Lazyass

It's legit. I bought a Motobecane with alu/carbon frame and a 105 group a few years ago for less that $800 if I recall. It was actually one of the best bikes I ever had. They shipped very fast. I'm probably going to buy a steel Grand Premio Elite before too long.

D1andonlyDman

Other than the Masi, none of those bikes are realistically priced. IMHO, only the Cannondale is worth close to $500 used.

BTW, BikesDirect is widely regarded as the best place to get a new bike in the $400-800 range, especially if you have some comfort with doing some of your own assembly.

siGno

Well I am brand new to the sport and trying to just get my first bike, so I still don't really know what to do with all of these options now haha. Should I just get the used cannondale? Or go try it out? Its pretty far away, or should I just get one from the bikes direct and learn how to assemble it? I just have no idea. I really just need a bike so I can get going!!! But I suppose I am willing to wait and get one on this website if it really is far better than any of these ones for the price...

mprelaw

If you're not sure of the assembly on your own, there are shops that will assemble a BD bike for you, for a reasonable charge. Ask around. BD owns the rights to several old classic brand names. Motobecane is their "flagship" brand. There's nothing wrong with the frames. Most are made in Taiwan. Like the overwhelming majority of even top end frames today.

Lazyass

That Cannondale is a 1990's model. Bikes Direct ships the bikes mostly assembled, but you can take it to a bike shop and they'll set it up for you if you can't. If course it's a good idea how to do stuff yourself so you don't have to pay a shop for every little thing. BD has info on how to put one together:

How to assemble a bicycle | Road Bike assembly | Mountain bike assembly | bikesdirect.com instruction sheet

Roadbikedude

Nice bike although that appears to be a stock picture. I am personally suspect of most items on Craigs list but that is just me. Did you go and check the bike out? If you have a cycling friend take them to look the bike over and take it for a ride. You can find a lot out about a bike by the way it looks in person - clean, maintained, etc. If you are serious about cycling, make sure that your first bike does not turn you off from the sport. Go to your LBS and see what you can get for $500 to $800 especially if you look at last year's models.

siGno

So which bike on BD is the best in the 500-750 range? I want something that I can get into the sport with, and have it be my baby. I want to be able to go fast and also just use it for general workouts etc. Is that enough info to sort of pinpoint a few? I saw the ones you already suggested but I don't know the difference between them and what and why to get them and if they are all for different purposes etc?

Lazyass

In that price range probably either the Schwinn or Motobecane Grand Record. The Schwinn frame geometry isn't as aggressive or racy. It has a longer wheelbase and will probably put you in a little more upright position. Whatever floats your boat. I personally would spend another $50 over your budget and get the Grand Premio (I like steel frames) or Vent Noir. A bike with Shimano 105 at that price is pretty good.

siGno

They don't have my size in either of those sadly .... That is a big bummer. Is there a bike that I can test ride at my local shop that would be comparable to these so I can see what it would feel like also? They dont have a 58cm just a 56 and 59

siGno

Also it seems that the Vent Noir was the BEST for the price by what it says on BD but they only have a 64cm in stock, so should I wait? orr

Lazyass

Look at this one. It has a little more relaxed geometry, a good beginner bike.

Save up to 60% off new Road Bikes - Gravity COMP22 | Save up to 60% off new road bikes

siGno

Damn that is a sweet bike, what could I test ride here locally that would give me a feel for what this might feel like??? Any input on that?

siGno

Any input on what I can test ride locally that will have the same components and frame style?

RoadGuy

Most bikes in a specific price range will have the same components. Frames that are rated the same size by their manufacturers may have completely different personalities. Test riding one brand of bike to see how another brand of bike rides is worthless.

Which is why most experienced riders will tell you to buy a used bike for your first bike, since you don't even know what you really want yet, and aren't sure you will even stay with the sport.

And many experienced riders will tell you to buy your first bike from a LBS (local bike store) so you can get the assistance you need to be successful.

If you have a friend who is an experienced bike rider, take him with you to look at used bikes. If you can't get an experienced person to go with you and evaluate used bikes, then bite the bullet and buy from a LBS.

A five-fifteen year old used bike that is honestly worth $300-$400, is going to be better quality than a $600-$800 BD bike,

Buying online is best for experience riders who already know what they are looking for.

If you insist on buying a bike unseen, without a test drive, and without local support, you are setting yourself up for failure. Typically a new bike will lose 30-50% of it's new retail cost when it comes out of the box or over the curb at the LBS. A no name bike or a toy store/big box bike is at the 50% end. Look on Craigslist for BD bikes that were never really ridden, or the owner found out they were the wrong size or poor quality, or were never setup correctly when they were delivered and the new owners had a poor experience.

dtrain

Similar 'frame style' as a Giant Defy from a few years back. Not sure if that helps.

siGno

Well you seem to know your ****, if I attach a few local bikes here would you tell me what you would go check out etc on my local craigslist?

Here they are if you are willing!

2015 SPECIALIZED ALLEZ 58cm

Mens 2011 Trek Alpha 2.1

58cm road bike GT ZR-2000 bicycle CARBON FORK ultegra 23" frame

Cannondale Road Bike ( 58cm) w Ultegra

Motobecane Record Road Bike with Carbon Fork Sram APEX/Rival - LG/XL

Used Scott Speedster 1 58cm Ultegra Road bike

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/bik/4801150403.html

10 Wheels

Get this one...

2015 SPECIALIZED ALLEZ 58cm

siGno

haha is that one legit? it looks awesome!! What price do you think I could talk him to if he says OBO

dtrain

The Trek 2.1 and the Scott look pretty decent as well. The Scott is at a shop, which might be a good thing (though it's clearly seen some use).

siGno

Yeah thats the only thing that worries me about the Scott when I could get the speacialized for about the same price.. right?

mprelaw

Geez, it's a 58 cm, and the stem is flipped up, and he's riding with that much saddle to bar drop? Who's the seller, Larry Bird?

siGno

lol... is it a legit bike at the price for my first bike though?

goenrdoug

Get the Allez. If it's not there anymore, the CAAD 3 is a great budget option. Te trek with the 'think slick' tires looks okay, but I dunno about those tires.. Lowball him based on the need to replace with normal tires and see where that gets you. Otherwise, yeah, the Scott and the brand new Trek 1.5 are options that likely have some price wiggle room due to being old and lower components, respectively.

mprelaw

If he's telling the truth about the mileage, yes. It's a bike that you're not going to outgrow.

Check the seat post to make sure that it isn't extended past the mark for max extension, although if it has less than 200 miles, it probably isn't that big a deal. And the frame looks new, and the chain is very clean. Looks very lightly ridden.

dtrain

As others have noted, you have a few options there. I'll offer this: 1) I rode a 6600 group (like the Scott) for quite some time and would give it a thumbs up. it might be worth checking the condition of that bike in person. 2) I'm not keen on that CAAD3 for the price. It has an early 9-speed Ultegra group (6500) with other random parts, octalink BB/cranks, mismatched wheels, threaded headset/fork, liekly features a relatively harsh alloy ride, etc. 3) the value of the Allez is in the frameset...parts are just decent/okay (besides the RD).