Bike Question

kaykay · 02-06-2011, 01:43 AM

What's the best bike I can get for $600-800?

Looking for something that will I can drive in the city comfortably with a little moderate off-road capabilities. So I'm thinking front suspension only.

Not looking for a racing bike, have a few of those.

Important to me:

1) Comfortable ride for city driving
2) Good selection of gears
3) Off-road capability
4) Quality for the price
5) Not too bulky, lightweight

Thanks in advance, would love to hear some recommendations

Feyd · 02-06-2011, 08:49 AM

In that price range you have two options. 1. Craigslist (good deals to be had, but can be spotty.) 2. If you want new your only option is really www.bikesdirect.com

At that site you pay for the good components and not the name on the frame, so buy as much as you can afford. Motobecane and Windsor are actually pretty good frames, they just aren't names synonymous with mountain biking.

In both instances you'll need to have a size in mind... for this I'd go "look" at a bike shop and have them recommend a size for you and then take that info to the web.

Good luck.

bosstones · 02-06-2011, 10:02 AM

I picked up a Cannondale Badboy last year for pretty much the same use you're looking for and so far it's been great. It's more of a mountain bike frame but is fairly light (IMO). I'm not hardcore bike enthusiast, though, so perhaps my perspective is a little off. I base it off the fact that, to put it on my bike rack atop my Jeep, I can pick the bike up and get it onto the rack with one hand. It doesn't have a front suspension, though, so it can be a little bumpy at times. The stock tires would have to be swapped out depending on what type of offroad use you would plan, though. They've done fine on the grassy/fielded areas I've rode through.

kaykay · 02-06-2011, 05:12 PM

What about a bike from Giant or Specialized?

Let's go to $1,000 max limit.

Any good road bike/off-road combos???

Buegie · 02-06-2011, 05:41 PM

you should probably look into cyclocross bikes. They don't have any suspension components but they do have larger forks to accept wider tires. It's closer to a road bike than a mountain bike but people do ride them through mud, grass, etc.

dth656 · 02-07-2011, 10:33 AM

in that price range, u should be able to get a good used hardtail. try ebay, or www.mtbr.com classified ads close to you.

02-06-2011, 01:43 AM	#1
kaykay Lieutenant Colonel 96 Rep 1,769 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E93 328i Conve ... [9.50] 2011 E92 M3 ZCP [8.66] 2008 550i Sport [10.00]	Bike Question What's the best bike I can get for $600-800? Looking for something that will I can drive in the city comfortably with a little moderate off-road capabilities. So I'm thinking front suspension only. Not looking for a racing bike, have a few of those. Important to me: 1) Comfortable ride for city driving 2) Good selection of gears 3) Off-road capability 4) Quality for the price 5) Not too bulky, lightweight Thanks in advance, would love to hear some recommendations __________________ '12 CLS550 Palladium Silver - loaded '11 E92 M3 ZCP - SG/B-EXT/CF, M-DCT, loaded '11 E93 328i, BSM over Saddle Brown, sport, loaded '08 550i M-Sport, Carbon Black (Gone but not forgotten), '06 W211 E55 AMG (Gone, miss this animal),'01 E39 540i Sport
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02-06-2011, 08:49 AM	#2
Feyd Major 369 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: a DEEZZULL Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	In that price range you have two options. 1. Craigslist (good deals to be had, but can be spotty.) 2. If you want new your only option is really www.bikesdirect.com At that site you pay for the good components and not the name on the frame, so buy as much as you can afford. Motobecane and Windsor are actually pretty good frames, they just aren't names synonymous with mountain biking. In both instances you'll need to have a size in mind... for this I'd go "look" at a bike shop and have them recommend a size for you and then take that info to the web. Good luck.
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02-06-2011, 10:02 AM	#3
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1266 Rep 1,608 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	I picked up a Cannondale Badboy last year for pretty much the same use you're looking for and so far it's been great. It's more of a mountain bike frame but is fairly light (IMO). I'm not hardcore bike enthusiast, though, so perhaps my perspective is a little off. I base it off the fact that, to put it on my bike rack atop my Jeep, I can pick the bike up and get it onto the rack with one hand. It doesn't have a front suspension, though, so it can be a little bumpy at times. The stock tires would have to be swapped out depending on what type of offroad use you would plan, though. They've done fine on the grassy/fielded areas I've rode through. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
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02-06-2011, 05:12 PM	#4
kaykay Lieutenant Colonel 96 Rep 1,769 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E93 328i Conve ... [9.50] 2011 E92 M3 ZCP [8.66] 2008 550i Sport [10.00]	What about a bike from Giant or Specialized? Let's go to $1,000 max limit. Any good road bike/off-road combos??? __________________ '12 CLS550 Palladium Silver - loaded '11 E92 M3 ZCP - SG/B-EXT/CF, M-DCT, loaded '11 E93 328i, BSM over Saddle Brown, sport, loaded '08 550i M-Sport, Carbon Black (Gone but not forgotten), '06 W211 E55 AMG (Gone, miss this animal),'01 E39 540i Sport
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02-06-2011, 05:41 PM	#5
Buegie Captain 51 Rep 714 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT/DC iTrader: (2)	you should probably look into cyclocross bikes. They don't have any suspension components but they do have larger forks to accept wider tires. It's closer to a road bike than a mountain bike but people do ride them through mud, grass, etc. __________________ Black Dakota \| Aluminum \| Sport \| Premium \| Cold \| iDrive \| CA
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02-07-2011, 10:33 AM	#6
dth656 First Lieutenant 37 Rep 399 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ASCII iTrader: (0)	in that price range, u should be able to get a good used hardtail. try ebay, or www.mtbr.com classified ads close to you. __________________ go bears
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