Is there a Cheap, but good bike?

Crow92

I've been thinking about cheap bikes and how they're usually crap "mountain bikes" with poor quality parts, but is there room for something more simple and better?
Had anyone come across a relatively cheap 100-300 euro bike that actually isn't a heap of ****e?

or what do you think would make up a good cheap commuter bike?

Frame material?
Gearing?
Wheel size and tyre width?

Acceptable weight for such a bike?

Holyboy

Eurobabybikeland sell a S.A. 3 speed, Alu(?) framed bike with V brakes, its pants but I am pretty sure I was told by someone they bought one for 180 eurons(ish) online, can't really beat that if you ask me. Couple of years of use and then dump, just like most things out there these days

smacl

At €355 the low end Giant escape 3 is a reliable piece of kit just slightly over your budget. My wife's had the ladies version for a few years now and it has served her well.

In terms of space in the market, you think they could cut the cost a bit, by simply dropping the front gearing altogether. Something like 40t front, and a very wide ranging 7 speed at the back. My daughter borrows the Giant all the time and leaves it permanently in the middle ring. Dropping two chain rings, front mech and a shifter, it should be possible to bring this bike below €300 rrp and make it slightly more robust.

dave_o_brien

I think it's possible, but you have to ask why the demand exists for these "toys". I'd hazard a guess that people remember buying bikes 10-20 years ago for £100-250, and for some reason think that bikes don't obey trends like inflation or rising labour costs.

But a basic aluminium frame, basic 700c wheels, a 7 speed index gear on the rear should be doable for €250-300, I reckon. Things like the Giant Escape 3 are not far off that:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=44408

EDIT: smacl beat me to the bike suggestion!

Cork24

Trek 1.2 are around 800

Their a good starting off bike

You could get a cube with shimano 105 for around 1k

TheBlaaMan

smacl wrote: »

In terms of space in the market, you think they could cut the cost a bit, by simply dropping the front gearing altogether. Something like 40t front, and a very wide ranging 7 speed at the back. My daughter borrows the Giant all the time and leaves it permanently in the middle ring. Dropping two chain rings, front mech and a shifter, it should be possible to bring this bike below €300 rrp and make it slightly more robust.

Yeah, I fully agree. I was thinking just this recently when considering buidling a commuter for my young fella to get to/from school. For short runsm multiple chainrings (and the consequent additional cost) are just not necessary.

I remember my first "racer" was a 1 x 7 jobbie, and it was fine for the purpose.

So there you go................moral of the story: build your own!

PersonalJesus

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67941 covers all bases as a commuter bike.


the vitus vee range make for great cheap single speed commuter.

Darkglasses

I use the Escape 3 for commuting and a few leisure spins, i'm really quite fond of it. But it could indeed do without three front chainrings.

Crow92

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Yeah, I fully agree. I was thinking just this recently when considering buidling a commuter for my young fella to get to/from school. For short runsm multiple chainrings (and the consequent additional cost) are just not necessary.

I remember my first "racer" was a 1 x 7 jobbie, and it was fine for the purpose.

So there you go................moral of the story: build your own!

Did it cost much to build your own? What i'm wondering is if the factory cost build could be done on something relatively cheap with a S.A. or 6 or 7 speed.
As most people know there are few that needs tyres that are 2.5" wide, suspension which is a heap or 21+ gears for commuting. Can these be switched for rigid bike that is just a lot better, easier maintenance and better shifting but still in the 100-300 range.

PersonalJesus wrote: »

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67941 covers all bases as a commuter bike.


the vitus vee range make for great cheap single speed commuter.

That looks like a good bet, mudguards and pannier. Bit heavy at 13.8kg

Cork24 wrote: »

Trek 1.2 are around 800

Their a good starting off bike

You could get a cube with shimano 105 for around 1k

That's the opposite of what I'm thinking of, I'm seeing if you can get a cheap good bike for commuting in a specific price bracket that the average joe doesn't need to worry about it being too heavy or crap suspension or too many gears.

