Cheap Dual supension bikes? Good or bad??

SmartMonkey

Hi,
I'm looking for a cheap bike for commuting and I came across this site http://www.volkans.co.uk/
Are these bike any good? I'm seriously thinking of getting one. My main concern is I'm a fairly heavy guy and the bike may not be strong enough for me.
Any comments appreciated.

kenmc

Cheap and dual suspension in the same sentance = bad.
crikey, just looked at the site. for those prices, replace 'bad' with 'awful'.

Raam

real bad. You'll be buying problems.

Lumen

Is your commute like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4JY5eIoQaw

If not, the suspension is unnecessary.

Highway_To_Hell

BAD - no need for a bike with suspension for commuting, @ £100 you can be sure the components are cheap and will fall apart after a few weeks/months. With bikes you get what you pay for. Should look at some of the hybrid options but the cost would be +£400.

blorg

As others say, avoid. You should be able to get a decent hybrid (no suspension) for less than £400, especially if you go second-hand. Entry level new is around €300-375 RRP in Dublin for a decent brand (Giant, Dawes, Trek.)

petethedrummer

The people on those cheap dual suspension bikes are always the slowest on the road. It will put you off cycling. The loss of effort through the suspension must be huge.

A guy in a place I used to work was at least 25 stone and he occasionally cycled to work on a bike with no suspension.

SmartMonkey

Thanks Guys.
Was very wary to begin with. Can't really afford a proper bike so I'll get a cheap (€180 -€250) hardtail from e-bay. It will do me for a few months till I have to upgrade.:)

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Don't get suspension, waste of money.

blorg

Don't get a cheap hardtail from eBay either, if your budget is in the €180-€250 range you should have no problem picking up a half-decent hybrid second hand. Or stretch the extra ~€50 to buy an entry level hybrid from a local shop.

thebouldwhacker

Lumen wrote: »

Is your commute like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4JY5eIoQaw

If not, the suspension is unnecessary.

See them nick the gear off his back while still woozy from the crash??

bloody volcano people, they invite you for a cycle, sabotage your bike and mug you:mad::mad:

Húrin

For a commuting bike don't get anything with suspension or big thick tyres. So much pedalling energy is needlessly taken by them that you'll just get wrecked every time you go to work.

Welcome to VOLKANS Sports and Music!!

- The best on-line shop for mountain bikes, gym equipments and musical instruments

To me this just says "chancers".

SmartMonkey

Ordered a Dawes Saratoga hybrid. Should do me for a few years. Seems likes a good make (according to this forum) as an entry level bike.
Thanks for all your help.:D

blorg

Dawes are a good brand. You will have plenty of comfort with the 26x2.0" tyres. They are listed as "semi-slicks" but I would consider changing them for full slicks unless you are going to be riding loose soil type trails, you won't lose any comfort and will actually gain traction on the road. You will go faster if you pump the tyres up to their max PSI; the ride will be more comfortable at a lower PSI.