Thanks for hosting this valuable material. After that I decided never to buy a cheap bike again and I was serious about it. I bought a Viking San Demo in 2012 which was amazing. But I still have it. I certainly agree that buying a proper bike is a better investment than a BSO. El-Cheapo's for 50-100 were any good i would sell You get what you pay for plain and simple. I even shelled out for some fancy grips and bar ends. Great Set is Handy for fixing car Tools,Auto,and MORE!! I left the bike in a zip-up nylon cover in a semi derelict garage for 12 years. One suspects the 2005 monthly wage of 2 grand is less in 2015 but 300+ remains a fair price for something fun, sturdy and reliable. From prsonal experience, it got me to work twice and home once. In that time, I have covered literally thousands of happy miles on that bike, including up and down mountains in Wales (on the road, i'm not into that through the trees stuff), have done the London to Brighton twice and the London Bikeathon at least 10 times and always put in a very respectable time (and I am not that fit). Never a true word said to be honest. 'Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.' Excellent article. oh.. and derailleurs. I bought what for me was an expensive bike, ( a Voodoo Bakka, which at around 400 quid is a solid little beast. 
I've even ridden some horrible newer Schwinn bikes! Other than that, look on YouTube, these bikes are easy to adjust.
My "overpriced" bike just lapped it up. Utterly disappointed with bike I bought it is a collection of heavy junk metal on wheels. I will never buy a Raleigh again - they are BSOs sold at real bike prices. I think my point is no bike is perfect whatever money you pay and like anything it needs to be serviced regularly. This article gives excellent advice. They could actually a produce something much closer to a proper bike is they ditched the fancy looking (but totally rubbish) suspension, disk brakes, multi gears, etc. So, the bike was a BSO, and the 60 investment resulted in my. buying a better bike. As I said, I have trouble riding these modern machines because, although I have an inside leg measurement of 27 inches, my upper leg bones (femurs?) It has been a joy to ride for him. Introducing one of the most comprehensive collections of fixings youre likely to find. halfords assorted What they don't realise is, that it wasn't them, it was that heavy, cheap built crap they were trying to push along. I have my own shop and agree with your comments 100%. They go from entry level to expert users. As an experiment I purchased a BSO on the classifieds newspaper ads for $35 (AMF Ten-speed). It took me a few months to splash the extra cash, but I ended spending 400 on a trek Marlin 6 hardtail and fell in love with the sport. Great to see. i'd add to it though: you can get a decent second hand bike for 100, so why get bso? As a bike to start on and a reasonable commuter for the terrible roads in the UK - it looks fine. When I removed after all those years, it was in absolutely pristine condition and in perfect working order, it just need the tyres pumped up to be back on the road. I gave it away for free to someone walking past my home. I bought a BSO from a Decathlon store in 2009, one of their bottom-of-the-range 'Original 3' hybrid models for 109 . A BSO is a false economy. There is definitely something to be said for buying a cheap bike like the aforementioned at Walmart.
I bought my daughter a 14 inch frame mountain bike with front and rear suspension from Halfords. I got a Decathlon Rockrider 5.2 for just under $300, works grest after a few months' riding. Hand on heart I've never slung a leg over one (nor would I). One is a Giant Yukon that a neighbour was throwing out. 200 euros, everything is bottomline shimano. So for the grand total of 162 she now has an excellent quality hybrid bike that rides like a dream, she loves it. Independent retailers who sell quality bikes are not If you can't afford a new bike that works, buy a second hand one. A decent, light, functional, reliable, serviceable bike from a quality manufacturer can be had for as little as 250+ and of course its possible to spend around 5,000 if you get silly, a 400-1,000 bike will perform pretty much the same on the trail, give or take a bit more weight, less flash and less adjustability, but be just as much fun, cheaper to fix and less to worry about having to tweak. tapping tornillo ancla surtido acanalado autorroscantes anclajes masonry toolsoid I have noticed an almost inverse relationship, that is, the older the bike the smoother it rides. e-bay or Gumtree). The tyres were unbranded and performed badly in the wet. They can be used on buses, trains, planes, truck, caravans and cars. i knew it when you describe what it is, i own a bso but it's still good after a year and expect another year from it. Keep wheeling guys, suck it up. A great work of art and still runs sweet.
