This isn't a huge bargain for the type of bike. You get a heavy but very strong steel frame with steel forks. Great load capacity and capable of some knocks, basic components but you do get an entry level Shimano tourney derailleur. These are produced at high speed and low cost. You'll probably need to adjust the bike when you get it to ensure everything is correct and often there is missing or very minimal grease. It will practically need a service before use.

It benefits from not having suspension the cheap bikes achilles heel which is often hopeless. Basically only really suitable for someone who knows what they are doing to service a bike. Who wants a cheap commuting bike possibly that doesn't appeal to thieves much or wouldn't be a huge loss if stolen.

I've used such a bike many years ago for many thousands of miles and it was great.

The important thing you have to realise here is the bike is never worth £160, with the voucher you are probably only £10 under the going rate for such a bike.

Looking at sports direct they do a near identical bike under a different brand at the same price with cheaper delivery.

http://www.sportsdirect.com/muddyfox-energy26-mens-932274?colcode=93227411

Also they have some cheap cycle accessories of which some you might want anyway when you buy a new bike. So the Tesco deal doesn't look so great.

Don't forget to go through a cashback site where ever you buy one. Also check out Argos who may do similar bikes at these sort of prices. Toys R us aren't so good as their quality believe it or not is actually much worse than the Tesco and sports direct bikes, they don't even fit Shimano derailleurs but often very low end Chinese brand parts which are very problematic.

Lastly poundland do a lot of cheap bike stuff, pump, inner tubes, tools, puncture repair kits, lights etc. All usable but basic.

Wilkinsons do cheap tyres.

i maybe a little harsh, but i am that guy that bought the cheap £75 MTB and on the first ride who had to carry the bike back from a small ride with the derailleur stuck in the spokes. i've got a grave yard of kids bikes from sports direct/toysRus and Tesco bikes waiting to be weighed in. i'd take a picture but it's dark now, i've learn't my lesson the hard way. just wish i still had my raleigh burner with yellow mags!!

I think you are right but a bit harsh. These aren't too bad for kids who are gonna throw their bikes down in the park and they are cheap so makes them less attractive to thieves. Not good if you are a serious bike rider but for the kids not too bad. Personally I got a kids one last year in the sale for my little boy, paid £36. Looks reasonable build quality but he hasn't taken it out yet, it will only be the right size for 18 months so not too fussed if it get broken after 12 months.

£7.95 delivery to factor in too

is this bike any good?

^^ nope, i've bought the kids these types of bikes before heavy and will break within a year. if you want a bike for yourself at this price point buy second hand and look at a hybrid (and some more cash). if your thinking of going off road mainly the budget needs to go up a couple of hundred £.

edit: i thought it was a MTB but it isn't, but still wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

i maybe a little harsh, but i am that guy that bought the cheap £75 MTB and on the first ride who had to carry the bike back from a small ride with the derailleur stuck in the spokes. i've got a grave yard of kids bikes from sports direct/toysRus and Tesco bikes waiting to be weighed in. i'd take a picture but it's dark now, i've learn't my lesson the hard way. just wish i still had my raleigh burner with yellow mags!!

This isn't a huge bargain for the type of bike. You get a heavy but very strong steel frame with steel forks. Great load capacity and capable of some knocks, basic components but you do get an entry level Shimano tourney derailleur. These are produced at high speed and low cost. You'll probably need to adjust the bike when you get it to ensure everything is correct and often there is missing or very minimal grease. It will practically need a service before use.

It benefits from not having suspension the cheap bikes achilles heel which is often hopeless. Basically only really suitable for someone who knows what they are doing to service a bike. Who wants a cheap commuting bike possibly that doesn't appeal to thieves much or wouldn't be a huge loss if stolen.

I've used such a bike many years ago for many thousands of miles and it was great.

The important thing you have to realise here is the bike is never worth £160, with the voucher you are probably only £10 under the going rate for such a bike.

Looking at sports direct they do a near identical bike under a different brand at the same price with cheaper delivery.

http://www.sportsdirect.com/muddyfox-energy26-mens-932274?colcode=93227411

Also they have some cheap cycle accessories of which some you might want anyway when you buy a new bike. So the Tesco deal doesn't look so great.

Don't forget to go through a cashback site where ever you buy one. Also check out Argos who may do similar bikes at these sort of prices. Toys R us aren't so good as their quality believe it or not is actually much worse than the Tesco and sports direct bikes, they don't even fit Shimano derailleurs but often very low end Chinese brand parts which are very problematic.

Lastly poundland do a lot of cheap bike stuff, pump, inner tubes, tools, puncture repair kits, lights etc. All usable but basic.

Wilkinsons do cheap tyres.

Most sensible bike post I've ever read on here.

Actually, that doesn't sound like a fantastic accolade does it? (...and the "Most Sensible Bike Post" award goes to...!) - but you catch my drift (did you see what I did there? :wink:)

It's ideal for £80. Don't expect to do black runs, but ideal for now and again riding...

