I live in a small townish city in a small region, and this is the only affordable option I have to start biking. There aren’t any other bikes close to this price, so I’m considering taking a chance on it.
The bike is a Kron XC 100 mountain bike with the following specs:
Frame: XC Lite aluminum
Fork: Kron M. Lockout
Brakes: Shimano MT 200 hydraulic disc
Gears: Shimano Tourney (3×7)
Crankset: Shimano 24x34x42T
Cassette: Shimano TZ500 (14-28T)
Chain: KMC
Handlebar: 700mm
Wheelset: Zozo Double Wall 32H
Tires: Chaoyang 2.10
It looks a bit rough and probably needs some work, but for $50, is it worth trying to fix up? What should I check before buying?
by North-Frontier
23 Comments
I bought a 3 year old bike with an unknown maintenance or crash record that I’m beginning to think was stolen for $100.
So yea lol
I mean – the fork is a bit concerning given the rust on it, and the tourney groupset leaves a lot to be desired. Are you familiar with working on a bike?
Depends on what you want to use it for but I wouldn’t pay anything for that bike unless they are offering it for free.
It’s 50 bucks. I would.
For $50 if the bike moves forward when you press the pedals and stops when you brakes, I think it’s fine.
People tend to have unreasonable expectations for very low price items.
I wouldn’t be in a rush to buy this one, personally. The fork looks rusty, may need replacement, and that won’t necessarily be cheap. The Shimano Tourney group is also usually only found on very low-end bikes, and of course you’ll need a new seat because it looks like the last owner’s dog took a bite out of it.
I’ve bought a bunch of 40- year old bikes, most having sat in storage for decades. Condition really depends on the bikes exposure to moisture and sun. Moisture will cause steel parts to rust and even aluminum parts will oxidized, and sunlight damages paint and causes rubber and plastic to become brittle. So whenever you buy an old bike that’s been kept in storage for a while, it’s condition is often a gamble.
Only if you hate the kid.
That’s going to need so much work you might as well just buy a new bike off Amazon for $100. You’ll probably be better off.
No. You’ll sing another $100-200 to make it not terrible and it’ll still be pretty bad. There are far better bikes out there for that total budget.
That bike isn’t worth $10.
Buy it! It’s better than no bike. When you’re ready to upgrade, sell it forward.
I probably wouldn’t. But some of it comes down to choice.
Check the bike in person. Do the wheels spin without wobbling? I wouldn’t buy a bike with wobbly wheels as someone new to fixing bikes. Look at the brake and shift levers. Any cracks or damage? How do the tires look? Are they visibly cracked?
I’d ask to test ride it. Have them air up the tires and ride it around the block. If the tires dont hold pressure and you can’t ride it, I’d offer $20-25 for it. If you like the way it feels and isn’t wildly the wrong size for you (that’s a longer conversation, I’d read up on bike sizing a bit), then $50 might be worth it.
But I will say having worked at a bike shop, every bike pulled out of storage usually needs at least $100 in new parts to be in good condition. Tires and tubes will dry rot, brake and shift cables might need to be replaced, and you already know the saddle is wrecked. To say nothing of the chain, cranks, and cassette. Bare minimum, I’d expect it to need new tires and tubes and that can already exceed what you’re going to pay for it.
I would **not** buy that bike for $50 off the showroom floor.
I’d have to ride it regardless of any of that
Oh, that’s a “lockout” fork for sure. I’d be surprised if it moves.
But yeah, if it pedals and mostly fits you, definitely worth $50. Take a good look at the chain, brake cables, and tires, those are the most likely things to need replacing. Ride it and replace stuff as it breaks.
Keep an eye out for a better bike at police auctions, garage sales, etc.
Since you seem to be new to riding, there’s a couple questions you need to answer for yourself before determining if this is the right bicycle for you.
– Is this the right size for me?
While there is wiggle room on bicycle sizing, a vastly too small or vastly too big bike is going to limit your enjoyment of cycling.
– Is it the right kind of bike for me?
A mountain bike like this one is going to be very slow for riding in town/riding on trails, which is what many beginners start with.
If you *need* a bike and only have $50 and absolutely no other options then that’s your bike. It’s not great but some TLC will get it up to scratch.
That there is only going to be worth it for free. You’ll spend at least another $100 (probably more) to make it safe and reliable.
Change the saddle, be aware that the chainring might be worn out (teeth look very pointy on the pic), and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure you don’t ride it without both end caps on the handlebars (it seems they’re missing, but I don’t ne 100% sure).
Only ones, then never again…
It’s a bad mountain bike but it’s a decent commuter. If the gears work it’s fine.
Would buy for 20. It’s not even much when it was new.
I bought a 33 year old bike that was outside for $175. Major score for me.
You are asking the wrong question