The "Savings Club" is an old classic way of paying Nice article Paul, thanks. It's been a bloody great bike and later this year I shall strip it down completely and get it powder coated in a nice new BOLD colour then replace the other parts. It's not a bad bike - almost all Campagnolo parts - but the sheer number of BSOs on that website were astonishing. damned aluminium. The difference between comfort and performace is unreal. I'd never get my kids a bike that's heavier than mine, but halfrauds have the cheek to sell a bike aimed at 3 year olds that's over 9kg; some kids that age don't weigh much more than that. I got it from a good bike shop. That said, I have just bought a Carrera Zeus 2014 for the occasional sprint commute to work (mainly because I am trying to get into the top 10 on a number of segments in Strava), but I will continue to ride the Jumpro as well, and looking at it, I am pretty sure it will last another 20 years, although new bikes will probably hover by then! Oh, and I saw a bike (sold online) called a GMC Denali, name officially licensed from General Motors to promote their jumbo luxury monster 4x4 SUV. I just spent $140 at the local bike shop on a complete tune up including cables and brake pads and springs, and $60 on new puncture-resistant tires, tape, and heavy-duty inner tubes. Go out for their 1st ride on a sunny afternoon, and return knackered. There are cheap bikes that are of superb quality Luckily some of the parts I had and some I bought 2nd hand but realistically for the cost time etc it would have been cheaper to invest in something decent new. I have had plenty of bso's over the yrs n 14yrs ago i was finally abke to buy a proper bike. Rubbish! I returned today from a 45k jaunt around Canterbury and Whitstable today and I am literally wetting myself at the thought of planned 500k tour in France next year. So much so that its just received new brakes, brake levers, cable, saddle, seat post and grips, Also a used sprocket, crank and chain ring with better gearing for the ramp parks. I would be pleased to receive any ideas for my "Recycle Rental" scheme which takes in klunkers and BSOs and turns out rideable bikes. I paid one thousand pounds for my Cannondale in 2006 - it was half price. I have recently completed my 2000th mile, a little over a year after having bought a 70 British Eagle from Asda. If you're on a budget then second hand is definitely the way to go. But I know a few that rides them and they are doing just fine, some a year old and being rode every day. What a biased article that does not take into account that not everyone is a snob with cash falling out of their pockets as they walk. screws fixings dome halfords drill caps pieces plate self yellow number it is my job to build these bikes and perform a 28 point safety check on them. The old three speed bikes still work, my theory is that anything that's still rideable after 10 years of use will go almost forever. It's perfectly aligned and has decades left in it if looked after. My parents weren't particularly wealthy and bought what they thought was a good buy. The big problem is, however, how does one put forward this message to the wider public who buy cycles solely by price? I fell for the 'half price' line a few years ago, buying my wife a run-around. If wheels rub on brake blocks, adjust them, or true the wheel. There are bargains to be had on a decent bike if you're willing to shop around on the internet. The front forks are a waste of time and needs regular cleaning to hold rust pitting at bay. In my wife's case, this is exactly what happened, but only after I had spent 300 on a reasonable bike. everything that moves) which were all well on their way out. Bought a Trek hybrid about 20+ years ago for close to 700. I have to say, having "been there, done that" regarding BSOs it still took me some time to really figure it out!How are you going to convince anyone to buy a 15 year old reasonable quality bike with repacked hub bearings, trued wheels, upgraded brakes, new BB, stainless cables and thoroghly tuned for the same price as an off the shelf BSO? The REAL demand is good quality + safety, to give the consumer a reliable product with no compromise. At this time of year (Autumn) the end of season clearances and discounts of 20-40% on last seasons models means that a proper bike from bike shop need not even cost that much more than a BSO. (You have to stop pedaling after changing gears, then pedal again for the gear to catch!) It was handy to have it delivered, as it would have been a long ride from the nearest bike shop otherwise. The job for about. I keep it at work and use it to do short trips around town close to work. As a result the rear gear should only be shifted to gear 5 at most to avoid cross chaining (7 speed rear) limiting top speed to 20.5 km/h (12.7 mph). I currently have a Raleigh Redrock which must be at least 10 yrs old. I'm currently unemployed so my budget is very tight. This article is so true. Just messing about and found this article. Some people in NZ even apply for finance to buy these so called bikes. I replaced one with a Viking bought online for half the price. I got an Apollo Slammer and got 5 years use out of that, it is still running smooth. What I would add is that second hand bikes can be bought cheaply but allow buyers to trade up in performance compared to what they would have been able to afford buying new.
But not without explaining again and again how cheap suspension bikes are heavy, hard work to ride and 20mm of travel is quite useless.
