I am getting back into riding (mostly light trails & dirt/gravel paths with occasional small jumps) and purchased what I consider an entry-level bike, a 26" Royce Union RTT (22" Aluminum Frame) for roughly $300. My plan is to use the bike for 6 - 8 months and then purchase something higher quality if I decide to get into trails that require better gear and are more technical.
Would anyone have any knowledge of this bike or something similar? Be honest. Wont hurt my feelings one way or another, I just don't want to be on something that will make me not want to get back into riding and one that I will have to spend a small fortune repairing all the time.
I saw one on Amazon. I seriously doubt it's a dependable bike for trails. Moreover, past experience taught me that low end components are difficult to adjust.
Honest answer - return it right away to Amazon and don't even open the box. Look at the 1 star ratings it gets. If your'e riding it anything but sidewalks it will breakdown and cost more to fix than it cost you to buy. And it may even break down quickly just riding on sidewalks. Buy a used hardtail off of craigslist. If you think you need a 22" frame then you'll need an XL. Start looking at what's available on craigstlist for Specialized, TRek, Giant, Cannondale, Kona, GT, and more. Good luck.
I had one many years ago that my wife bought me. It lasted two real rides. Sorry, but it is probably on par with a Walmart bike. That being said, Walmart is now selling a Schwinn that is getting some positive vibes as an entry level bike. Don't remember the model.
The Schwinn referred above was reviewed here ,look on the home page. New bikes in that price range usually have a notice sticker on them that says not intended for off road use. The way that they can be sold for that price is that everything used to make it is low quality ,plastic where metal should be ,cast pot metal where it should be forged or machined . You would be money ahead to save some more to buy something better later, it's always cheaper to buy once.
Like others said, skip the toy bike and go straight for something from a good, solid brand (Trek, Specialized, Giant) and save yourself $300 right off the bat.
Say for example you buy the $300 bike, then a couple of months down the road (ha--ha; get it? down the road?) Anyway...a few months from now you decided to upgrade and spend say, $800 on a decent bike. $800 + $300 and you're already up to $1,100. Buy nice or buy twice.
Thank you all for the replies. I appreciate it. I will use the cheap bike for exercise around my local area (dirt paths, gravel, etc) and will continue to research bikes and will look to purchase something a lot more durable at some point.
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