Holyboy wrote: »

Eurobabybikeland sell a S.A. 3 speed, Alu(?) framed bike with V brakes, its pants but I am pretty sure I was told by someone they bought one for 180 eurons(ish) online, can't really beat that if you ask me. Couple of years of use and then dump, just like most things out there these days

Whats pants about it? 180 is very cheap and I a S.A is nice and simple. Your right though, no one wants to pay for something very expensive even if it'll last 20+ years.

smacl wrote: »

At €355 the low end Giant escape 3 is a reliable piece of kit just slightly over your budget. My wife's had the ladies version for a few years now and it has served her well.

In terms of space in the market, you think they could cut the cost a bit, by simply dropping the front gearing altogether. Something like 40t front, and a very wide ranging 7 speed at the back. My daughter borrows the Giant all the time and leaves it permanently in the middle ring. Dropping two chain rings, front mech and a shifter, it should be possible to bring this bike below €300 rrp and make it slightly more robust.

Good thinking with dropping the front derailleur and triple crankset. This seems to be a good option for something from a reputable enough brand.

I'm going to do some internet researching.....

smacl

PersonalJesus wrote: »

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67941 covers all bases as a commuter bike.


the vitus vee range make for great cheap single speed commuter.

Wouldn't you think for a cheap commuter, with mudguards, rack etc.. they'd give you basic pedals? Beggars belief.

Thirdfox

I just purchased a fuji absolute 2 for 850 (under the btw scheme) but back in China (2006-2007) I had a perfectly serviceable bike for 5 euro (50 rmb). Single gear for tootling around in the university campus and from one part of Beijing to another.

Kinda puts it into perspective right?

Unfortunately the Chinese want to buy cars nowadays and move away from the "poor person" image of the bicycle.

PersonalJesus

smacl wrote: »

Wouldn't you think for a cheap commuter, with mudguards, rack etc.. they'd give you basic pedals? Beggars belief.

tbf i think with pedals being subject to such personal preference, they left them off as a cost saving. id imagine the guys at CRC (who afaik basically own hte vitus range now) would have researched what the customer wanted(maybe im wrong).

ive a cube of similar style to that bike(albeit with hub gears) that ive added rack and guards to. Its original weight was 10 ish kg, the rack and guards probably added the guts of another kg. But its comes out at twice the price of the vitus!

PersonalJesus

the vee 26 and vee 29er both get great reviews in various online places. im tempted by one as a pub bike.

TheBlaaMan

Crow92 wrote: »

Did it cost much to build your own? What i'm wondering is if the factory cost build could be done on something relatively cheap with a S.A. or 6 or 7 speed.

Good thinking with dropping the front derailleur and triple crankset. This seems to be a good option for something from a reputable enough brand.

I'm going to do some internet researching.....

I bought a great 'donor' bike for €150 (ally frame, carbon fork, tiagra triple, RS10s) and was just about to start on the project when my eldest daughter announced that she wants to do a charity cycle in mid-September and would I be able to get her a loan of a bike to train on:rolleyes:.............she hadn't seen my project donor at this stage.

back to the drawing board(s.ie) to start again !:D

Chuckk

I have the Vee-1 26" from last year. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67794 They've changed a few things that most people were swapping out like the grips. The crankset is changed too, going from the ISIS drive one to a square taper.

I really like it for tipping about town and commuting to work (just over 3km).

Some of the components showed signs of rust very quickly which is not the ideal situation for a commuter.

The fact that it is so simple allows me to work on it and replace place parts as I need/want. So far the grips, pedals, bottom bracket, brake blocks and tyres have been replaced in 10 months. Bottom Bracket was more pre-emptive. I was surprised I got as long out of the tyres as I did. Grips that were supplied were rubbish and the brake blocks squeaked to high heavens. Considering the cost of it I'm very happy with the performance.

It does sometimes feel like riding around on an oversized bmx with its wide handle bars rather than a sleek track based single speed. It is fun though