The first time it was a complete waste, the rear derailluers didnt move at all or change Soo I thought I'd give it another chance and bought another bike(full suspension). Considering how old this article is, it is still getting its fair share of comments. This fox weighs an absolute ton, the bearings are rough, the fork has play in the stanchions, it's all round horrible, and I just can't see it lasting more than a few months, its sheer weight will probably see it at the back of the shed before the months out. Great article man! Part of the problem for me is that bike shop owners tend to be real snobs, and out you off buying a mid-range bike. Dual suspension. But I'm gonna have another go. I bought a second hand GT Palermo for 25 and even though it's 10 years old its got another 20 years of life in it. Please enter the content for your inquiry. I bought a carrera banshee with the 7000 series frame. that's a nice, well written article. Got a decent aluminum MTB frame and building it up as a commuting bike, leaving the old 'Herc' as backup. I bought a BSO. My mantra in regard to buying kit when taking up a new interest is go for the best you can afford after doing plenty of research.My first bike was an Apollo Vortice Hybrid from Halfords for under 200 quid,hardly exotica but then again,not a 90 BSO.The bike is nice and light and I've had no probs with components packing in.At the time of buying I wasn't 100% sure I'd take to this biking lark,so no way was I going to shell out big bucks.Two years on Ive upgraded to a nice intermediate 500 hybrid,which I consider an outlay in line with [a] my available disposable income and [b]the amount of time I actually spend riding.This to me is a sensible approach,totally ignoring the snobbery and macho tosh element that does unfortunately infect biking as well as other interests/pastimes.P.S The Apollo is still in commission and provides a perfectly ok crap weather/winter hack. I suspect that your story is a fabrication (who buys 2 mid level bikes and then goes for a super-budget brand) ? My bike started out as a Halfords cheapie, an Apollo Belmont. It was heavy and the twist grips far too stiff and the rear mech had a mind of its own. I am a bicycle mechanic and everything in this article is absolutely bang on. I politley turned them down. number plate halfords fixings motoring If a bike goes wrong on the road there is no equivalent of the AA or RAC. I was/am able to ride this bike quite successfully but it is so heavy ("built like a tank" comes to mind, that I can't lift it onto my car towbar to transport it (I'm not as strong as I used to be). I see these BSO things being ridden. products which with maintenance will last for years to come. They truly are a complete waste of good metal and should be ground up to make spares for decent bikes! I think I did it 1 more time before I realized that the caliper arms were BENDING when I applied them. This was really interesting!
number halfords plate fixings motoring i could remember the gone good old days when i had bought 40 tesco cheap throw awaya BSO way back in 2007, i can garantuee you it all happened what is narrated above ended up spending more than the actual bought price in fixing one or the other parts every week. Wonderfully written & structured article! Plastic brake levers and arms (these flex, warp and go out of shape) resulting in brakes that, er, don't brake. Thank you for your enquiry and you will be contacted soon. Yes 300 will buy you a decent "Hybrid" or "Mountain" bike. nearly everyday and the only mishap i had was the chain came off once. I just rebuild what others have binned.For no money I've a Bates track bike , a nice Trek Antelope, various 531 raleighs and horror of horrors my wife's Reebok Freedom. Interesting scope of feedback on here. Unlike most BSOs it didn't have fake suspension or grip shifts, instead it had horrible fat tyres, bottom of the range disk brakes and it never felt steady at any speed. All this bollocks about cycling being elitist and for rich people is exactly that, bollocks. But the one I have Will outlast me I think. Is the doubling in price worth the transition from 9sp to 10sp ? Or at least be fair. A BSO cheap 100 bike can suffice even for regular use if the rider learns to accept the bikes limitations and learns how to carry out the adjustments to the cheap headset. Also, the gears kept jumping out of place, and looking down I noticed the pedal cog was slightly warped. I'm now thinking about getting a carrera hybrid. Cheap bikes have a place in the market, some people are on a limited budget and the only option they have is to purchased one of these cheap bikes with cheap components - good on you if you are one of the people that have purchased one out of necessity (much better than relying on public transport and will keep you fitter). Badly routed cables, wrong lengths - won't work. I now have an excellent quality German Kalkhoff and an Austrian KTM mountain bike. It`s just common sense really, but what i find hard is getting a decent quality bike for my kids. All Apollos and some of the Raleigh's are not fit to be called bicycles. Here in New Zealand the bicycle retail stores sell these. But simarly specd bikes from more premium retailers were heavier, had cheaper gearing components and were a bit ugly! So really cheap bikes are a waste of money but don't diss the lower mid-range stuff. A 10 mobile phone from a supermarket is awful to use and made of cheap plastic and nothing like an Iphone, but spend a bit more and you can get something nearly as good. It was later stolen when being used by a friend.
