Need help finding a Budget Commuter Bike for London!!

[bracalea]

Hi. I'm looking to buy a budget commuter/city/hybrid bike for cycling to work in London. My budget is preferably below £200 but don't mind going above that by £10/20 if necessary. I came across this bike online and thought it was perfect but have been told that it's now been discontinued:

Carrera Axle Limited Edition Mens 27.5" Hybrid Bike 2015:
http://tinyurl.com/gmo4fvn

I've been looking at these bikes, are they any good? Im not too sure what I'm looking for if I'm honest.

Activ Commute 2016 Bike:
http://tinyurl.com/h87enmc

Ridge Mens Mountain Bike:
http://tinyurl.com/j9am56x

Apollo Guru 2 Mens Hybrid Bike:
http://tinyurl.com/zywa424

Hyper Detonate 26 Inch Mountain Bike - Men's:
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/2948263

Hoping some of you will be able to help!

 

[Dan Morinary]

Hi. For your budget I would look to get a decent used bike. No suspension. You will get much more for your money.

 

[vickster]

Carerra Subway? Get some cashback through Quidco. Join British Cycling if planning to commute for legal benefits, and get 10% off at Halfords, pretty much cover the membership costs

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike

Or cheaper yet http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-300-mountain-bike-id_8284495.html

+1 for used

Or....How tall are you? I might have a bike that I'm not really using that I could be persuaded to part with for a little over your budget - A Whyte Portobello, retailed around £600, hydraulic disc brakes, good gearing etc. You'd need to be around 5'9 - 6ft to ride it (looks like the bike below)

Oh and if leaving a new / decent bike anywhere in London, get decent D Locks (assume £50+ for a good deterrent)

 

[greekonabike]

If I were you I would probably stay away from brands like Apollo, Ridge, Hyper and Activ. The same would go for any of the 'bargain' brands on Amazon such as Ammaco. Halford's Carrera range generally gets a lot of favourable feedback on here and as @vickster has already mentioned there are ways for you to reduce the cost.

There's over 3000 bikes for sale in London on Gumtree at the moment there are under £220. Some may even be unwanted gifts from Christmas so it's worth having a browse to see if there is anything to suit your needs. You could end up getting a bargain on a nearly new bike if you're lucky.

GOAB

 

[Cycleops]

Agree with the above. If you can find an unwanted and little used example that would be favourite. Some real bargains out there. If you can find a four hundred or five hundred bike quid for two hundred it would give you better service than s new one for your budget.

 

[gazza_d]

For that money. check out a reputable cycle recycler, or Decathlon if you really want new. Their city bikes come with dynamo lights, mudguards and racks for less than £200 https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376961-city-and-commuting-bikes

I'd be wary of buying secondhand unless you can prove ownership

 

[biggs682]

@bracalea i would also suggest a pre owned bike for that budget , loads of lightly used bargains at this time of the year so just keep an eye out

also decide on what you need and dont need in a bike before handing over your hard earned cash

@vickster 's whyte would be a good buy for sure if you can stretch your budget a bit

i normally have a selection of retro road bikes for sale but at the mo the 2 i have are 58 & 60cm sized frames so rather on the larger size if these are of any interest to you let me know

 

[greekonabike]

For that money. check out a reputable cycle recycler, or Decathlon if you really want new. Their city bikes come with dynamo lights, mudguards and racks for less than £200 https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376961-city-and-commuting-bikes

I'd be wary of buying secondhand unless you can prove ownership

Proving the ownership of a second hand bike is relatively easy. Quite a few people register their bikes on sites like Immobilise and Bikeregister. It doesn't necessarily mean it's theirs but it's doubtful anyone would register a bike they knew was stolen on the sites as they are checked by the Police.

A proof of purchase is also something I'd want to see before buying a bike second hand but some people may not have it and common sense would apply. If you end up meeting someone in an alley or on a petrol station forecourt it's probably not legit.

GOAB

 

[Fab Foodie]

For that money. check out a reputable cycle recycler, or Decathlon if you really want new. Their city bikes come with dynamo lights, mudguards and racks for less than £200 https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376961-city-and-commuting-bikes

I'd be wary of buying secondhand unless you can prove ownership

Agreed.
Decathlon make stupidly good and well thought out bicycles at fantastically low prices.

 

[dim]

buy 2nd hand off ebay or gumtree .... and get a decent lock!

look at something like a good 2nd hand Trek 7.2 FX .... £200 and less will get you a good one with extras such as mudguards, pannier rack and bag etc

 

[gbb]

What sort of bike do you actually aspire to bracalea, most suggestions relate to hybrids, have you got any preference regarding type....even hybrids come in different guises, fast flatbar roadbikes , more leisurely hybrids with fatter tyres, or there are drop bar road bikes...etc etc. Do you have a preference ?
What kind of distances are you talking about commuting ?
Will it be all weather, come rain or shine ?
Will you be carrying lots of stuff ?

All these things matter to make the right choice.

 

[vickster]

There's actually an MTB in his avatar? Why not use that with slick tyres?

 

[mustang1]

Carerra Subway? Get some cashback through Quidco. Join British Cycling if planning to commute for legal benefits, and get 10% off at Halfords, pretty much cover the membership costs

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike

Or cheaper yet http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-300-mountain-bike-id_8284495.html

+1 for used

Or....How tall are you? I might have a bike that I'm not really using that I could be persuaded to part with for a little over your budget - A Whyte Portobello, retailed around £600, hydraulic disc brakes, good gearing etc. You'd need to be around 5'9 - 6ft to ride it (looks like the bike below)

Oh and if leaving a new / decent bike anywhere in London, get decent D Locks (assume £50+ for a good deterrent)

Nice Portobello.

I would budget for two good quality locks of different types.

 

[Pale Rider]

Nice Portobello.

I would budget for two good quality locks of different types.

Or lock it to a street sign in Portobello Road - people might take pictures rather than steal it.

 

[vickster]

Nice Portobello.
.

That's a stock photo, mine currently has a rack...well the intention was/is to commute on it. The advantage of Whytes is that they have locking skewers (albeit standard but the thief would need the tool and target them, easier to go for bikes with QR)