Is Huffy a good brand?
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Is Huffy a good brand?
Postby Bronnie Beede » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:18 pm
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:32 pm
It would be best if you let us know your location and we may be able to guide you to a local shop that will be able to provide, albeit at a (hopefully) slightly higher price, a value for money deal.
- McPete
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Postby McPete » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:00 pm
If I may make a very general suggestion, you might consider looking for something like an old 10-speed, like the one here:
link
They're good and strong, simple, and will more than likely stand the test of time... we have one here, a 1973 Bennett Unisex, my mother's bike from University. Two new tyres, a few small adjustments on the derailers (gear change) and it's as good as new.
The advantages are these:
They're on 27x1.25 inch tyres, a good compromise between the ultra thin, modern road bike tyre and the overly fat mountain bike tyres.
As here, they're often fitted with chain guards, making riding in long pants viable without rubber bands/bike clips.
They're very comfortable, relaxed bikes, sitting you very much upright position, meaning you can wear a backpack without it crushing you, unlike on a racer (I know this from personal experience...)
However, there are disadvantages
They were often made on quite a slim budget, so the frame can be overly heavy.
The gearing may be set up for a flat area (like mum's Bennett) and you may encounter issues with bigger hills. This, combined with a heavish frame may impeed some of your planned "zoom".
Because they're that bit older, and they were not desiged to go particularly fast, the brakes may not be all that brilliant.
____________
Have a look around, ride a few and see what fits, what you like and what works for your situation and budget.
I hope my little spiel is useful for you,
Peter
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Postby mikesbytes » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:19 pm
If you are buying one second hand, I'd recommend that you spend no more than $50 on them as you can get them in Kmart sales for not a lot more than $100 new.
- europa
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Postby europa » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:24 pm
I'd spend a few weekends checking out garage sales and the Trading Post/newpapers. I wouldn't buy any new bike for $100, but you can get some very nice second hand bikes for that money, especially from people who bought a bike 'to get fit' and never bothered to ride it much. I just takes a bit of patience. If you're in Sydney, Cludence might be able to help you too (she's usually on the forum at least once a day).
Give a yell when you start looking at baby seats - I've used two different ones for my two kids and there are other parents on the site who might admit to knowing something.
Richard
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Original poster here
Postby Bronnie Beede » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:32 pm
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Postby Bnej » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:04 pm
It's on the corner of Raymond road and Springwood Ave, which is towards the east end of the shops.
Bear in mind that if you buy a Huffy for $20, anything that breaks is going to cost more than the bike was to fix!
Make sure you have two working brakes, no loose parts especially around the headset and handlebars, tyres correctly inflated. Check the brakes before each ride, and make sure you can stop with either brake in a safe distance.
If you're planning to use the bike path on Hawkesbury road, it's mostly a good path, but beware of cars coming out of driveways and cross streets (they won't see you on the path), and it can be a bit frustrating having to cross the road back and forth to stay on the shared path.
I have spotted a few old shopping bikes of the type mentioned above at garage sales around Springwood/Winamalle, and sometimes with "Free" signs on them. If you can find one of these in decent order it might be worthwhile - just the same warnings as above (be safe, don't ride it if it's falling apart!).
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Postby mikesbytes » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:08 pm
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Postby AUbicycles » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:02 am
Huffy WAS a good brand, quite respected in the BMX world a while back however the Huffy bikes that are now on ebay or in Kmart are cheap and nasty.
If you buy on ebay and have bad luck with the bike... ie it breaks or there is something wrong, you may be hard pressed getting it sorted out... may cost time, possibly money and definately nerves.
At Kmart you can't expect much support however at least you should have a guarantee / warantee. I suggest (from experience) that if you do purchase from Kmart... get someone who is 'up to scratch' (a friend) to check the bike and make sure everything is tightened and fitted correctly to avoid injury.
Personally, I would look for a second hand bike, maybe it costs the same but it is a few years old.. good condition and with much better quality. I am a bit unsure what you mean about zooming about with the baby on the back... like in a back pack?? I recommend a properly childs seat (with safety standard). The child needs to be old enough to hold its head up of course. For a BMX a child seat behind the saddle wont work however on the cross bar (infront the saddle) a seat may be able to be mounted. The problem is, compared to a touring style bike (eg MTB, Hybrid,) is that the BMX is quite cramped and you may not fit on the bike.
Depending on the age of your child, you could get an attachment for the back where the child can ride and pedal (pedals are actually inactive)... you steer and pedal (view image). One issue is that these are also usually for larger bicycles and for a small bmx there may be problems, plus it is a money question again.
Let us know how you decide.
