Vintage Schwinn

The purple and white Flying Pigeon is a very nice looking bicycle. At $80, you probably do not expect much, but having only just seen the listing and only based
on the photos depicting it, the paint color looks nice enough. I have never seen in person but in my opinion, the paint color looks good enough. I don't know
how durable it would be in stock form, but it is a simple bicycle, so it would be easy to improve something if that is actually needed.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-FLYING-...trkparms=aid%:
(#133256047009 on the bay - new $79.90 free ship FLYING PIGEON bike )


There is a really low cost multi-speed (18 speed) PACIFIC Evolution that is also about $80 (actually $82.99 free ship...#293295543602 on the bay)
Unlike the Flying Pigeon, this PACIFIC Evolution has the old timey ONE PIECE CRANK and 3 x six gears at rear for 18 speeds. This Pacific Evolution is very
much like your economy- Kmart/Walmart mountain bike from the 1980's. Still the simplicity of it and the $82.99 cost will provide decent value for little cash.
Install those KENDA K-838 slick tires (see #254420545477 on the bay......they were $14.41 each for 26 x 1.95 Kenda K-838 tire for street)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Pacific...aid%3D55018%26



Lets start a discussion on obviously the lowest priced new bicycles on the market. Bicycles are not that complex in their most basic forms.
The Chinese had decades of experience with bicycles as their main form of transportation before Nixon's visit nearly fifty years ago.
I have no doubt that these will perform the basic function of a bicycle, even if they don't equal the build quality of the Raleighs and Schwinns,Columbias,
Amf's, Huffys,Murrays, Ross's, and other SEARS & Kmart specials that were all cruisin around on during Nixon's first term before the break-in.

FiftySix

I wonder how those sellers can sell a bike with free shipping for around $80.00?

$80.00 is in range of normal bicycle shipping costs on eBay.

It would seem these bikes are basically given away for free, just pay shipping. Chinese dumping into the bicycle market?

JehD

Kirby picked up a Schwinn Swindler for $80 and his review seemed less than stellar. Just reading the add it sounds worse than the normal BSO found at a Walmart and with the recent customer service experience I had with Huffy If I was in the market I would probably pickup one of theirs over the Pigeon.

OldCruiser

the Swindler is not a bad bike . It’s just not what I’ve grown accustomed to with the Electras . If it had a cantilever style frame , I’d probably like it more .
Most folks would be happy with it . But because it’s just been hanging in the garage since I bought it does say a lot I guess .


I plan on donating it to our “Relay for Life “ next year to raffle off .

JehD

I admit it looks like a nice bike but maybe Ive become a snob, a lower end snob but a snob all the same lol

FiftySix

Lol. Same here. My low end for a new bike is probably around $250.00 these days. And that would be a single speed on sale.

Edit to add: I've seen a few new bikes on sale for $175.00 that have caught my attention.

Olefeller77 

I don't care for the style. Give it a -30 lb flat bar road bike look and I would look a bit closer. I still can't bring myself to buy a cheap new offering
that I can't ride or touch.
I agree with Fifty- Six chinese dumping .Add it up. Manufacturer needs small profit- shipper needs small profit- US seller needs profit - and US shipper needs profit. Nothing adds up

2old

Agree about not adding up when I just spent $50 to ship a bike frame (packaged in a box no bigger than the frame) from CA to OR by UPS.

GeezyRider 

^ Not to hijack this thread, but several years ago I shipped a frame to Wisconsin and used the good old USPS at about half the cost UPS was going to charge. The frame arrived in 3 days with no damage. I don't often ship frames but I would consider USPS if I did.

Philphine

wonder if it has to do with the time of year? like if shipping companies have their own christmas specials with dealers around this time. i just looked at a bike on ebay that should have ridiculous shipping, but it's listed as shipping being free.

Jax Rhapsody

Looks like it might make a decent klunker or "gravel" bike, with a different fork.

Jax Rhapsody

So... mtb vs mixte...?

GeezyRider 

If the owner of that bike lives in Harper's Ferry and rode it locally, it has pulled some pretty good hill duty.