Many supermarkets now offer a range of attractive looking cheap mountain bikes starting in price from as little as £99. They may seem like a tempting buy, but watch out. Buying a cheap mountain bike may be a false economy and could end up costing you more than you thought in the long run.
Most cheap mountain bikes currently offered for sale on the UK market are built using cheap components in China and the Far East. They may look the business with their suspension kits and chunky tyres, but don’t be taken in. For a start try actually lifting one while you’re in the shop. You’ll find it heavy and unbalanced. It may look OK, but bear in mind that it’s likely that very little thought will have gone into the design of the product. It is likely to be based on a generic design that is some years out of date.
Next check out the gears and the brakes. It’s unlikely that you’ll see the industry standard brand Shimano anywhere in sight. These bikes tend to be equipped with cheap imitations, which whilst meeting current EU safety regulations, are unlikely to last for very long.
And that’s the big point. These bikes aren’t going to take much usage before their components start showing the strain. If you’re going to use the bike for just nipping to the shops, then that may be fine and you’ll get value for money. But for anyone wishing to venture beyond the tarmac may soon wish they’d spent a little more to start with.
If you buy a decent branded bike the manufacture is aware that its reputation in the industry is dependant upon delivering a bike that will take the knocks and blows that an enthusiastic user will throw at their machine. An unbranded importer doesn’t need to worry about such things, because they know some people will buy purely based on price.
Cheap mountain bikes are also going to dampen your enthusiasm for biking. If you like slipping gears, screeching brakes and constant stops to readjust cheap components, then go ahead and buy one. Just watch out for the blank looks all around if you try taking it back to the supermarket and asking them to fix it. Good luck!
Cheap mountain bikes do have at least one real advantage. For example if you’re using your bike for a short city commute and then have to leave the bike locked in a public place, such as to railings, this may be a sensible option. The number of people who have had quality bikes stolen whilst they are at work is indescribable. Not only is it deeply annoying, frustrating and inconvenient, it’s also very expensive, even if you are insured.
This is when the cheap mountain bike option becomes a real bonus. Firstly, no thief is going to steal a cheap bike when they have a choice of more expensive machines to choose from. Thieves are definitely brand-aware and will be able to spot your cheap machine a mile off. Secondly, if it does, by some chance, get stolen it will be much cheaper to replace. And finally there is the thought that the thief is unlikely to get far on their ill gotten gains before the whole thing starts to fall apart. Sweet revenge!
To conclude, buying a cheap mountain bike may seem a good idea at the time, but think again. It’s unlikely to give you years of pleasure and you’ll probably end up buying a better bike within a very short space of time. Remember cheap mountain bikes tend to spend their time rusting away in garden sheds, unloved and unwanted. Spend your money on something worth buying!
