Looking for a bike on a budget? Whether you’re getting into cycling for fitness or training for your first race, finding the right bike at the right price can be tricky.
Alex and Ollie dive into the world of budget bikes, scouring the internet to see what kind of ride you can get for $500. Are these bikes actually worth it, or are they just a waste of time and money? 🚴♂️💰
00:00 What is the best bike you can buy for $500?
00:38 Checking on a used bike
02:36 Studying the posted images of the listed bike
03:24 Finding the right size
05:18 Checking for any crash damages
07:34 Checking the components
09:10 What frame material is best to look for?
14:40 What to check in person
16:42 Modern used bikes are not as bad as you think
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What is the best bike you think you could get for $500?
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48 Comments
What is the best bike you think you could get for $500?
I think you guys are not talking enough about counterfeit here, you can get a brand bike from Ali express for basically nothing… too cheap is likely too good… be careful out there
Great video, we have not always been a throw away society, not long ago bikes would be passed down siblings or friends, a little tlc and it was good to go for miles more enjoyment. My first road bike as a teenager was a Raleigh Milk Race Special, from a secondhand shop, a quarter of the price of a new bike from the bike shop, with better spec and my parents could afford it, I loved that bike and never had bike envy of my friends on newer bikes, if you have the money, fine, go mad, pretend you are Pogacar, if you haven’t the money for the latest and greatest, there are some awesome bikes secondhand and you can pretend to be Cadel Evans.
Great vid but really jarring with one guy's head buried in the laptop and the other guy dying to engage him
I picked up a Merckx San Remo 76 with an Ultegra groupset for $500 last year. Bike was basically mint condition. Feel like I got a pretty good deal on it.
I brought an exact same bike as that Cannondale caad 8 during covid to start me on my road bike journey. Paid £325 and was totally solid and looked mint. After upgrading the wheels to Mavic Askium ( Brand new from Decathlon for £199) it was a real capable bike. I have since upgraded to a new giant defy advanced 1 bike and later some hunt carbon wheels.
My Dale now lives on my Wahoo trainer and has done 15-20k miles on it indoors alone, Sold the Mavics for what I paid for them , put the original front wheel back on and the bike owes me nothing!. Sorta regret not using my Canondale over winter though as I hate the thought of all that rain and salt covering my new bike every weekend.
The wheels on the BMC are Super Team carbons. Try a set before you write them off as rubbish.
How about a "Top Gear" type video on what you can buy with a budget price set by the staff.
Who of you makes espresso on that espresso machine? 😊
"I'll give you 400 for that bike."
"Nah, I say 500."
"Meet in the middle?"
"Alright, fine."
"Deal, here's 250!"
You can always get a cheap bike from your friendly neighbourhood crim. You don't even have to worry about storing it as they will nick it back later that night.
I bought a 2011 aluminum Giant Defy for $200. I stripped it down and built it up with a Shimano 105 groupset, Conti 5000s (room for 28mm+), and one-sided 4iiii power meter for $1300 total. My friends thought I was crazy, but it's one hell of a bike! I did a 5-hour ride last weekend and there was no struggle keeping up with my friends on their $5,000 carbon bikes.
Go for a bike with full mudguards, remove them and fit wider tyres. That’s what I did and now I’m rocking 32mms😊
I have the impression that female riders looking for second-hand women's bikes have great potential to find great deals. Since women tend to be more cautious, these bikes are usually in excellent condition while still being priced the same as other second-hand options.
Camera making me nauseous
will be for sale uk carrera claris r2000 i made 1000km for £200 size 51cm up to 165cm max
First road bike was a hand-me-down 1976 Peugeot that my dad bought in France and rode back to Germany (where he was stationed). From the mileage on the old, analog speedometer/odometer, he didn't ride it much after that. But he brought it back to the US and held onto it through many moves. I claimed it in the 1990s and restored it (etched braking surface on the rims caused me problems and confused my LBS).
Wish I hadn't mangled it in a crash, but I got a few good years out of it.
If offered a semi-custom green Calibre Cutter in south London it's mine, some scrote stole it from outside M&S.
Bought a Triban RC500 (with Sora group set, which is now slightly harder to find in the shops) for €650 3 years ago, they now retail at €875 on the Decathlon site.
Sold it last week for €500 with some continental gp5000 tyres slapped on. Feel that was a good deal for everyone.