Cheers
Christopher
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Postby europa » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:42 am
I gained the impression said 'baby' was a tad young for tag-alongs just yet ... something to aspire to. I agree with Christopher about the bike required. Bronnie, look towards buying a hybrid. They have the physical size and strength to carry a baby seat and to tow a tag-along. The upright seating position and wide, flat bars give you good control - a toddler in a baby seat does some really weird things to the bike's handling, mainly because the little brutes won't sit still. My daughter used to go to sleep in her baby seat, and hang like a limp lump over one side - that used to be interesting. My son's baby seat was on the back of the Europa (see avatar) so you can use them on a racer, but a hybrid is a better choice.
Richard
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How about Dunlop?
Postby Bronnie Beede » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:29 pm
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Postby Bnej » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:13 pm
For the price you're looking at the most important thing is the condition of the bike. You also want to check you have appropriate bolts on the frame to attach a rack, which you will probably need for a baby seat.
Check that it's an appropriate size for you too, you don't want to end up with one far too big or small.
This Apollo I think looks okay, older style of bike, I used to have an Apollo MTB, it's a pretty decent brand.
Another apollo, ladies frame. Looks like a smaller frame, you might also prefer the step through frame.
This huffy I think looks okay too. It's an older bike with rigid forks and thinner steel frame by the look of it (thinner steel tubes normally means better quality steel).
Beware of suspension at this price! Cheap new, probably not much chop 2nd hand. Better to have a conventional fork, one less thing to go wrong.
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Laugh out loud
Postby Bronnie Beede » Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:24 pm
I think I'll stick with the baby seat for now cos my baby doesn't sleep anywhere except in his cot, the car or my arms. He is not the type to fall asleep on the back of a bike. In fact, we just got back from Lord Howe Island and cycled round there for two weeks every day and he loved being on the back of me and I didn't find it dodgy balancing him.
I will keep the Holstar in mind for when he gets a bit bigger, tho, thanks!
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Postby europa » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:16 pm
There are two basic types of bike seat - ones that mount to your downtube and ones that mount on the rack.
With the ones that mount to your downtube, your bike needs no special mountings - there is a unit that clamps around the bike's downtube and you can remove the seat simply by releasing a catch. Both that I've had used this system and it works well. They probably provide a bit of 'suspension' for the baby too as the rails the seat sits on can flex. As the baby gets heavier, you can find the seat touching the rear tyre but this can be fixed by bending the rails upwards again (not hard).
The second sort clamps onto your bike rack, but the bike has to have the mounting points to take the rack in the first place. Road shock gets fed straight through to the baby and I'm not sure how easily removed they are. If going for this sort, you want the seat to be easily removed AND you want to be able to hang panniers off the rack while the seat is attached.
I think the best setup is a rack mounted to your bike, but with the downtube type seat. As a parent, you always need to carrry stuff so you can hang a pair of panniers off the rack and have the baby seat sitting over the top of it. The rack will stop the baby seat touching the tyre (though it was never a problem - you just hear the occasional scuff).
Richard
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Re: Laugh out loud
Postby europa » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:20 pm
Thanks. The little monster loves her bike. We ride it a lot, particularly up to the library and/or the playground. She talks all the way, waves and calls out to people, and it gives her something to brag about at the playground I resisted buying one for a long time because I wasn't sure how much it would be used - as it turns out, I just wasted riding time (but not everyone's experiences are the same )Bronnie Beede wrote:Richard, I read your account about your daughter and her Holstar and it was hilarious!
Richard
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Postby senator52 » Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:40 pm
So Ive said too much, but hey, I love Kmart
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Postby europa » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:33 pm
Richard
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U still here, guys?
Postby Bronnie Beede » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:32 pm
A Shogun has caught my eye. Do you know anything about that brand?
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Postby stryker84 » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:44 pm
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Postby LuckyPierre » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:21 am
Here's Tojo in his 'original' state
I'll have to get a photo of him with his Ultegra gear on. I did 110 kms on him on the weekend (65 on Saturday, then 45 on Sunday) and, while he's heavier than the girlie bike, he smooths out a lot of the 'road chatter' and it very comfortable to ride.
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Postby enzed » Fri Jul 13, 2007 3:45 am
Dee Why Beach Cyclery have a range of second-hand bikes on display. I go my Trek hybrid from there for a reasonable price, with a 3 month warranty.
I don't know of any other bike shops near manly, which sell second-bikes.
Happy riding
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Re: Is Huffy a good brand?
Postby The Ant Sir » Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:58 am
Awesome. Probably going to pick up a second hand Shogun tomorrow. Can't wait!LuckyPierre wrote:Older Shogun's scrub up quite well too!
while he's heavier than the girlie bike, he smooths out a lot of the 'road chatter' and it very comfortable to ride.
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