I want to purchase a mountain bike for around $200 dollars. I ride in the evening on the street with my little boy and need a new bike. I have found Mongoose and Schwinn’s but do not know which would be best? I am 6′3 and 220 pounds so I need a good sturdy one, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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you can get one from “Leroy” you can catch him in the “Hood”
Recognize there is no such thing as a good $200 bike.
That said, you would be better to look for a better grade older bike … a 3-4 year old $400-$500 bike should be readily available for your budget point .. and if you pick right probably not need more than a tune-up and few replacement parts (common wear items include: brake pads, chain, chainrings, rear cogs, tires).
Note that more expensive bikes have superior components that stand up to use much better … so assuming you find a lightly used bike at a garage sale, sale notices at a bike shop or on Craigslist / Kijiji you will be far happier than a budget department store special.
Just make sure you know how to assess the fit (see the link for a guide) and buy accordingly. While greater adjustments than possible with existing components can be made by swapping components that can get expensive … so look for a bike that fits “as is”.
In terms of brand, any name brand like Trek, Cannondate, GT, etc is a good bet .. but note that most companies sell higher end and budget models, so it’s more the type of components that count than the brand. Look for alloy rims, and name brand (e.g. Shimano) components. Weight of the frame isn’t that important .. but look for CrMo if steel, or aluminum alloy (or carbon if you can find it) over “carbon” steel. Plan on a hardtail (not full suspension) MB or even a hybrid (for street/hard trail use a hybrid can be a great choice).
Check out Craigslist. I just got a great GT outpost off of there in great condition for only $60. New this bike is around $350 depending on where you buy it. Make sure you know the brand is reputable. I would not recommend a Schwinn or mongoose due to the fact that both of these are department store bikes. Definitely stay away from any bike that says full or dual suspension unless it is more expensive than $900. The reason for this being that a full suspension bike for under $900 is just going to be a lot heavier than you need for riding in the street. Brands that are good are GT, Giant, Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and Gary Fisher. These are all going to be great bikes. Before you buy though make sure you test ride it and check the brakes and switch through all the gears to make sure that the bike works good. Good luck
none! i advise people to spend a min 450.00. at this level you actually get something worth using and maintaining.