$59.68 - Full-suspension mountain bike

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

Enjoying the discussions
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
Messages
12,348
This is bottom-feeding at it's best....

WAL*MART has some incredible deals. I use a bicycle at my main job at a marina to do errands and whatnot. It's a BIG facility and it saves me a LOT of walking to when I need a 'cup of joe', or a nut and bolt at the Ship's Store.

I've been using a 'Sting Ray'-type bike that I got at Wally World last year. It tipped the scales at $35 brand new. I used it enough that one of the plastic pedals blew out.

I went back to Wal*Mart to replace the set, when I stumbled upon this deal assembled and ready to walk at only $59.68....

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18 speeds, with front and rear suspension, quick adjustable seat height, throttle-type gear changers, tapered bars, etc. It all works great and rides comfortably. I used to work in a higher-end motorcycle shop. You couldn't touch that rear shock for $60.00!

For what I am using it for and the proximity to a housing project (read: apt to be stolen) it's simply perfect. Sure I've ridden better equipment, but DAMN, I consider a $60 knife a beater... ;) (notice the plastic carrying bucket I installed. :))

Just an FYI of a good deal that's out there. I *know* it's made in China. Fine with me.

Coop
 
Have you drilled small holes in the bottom of your plastic carrier so it doesn't catch rain yet? ;)

That sounds like a fun job... what kind of tasks do you perform?

Oh, and nice find!
 
A bike almost exactly like that is the basis for my homemade recumbent. (only the frame, I threw everything else away)

These critters are made under a variety of names, of the finest Chinese "hi-ten" steel. They are heavy as pigs, as there is very little (if any...) aluminum on these machines. The Chinese also blatantly rip off manufacturers like SRAM with their copies of Gripshift components, and Shimano by way of their "V-Brakes".

Nonetheless, they are functional in a sort of clunky way, especially if where you ride is rather flat.
A lot of the students here buy them for commuting from dorms-main campus, and they are fine in such roles. Hehe- no one will steal them....
 
SharpByCoop, I don't know where you are in CT, but I have a bike I would have been happy to give you. Let me know if you need another one, mine only has a few miles on it, but needs basic work...air in tires,etc. ;)
 
Foxhole: Thanks for the tip. Good call.... ;) I work as the 'boatman' for the Norwalk River Rowing Association, where I maintain our fleet of rowing shells, racks, boathouse, launches, engines, truck, trailer, and whining members....

Matches: Your offer is very generous and in a great spirit. :) Not at this point. Do YOU need a Sting Ray bike? Only needs a pedal.... ;)

Garage boy: I'm not comparing this to ANY good quality bike that costs substantially more. It's a beater EDC.... :barf:
Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Matches: Your offer is very generous and in a great spirit. :) Not at this point. Do YOU need a Sting Ray bike? Only needs a pedal....
Click to expand...

About forty years ago I'd have killed for a sting ray ;)
 
By the looks of that rear "suspension" I forsee the ass end falling out after a few bumps. But what do you expect for $60. ;)
 
Two summers ago, I bought a Schwinn cruiser at Walmart. It was as good as the Electras and the other Schwinn we have. If I get a bike at WM, I stick to cruisers - less parts to fall off.
 
When I began to put my recumbent together, I was quite suspicious of the rear "suspension". Knowing that real shock absorber units for serious bikes run nearly 200.00 for entry-level...

Sure enough, these things are just spring holders. There is no damping whatever. However, the thing actually works fairly well. I havn't noticed any "pogo" effect under hard pedalling, which may be due to the extremely long chain I'm running.

I'll probably toss the thing on version 2.0, and make it into a solid rear end. This to use a different type of seat, braced to the eyelets down by the rear dropouts.
 
These bikes are fine, as long as you don't ride them too much ;)

The low retail price is false economy when the sprocket takes a dump or the frame welds break and it needs to be repaired or replaced.
 
if i were you i would get a full rigid singe speed that will last you, they are lighter, and improve pedaling eficency.

the one you have now i bet is really heavy and bobs a little when really pedaling. it also will not last very long.

go with a good bike that you will have for when you need it, a nice relialble one. check out the kona unit.

can you tell i am a mountain biker:)
 
*For my needs* this is perfect. A bike that will probably jump off a 4" curb at best, and doing trips to the store. Welds and sprocket wear--for me--will not be an issue. For someone actually thinking of doing some off-roading, this WOULD be false economy.

At $60 if it gets stolen, I am not sweating it. I keep it AT my boathouse, BTW, and it resides next to a housing project.

Chazz, those Kona's as SHWEET! When a comparable model falls in under $1000 let me know.... ;) Just poking. This is a bike for those who even OWN a Kona. Like, if you work next to a housing project....

My other two bikes are a Nashbar hybred from 15 years ago that cost me $220, and frankly is built not much better but is still holding up well. Also a 21lb. racing French road bike from the 70's that I will hammer in a mini-triathlon in two weeks. THAT is where I could spend some serious moolah for a few extra seconds time... :eek:

Coop
 
I got my mom a $69 dual suspension Magna from Target about 7 years ago. She rides it about 10 miles a week and it has held up perfectly. There are times she has taken it on 20-30 mile rides with no issues. All it's needed is a routine tune up.

I have a Pacific something-or-other that I think was about $300 and overall hers and mine aren't all that different.

N2
 
yea i would not be very happy if i bought a kona and it got stolen.

just putting my 2-cents in didnt mean to put anyone down, sorry if i did.
 
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