I am a poor man and can't afford cheap things.buy cheap and buy twice. halfords screws 25mm I ride a +35 years-old Peugeot steel-frame road bike that's still in great condition thanks to being looked after, and so I reckon "ten years of use" can be increased a lot more - a good bike with good maintenance could last way longer. True, I only did about 700k in 6 months, and it does need a new set of callipers for the back brake (couldn't be bothered to fix it yet), but for 50 I got what I expected, and I believe that if I service it properly and take care of it it should last me a lot more. I still have that bike n although ive had2 have it repaired a couple of times over the 13 or so yrs it was the best 80 i ever spent. And this is something Halfords need to address. They are incredibly frustrating to service and tune. I think this is an incredibly valuable article. of the monstrous bits of rubbish that are BSOs. The same logic applies to bikes. Cheap bikes for the masses fill a demand for the masses who are unlikely to ever attempt a downhill course or a ride of more than a few miles. It's easy to slam a big name like Halfords, but they do sell the VooDoo bikes (300 hybrid rigid, 400 mtb hardtail) which are very highly rated. It lasted really well with nothing going wrong other than a seized rear brake.. There is however no build quality what so ever. Lately, I bought a Specialized Rockhopper for $CAN150 at a garage sale. Also even among bike specialists high volume chains are taking over and hurting smaller shops. I cleaned and lubed everything that didn't need disassembling, installed a new chain, pumped up the tires and off I went. The other option is to buy a decent made bike 2nd hand, Great article indeed! You will find that if your bike was assembled by the Saturday guy, you may not be onto a winner - but they do have their seasoned mechanics in the odd shop. Put them the right way and the problem has gone! Broke an axle. My first car, by comparison. Depending on the shipping method selected, a time slot reservation might be required. As everyday cyclists / mechanics we have a duty to educate people new to this hobby, but this doesn't necessarily mean stopping people only spending 100 on their new wheels, but giving them advice about their choices, suggesting other places to look for a bike, but most importantly not bullying them into making their purchases because you are a brand snob or wouldn't dream of buying second hand. Very helpful, informative article and still relevant 8 years later. Newer Huffy bikes I've ridden have proven to be just as horrible as other BSOs. The point is not about how big your wallet is, more how wisely you use it. As for ordinary Dutch bikes, they don't seem to be built in frame sizes less that 20 plus inches, I can only assume the Dutch are all very tall. I knew nothing about cycling and just wanted somethign so I could go for rides out with my son. I then thought a 17 inch frame with 28 inch wheels would give me a bike with a longer wheelbase than a 26er, which would enable me, with the aid of a hockey stick seatpost, to position the saddle further back than normal to get the "leg stretch" that I spoke of earlier. I don't work for Halfords or in the bike industry at all - I work in social care! For a brand name it had basic components, the cheapest components. Here youll find all manner of assorted screws, nuts, washers, clips and pins, all designed to keep even the most heavy duty equipment safely in place. Only advice would be to take out a service-plan if you do get a BSO from the likes of Halfords, regular checks and maintenance is the key to keeping these cheap beasts in good and safe condition (had new tyres and a new back wheel in 3 years - which I dont think is too shabby for a 100 odd quid bike!). I wanted to add further commentary - Will surely keep this in mind while purchasing. I am already looking at buying a good bike from my local bike shop. store bike is a 500% better value, particularly if it's fitted properly and ridden often (at least weekly). I do feel like i've betrayed my LBS a bit, but 500 is a big saving and they will still get the business servicing it. I agree, 300 for a mode of transport/a sport tool isn't a lot, but it's a lot for a lawn ornament if I don't use it. I'm the chap who exchanged the BSO for a much better quality Voodoo Marasa - See: Anonymous - November 18, 2012. They may not sparkle and glitter like all those sheds' and online offerings but they all run "sweet as a nut" as a London used car dealer might aver. Please complete the file below, we will email the catalog to you. All the parts feel very sturdy, like they'll never break! There is a *huge* market for low quality, cheap BSOs here, because they make sense. I fix bikes for friends and when they come with a BSO I show them all these things, usually something has broken like a brake lever in a way that a quality bike just wouldn't. So it covered less than 10 miles. I quizzed him because I can get a nice 12 megapixel Tevion compact camera from Aldi for about 50. All original, although it has been mildly pimped. I can't ride the vast majority of modern bikes, because bike geometry was changed some years back,resulting in the rear tube being near vertical above the bottom bracket, which in turn has been raised, presumably to cater for "off roaders". I see a lot of these BSOs, from where I come from, and most of them are sad and forlorn looking things, abandoned or just waiting for the landfill. It fell apart almost instantly. I have wanted to mtb for quite a while, and I know someone who will sell me a good quality Kona Coiler for 500euros, unfortunately my dad thinks that cheaper is better and keeps bringing me around Halfords, looking at all the sh!tty bikes for under 200euros, how would be a good way to explain to my dad that i need a good quality bike not a sh!t one, and get him to part-buy me this bike. Why buy a 100 full susser if your on the footpath just going to work. Don't buy cheap stuff! It is also shame that the BSO market is driven by impressive looking spec s and features rather than quality production and components. (Unless anyone has any other suggestions?). Want a bike on a budget? However, now I got myself a entry-range Raleigh commuter bike. and they had a lot of trouble with them (missing screws, things falling apart, rustiness). There were some great bikes produced in the early/mid nineties by the likes of Trek, Specialized, Saracen, Orange, Cannondale, even Raleigh (to name but a few).
My own recent bikes: Bike mechanic for five years now. I have friends who have bought such 'BSO's and they've pretty much experienced the same value for money as described. Yes, it is a heavy bike, and it will never win any speed trials or a fashion contest.but I love it and it has never let me down. The fork has a crack on the clamping section which has been welded. I bought my car for less it's got a heater 4 seats and a stereo.your 5grand bike gives you nothing but debt and a sore arse. Some can take up to an hour once you have taken wheels off to sort out hubs and re true, At Xmas we don't have time to do this so make the best of a bad job. Saying that, my trusty Apollo Jewel (yes a Halfords purchase) has done me quite well over the last 2 or 3 years. The pedal crank fell off and will not tighten.
