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How Much Does A Bike Cost? | Bicycle Universe
12-15 minutes
So you’ve just developed an interest in cycling and you are thinking of shopping around for a new bike. Well, you’ll be interested to know that your options are not limited.
The trickle-down effect of modern technology has ensured that bike buyers like yourself are spoilt for choice.
However, everybody wants to ensure that they spend money on a bike that will give you value for your money.
It may surprise you just how easy it is to get swayed into buying something undeserving by five-star reviews or cut-price discounts.
So how much does a bike cost?
It is unlikely that you’ll find a fixed price for many bike models. However, the following are average prices that you can work with:
- Road bike $350-700
- Mountain bike $1000
- Single-speed bike $400
- Beach cruiser $200-300
- Recumbent bike $1000-2000
- Kids’ bike $140-200 (3-8) yrs
The following article takes a look at the average retail prices of a variety of bikes you are likely to come across in the market.
If you are going to purchase a bike, the important thing is that you pay the right price for the right product. Remember that there is no one standard price for the numerous models and brands currently being sold.
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Not to mention the many varying factors such as size, material, design, etc that come into play when establishing the price of a bike.
Consider the general price guide below, for the different type of bike you can purchase:-
Road Bike
A decent road bike will cost you in the region of $350-700. You can expect it to have a lightweight aluminum alloy frame, which is well placed to handle your first few hundred miles of riding.
(The Vilano shown here on Amazon can currently be picked up for even less than that)
In spite of being a popular frame material, aluminum has in recent years been upstaged by carbon although this is an expensive option. The benefits with aluminum are its lightweight, ease of construction, and general low expense that makes it a choice material for newbie road bikers.
The experience manufacturers have amassed from years of producing these frames ensures that they have become exceptionally good at providing quality bikes.
Good aluminum frames will have features like extensive tube butting, hydroformed tubes to enhance structural strength, profiled chainstays and slim seat stays.
Other qualities to look out for include internal cable routing and a tapered head tubing which increases front-end stability.
If you are acquiring the bike for daily use, which may mean navigating through busy intersections; I advise that you also get the relevant safety gear.
This will include things such as a helmet to protect you from a fall and riding shoes for a better grip on the pedals,
and Hi-Viz reflective clothing. However, be prepared to cough out at least an extra $100; they don’t come free.
Mountain Bike
If you are looking for a decent mountain bike that you won’t have to keep on repairing every time you use it, get ready to shell out at least $1000.
These bikes are generally expensive because they are designed for rough terrain. Naturally, they require extra features and tougher materials to handle the trails and mountains.
There are actually many modern bikes with super cool features that will cost you as much as ten grand, but this is not what we are looking at here; that price is just too extravagant!
A good mountain bike will feature a hardtail- rigid gear and a set of robust forks, making it an ideal choice for climbing and cross-country riding.
Large wheel size for many is also essential, and the
wheels should have large tread tires for maximum grip on a large variety of surfaces.
If you plan on using the mountain bike frequently, there are some extra accessories you will need if you are to get the maximum enjoyment from your bike.
The additional cost of acquiring a mountain bike will come from purchasing things such as a
helmet, pair of gloves, hydration pack, riding shorts,
mini pump,
chain tool, etc.
Furthermore, before you purchase a mountain bike, it would be good to have an idea of the terrain you plan to ride it on, in order to find the right design.
Mountain bikes come in the following designs, tailored for specific terrains:
- Cross-country bikes
- Trail bikes
- Enduro and all-mountain bikes
- DH (downhill) bikes
Single-speed Bike
You can get a great single-speed bike for around $400. These bikes are generally cheaper thanks to their minimalistic and simplistic nature.
As such manufacturers are able to create bikes with better quality components at a relatively lower cost. The advantage of single-speed bikes is that you are likely to get more value for your money.
Single-speed bikes are devoid of the many features you would find in other models because they have neither, cables, derailleurs, nor shifters that would normally increase the bike cost. The positivity here is that you can get a better quality bike for less money than a multi-geared model.
Single-speeds bikes offer you a lot of freedom as a biker. You only have to select one that suits your style and you’re good to go. Given that parts can be readily interchanged using day-to-day tools, you have the luxury of altering and upgrading components whenever you see the need.
Beach Cruiser
You can get yourself a beach cruiser for an average price of between $200-300. These bikes are relatively simple and make an ideal option for a casual day outdoors.
Whether you are riding to the local grocery store, hitting the beach on a weekend, or visiting granny’s home in the neighborhood; a beach cruiser will offer you an easy and relaxed ride.
As expected, there are models that provide more quality than others and are subsequently more comfortable. It takes more than merely looking at the colors and styles to find a quality cruiser.
With the right research, you should be able to choose model gauging factors such as comfort, extra features, performance, price, etc.
However, not all beach cruisers you see are meant for simplicity. There does exist a number of ‘state-of-the-art models’ that take the design of your ordinary cruiser to a whole new level. You will come across electric cruiser bikes that can cost as much as $10,000.
