Plan B Forum

-"BB"-

It is unfortunate that people can still sell "crap bikes" and get away with it. But that's what you get for $175.

I can recall when I became a more serious cyclist back in the early 70s and would go into 'bike shops' run by people who never rode bicycles and get lunatic 'advice'. It is like hearing Republicans describe the world, no connection to reality. None.

yrs,
rubato

Must not have watched the video, then? Plus dragging in politics... how tiresome of you.

My first 10 speed was a Huffy from Benny's, I loved that bike and it was perfectly functional.

"Trail rated" and "Black Diamond trail rated" probably aren't the same thing? That Walmart mountain bike is probably better than nothing for the vast majority of kids who get one and will use it no more roughly than to do some tricks in the schoolyard, ride down stairs and over small bumps in their neighborhood, and to ride on much more typical bike trails than the one in the video.

The rider in the video is more than likely a privileged white kid who probably has had expensive mountain bikes gifted to him from early childhood and is out of touch with a reality in which getting a $175 bike is a very big deal indeed. Poor kids would doubtless love to ride $2k mountain bikes, but that just ain't reality.

If you want a toy bike, go to a toy store. If you want a real bike. . .

As for the $175, get a good used bike from a real bike store. If you pay attention at the beginning, it says Huffy did a good job of making it LOOK like a real mountain bike. Better yet, make friends with a serious biker who will (and there are many of them) take a kid around to auctions of abandoned bikes at colleges and police auctions of unclaimed recovered stolen bikes. You can get some thing that looks rough, but with a little work can be far more reliable than any thing new from Huffy for much less than $175.

"Trail Rated" can easily mean it is rated to collapse before you get to the end of the trail. Fifty pounds is way too much for any bike, unless half of that weight comes from the bike lock.

And Bosox--how well did those brakes and shifters really work? My first bike was a Western Flyer given to me for my eighth birthday, by my rich uncle--yes really. He owned a publishing house including printing plant and bindery in Chicago. The bike was stolen a year later from a public swimming pool where I had not locked it. I replaced it with a Schwinn, what would now be called a cruiser--used for $20 dollars I earned my self cutting lawns. I rode that bike through college.

(((((snailgate)))))

"for the price, this is a cool little bike" is what he says - but not for serious mountain biking

But what kind of idiot would buy a Huffy for serious mountain biking?

had a Western Flyer once,I liked it as a kid.Finally twisted the front sprocket off where it was joined to the pedals ,was doubling,I guess I came down on it too hard,I had pretty good torque as a bicyclist -but not much HP ,could sit down and pedal by Guys that were pushing their bicycles.( Youth is wasted on the young) but all that pretty much went away with the demise of L5 (left leg pretty gimpy now at times )

God invented motors for a reason.
vrooom vrooom
No pedaling involved.

As a kid I used to go around and salvage bikes people threw away, mounted a repaired engine (also found in the trash) with a washing machine pully and fan belt and made motor bikes. Some I sold, some were destroyed (accidents do happen). Learned a lot building those things. Small engine repair, welding (although I never got very good at it), physics where the cops hung out . Biggest expense was the clutch. Had to buy them as they were not found in the trash. Got around not having a clutch by making an idler pully system with a lever you would pull to tighten the belt.

I won a trexx (I think that's how it's spelled) mountain bike in a bar drawing (where else). You got a ticket with a number for every beer/shot/mixed drink you bought. (how could I lose!?!?!?) Ended up giving it to my wifes nephew.
My bike in high school was a schwinn 5 speed. Collegiate model if I remember correctly. Served me well til I bought my first car. (64 dart, 225 slant six, push button tranny)

Todays bike is a Kawasaki Vulcan, but soon will be a HD Heritage Softail Classic. At 84 yo old, dad is hanging up his leathers. I'm trying to talk him into getting a trike, but he is resistant.

What aboutba scooter? Step through, no clutch, lighter, weivht is low.

Jarlaxle wrote:What aboutba scooter? Step through, no clutch, lighter, weivht is low.

They're nice. Rode one when I was down in Bermuda. When the island wide speed limit is 30mph not a problem. On the LIE, smallish scooters get whipped around. My cousin had a scooter which had a 600cc engine. That had some weight and speed. He traded it in after two years and got a Victory.

ETA
An AA buddy of mine has an electric bicycle. That's pretty cool too.

Not a small one, I mean a big touring scoot, like a Silverwing, a Burgman, or a MyRoad 700. If Dad is interested, I'll offer mine for a test ride.

Git'cher goddam motorcycles outta my bike thread!!
(muttering — damn kids these days, won't never amount t' nuthin', don't hardly even pay t' raise 'em.....)

AND STAY OFF'A MY LAWN!!

-"BB"-

Jarlaxle wrote:Not a small one, I mean a big touring scoot, like a Silverwing, a Burgman, or a MyRoad 700. If Dad is interested, I'll offer mine for a test ride.

We'll see. He has the on set of parkinsons and he is getting weaker. I offered him my vulcan which is a 500 and about 200lbs lighter, but he's one of those "I would rather push my Harley than ride a rice burner". Too bad he can't push his harley very well anymore.

oldr-n-wiser, if he has the onset of Parkinson's, it is definitely time for a trike. His ability to properly balance a bike, as well as hold one up at a stop, will soon be gone. There are some very nice ones out there these days. Take him to some HD showrooms or bike gatherings. (Not that I like Harleys.) One guy I know calls his group "The Brotherhood of the Trike".

LOL -BB
Those boys and their infernal thumping "Bikes ".
My biggest problem as a youngster was having tires that werent flat on my Bicycle ,the Ol' JC Higgens didnt pedal very easy with flat tires ,I finally found out why Guys were smoking me on acceleration and speed when I got a bike with with a high geasr ratio I could leave em in the dust uphill even(like I say my torque was alright ,but my pony was small,jackass power I guess .)

I saw my first motorcycle tricycle just this morning! On the road, coming toward me on my way to work. At first I thought it was an ATV and I was like, wtf? because those are street legal in Montana but not in Massachusetts so I was like, huh? Then it got closer and I realized it was an uber-safe motorcycle, which then made me think, maybe someday . . .

Youve never seen a trike before?!

Nope!

MGMcAnick wrote:oldr-n-wiser, if he has the onset of Parkinson's, it is definitely time for a trike. His ability to properly balance a bike, as well as hold one up at a stop, will soon be gone. There are some very nice ones out there these days. Take him to some HD showrooms or bike gatherings. (Not that I like Harleys.) One guy I know calls his group "The Brotherhood of the Trike".

I'm trying to talk him into it. My BIL had a trike and dad had ridden it but didn't like it. He even tried one of the Can-Am thingies but doesn't like them either. We shall see.
He knows his current limitations and understands what's coming.
Next time I go up I may just take the bike home with me so he is not tempted to ride it.
It's sad it has to come to this.

Be careful...if he gets mad, that could get you arrested!