They replaced it with an Apollo Phaze. They are known as good British designed conservative designs. Asked for 10.. deal. Great article.May I make a very small argument in favour of a BSO? Wells. My first bike was a BSO,,, a Chinese steel MTB with hopeless shifters and derailleurs. The parts and components are cheap and nasty. Our imported Welsh mechanic introduced the term to us and it's stuck. I've just knackered a cheap bike. His girlfriend has a 150 BSO from Toys R Us and recently borrowed his bike and described it as a dream to ride compared to her bike and is now looking for a better bike herself. Unfortunately this change has been carried through to all bike types, including the "sit up and beg" classics that I am interested in. Couldn't agree more. I bought a relatively good bike from a reputable dealer in 1991 and it cost me very little in repairs in the meantime, despite using it almost every day. Maybe the department stores will start training their assemblers better & have free "break-in" & adjustment warranties! Average is just that, whatever year it is. It always amazes me when you see a 35,000 4x4 with 4 BSO's on the back. 300 smackers. Mine was rattly, the brakes not quite right, saddle loose and bell missing. It rides nice and smooth, the brakes are razor precise, the gears all work. we know they won't last, but actually we count ourselves lucky if they don't get kicked in or nicked. So to finish off, buying a cheap BSO is false economy. At speed it would have been catastrophic. I bought a cheap 100 catalogue bike a few years back and it arrived in a flat pack. The KTM was an entry level mountain bike but so far no complaints about it. I bought the Colnago on Ebay and changed the Shimano groupset to Campagnolo. The consumer looks at the store to provide quality The bike is still in our family 60 years on & will give any new expensive bike a run for their money any day!! This bike will freewheel on a 1 degree incline and requires little effort to ride fast. it's not the hubs fault the bearings were way over tightened at the factory and never properly re-adjusted before ridden. Its hard to explain how horrible it was, and of course I lasted only about 3 months before giving up. Even so, it was reasonable to ride, although the Shimano SIS indexed rear derailleur could never be adjusted properly. May I be an agency of your products,and what's yourterms? If you do love cycling, mid to long distance reguarly, across varied terrain, it's well worth saving as long as possible for a nice, rugged hybrid bike, and then just get out there :). - You mention that a 400 pound bike will last 10 years. The tour was awesome, the bike, wasn't. So sometimes you can be lucky. In the past I have owned some very good mtbs including an Orange C6 until it was stolen. I'm not bothered about a bell, but in exchange for 400 and the choosing of a reasonable brand, I got home disappointed. A few years ago one of my colleagues bought 2 Sterlinghouse bikes. I don't think everyone should buy very expensive bikes but far too many people seem to buy very cheap bikes which look good to get started cycling. The front wheel collapsed. All of the parts even on the cheapest models are good quality shiman entry level group sets. I also have a 2008 Carrera Fury from Halfords for 500 that I really like and replaced the weakest parts before they failed - headset, bottom bracket and crankset. I bloody hate them and I hate my company for selling them alongside very reasonably priced quality bikes. No pleasing some people, but there is definitely a market for cheap bikes there. Damn thing is a kids scooter bearing.
I've even ridden some horrible newer Schwinn bikes! Other than that, look on YouTube, these bikes are easy to adjust. My "overpriced" bike just lapped it up. Utterly disappointed with bike I bought it is a collection of heavy junk metal on wheels. I will never buy a Raleigh again - they are BSOs sold at real bike prices. I think my point is no bike is perfect whatever money you pay and like anything it needs to be serviced regularly. This article gives excellent advice. They could actually a produce something much closer to a proper bike is they ditched the fancy looking (but totally rubbish) suspension, disk brakes, multi gears, etc. So, the bike was a BSO, and the 60 investment resulted in my. buying a better bike. As I said, I have trouble riding these modern machines because, although I have an inside leg measurement of 27 inches, my upper leg bones (femurs?) It has been a joy to ride for him. Introducing one of the most comprehensive collections of fixings youre likely to find. halfords assorted What they don't realise is, that it wasn't them, it was that heavy, cheap built crap they were trying to push along. I have my own shop and agree with your comments 100%. They go from entry level to expert users. As an experiment I purchased a BSO on the classifieds newspaper ads for $35 (AMF Ten-speed). It took me a few months to splash the extra cash, but I ended spending 400 on a trek Marlin 6 hardtail and fell in love with the sport. Great to see. i'd add to it though: you can get a decent second hand bike for 100, so why get bso? As a bike to start on and a reasonable commuter for the terrible roads in the UK - it looks fine. When I removed after all those years, it was in absolutely pristine condition and in perfect working order, it just need the tyres pumped up to be back on the road. I gave it away for free to someone walking past my home. I bought a BSO from a Decathlon store in 2009, one of their bottom-of-the-range 'Original 3' hybrid models for 109 . A BSO is a false economy. There is definitely something to be said for buying a cheap bike like the aforementioned at Walmart.
