The Winning Bike

Buyer's Guides, Reviews & tips

Best City Bikes Under 500

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Commuting via a bicycle is a great way to travel as it holds several health benefits as well as providing you with an enjoyable experience.

What’s more, it poses a great way to kill two birds with one stone as you can get to work, or anywhere else, while giving your body some much- needed exercise. To ensure you find the right city bike for your own needs we compiled a list of the best city bikes under 500 dollars:

1) Raleigh Detour 2 Step Thru

To ensure optimal performance and comfort, this bike incorporates 24 gears courtesy of Shimano Rapid Plus trigger shifters.

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The rack is as fender ready as the rest of the aluminum core and a spring-loaded comfort saddle coupled with the absence of slip pedals make this bicycle one for the top-drawer category.

Pros

  • Available in a red and blue iteration, the Raleigh Detour 2 Step Thru is an excellent city bike whose sleek frame is built to ensure an upright position for easy long distance travelling.
  • The fork and frame are forged from lightweight aluminum making it agile but still capable of withstanding the extra weight of any additional luggage.

Cons

  • The bike comes with much of the assembly work done for you, however, the remaining 15 % of the assembly chore can become challenging due to the complexity of some parts.
  • You’ll incur additional charges when you decide to take the bike to a shop for assembly since self-assembly is quite tricky.

2) Vilano Shadow 3.0

The Vilano Shadow 3.0 is another bearing the world-class trademark touch of Shimano which is evident on the braking system that features STI lever integrated shifters.

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 Its frame is made from aluminum while the wheelset is of the CST slick Tire class.

Pros

  • The Vilano Shadow 3.0 has enormous braking power due to the ingenious Shimano braking system incorporated into the design.
  • It attains admirable speeds as a result of the streamline design and lightweight structure.

Cons

  • Installing the disc brakes is a cumbersome task.
  • The seat is plastic and devoid of any cushioning.

3) Critical Cycles Harper

The specs for this model include Kenda commuter tires, VP freestyle pedals and a single-speed/fixed gear track frame with horizontal dropouts and no toe overlap.

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 There are two sets of brakes for instantaneous stoppages and the recommended height for this make is 5’6″ to 5’9″.

Pros

  • The Critical Cycles Harper has great flexibility due to a flip-flop hub that gives you the option of riding with a freewheel or a fixed one.
  • The bike comes with all the requisite assembly and maintenance tools.

Cons

  • There have been a number of complaints pertaining to problems in assembling the bike’s pedals.
  • The frame is extremely light and susceptible to damage.

4) Schwinn Discover

As the name would have it, this bicycle is littered with a number of first-rate Schwinn accessories namely the alloy crank, suspension fork and perhaps most notably, a 21-speed SRAM grip shifter.

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The design is also imbued with 4 finger brake levers paired with alloy twist shifters.

Pros

  • The presence of a Shimano derailleur makes traversing upward slopes a breeze
  • The padded seat and handlebars are positioned so as to ensure an upright posture while the fender curtails dirt from getting to the rider.

Cons

  • The bike is rather heavy compared to other city bikes hence can make long distance riding tiring.
  • Chain slippage is a frequently occurring mishap with this make.

5) Kent Northwood Springdale

This model also manages to cut the mustard thanks to its assembly of sterling parts namely 700c alloy rims, a quick release seat clamp, a lightweight aluminum frame and a Shimano Tourney rear derailleur.

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Pros

  • The Kent Northwood Springdale has a smooth gear shifting uncharacteristic of models in this price range.
  • The bike has a sturdy yet comfortable feel to it.

Cons

  • The assembly instructions are unclear and not very helpful.
  • The handlebars tend to loosen with time and hence need constant tightening.

6) Stowabike V3 Compact

The Stowabike V3 is a city bike built from robust steel that makes up the 20-inch frame which harbors 6 stage Shimano gears that ensure seamless transitions between speeds.

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The built-in rack at the back is strong enough to carry heavy luggage while the large wheels are drawn from a durable rubber that can withstand the hardships of long distance travels.

Pros

  • It is a folded bike which means you can fit it into small spaces- e.g. the trunk of your car- for mobility or in order to save limited storage space.
  • The bike’s sturdy and durable exterior makes it one that’ll provide you with years of service.

Cons

  • The seat is a bit high which can raise the bike hence the body too high thereby elevating your center of gravity so much so that it can cause instability especially whilst leaning.
  • After folding the bike, reassembly can become challenging as you might need to realign the brake setup and handlebars.

7) unYOUsual U transformer

Also a folding bicycle like its predecessor, this model runs on 20 by 1.75-inch tires and is powered by a Shimano shifter (6-speed) and derailleur which are kept in check by a partly alloyed rear and front V-brake.

 It has a front handle stem that detaches easily much like the rest of the 20-inch frame.

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Pros

  • It is extremely sturdy unlike most folding bicycles which tend to a bit shaky or flimsy.
  • It is easy on the eye and is a durable bike built for the long haul.

Cons

  • The tires need frequent filling which could be down to a design flaw so you might need to get a pump of your own.
  • The pedals also seem to get easily damaged and fall off so the bike might require regular servicing as a result.

A Few Final Words

There you have it folks, some of the best city bikes under 500 dollars. There seems to be a synonymous problem with assembly so before you take to the road with your newly acquired bicycle be sure to first get the green light from a reputable mechanic. Otherwise, you have very little else to worry about with these models.

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