Muddyfox used to be a good name years ago... great post by the way.

Yes I'm old enough to remember that which is why if I was buying I'd probably go the sports direct route purely because its a preferable brand and a few quid cheaper. I know its only a badge slap.

Either bike is probably from Sri Lanka. This looks like the possible base bike. I know many Sports direct bikes are from Sri Lanka and I believe they are one of the cheapest countries now on a quality vs price ratio compared to very cheap chinese manufacturers. My mother recently bought a Dunlop folding bike from Sports Direct and its a fuji-ta manufactured bike, the same company that manufactures high quality carbon fibre frame bikes for companies like Cannondale. Really great quality bike but it was on clearance and probably old stock. I always try to find the true manufacturer and assess the price related to that instead of the badge slap on the frame which even the big brands are nowadays.

http://www.lumala.lk/BikeInDetail.aspx?b=227

fuji-ta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahz3KgA3NiI

my budget was low too but halfords had a sale on last month. well worth it, or look for muddyfox

Hardly fair, Decathlon entry level bikes are if anything often worse. They don't even fit Shimano derailleurs on some of their very cheap bikes and their feedback rating is very low.

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.decathlon.co.uk

Also if you buy a used bike and don't know what you are looking for, you may buy an aluminium frame that has suffered from heavy use and fatigue and replacing high quality parts is expensive. Many keen cyclists sell their decent brand bikes when they have heavily worn drive train components. I'm certainly not denying there are amazing bargains out there but you wouldn't want to buy a bike where the whole drive train is worn out or close to end of life.

Would get a good health insurance before taking this to any mountain.

I'm sorry but you're deluding yourself - swimming against the tide of experience, often reported on here.
And who suggested buying an old knacker?
I didn't say Decathlon are good to shop at (your link has little to do with bikes) though I have found some stores better than others. I'm not recommending their £100 bikes but I am saying they will be much better than this and similar as well as offering backup.

Given that i nearly died as a kid on a similar bike i don't think this is harsh at all. Plenty of decent second hand efforts around that are far better: lighter and better components.

I'm not one to normal post something like this but whenever someone posts a bike deal the bike police soon follow

WOW, how did the bike nearly kill you?

Decathlon all the way. Good bikes assembled by mechanics instore.

Decathlon UK Ltd is ranked 548 out of 568 in the category Sport at Trustpilot.

Decathlon's budget mountain bike equivalent to this bike is the rockrider 300 which is very similar but not identical at £119.99, practically a 50% increase in price.

Some of the poor rankings on trustpilot are because of the poor service received when buying a bicycle.

I'm a fan of B Twin bikes at slightly higher prices but their entry level stuff does not look good value and they have a history of poor customer service according to trustpilot based on many people's experience not an individual's.

How many Decathlon stores are there? I think for most it would be an online purchase anyway where as Tesco's at least have excellent reputation for customer service and local stores even if buying from Tesco Direct you can deal with or return goods to.

Looking at the evidence Decathlon do not look particularly competitive on price for entry level bikes and do not have good customer service.

Why am I deluding myself, I bought a cheap bike many years ago and used it for many thousands of miles and very much enjoyed the bike which back then cost me £65 delivered. Pretty similar to the bike of this thread. I also have had other dearer bikes too so have experience of a wide range of different bikes.

I have shown evidence that Decathlon actually has very poor service much worse than the majority of its competitors. At all times I've tried to be factual and fair perhaps you ought to try it sometime for the novelty value. You will see by my comments the criteria I have stated for buying a cheap bike.

£65 'many years ago' was an expensive bike!

what is "drive train components" ?

was thinking of 2nd hand bikes but wouldn't know what faults i was looking for that were terminal and what were reasonably fixable

Well let's go back 30 years to Viking direct lol. A mate sells bikes some over 10k, there's a lot of snobbery but I understand if you can afford it buy the best you can afford... but I had a cheap Halfords bike for years which did the job

About 10 years ago and pretty much equal to these bikes in components, same tourney gearing, heavy steel construction.

This isn't my actual bike but the exact same model 'Pagan Arrow'.



When I was a child I had a Raleigh Arena bike bought for me from Halfords also £65.

£65 in todays money was equal to £150 10 15 years ago

then again 15 years ago more things were built in the west therefore thats why stuff was more expensive

then you have computer aided design and manufacturing technologies have improved a lot over the last 10 20 years

£65 in 2007 money costs £82.76 today but also need to factor in pound value has declined and China isn't as cheap to make products as back then. My bike looks to be about £110 now from many sellers, which features the strengthened frame. So other factors at work. My bike was made in China but nowadays budget bikes are coming out of Sri Lanka and Vietnam amongst other places and I suspect these bikes may not be from China but the basic high tensile steel frame design is comparable.

Just say no.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkMnk_eCDQU