I bought my daughter a 14 inch frame mountain bike with front and rear suspension from Halfords. I got a Decathlon Rockrider 5.2 for just under $300, works grest after a few months' riding. Hand on heart I've never slung a leg over one (nor would I). One is a Giant Yukon that a neighbour was throwing out. 200 euros, everything is bottomline shimano. So for the grand total of 162 she now has an excellent quality hybrid bike that rides like a dream, she loves it. Independent retailers who sell quality bikes are not If you can't afford a new bike that works, buy a second hand one. A decent, light, functional, reliable, serviceable bike from a quality manufacturer can be had for as little as 250+ and of course its possible to spend around 5,000 if you get silly, a 400-1,000 bike will perform pretty much the same on the trail, give or take a bit more weight, less flash and less adjustability, but be just as much fun, cheaper to fix and less to worry about having to tweak. tapping tornillo ancla surtido acanalado autorroscantes anclajes masonry toolsoid I have noticed an almost inverse relationship, that is, the older the bike the smoother it rides. e-bay or Gumtree). The tyres were unbranded and performed badly in the wet. They can be used on buses, trains, planes, truck, caravans and cars. i knew it when you describe what it is, i own a bso but it's still good after a year and expect another year from it. Keep wheeling guys, suck it up. A great work of art and still runs sweet.
But not without explaining again and again how cheap suspension bikes are heavy, hard work to ride and 20mm of travel is quite useless.
The first time it was a complete waste, the rear derailluers didnt move at all or change Soo I thought I'd give it another chance and bought another bike(full suspension). Considering how old this article is, it is still getting its fair share of comments. This fox weighs an absolute ton, the bearings are rough, the fork has play in the stanchions, it's all round horrible, and I just can't see it lasting more than a few months, its sheer weight will probably see it at the back of the shed before the months out. Great article man! Part of the problem for me is that bike shop owners tend to be real snobs, and out you off buying a mid-range bike. Dual suspension. But I'm gonna have another go. I bought a second hand GT Palermo for 25 and even though it's 10 years old its got another 20 years of life in it. Please enter the content for your inquiry. I bought a carrera banshee with the 7000 series frame. that's a nice, well written article. Got a decent aluminum MTB frame and building it up as a commuting bike, leaving the old 'Herc' as backup. I bought a BSO. My mantra in regard to buying kit when taking up a new interest is go for the best you can afford after doing plenty of research.My first bike was an Apollo Vortice Hybrid from Halfords for under 200 quid,hardly exotica but then again,not a 90 BSO.The bike is nice and light and I've had no probs with components packing in.At the time of buying I wasn't 100% sure I'd take to this biking lark,so no way was I going to shell out big bucks.Two years on Ive upgraded to a nice intermediate 500 hybrid,which I consider an outlay in line with [a] my available disposable income and [b]the amount of time I actually spend riding.This to me is a sensible approach,totally ignoring the snobbery and macho tosh element that does unfortunately infect biking as well as other interests/pastimes.P.S The Apollo is still in commission and provides a perfectly ok crap weather/winter hack. I suspect that your story is a fabrication (who buys 2 mid level bikes and then goes for a super-budget brand) ? My bike started out as a Halfords cheapie, an Apollo Belmont. It was heavy and the twist grips far too stiff and the rear mech had a mind of its own. I am a bicycle mechanic and everything in this article is absolutely bang on. I politley turned them down. number plate halfords fixings motoring If a bike goes wrong on the road there is no equivalent of the AA or RAC. I was/am able to ride this bike quite successfully but it is so heavy ("built like a tank" comes to mind, that I can't lift it onto my car towbar to transport it (I'm not as strong as I used to be). I see these BSO things being ridden. products which with maintenance will last for years to come. They truly are a complete waste of good metal and should be ground up to make spares for decent bikes! I think I did it 1 more time before I realized that the caliper arms were BENDING when I applied them. This was really interesting!
number halfords plate fixings motoring i could remember the gone good old days when i had bought 40 tesco cheap throw awaya BSO way back in 2007, i can garantuee you it all happened what is narrated above ended up spending more than the actual bought price in fixing one or the other parts every week. Wonderfully written & structured article! Plastic brake levers and arms (these flex, warp and go out of shape) resulting in brakes that, er, don't brake. Thank you for your enquiry and you will be contacted soon. Yes 300 will buy you a decent "Hybrid" or "Mountain" bike. nearly everyday and the only mishap i had was the chain came off once. I just rebuild what others have binned.For no money I've a Bates track bike , a nice Trek Antelope, various 531 raleighs and horror of horrors my wife's Reebok Freedom. Interesting scope of feedback on here. Unlike most BSOs it didn't have fake suspension or grip shifts, instead it had horrible fat tyres, bottom of the range disk brakes and it never felt steady at any speed. All this bollocks about cycling being elitist and for rich people is exactly that, bollocks. But the one I have Will outlast me I think. Is the doubling in price worth the transition from 9sp to 10sp ? Or at least be fair. A BSO cheap 100 bike can suffice even for regular use if the rider learns to accept the bikes limitations and learns how to carry out the adjustments to the cheap headset. Also, the gears kept jumping out of place, and looking down I noticed the pedal cog was slightly warped. I'm now thinking about getting a carrera hybrid. Cheap bikes have a place in the market, some people are on a limited budget and the only option they have is to purchased one of these cheap bikes with cheap components - good on you if you are one of the people that have purchased one out of necessity (much better than relying on public transport and will keep you fitter). Badly routed cables, wrong lengths - won't work. I now have an excellent quality German Kalkhoff and an Austrian KTM mountain bike. It`s just common sense really, but what i find hard is getting a decent quality bike for my kids. All Apollos and some of the Raleigh's are not fit to be called bicycles. Here in New Zealand the bicycle retail stores sell these. But simarly specd bikes from more premium retailers were heavier, had cheaper gearing components and were a bit ugly! So really cheap bikes are a waste of money but don't diss the lower mid-range stuff. A 10 mobile phone from a supermarket is awful to use and made of cheap plastic and nothing like an Iphone, but spend a bit more and you can get something nearly as good. It was later stolen when being used by a friend.
