Originally Posted by
JonBailey
Have you ever had a truly good bicycle that you were truly fond of for under $150 retail new?
Not really. All my bikes, not including my last one, were department store bikes.
Probably the best one I had before I was 18 years old was a new Huffy Sante Fe 10 speed in the late 1970s. Can't recall the price and I think it got stolen.
In the early 90s I had a new Columbia branded multi-speed fake mountain bike that I cracked the frame brazing while doing moderate off road play and wheelie riding. Really a cheap POS compared to the Sante Fe. That Columbia might have been $90.00, not sure.
Surprisingly, the Chinese made Schwinn Jaguar 7 speed my wife bought me for my birthday in 2007 has been the best cheap bike I've ever had. It was $80 new before I changed the handlebars and then other changes followed over the years. With basic maintenance, this Jaguar is just a dead nuts reliable short range bike. So, I guess I am kinda fond of this bike after all as it just keeps on workin'.
Photo from early 2007 (non-stock handlebar)
Photo from early 2019