NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

[outskirtscustoms]

I agree that a lot can be fixed by reassembly, but i've seen *mart bikes with threaded forks/headsets where the steerer tube isn't long enough to allow the headset to be tightened properly. This isn't an assembly issue; you'll need a different fork w/ more steerer, or a different headset with less stack. These things aren't free. I guess you could weld a new steerer and thread it, but would you really do that to a $80 dual "suspension" bike with shifters that don't hold tension against the derailer spring? I wouldn't.

I've also seen *mart bikes with wheels so poorly built that you're basically going to have to start from scratch, as if they'd just been laced. I've seen aluminum frames that, from day one, are out of alignment. You can straighten the frame, but it's aluminum. I might trust it for me, but i wouldn't trust it under someone else's child.

Point is, to me, time is valuable. I'm not a snob, but I don't think super-cheap bikes at a bigbox store present a good value. You may need to pay money for parts (those pedals and many of those rims will NOT last long under regular real-life use, no matter who assembled the bike), and you'll need to either pay someone to do the work, or take the *time* to do it yourself. As a guy who works alot for not a whole lot of pay, time I$ money. I don't want to spend a lot of time polishing a turd, no matter how attractively prided the turd was.

I don't work in a shop anymore, but I do fix bikes for friends/neighbors from time to time. And, yes, generally speaking, I refuse to fix wally world bicycles.

-rob

Now that is bad, I have been lucky enough not to run into one of these yet.

 

[Gold Street Customs]

Great responses guys, pro's and cons. I guess my biggest rant about working on these type of bikes is the timefactor as I stated, its not that I can't fix the problems, but you try to give a fair estimate and it bites you on the butt most of the time, the time it takes to true a wheel, whats a fair price ? what does the LBS charge ? all said and done the time it takes to go thru it and do ALL !!! the repairs, you might as well by another one new.

 

[MplsCoaster]

Lots of "interesting" anecdotes. Here's mine:
Bought a 2009 Trek Classic Cruiser that was being clearenced (but still not cheap). Pointed out a vibration in the coaster hub so they said they would look at it. Stopped by next day and a different salesperson said, "It's fixed". Tired it again and still had the same vibration, they never took it apart but tried to baloney me into thinking so. I called him on it and he got all nervous and said that I should just ride it becasue it was under warranty and if it failed, I could get it replaced. Decided to buy the bike anyway but was rather ticked off. I'd have to let the hub fail (potential have an accident) to get it taken care of. Bought it home and went through the hub and there was a bearing completely dry :x .

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I was thinking, when we buy our old bikes, we usually know that we will have to go thru everything anyways, I guess that's why most of us are here , and anything we don't know ,another member usually has the answer, so we get dirty and learn. 8) 8)

 

[Buck Masterson]

You also have to remember those guys putting the department store bikes together are not actually doing assembly other then putting the handlebars, wheels and seats usually. They tighten the stems up and slap them on the floor. They don't normally handle cranks and such, they come from the factory that way. Also places like wal-mart sell cheap bikes for people that just want to go for a ride on the weekend or what not. They are not a bike store and should not be expected to act as such. I personally would not want to buy a bike that was taken apart at a box store. I'm glad their "assembly" is what it is, and how it is. As I did with my Huffy Big Daddy, got home took it apart and put it together correctly, and now have a great bike that I know is mechanically sound. Also if you think that you can go to Walmart and buy a perfect bike then you need some meds.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

You also have to remember those guys putting the department store bikes together are not actually doing assembly other then putting the handlebars, wheels and seats usually. They tighten the stems up and slap them on the floor. They don't normally handle cranks and such, they come from the factory that way. Also places like wal-mart sell cheap bikes for people that just want to go for a ride on the weekend or what not. They are not a bike store and should not be expected to act as such. I personally would not want to buy a bike that was taken apart at a box store. I'm glad their "assembly" is what it is, and how it is. As I did with my Huffy Big Daddy, got home took it apart and put it together correctly, and now have a great bike that I know is mechanically sound. Also if you think that you can go to Walmart and buy a perfect bike then you need some meds.

Bingo! That is why with ANY bike I buy, be it a brand new bike, a used bike, a vintage used bike, or one I found in the creek, I ALWAYS take it apart and make sure everything is put together right, nothing is cross threaded, nothing is loose, everything has plenty of grease, Everything is aligned properly, adjusted properly, and most of all so I know how everything ticks so I can repair it myself later. Also when I built it there is no one to blame for it messing up but ME!