I am a poor man and can't afford cheap things.buy cheap and buy twice. halfords screws 25mm I ride a +35 years-old Peugeot steel-frame road bike that's still in great condition thanks to being looked after, and so I reckon "ten years of use" can be increased a lot more - a good bike with good maintenance could last way longer. True, I only did about 700k in 6 months, and it does need a new set of callipers for the back brake (couldn't be bothered to fix it yet), but for 50 I got what I expected, and I believe that if I service it properly and take care of it it should last me a lot more. I still have that bike n although ive had2 have it repaired a couple of times over the 13 or so yrs it was the best 80 i ever spent. And this is something Halfords need to address. They are incredibly frustrating to service and tune. I think this is an incredibly valuable article. of the monstrous bits of rubbish that are BSOs. The same logic applies to bikes. Cheap bikes for the masses fill a demand for the masses who are unlikely to ever attempt a downhill course or a ride of more than a few miles. It's easy to slam a big name like Halfords, but they do sell the VooDoo bikes (300 hybrid rigid, 400 mtb hardtail) which are very highly rated. It lasted really well with nothing going wrong other than a seized rear brake.. There is however no build quality what so ever. Lately, I bought a Specialized Rockhopper for $CAN150 at a garage sale. Also even among bike specialists high volume chains are taking over and hurting smaller shops. I cleaned and lubed everything that didn't need disassembling, installed a new chain, pumped up the tires and off I went. The other option is to buy a decent made bike 2nd hand, Great article indeed! You will find that if your bike was assembled by the Saturday guy, you may not be onto a winner - but they do have their seasoned mechanics in the odd shop. Put them the right way and the problem has gone! Broke an axle. My first car, by comparison. Depending on the shipping method selected, a time slot reservation might be required. As everyday cyclists / mechanics we have a duty to educate people new to this hobby, but this doesn't necessarily mean stopping people only spending 100 on their new wheels, but giving them advice about their choices, suggesting other places to look for a bike, but most importantly not bullying them into making their purchases because you are a brand snob or wouldn't dream of buying second hand. Very helpful, informative article and still relevant 8 years later. Newer Huffy bikes I've ridden have proven to be just as horrible as other BSOs. The point is not about how big your wallet is, more how wisely you use it. As for ordinary Dutch bikes, they don't seem to be built in frame sizes less that 20 plus inches, I can only assume the Dutch are all very tall. I knew nothing about cycling and just wanted somethign so I could go for rides out with my son. I then thought a 17 inch frame with 28 inch wheels would give me a bike with a longer wheelbase than a 26er, which would enable me, with the aid of a hockey stick seatpost, to position the saddle further back than normal to get the "leg stretch" that I spoke of earlier. I don't work for Halfords or in the bike industry at all - I work in social care! For a brand name it had basic components, the cheapest components. Here youll find all manner of assorted screws, nuts, washers, clips and pins, all designed to keep even the most heavy duty equipment safely in place. Only advice would be to take out a service-plan if you do get a BSO from the likes of Halfords, regular checks and maintenance is the key to keeping these cheap beasts in good and safe condition (had new tyres and a new back wheel in 3 years - which I dont think is too shabby for a 100 odd quid bike!). I wanted to add further commentary - Will surely keep this in mind while purchasing. I am already looking at buying a good bike from my local bike shop. store bike is a 500% better value, particularly if it's fitted properly and ridden often (at least weekly). I do feel like i've betrayed my LBS a bit, but 500 is a big saving and they will still get the business servicing it. I agree, 300 for a mode of transport/a sport tool isn't a lot, but it's a lot for a lawn ornament if I don't use it. I'm the chap who exchanged the BSO for a much better quality Voodoo Marasa - See: Anonymous - November 18, 2012. They may not sparkle and glitter like all those sheds' and online offerings but they all run "sweet as a nut" as a London used car dealer might aver. Please complete the file below, we will email the catalog to you. All the parts feel very sturdy, like they'll never break! There is a *huge* market for low quality, cheap BSOs here, because they make sense. I fix bikes for friends and when they come with a BSO I show them all these things, usually something has broken like a brake lever in a way that a quality bike just wouldn't. So it covered less than 10 miles. I quizzed him because I can get a nice 12 megapixel Tevion compact camera from Aldi for about 50. All original, although it has been mildly pimped. I can't ride the vast majority of modern bikes, because bike geometry was changed some years back,resulting in the rear tube being near vertical above the bottom bracket, which in turn has been raised, presumably to cater for "off roaders". I see a lot of these BSOs, from where I come from, and most of them are sad and forlorn looking things, abandoned or just waiting for the landfill. It fell apart almost instantly. I have wanted to mtb for quite a while, and I know someone who will sell me a good quality Kona Coiler for 500euros, unfortunately my dad thinks that cheaper is better and keeps bringing me around Halfords, looking at all the sh!tty bikes for under 200euros, how would be a good way to explain to my dad that i need a good quality bike not a sh!t one, and get him to part-buy me this bike. Why buy a 100 full susser if your on the footpath just going to work. Don't buy cheap stuff! It is also shame that the BSO market is driven by impressive looking spec s and features rather than quality production and components. (Unless anyone has any other suggestions?). Want a bike on a budget? However, now I got myself a entry-range Raleigh commuter bike. and they had a lot of trouble with them (missing screws, things falling apart, rustiness). There were some great bikes produced in the early/mid nineties by the likes of Trek, Specialized, Saracen, Orange, Cannondale, even Raleigh (to name but a few).
