this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
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Bicycles

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What would you look for in a used bike when spending USD$150 / CAD$200? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by Weydemeyer@lemmy.ml to c/bicycles@lemmy.ca
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Some background... this summer I'm spending 2-3 weeks with my folks back in my old hometown, and will likely be doing so every summer for the foreseeable future. They have a bike trail that connects to much of the city right in their backyard, so I'd really like to take advantage of that.

However, given that I'm talking about a relatively short amount of time, I really don't want to spend much on a bike that will sit unused for ~50 weeks of the year. I was checking out Craigslist, and was surprised by the number of bikes I saw available for USD$150 or less.

Obviously when buying a used bike at this price, you're making some significant compromises. But I'd like ask, if you all were buying a bike in that price range, what parts / aspects of the bike would you look at in particular? What might be something that would be a big red flag?

I'm capable of doing some basic maintenance and repair if I have a guide, but I'm not capable of doing major fixes.

(and apologies for the North American defaultism in the price range, essentially I'm asking for what you'd look for in an old, used bike that isn't a waste of money but not necessarily something you'd want to ride more than just occasionally, feel free to think of that in your own local currency).

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[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 weeks ago

Right size is key. Everything else is second to that.

[–] Amuletta@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

Some bike shops sell trade-ins. It might be at the high end of your budget, but someone will have gone over it to make sure it's in working condition.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

Steel frame in good shape from a quality manufacturer with easily sourced parts. Stick with major reputable manufacturers like Trek, Marin, etc. If you can get something with disc brakes, great! If not, v-brakes are what I've got on mine commuter and they work just fine (I recommend Koolstop for brake pads).

Check everything over for damage or wear, fix up or replace whatever's wrong, and enjoy a bike that will probably last you for the rest of your life: Steel is real!

[–] JillyB@beehaw.org 1 points 3 weeks ago

Give the bike a test ride and make sure it fits you. The main problem will be if the bike is too big. Too small is better than too big.

The other consideration is condition. You want to make sure the shifting work through all the gears. There's no visible rust. Make sure the drivetrain doesn't squeak or creak. Make sure you can't jiggle the cranks side to side. Make sure the brakes work. Make sure you can adjust the seat height. Seatpost can get seized in the frame sometimes.

If you don't have to worry too much about hills, I recommend a single speed bike. There's no gears to worry about and single speed chains are more robust.