Did any of you buy a 100 -150$ bicycle from Wall-Mart, did you have any problems with it?

Question

I want a bike for riding on urban trails (pavement) many times a week, and I really, really cannot spend that much at this point. The ones I saw at Wall-Mart look just fine but I wonder if they start coming apart after a few rides.

Answer 1

my brother in law bought one and it lasted 1 month before he had to spend 200 bucks to fix it

I later convinced him to buy a better bike at a real bike shop and he has been happy ever since

Answer 2

If all you are going to do is ride around town you should be fine. However, there are some things you should be aware of when buying or riding, and for maintenance:

1) Don't go off the road (or jump curbs, etc) for any reason. These bikes are not meant for even the mildest of trails.
2) Once you buy the bike- before you ride it- take it directly to a bike shop and have them check it out. This will cost $20 or so but will insure the bike is ready to go... safely. Some bike shops will not even look at bikes purchased at discount stores.
3) Avoid buying a bike with lots of features, and especially avoid those with full suspension. Keep in mind that when the manufacturer adds something like full suspension, the quality of everything else is reduced to meet the pricepoint. By the best "plain" bike you can afford for your budget. I actually think you would do better at Target or Toys R Us... it certainly wouldn't hurt to look around.
4) Don't get bamboozled into the hype of "Lightweight Aluminum" or other features plastered on the bike as a sales pitch. With this grade of bike you should be looking for 21 or 24 gears, brakes that are forged aluminum (NOT stamped steel...this is easy to determine just by looking at them- if they are painted black I have found they are usually steel), and aluminum rims (aluminum rims are stronger and stay straighter than steel).

Make sure to wear a helmet...not because you are a bad rider, but to protect yourslf from the idiot in the car that isn't watching.

EDIT--
I would never go by what Consumer Reports says... I was a fan, but once when they tested peanut butter their favorite brand soaked through the bread. It was then that they lost me.

Answer 3

I found on a whole, when I bought a bike like this that it was uncomfortable to ride. I found it heavy and large (I'm a petite woman) and ended up giving it away. I also found that I wasn't able to mount a rack or basket to the frame - there were no screw mounts and apparently the frame was unsuited for it.

In that price range, I would recommend buying a used bike - just make sure it's structurally safe. I've seen lots of suggestions in this category for choosing a used bike.

Incidently, I'm about to fork over a week's paycheque for a new bike that's better suited for me. It's an investment but I think I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Answer 4

Not just no, but HELL NO!

You say you cannot afford a better bike right now, but can you afford to buy another one from Wal-Mart in 6 months because it falls apart and Wal-Mart doesn't offer free tune-ups and maintenance?

You will be better off in the long run going to a REAL bike shop and getting a reputable brand name bicycle; built correctly, longer warranty, correct sizing (Wal-Mart only sells ONE size), and free tune-ups for at leat a year if not for life.

BTW surffsav, you only get free tune-ups and a warranty if you buy a REAL bike. Any shop I know will charge you $60 for a tune-up on a crappy bike, and if you don't like it you can take it back to where you bought it for support!

Answer 5

I know theses bike are not professionally assembled and tuned. A co-worker just purchased a bike from Walmart and his left pedal unscrewed out and marred up the threads on the pedal and crankarm after a week of riding.
The bikes are generally semi decent for non serious riding, but they do work. If you decide to purchase a bike from them ask them to recheck and tight all the know parts that they assembled on the bike. Ask them on the return rights of the bike if it does fail. Good luck!

Answer 6

I have an aluminum NEXT (a Chinese manufactured bike) with front and rear shocks that I bought at Wal-Mart almost four years ago. It is still in great shape, thanks to regular oiling and other maintenance. They really have bike-making down these days, and for $100 how can you go wrong?
Oh, get puncture resistant inner tubes and a bottle of SLIME at a bike shop (Wal-Mart doesn't seem to have real SLIME. They only carry a cheap knock off) as Chinese inner tubes are not made for off road use.

Answer 7

If you are just going to ride around town it should be fine. I bought a cheap bike and have had it for a long time the only thing I have had to do is fix a flat tire.

Answer 8

Consumer Reports did some testing of these bikes and they concluded that they were very bad quality and I don't think you will enjoy riding it. You can get something decent on sale at Performacebike or similar store for $250-300. Don't waste your money on the cheapest stuff.

Answer 9

i first bought the black comb from wal mart for about 250 and the first time i took it to the trails the derailleur snapped and the chain rapped around the spokes and i had to return it. after that i went to the bike shop in my neighborhood and picked up a corratec. i also got free tune-ups for a year

Answer 10

WalMart is selling a better quality bike these days(Schwinn and Mongoose, I believe). What should concern you is the assembly. That is, how well the bike is put together. If I were to purchase a bike from WalMart I would take the bike to a professional( your local bike shop) and have it tuned up.
Also, ask them if their tune ups come with a warranty.