I'm looking to get a BMX freestlye type bike. Reason being, I only travel a couple blocks to work and to my friends' houses so I see no point in driving such a short distance. Plus parking's a bitch to find in Boston. I haven't rode a bike in 10 years or so, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Ok to my question, what are good brand bikes out there? I need a good quality yet affordable one. Maybe around $200-300? I use to have a Mongoose and a Dino GT. This was WAY back in the days. Links would help. I ask here because S2K owners have good taste. Thanks!

 

I wouldn't use a $2-300 bike in a big city. Get a cheap bike and a good lock. If it's only 2-3 blocks maybe walking is also a viable alternative.

 

well unfortunatley many of yesteryears quality bikes have been sold out to lager manufacturers and the names have been slapped on lesser bikes....mongoose schwinn and gt are all examples of this...specialized makes good bikes for mtn or road, and certainly cannondale (these are mainstream ones readily available)...you could try and find a gt freestyle bike at a shop if they still carry them or else i would say take a trip to walmart..most good bikes at bike shops(doesnt matter what type) start at around 3 or 4 hundred..i would try used bikes at shops and go for something with gears..try gtbikes.com (i havt a gt mountain bike, which i use for mtn biking and its taken about 5 years of pretty hard core abuse).my .02

 

One of the few quality manufacturers that are left from yesteryear http://www.harobikes.com

 

If you're going to get a bike to commute, get a decent bike, which means $300 wil be your starting point. Instead of a kids bike, get a mountain bike. You don't need suspension (even on MA streets) with some less aggressive tread tires to reduce rolling resistance. You'll have gears to reduce your workload peddling and have a frame large enough to accomodate a rack on the back to carry lunch. Your position will be better and you'll be more visible in traffic that on a BMX style. You'll also be more comfortable.

You really should go to a real bike shop. The bike will have been assembled by someone who knows what he's doing, not some knuckle dragger who was give a pair of pliers and told to go put those togeher.

While you're there, don't forget to get a helmet. It took me 25 stitches in my head to learn how important these are.

 

I was just looking at these bikes. I actually found a local guy selling a Mirra Flair for $200. Maybe I can knock it down to $150. I'm going to take a look at it. Thanks for your help guys!

 

let me reminisce for a bit..

buy an old school frame and rebuild it! my top 5 or so choices would be:
haro master - they came in green or white, and the later models came chromed.. remove all the paint for a sweeet ride!
general RL II - chrome again
Hutch trickstar - maybe a bit too $$
GT pro performer - chrome or yellow
redline RL20
kuwahara exhibitionist - definitely chrome!

oh, you HAVE to get the redline 3 piece 180mm cranks and shimano dx pedals! for wheels, i loved the peregrine 48 spokes, but the true og would go skyway. remember the laid back seat post and hard as hell plastic seats? oh, and what was the rear brake headset thingie thing before the odyssey gyro? the rotor? you have to get pads and a zeronine number plate!

dayum, it's been 20 years since i used to bmx/freestyle!

gee thanks, i gotta go buy a bike now

 

Maybe I should paint it Berlina black and throw in a red seat. Geez, what a downgrade.

 

Thats awesome it's getting close to 18 years for me. I used to have a Haro Master and a Hutch Trickstar. The day I got my drivers license I stopped riding the freestyle bikes sadly both had the 48 spoke perrigrines and all the latest greatest bells and whistles of the time.

I wish I still had at least one of the bikes. Here a hint of how good I used to be....

I have ridden with Dominguez, Fiola, Blyther and a few old school folks at one time or another. I grew up freequenting The Pipeline Skatepark in Upland Ca. I wonder if I can still tear it up on a ramp

 

yeah so after this post i checked out ebay for some bikes/parts.. holy sh*t, i really shouldve kept my old bikes!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...7159705311&rd=1

and to take you back in time, check these auctions out:
http://sporting-goods.listings.ebay.com/BM...ListingItemList