Anyone bought a cheap (4000 baht) mountain bike from Tesco/Big C?

[giddyup]

I'm after a cheap bike just to get a bit of exercise riding around my village, so it doesn't have to be strong enough for real mountain bike abuse. I bought a Huffy at K Mart in Australia for around $100 that worked perfectly for years, so wondered how some of the locally sold bikes hold up. I noticed that the biggest size in Tesco was 24", are there 26" available?

[Cobalt60]

I bought a BigC one and it was dire. Rusted up quickly and pedal crank bolt kept coming loose, thankfully some mug stole it.

I would guess they are all supplied by the sam manufacturer to Tesco etc.

[giddyup]

I bought a BigC one and it was dire. Rusted up quickly and pedal crank bolt kept coming loose, thankfully some mug stole it.

I would guess they are all supplied by the sam manufacturer to Tesco etc.

I hope someone else has had better a experience than you. I don't know why it is I can buy a cheap Chinese made bike (Huffy) in Australia that was trouble-free for the 4 years I had it, and yet spending the same money here buys you a piece of junk.

[stiggy]

Yes, it was total crap.

It literally fell to bits in weeks. Save your money and put towards a better made bike.

[arthurwait]

Not bought one myself, bought a Jamis for 10500 lasted 5 years so far. Handlebar rusted up, had to be replaced. Changed the tyres for thinner ones anyway.

If you buy cheap it will be cheap steel (high iron content) steel which likes to rust. All parts on the bike will be the cheapest available and also made from very cheap steel and materials. Your brakes won't line up against the wheel for very long.

If you are anywhere near the sea or in a humid climate (oh) it will rust quickly.

You could buy cheap and wash it very regularly, coat the gears and bearings (cheap steel) in plenty of oil and grease, replace bolts with upgraded items(all originals will rust) , perhaps upgrade the brakes and handlebars, go over it carefully to make sure everything is fitted correctly and it may do the job for several years.

By the time you've spent money on that you might well have been better to buy more expensive (10k +) anyway.

[arthurwait]

Oh and plastic pedals go brittle and break quickly due to the climate.

[Briggsy]

I bought a BigC one and it was dire. Rusted up quickly and pedal crank bolt kept coming loose, thankfully some mug stole it.

I would guess they are all supplied by the sam manufacturer to Tesco etc.

I hope someone else has had better a experience than you. I don't know why it is I can buy a cheap Chinese made bike (Huffy) in Australia that was trouble-free for the 4 years I had it, and yet spending the same money here buys you a piece of junk.

I know exactly. It is difference in consumer protection law and its enforcement in Thailand and Australia respectively.

You sell junk in Australia and you will have to refund in full. Here it is effectively "sold as seen".

That's why.

Same applies to alll goods, not just mountain bikes. I buy most of my cheap stuff in the UK now and bring it over here. Not possible with a bike though.

[somtampet]

A good bike shop on thepraset rd,from sukhumvit,on the left i think,but keep your eyes open and u will see it after about 500 mtres

[piston broke]

bloke down our way walks everywhere......

[giddyup]

A good bike shop on thepraset rd,from sukhumvit,on the left i think,but keep your eyes open and u will see it after about 500 mtres

Cheers, will have a look.

[giddyup]

bloke down our way walks everywhere......

Didn't buy his legs at Tesco then?

[Pdavies99]

Believe me they are pretty bad:

1. Plastic pedals break off

2/.Chain snapped

3/.Wheel bearings pack up.

4/.Gear selection poor

5/. Seat poor

6/. Tyres rubbish

7/. Wheels buckle easily

Do yourself a favour,...

go to SV Bikes on Theprasi Road (jomtien)

The address is 62/1-3 Theprasit Road, Soi 8, (Jomtien down road from Sukhumvit) Tel 087-4861242 or 038-300378

or there is another shop on Sukhumvit, near Naklua turn off.

You can get a good well made bike from say 6000 baht

see:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/332211-good-bicycle-shop-in-pattaya/

[giddyup]

Believe me they are pretty bad:

1. Plastic pedals break off

2/.Chain snapped

3/.Wheel bearings pack up.

4/.Gear selection poor

5/. Seat poor

6/. Tyres rubbish

7/. Wheels buckle easily

Do yourself a favour,...

go to SV Bikes on Theprasi Road (jomtien)

The address is 62/1-3 Theprasit Road, Soi 8, (Jomtien down road from Sukhumvit) Tel 087-4861242 or 038-300378

or there is another shop on Sukhumvit, near Naklua turn off.

You can get a good well made bike from say 6000 baht

see:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/332211-good-bicycle-shop-in-pattaya/

Thanks for the good info.