The easiest way to make a choice among the different models of cruisers is to determine where and how you plan to use it.
Recumbent Bike
Recumbent bikes are expensive! A decent recumbent bike will cost you between $1000-2000. They are not your ordinary bike as can be seen right from their unorthodox shape. Recumbent
bike models are specially made in a number of designs to accommodate different types of users, which includes disabled and elderly (although this is not their prime market).
Even people suffering from
back or butt pains who may find it difficult to sit on a regular bike for a while will feel right at home on a recumbent bike. These bikes are also referred to as “exercise bikes” because people buy them to stay in shape.
In addition to the road bikes designed for the outdoors, there are also indoor, immovable models (like the ones you see in fitness facilities).
Outdoor recumbent bikes include those that you’d see people riding during a marathon. They are comfortable, easy to operate, and built for long distances. They also feature a set of three tires, meaning you don’t need to balance when riding them.
The seats are often adjustable, allowing you to conveniently hoist or lower them to a height that suits your preference. Recumbent bikes incorporate numerous features in their design that you won’t find on a regular bike.
This, unfortunately, ensures that their cost is always higher than their ordinary counterparts.
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Kids’ Bike
A decent quality kids’ bike with 12-inch wheels meant for children between 3-8 years costs on average around $140-200. Larger bikes with 20 to 24-inch wheels will cost anywhere above $240.
Kids’ bikes are specially designed to suit children of different age groups. They are generally heavy and may weigh the same or even more than adult bikes.
When producing these bikes, safety is often at the top of the manufacturers’ priorities. This is why they make a point of producing the right fit and size for specific age groups, allowing the kids to grow into the bikes.
If you are planning to get your child a new bike, it goes without saying that safety should be your first consideration. This may imply that you incur additional costs in acquiring extra safety gear if they don’t come with the bike. You want to look at a number of protective accessories including:
- Helmet
- Pedal and spoke-mounted reflectors
- Bell or horn
- Elbow and knee pads
- Lights- if your child will be riding in the night
How do I Choose the Right Bike?
Finding the right bike for your own use may prove to be a daunting task if you’re not experienced. Given the variety of bike models available in the market, it would be easy to get overwhelmed.
Consider asking at your local bike store, but try to follow these five basic steps when shopping for a bike:
Where to Ride
Are you planning to use the bike for your daily commute? Want to use the bike to get back in shape? Use it for your casual rides around the neighborhood? Go for an outdoor adventure where mountains and trails are involved? Or just play around with your kids?
Figuring out your intended use for the bike is the first thing that will put you on track to finding the right product.
Where to Buy from
You need to narrow down where you are going to purchase the bike from a list of available purchase points. Are you going to buy from a retail store or will you just find the nearest garage sale to find a bike?
The answer to these questions may be determined by your budget and your purpose for acquiring the bike. If you are buying the bike for professional use, there are specialist bike stores that specialize in quality bike models.
Know your Budget
Knowing how much you are planning to spend on the bike is very essential. You don’t want to end up spending more than you had budgeted for. The most important thing here is to ensure that you get a bike that gives you value for your money.
Don’t forget to budget for extra parts and accessories that may be necessary for effective use of the bike. Ensure that you get a bike that you’ll be able to maintain in the long term.
A good tip here is to visit the local bike shop around winter when they are clearing their stock for fresh inventory.
Get the Correct Size
For the sake of your comfort, you need to find the
right size bike for you. Purchasing the wrong size could mean that riding the bike will be awkward or uncomfortable for you, which will make your riding experience unpleasant.
Parts and Accessories
The last things to consider are the different components and
accessories you may require. Often, bikes will be sold with only the parts necessary to ride and nothing extra.
You have to decide whether you are going to need any additional
accessories that may not come with the bicycle such as helmets, pumps, water bottles, saddles, saddlebags, baskets, etc.
Conclusion
There is a wonderfully large selection of bike models available in the market for you to choose from. The cost, however, will be determined by a myriad of factors including size and brand and of course the depth of your pocket.
Knowing exactly what you want to use the bike for will help to point you in the right direction and help you find the right bike for your circumstances.
If you are still undecided, talk to someone with experience or somebody at your local bike store, particularly if you are going to buy a specialist style of bike.
But above all, buy one that you will definitely use as its a fantastic way of helping you keep fit, active and of course, highly enjoyable!
Drain gratings can be dangerous for all cyclists using our roads. LTA should review and change all our current drain covers that are NOT perpendicular to the cement curb. Those gratings with metal bars that are parallel to the cement curb are dangerous to all cyclist and will cause a fall by ‘catching’ the slim wheels of bicycles that have this wheels. A Myanmar man was hospitalised when the wheel of his bicycle was caught on a roadside drain cover. The incident occured along Changi Coast Walk on 16/01/2021. This may be another reason why cyclists are also forced to ride further out from the kerb. Below is an example of the correct drain cover type which may work better:
Cyclists have unfortunately had to deal with this issue for a long time. You can check out LoveCycling.net where they have an article on such incidents at https://lovecycling.net/projects/drainage-cover