My own recent bikes: Bike mechanic for five years now. I have friends who have bought such 'BSO's and they've pretty much experienced the same value for money as described. Yes, it is a heavy bike, and it will never win any speed trials or a fashion contest.but I love it and it has never let me down. The fork has a crack on the clamping section which has been welded. I bought my car for less it's got a heater 4 seats and a stereo.your 5grand bike gives you nothing but debt and a sore arse. Some can take up to an hour once you have taken wheels off to sort out hubs and re true, At Xmas we don't have time to do this so make the best of a bad job. Saying that, my trusty Apollo Jewel (yes a Halfords purchase) has done me quite well over the last 2 or 3 years. The pedal crank fell off and will not tighten.
They replaced it with an Apollo Phaze. They are known as good British designed conservative designs. Asked for 10.. deal. Great article.May I make a very small argument in favour of a BSO? Wells. My first bike was a BSO,,, a Chinese steel MTB with hopeless shifters and derailleurs. The parts and components are cheap and nasty. Our imported Welsh mechanic introduced the term to us and it's stuck. I've just knackered a cheap bike. His girlfriend has a 150 BSO from Toys R Us and recently borrowed his bike and described it as a dream to ride compared to her bike and is now looking for a better bike herself. Unfortunately this change has been carried through to all bike types, including the "sit up and beg" classics that I am interested in. Couldn't agree more. I bought a relatively good bike from a reputable dealer in 1991 and it cost me very little in repairs in the meantime, despite using it almost every day. Maybe the department stores will start training their assemblers better & have free "break-in" & adjustment warranties! Average is just that, whatever year it is. It always amazes me when you see a 35,000 4x4 with 4 BSO's on the back. 300 smackers. Mine was rattly, the brakes not quite right, saddle loose and bell missing. It rides nice and smooth, the brakes are razor precise, the gears all work. we know they won't last, but actually we count ourselves lucky if they don't get kicked in or nicked. So to finish off, buying a cheap BSO is false economy. At speed it would have been catastrophic. I bought a cheap 100 catalogue bike a few years back and it arrived in a flat pack. The KTM was an entry level mountain bike but so far no complaints about it. I bought the Colnago on Ebay and changed the Shimano groupset to Campagnolo. The consumer looks at the store to provide quality The bike is still in our family 60 years on & will give any new expensive bike a run for their money any day!! This bike will freewheel on a 1 degree incline and requires little effort to ride fast. it's not the hubs fault the bearings were way over tightened at the factory and never properly re-adjusted before ridden. Its hard to explain how horrible it was, and of course I lasted only about 3 months before giving up. Even so, it was reasonable to ride, although the Shimano SIS indexed rear derailleur could never be adjusted properly. May I be an agency of your products,and what's yourterms? If you do love cycling, mid to long distance reguarly, across varied terrain, it's well worth saving as long as possible for a nice, rugged hybrid bike, and then just get out there :). - You mention that a 400 pound bike will last 10 years. The tour was awesome, the bike, wasn't. So sometimes you can be lucky. In the past I have owned some very good mtbs including an Orange C6 until it was stolen. I'm not bothered about a bell, but in exchange for 400 and the choosing of a reasonable brand, I got home disappointed. A few years ago one of my colleagues bought 2 Sterlinghouse bikes. I don't think everyone should buy very expensive bikes but far too many people seem to buy very cheap bikes which look good to get started cycling. The front wheel collapsed. All of the parts even on the cheapest models are good quality shiman entry level group sets. I also have a 2008 Carrera Fury from Halfords for 500 that I really like and replaced the weakest parts before they failed - headset, bottom bracket and crankset. I bloody hate them and I hate my company for selling them alongside very reasonably priced quality bikes. No pleasing some people, but there is definitely a market for cheap bikes there. Damn thing is a kids scooter bearing.