[brummiebob]

At proper bike shop around town, there seem to be a brand called 'Coyote' with prices around 4000 baht that makes bike a bit better than the ones sold in Tescos or Big C, the difference being Aluminium frame and semi-decent components instead of High-Tensile Steel that' used in the Supermarket Brands like 'LA'

It used to be that cheap starter bikes are made with Chro-Moly steel and the expensive ones are Aluminium, but in Thailand due to import tax or something, most local bikes are made with high-tensile steel which is very heavy and not very comfortable to ride, and Chro-Moly steel, due to it being quite soft, has become a 'niche' product and is only available from expensive brands now. So the only decent thing that's cheap are Aluminium frames of dubious quality like the 'Coyote' brand

Other options is ex-Japanese second hand bikes, they come in by the container loads and are classified as scrap metals in order to avoid the tax, and refurbish them and sell.

Bringing your own bike at the airport is possible, but expect a shouting match with the customs official on what constitutes 'used personal effect' or expects a hefty tax

shops that sells these bike would have loads of them park in front of their yard, there are a few in Rayong, but you have to sift to a lot of shopping/commuter bikes to find a mountain bike.

I recommend a shop on Sukhumvit on the southbound side called Numchai it's just before Chaipornwithi (Croc Farm/Waterworks/Ice Factory road), just after the Naklua function if you're coming from the North,

In Thepprasit there's also a showroom for LA brand that's the manufacturer of the bikes in Tescos and such, still mostly steel bikes like the ones in Tescos but there are some decent aluminium models, albeit a bit heavy, but for fitness it'll be fine. and since they are Thai company, price is quite cheap.

Also on Thepprasit opposite the LA shop is a Trek dealer, but I don't think there' anything low-end in that shop unless it's a second hand, but he does stock large size bikes for us Farang though.

[fakename]

The way I see it, is that there are two production lines in China, one makes stuff for the west, and the other makes stuff for Thailand. I have bought Chinese stuff in both USA and Europe, and its completely different quality. You can buy a drill set here, and it wont even get the first hold drilled. Thailand accepts any quality, and no laws to protect the consumer. Also in the west, most stores look for repeat business, in Thailand, they dont care if you never come back, so no need to worry about quality. Im sure bicycles fall into the shit quality. Of course if the importer demands quality, he can order it, but more than likely, he will only look at price.

[A1Str8]

I bought one for 5000thb about a year ago. I have never had any problems with it. Those bikes fall into the alright category if you maintain them well.

Sent from one of my devices using the internet

[Asiantravel]

So I take it you wouldn't be ready to buy one of these?

http://jalopnik.com/5929551/this-aston-martin-bicycle-costs-39000

Edited September 5, 2013 by Asiantravel

[HAL9000]

I got a Coppi at Tesco for 1200 so I wouldn't beat up my road bike running around town. It's held up well except for rust peeping through the chrome on the handlebars. Tightening the bolts on cotterless cranks is considered normal maintenance. Big C has Raleigh bikes about 4000 too. Nakhornthai bike shop in Lad Prao are real bike enthusiasts. They might have something entry level too. Look them up on Facebook.

[cnx355]

I bought a Coyotes Ulysses moutain bike at the Le Bicycle Shop in Tephprasit Rd , Jomtien when I was living over there.

I paid about 8,000 B about 4 years ago . Even if it is made in China , never had any problem. Shimano gear and front strut.

Disk brake still work great.

My experience.

[brummiebob]

I think the problem with Supermarkets brand is that they are not made in China but Thailand!

[chickenslegs]

The wheels on those cheap bikes are absolute crap.

And that's according to a company spokesperson.

I'll get my coat..

[Phronesis]

I think the problem with Supermarkets brand is that they are not made in China but Thailand!

BINGO !

[Cobalt60]

I am grateful to the idiot that stole the one I bought. Must have been bloody desperate or short sighted, anyway the pedal crank would have fallen off before he got home.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[AbeSurd]

I got a Coppi at Tesco for 1200 so I wouldn't beat up my road bike running around town. It's held up well except for rust peeping through the chrome on the handlebars. Tightening the bolts on cotterless cranks is considered normal maintenance. Big C has Raleigh bikes about 4000 too. Nakhornthai bike shop in Lad Prao are real bike enthusiasts. They might have something entry level too. Look them up on Facebook.

About 3-4 months ago I bought a Coppi from Big C Extra for about the same price.

In the first week I cycled to Lake Mabprachan from central Pattaya a couple of times - and then a pedal fell off! And the brakes shrieked like hell all the time.

So I gave it away and spent 8500 baht on a Schwinn brand bike at Numchai on Sukhumvit.

3 months on and I'm still pretty happy with my Schwinn.

[Beardog]

If anyone is looking for an awesome bike: I have an Aggressor Gt 24 speed Matt black powdercoat paid 11,700 for it It has a bike bag new sandal friendly pedals a tailbone gel seat (for comfort).& Disc brakes I only used it 3 times 12 kilo's to teach my girl how to use the gears. after that I bought an Kawasaki ER6n & never use it . It is in perfect shape bought at Numchai. I want 7000 baht for it.as Numchai has offered 7000 baht to buy it back. PM me if interested. The 7000 baht pays for my custom paint job on 3 parts on my motorcycle........Only reason I am selling it.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Beardog