 57 is PROBABLY good, but there are many factors to consider. If you have the time and someone who can take measurements, do that fit calculator to get a good idea.

Welcome to the addiction. I guess I should get off my lazy @$$ and do some chores now.

roadiejorge 

Good pick, if it's a good size for the OP then that one gets my vote compared to the other museum pieces.

Jim123

Hi Guys, What do you think about this bike? https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1287427530.html I'm 6'0 if that helps. Cheers!

Jim123

Or this one? https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/1287066952.html

KiuBWhy

I would go for the one Urbanknight suggested. Those two you linked are older bikes, one is a fixed gear....

Jim123

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1288399056.html or possibly this? i dont know if he means that new parts were needed so he put new ones on or new parts ARE needed

Jim123

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1288415166.html there's this multicolored one too that's 57 cm, i could just repaint it.... hahaha

urbanknight

Those are also older bikes. I wouldn't consider them bad bikes to ride, but for your budget I think you can get what I consider a modern bike, which means the shift levers are integrated into the brake levers (affectionately called brifters), a very useful invention from the early 90's. This also makes it easier to get replacement parts. The older a bike is, the sooner you should expect parts to wear out and the harder it will be to find those parts.