If you know bikes...Please help me!!! (good price or rip off?)?

A

Ashley

New member
I'm a student at a huge biking college, so I need to buy a bike and have been looking on craigslist. I need a non-mountain bike (hurts my back) that is sturdy and reliable and will allow me to ride easily and decently quickly a little over a mile to school each day. My budget is $40-$100. Obviously, less the better, but I don't want a total piece of junk!

I just know nothing about bikes!! I saw this add on craiglist (link posted below). Hes selling an old, used monterey murray cruiser for a negotiable $85. Is this worth it? I will probably try to get it for lower, around $65 or $70. I feel so blind since I don't really know what constitutes a good bike and what to look for. I need advice!

What I am looking for is a bike that used to be nice, but is now used so is available more cheaply. My new target bike fell apart last year.

Link: http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/1390070840.html
and also....Thanks!!
 
With your budget in mind....it's a decent bike. It's definitely not high quality, but it is simple. Simplicity in this case is def a plus. That's a pretty old Murray, so it's not as crappy as dep't store bikes that are produced today. It's gonna be a tank. I wouldn't pay more than $35 for it, since the tires and tubes may be old and need replaced. That's at least an additional $40 expense. Maybe more depending on labor rates at your local bike shops, assuming you can't DIY. It may also need servicing of the bearings in the hubs(2), bottom bracket and headset. That's an additional 15-20 dollars per. Ask the seller if you may take it to a bike shop to have it's condition assessed and what it might cost to get it road ready.
 
it looks like a decent bike just be sure to lube the chain other wize try to go for 55, you could prolly do cheaper look at resale stores and garage sales, but all together if you need a bike now just offer her 55 and be prepaerd for maybe a few bucks more.
 
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