Science

4 Best Cheap Bicycles Under $200

Sometimes a bike is all the cheap transportation you need.

by Sandy John
Amazon

I come from a family with some serious cyclists. Various relatives have high-tech carbon fiber bikes for mountain biking, road racing, and cyclocross. They would not be interested in a cheap bike.

But not all of us see bikes as two-wheeled sports cars. We see them as basic transportation. A way to get across campus or an inexpensive ride to work. Cheap bikes make sense to us.

For less than $200, you can get a decent bike that will get you around town or provide some recreation.

Cruiser Style Bike

Why We Picked It The Kent Oakwood cruiser is easy to ride for a quick trip to the store or coffee shop. The aluminum frame is lightweight and rust-resistant, so it’s also a good choice if you want a beach cruiser. The bike has front and rear handbrakes, and the seat post clamp has a quick-release for easy adjustment. Reviewers on Amazon say the bike was easy to put together out of the box.

Designed for Durability

Why We Picked It The Retrospec Harper is a steel-framed bike designed to provide durability for daily commutes to work. It comes with a flip-flop gear that allows you to quickly switch from a fixed gear to a single-speed cruiser. The riser handlebars help make the ride comfortable because they encourage proper posture. The front and rear handbrakes are powerful and efficient – ‘cause who wants weak brakes on city streets?

For Trails and Hills

Mongoose 27.5" R4054WMC Ledge 2.1 Men's Bike
$155.99

Why We Picked It If you’re looking for a trail or mountain bike, this Mongoose might be for you. It has an aluminum full suspension frame and a full suspension fork for comfort on hilly terrain. Mongoose pairs 21-speed twist shifters with a Shimano rear derailleur for smooth shifting. The bike has front and rear linear-pull brakes and alloy rims.

Lighter-weight Design

Why We Picked It In this price range, no bike is race-worthy light, but the Northwoods Pomona features lightweight parts including an aluminum frame and alloy wheels to keep the weight from slowing you down. The dual-suspension frame is designed to absorb bumps on the road and smooth your ride on city streets. The bike has a quick-release seat clamp and a steel handlebar with twist shifters. For your comfort, the bike has a cruiser seat and custom-design cruiser tires.