what new cruiser should I get?

[streetpirate]

It's a cliche forum newbie question, I know. I'm looking at some new walmart cruisers because the bang for the buck looks better than what I'm finding on craigslist.
according to schwinn's website, they dont claim to make a bike under either of these names, so i guess they are special cheapo specials made for walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Men-s-Schw ... r/13398156

http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Men-s-Schw ... r/13398157

the landmark is $30 less, but has a steel frame. otherwise they look like the same options on both. walmart lists the shipping weight as almost the same, so is the aluminum frame on the point beach worth it for the weight savings? I'm not going to mod the frame so ease of welding on it is not an issue.

I'm also kinda leaning towards getting a 24" cruiser to make a "big kids" stingray. I just haven't decided if I want to spend the time and money freshening up an old bike, and I really do want multi speed.


I'm also almost done with my first restomod '66 stingray deluxe, look for a thread on that soon

 

[Rat Rod]

The Diamondback Drifter is a sweet looking bike right out of the box...

http://www.rei.com/product/825535/diamo ... erralID=NA

 

[streetpirate]

the diamondback drifter is cool, but I'm really leaning more towards the classic schwinn beach frame, and multiple gears. the drifter 2 has the frame style I like and multiple gears, but is also about $100 more than I want to spend.

 

[jaysmo]

I like the blue and white i pops more then the silver....just my .2

 

[streetpirate]

I'm planning on new paint before I assemble it, so I'm leaning away from the blue wheels, cause i dont want a blue bike. but, i do want the whitewalls. im torn.

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

What about the Clairmont? It's basically the same configuration, but in 'must have' black with red rims... :roll: :mrgreen:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-C...r-Bike/15711185?findingMethod=rr&ssm=0&sspt=1
(bigger pic than on Wal-Mart's site)

On another note, these 'Wal-Mart bikes' value may increasing from a 'bang for your buck' standpoint.
My example, I was at my LBS yesterday watching the shop owner and Double Nickle put together some Cannondale Law Enforcement bikes for the Atlanta PD.
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/rec...cement/law-enforcement/2011-law-enforcement-1

At around $900 a piece, the manufacturing tolerances on them were suspect. They encountered everything from stripped screw holes to bent disc brake rotors. DN would know more.

My point, for the $99 to $149 you pay for the 'Chinese' Schwinns/Huffys, you get what you expect.

I will now climb down from my soapbox (sorry for jacking yor thread streetpirate)

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[TornadoDave2]

I hate to always be the one to swin upstream.... (not really).... but I'd say "none of the above" when it comes to Walmart bikes. They just always seem to be of lower quality than other brands, or older bikes. If I were looking for a lesser expensive cruiser bike, I'd find a used bike of higher quality, maybe an Electra or an old Schwinn and fix it up. There are a LOT of cool old bikes out there just waiting for you to rescue them.

 

[Anonymous]

Stay far away from the promo cruiser bikes at your local liquor store.

I snicker at the way they are half a**ed assembled.

 

[streetpirate]

so lets assume that for my first beach cruiser, I have my little black heart set on a walmart bike. what are your opinions on the aluminum framed bike?

 

[Anonymous]

For your own sake...put it together yourself.

Just to be safe.

 

[crump582]

Just check craigslist every single morning until you find something... be patient and you will find something good.

Got my Straight 8 for $200 and thought it was a steal... a month later I found my buddy one (in better shape) listed as a "stream ride bicycle" for $75. Some lawyer got it as a gift and let it sit in his garage until he got tired of looking at it.

On a side note... got my girlfriend a Cranbrook Wally World bike just to see if she will get into riding with me. Giving it to her today, but I can tell you after putting it together I should have just spent another $100 and got an Electra. Her birthday is today so I had a time constraint.

 

[streetpirate]

Just check craigslist every single morning until you find something... be patient and you will find something good.

this is probally what i really should do. ive been checking every couple days and everything cool is always womens bikes, which are reasonably priced. mens bikes are about double that when you can find them.
worst case scenario i ride the stingray to school for a month or two

 

[manimal347]

Well, where I live, women's bikes are priced sky-high, and men's bikes just about never turn up. At least when it comes to cruisers. Honest take? Just buy a 26" women's bike. So what if it has a stepside frame to accomodate a skirt? It's not 1960. I can't fathom people looking at you oddly for it. Well, unless it's pink. Or, if you live in a rather retrograde place, seafoam or teal.

 

[streetpirate]

as soon as I start complaining about ti two reasonably priced mens frame project bikes show up on craigslist. there was a rusty but ridable western flyer and a chrome mystery bike.
after checking out how crappy the wal mart schwinns really are I bought the mystery bike off craigslist.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=43658

wish me luck