Need a cheap bike recommendation

[GasX]

My wife has expressed some interest in biking around town with me. I want to get her a basic cheap mountain bike that isn't a complete piece of crap, but doesn't cost me more than $300. Anyone have any suggestions? Unless I borrow the bike, it will never see anything more crazy that a fire road...

I was thinking about one of the cheap eBay Motobecanes, but am not sure of their quality...

If I get her one, I will probably buy myself a fixed speed bike to ride with her. This should keep me focused and entertained at the speeds she will be interested in riding at...

 

[mordantmonkey]

just get a cheap steel frame. that'll get her ass in shape!

 

[LongCoolMother]

go to a local bike shop and find the best special/clearance for anything from giant, specialized, trek, or gary fisher. find the one with best frame you can.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
just get a cheap steel frame. that'll get her ass in shape!

Kind of hard to ride a frame isn't it? I want a whole bike...

 

[Brutuskend]

Haro V-1 or V-2

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
go to a local bike shop and find the best special/clearance for anything from giant, specialized, trek, or gary fisher. find the one with best frame you can.

In that price range, they will be pushing crappy hybrids...

 

[Scarpozzi]

How about this one?

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Haro V-1 or V-2

Haro fanboy strikes again!

what is the retail on those guys?

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
go to a local bike shop and find the best special/clearance for anything from giant, specialized, trek, or gary fisher. find the one with best frame you can.

In that price range, they will be pushing crappy hybrids...

not necessarily. my friend scored a specialized rockhopper for $350, and my other friend picked up a gary fisher marlin for about the same. Not exactly great bikes, but sufficient for a beginner/entry-level frame thats not complete crap.

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
go to a local bike shop and find the best special/clearance for anything from giant, specialized, trek, or gary fisher. find the one with best frame you can.

In that price range, they will be pushing crappy hybrids...

a mtb with street tires rides better around town than a mtb with mtb tires. I've ridden em like that. better accel, easier to ride and stop. although the wider tires gives you a bit more traction and handling.... depends on the rider i suppose

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
go to a local bike shop and find the best special/clearance for anything from giant, specialized, trek, or gary fisher. find the one with best frame you can.

In that price range, they will be pushing crappy hybrids...

Why is a crappy mountain bike in the city better?

 

[LongCoolMother]

oh if you're going to be riding it in town/roads only, any frane will do. youd do even better with a rigid fork. just stick on some riding slicks and you're off.


EDIT: SPeaking of which. im gonna go mountain biking right now. before it gets too hot. see ya'll

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
just get a cheap steel frame. that'll get her ass in shape!

Kind of hard to ride a frame isn't it? I want a whole bike...

lol. i meant get a used steel framed bike. You can get ones with a pretty good set of components if you look around.
this will require goind to several thrift shops and garage sales. which may not be something your interested in.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Haro V-1 or V-2

Haro fanboy strikes again!

what is the retail on those guys?

V-1 goes for around $269, V-2= low 3's

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
go to a local bike shop and find the best special/clearance for anything from giant, specialized, trek, or gary fisher. find the one with best frame you can.

In that price range, they will be pushing crappy hybrids...

Why is a crappy mountain bike in the city better?

irrational personal reasons...

 

[DaWhim]

your wife may like a cruiser better.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
your wife may like a cruiser better.

she's not the one buying it...

 

[JulesMaximus]

I picked up a decent Trek mtb at a local used sporting goods store. The thing looked brand new, like it had never been ridden, and I picked it up for $240. It was probably a $400 bike new and came with a seat post bag, water bottle cage and a pump so that's probably another $50 worth of stuff right there.

 

[GasX]

Something else to keep in mind is that if the bike is halfway decent and I can work out a workable frame size, I will ride the bike from time to time when I want to head off-road...

I am 5'11 and she is 5'6 so it'll be hard...

 

[OffTopic1]

Wife excercise habit, body weight, and back end size?

Rent an MTB if it going to be use 2-3 times a year, then decide what to get. Get a large seat with soft jell if it is going to be use for the occasional short ride and a more fited seat if she is more serious.

Get a used MTB and both of you each a new seat/seat post to accomodate both of you if you are going to share the bike. Bike size also depend on riding style (aggressiveness/terrain) and slight variation on frame design, however your height (same as me) require between 17?~21? frame (I own a 17? for off road with slightly short top tube design, and 19? with longer slightly longer top tube for cruising) and the wife requirement would be a 15?~18?. Therefore, you can get a 17?~18" MTB to accommodate both of you.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: OffTopic
Wife excercise habit, body weight, and back end size?

None in recent memory, 105lbs, small

Get a used MTB and both of you each a new seat/seat post to accomodate both of you if you are going to share the bike. Bike size also depend on riding style (aggressiveness/terrain) and slight variation on frame design, however your height (same as me) require between 17?~21? frame (I own a 17? for off road with slightly short top tube design, and 19? with longer slightly longer top tube for cruising) and the wife requirement would be a 15?~18?. Therefore, you can get a 17?~18" MTB to accommodate both of you.

I like the two seat post idea. Campus pedals would be good too (one side spd clips / one side platform)

 

[GasX]

any more ideas?

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

do you not expect your wife to ride much?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Trek's are nice in general, beyond that I don't know to be honest

 

[ScoobMaster]

Last year my wife and I bought Raleigh SC40 Comfort Bikes for around $300 each

They are aluminum MTB frames with mild suspension forks and a "comfort" cushion shock on the seatpopst under the saddle. They have decent entry-level shimano components and mild off-road tires. They work great for riding on road/paved trails and loose gravel. We use them for pleasure riding around town and for taking with us camping (for campground cruising!)

Here is a pic of mine