It's weird to see the good deals on old carbon bikes in the UK. In Los Angeles an old clapped out mystery carbon bike like that goes for 1500 dollars all day, not worth it.
I bought a Raleigh Clubman from about 2010 for $280
Coming from a running background, I broke my foot a couple years ago but was cleared to cycle while I recovered. Just used my trusty 3×8 hybrid and stationary for a while, then once I got into it, I found a used road bike for $225. Motobecane Mirage S from Bikesdirect. Nothing fancy – 2 x 7 Shimano Tourney, Tetkro rim brakes, and basic wheels. Most important thing was it fit. Swapped out the cassette (super cheap) for better climbing, short reach compact bars and a longer stem (nothing expensive, just serviceable), which added up to maybe another $100 and it's been a great little bike. Now it's mostly on trainer duty since I got another bike with better components, but I still take it out for fun! What a great $350-400 total investment!
I have a question. Would you guys make a video of the triban grvl 120 or at least a opinion on the bike?
Got a boardman slr 8.9 carbon 105 11spd for jjst £400. They are uncommon used but good value
Everything is replaceable except the frame, I would start there make sure it’s ok!
Bought a 2011 Giant Tcr Advanced, full Ultegra, Full carbon, DT Swiss wheels for e450 on Buycycle…also a Ridle Fenix Shimano 105 for e430…why buy new?
For me the best first bike is the one you fall in love with and look forward to riding. It doesn't matter if it's new or used, the passion to pedal is what counts.
Dollars?
Are you Amercan now?
A $500 frame and then whatever pro level components you just happen to have lying around gathering dust.
a used bike would be fine I mean a label I would nver buy new so there is that
Doesn't the life-time warranty from Specialized only count for the first owner? At least someone working in a bike shop told me … I'm not saying to stay away from those used bikes, IMHO it just shouldn't be counted as a buying argument. Nevertheless, I'm all in for the used market, you can definitely find good deals there.
Love it…couple of mates checking out used bikes…very entertaining. ❤
I bought a Trek 1.2 2014 for €250, spent an additional €250 on 28mm tyres, saddle, stem and bars to make it fit properly (Listen to Bikefitjames!)
1100km on it this far and it works a treat.
I think I'll stick with my £20 BSA Tour of Britain 😂
Easy there – SuperTeam wheels are GREAT wheels for those on a budget and/or beginners.
Maybe a regular section on the show where you can review an older road bike. This sort of thing help when choosing a second hand road bike for the first time
I actually still have my first and only road bike.
Fuji League 1986
Upgrades
Campagnolo Victory Strada rims with Continental Tubeless tires (sorry Pirelli nerds)
Shimano grip shifters replacing down tube shifters
Selle Royal seat
Shimano 7speed rear hub
This frame is bulletproof.
dollars ?
11:04 is it in baarth or bath 😅🤣
I bought a 2013 Fuji TT bike for $270 this year. 2×10 105, with very low miles as everything was stock with almost no wear. With a new saddle and some adjustments a great and affordable bike for Triathlon under $500.
500$ bike in Philippines is full carbon and around 7-9kg weight
What’s the best stolen bike you can get for $500?
Love this! I've been riding my Triban RC120 for two years as my first bike, banked over 5,000 miles on it and am currently training for an Ironman. Obviously would love a top end bike but it does the job and made me fall in love with the sport. If anything, every ride on it makes me more excited for the day I get to upgrade. Just get the bike you can afford and go riding!
Go in knowing you are replacing the wheels later!
I own 2 bikes. One is a 1997 Canondale CAAD2 with rim brakes and a Felt with disk brakes. The 1997 rim brakes are far superior to the Disk brakes on the Felt.
I have a collection of around 20 raleigh roadbikes and MTBs and a tourer from the 70s to 90s most came off marketplace I did my first 100 miles on my 1985 raleigh team Corsa with Raynolds 501 steel frame Shamano golden Arrow group and its quick and nice I got it for £100
The Specialized Allez at $80 is the opening bid not the price. It's an auction site.
What you should be doing is showing viewers how to select some sources for used, decide what style bike you want, run through the sources and get a list of possible buys. Telling people a beat up bike is worn but don't worry about it does not help people. They need to know how to get an idea of what's available at what costs, then how to decide.
These fools arguing about interesting paintjobs, lol. Like they all want the same generic iBike from Apple. I love the rigs these guys dismiss as ugly. The uglier the bike the better in my experience. Pretty bikes are for show and for getting stolen