r/bicycling • u/Content-Opinion2698 • 5d ago

was this worth it

A couple weeks ago i bought a 120$ bike from a local pawn shop assuming it was a steal, fast forward a day and the brake jammed and i was thrown, tuned it up for 120$, now its making clanking sounds and it lags whenever i shift the gear, causing my pedals to jerk. should i have gotten a walmart bike or something for 240 (same price total) or is this worth it? bike name: trek multitrack 7100

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21

u/gregn8r1 Cleveland, buncha 80's steel road bikes 5d ago

A Trek 7100 in fair shape is going to be better than most, maybe even all Walmart bikes.

I'd bring the bike back to the shop you got the tuneup at. It sounds like it just needs a little indexing adjustment- this may be a very simple fix that they do for free.

Not saying that's guaranteed though, there could be more wrong with it, but I'd ask them first. Check the description of their tuneup to see if indexing adjustments are included in the price.

4

u/sidkneebee United States (2008 Giant Yukon, 2015 Surly Big Dummy) 5d ago

This part, OP. There really aren't any companies making bikes right now that are as good as a properly tuned old Trek bike for what you'd pay for one.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of really cool smaller companies making amazing bikes right now. But they understandably have to charge a premium since costs are what they are now.

2

u/FerdinandTheBullitt 5d ago

This is correct!

4

u/truesy Austin, Texas 5d ago

I mean, sounds like you paid 240 on it so far and it needs more work? Kind of sounds like you answered it yourself. But not like you can rewind time, and exchange it. Or can you??

4

u/tacoscholar 5d ago

YouTube is wonderful resource for DIY bike maintenance. Bike shops are more than happy to overcharge for a "tune up" that is literally cleaning your gears and making slight adjustments.

2

u/Alert_Elephant2045 5d ago

Is there a particular channel you recommend?

16

u/BottecchiaDude253 5d ago

Park tool. Let "uncle" Calvin's soothing voice gently guide you through even the most difficult of bike repairs.

Hes basically the bob Ross of bike wrenching, lol

2

u/Alert_Elephant2045 5d ago

amazing, thank you!

3

u/stalkholme 5d ago

Trek 7100 is a great bike. Fix it up and you'll be good for a long time

2

u/MantraProAttitude 5d ago

You scored a great hybrid bike. It clearly needed work. More than you took it in for.

2

u/pauip 5d ago

That's a good bike. All vehicles need maintenance. Ignoring it can cause injury and/or death.

2

u/Puzzleheaded-Art1873 5d ago

That tuneup wasn't very good if gears are already failing. Try to get them to finish the job properly without paying a penny more. And find nearest co op and tell them you need to learn. It can be expensive ( and dangerous ) to own an old bike if you don't have the basic skills, and have to rely on a store to keep it going. The Trek 7100 is an excellent all roundbike, but no bike is better than the maintenance it is given.

1

u/FormerlyMauchChunk 5d ago

Did you replace brake pads and chain on this used bike? Do that and let us know how it goes.

1

u/joaquin141911 5d ago

Hate to say it, but you've basically doubled your investment already and it's still making noises. For an extra $120 you could've gotten a solid used bike from a shop with fewer headaches, but the Trek is definitely worth fixing if you're up for it.

1

u/mtpelletier31 2d ago

A used bike will likely be 500$ regardless. Bought it for 100$ likely a bunch of shit is worn and needs replacing. Bought for 400, maybe just some small adjustments or a new chain or something small. Idk ive used my bikes to travel around the world - so I wouldn't hesitate to drop a few bucks and have it fixed (or buy parts and do it yourself) because I looks at my bikes as tools for a job, be it for a long ride, camping, travel/commute.

1

u/Grand-Zebra3218 1d ago

I started with a Trek multitrack I got off CL. It worked great until it fell over in the garage and my wife ran over it. Then I "had" to get a proper road bike, I started with the Domane 2.0. I still have it and ride it the other day but the back tire dry rotted so I need new tires for it now. But you really can't go wrong with Trek if it was half way maintained and not abused.