Hey all!
I’m a pretty broke 19 year old student who has been saving up for a gravel bike for over a year now.
I’ve managed to squirrel away a good bit of money and am really excited to spend it all on the only things that matter- bikes and bike stuffs!
That said, I have a budget strictly of $1000 max. There maybe could be some wiggle room there if I work and save longer, but with things getting somewhat tight I’d like to try and stay under there and use only what I’ve saved.
I came across this bike on marketplace and fell in love, but I’m worried this is a bike lust over bike relationship excitement.
They are asking 850 and weren’t willing to go lower.
Any advice on this would be so so helpful!
Some notes: I’m 5’7.5”, female, and really wanting a good bike packing bike with lots of mounts and other sick ways to mod her out. I’m also completely new to bike packing and gravel bikes, so any and all advice is not just appreciated- I am begging for it!!
Thank you all in advance, so stoked to get to join the community ( :
by Additional_Gate_2315
7 Comments
Love the bike!
Happy biking!
Looks like a sick bike but maybe a bit more on the road side (gearing and tires).
For new bikes in ur price range I’d look into salsa journeyer and primos dame
https://preview.redd.it/wkqb095hb0wg1.png?width=2360&format=png&auto=webp&s=ba98af60532f820c456c97728119c226eba9b9d2
You don’t want this bike. It’s old, really old, and clearly overpriced. Check out options on Facebook Marketplace and Pinkbike. Don’t look for something new, since it will be expensive, or something really old, since it won’t be very reliable. Look for newer models from ~2010 or later. For example: I bought my road bike four years ago for $350 (it’s in the photo), it was in perfect condition and had been sitting in a garage for a very long time. Later, I spent another ~$200 on upgrades. When I started I bought all jerseys at the thrift store/marketplace and on eBay. The only thing I spent money on and bought new were cycling shoes. Last year I sold this bike, which I now regret, since modern bikes are incredibly expensive but come with the cheap components for that price… 🙁
I would not take that bike bike packing. However, you could definitely do road touring on it.
Concerns I see:
Not a ton of mounts, which isn’t a deal breaker but that’s more $ and effort to get it where you want it so you can carry your gear.
I’m not able to see tire clearances from photos provided. But judging by the fact that it’s an 8 speed rear cassette, my guess is the max tires you’re likely to get are 28’s, not ideal for bike packing.
Bikepacking with that wheelset? No way. That’s a road wheel set, it’s not made for the rigors of off road riding.
The amount of cash you’d have to throw at that to get it ready will exceed your budget, by a lot. And your budget is nearly maxxed out just getting the bike, which imo isn’t worth the asking price to start with.
It seems lije you’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, tbh. I’d pass.
Ask yourself what kind of riding you are realistically going to do. If you’re really going off road and on single track and camping in the boonies… This isn’t the bike.
Best of luck!
Tough call, can see the appeal but the price is so high!
Personally I’ve been enjoying a retro bike that I ended up with for about 100, older touring ride with 38 mm clearance. Cheap enough to not worry if it needs a big repair or what not
Not worth the price: never heard of this particular brand, but the groupset, although they bought new cassette/chain/cables, it’s like 30 years old and those wheels are not really suited for bike packing, nor is the bike which does not have any mounts for your luggage. I wouldn’t pay 200 for it, maybe I could stretch it to 250 since the tires look new, but that’s that. Look elsewhere.
That is a very lovely bike….but considering the age it’s about half the asking price. Infinite money & infinite storage I’d take it. Very classy.
It’s not the bike for you & what you are looking for. Have to spend the same again (and then some), to get this doing the job you want done. Save yourself the heartbreak now & take others advice on something more practical.