Where is the line between a BSO and a cheap proper bike?

[Brucey]

I live in a city where lots of people(*) ride bikes for transport.

((*) -I was going to say 'normal people' but I'm not sure that always applies. )

Needless to say every form of cyclist and bicycle is well represented.

However it has been my observation that the #1 thing that makes for a 'bad' (i.e. palpably slow, inefficient, dangerous even) bicycle is the most basic failure to maintain it correctly. Rusty chains, tyres that are nearly flat, brakes that don't work and so forth.

Now bikes of any kind can suffer neglect in this way, for sure. So any bike can be turned into a de-facto BSO.

However there is no doubt in my mind that cheap mountain bikes -the most BSO-like of BSOs, if you will- are by far the most likely to end up in this state. I am fairly convinced that this is at least as much a reflection of the mindset of the owner as it is the inherent quality of the machine. When these bikes were originally purchased, this was often done without significant application of time, money or effort, and when that approach is carried over into ownership, the result is inevitable.

cheers

[reohn2]

For use in my job I have a pair of Panasonic cordless battery drill/drivers,I've had them 10years+ and they cost £450 the pair new and they're still going strong.
These are no nonsense hard working tools with 12volt x 3amp and 15.6volt x 3.5amp motors/batteries and sophisticated 1/2hour chargers.All I've ever done is use them and very occassionally split the bodies(five screws)and hoover out any dust and debris from around the motors.

Occasionally when working customers would ask advise about about cordless drill/drivers for DIY/occasional/light use I'd always tell them to look at Bosch or B&D's DIY range,as they'd do the light duty work asked of them without much fuss,handle nicely and have a bit of power for the job in hand,though their gearboxes pack up and batteries die prematurely.

It's horses for courses and it's the same with bikes,if knocking out 200 miles a week sub £200 hybrid won't take the strain for too long.
20 miles a week and all day padlocked to a Sheffield stand on the street it'll do it fine,with a bit of TLC.
£70 supermarket specials are a dog,but even they can transport a human being about without too much difficulty but herein lays a puzzle to me.
Why would anyone want a psuedo full sus MTB to ride 2 or 3 miles to work,when a sit up roadster or hybrid would fit the bill far better?
Vorpal mentioned up thread about cheap roadsters for occasional/short hop use in Norway where she now lives.
I've seen the same type of bike in various countries in Europe,they're the default town/short journey bike,but not so much here and outside the ''cycling cities'' the SSFS seems to have quite following,strange
And yet people will spend £80 on football shirt,even if they don't play football.There's no hope

[mrjemm]

Why would anyone want a psuedo full sus MTB to ride 2 or 3 miles to work,when a sit up roadster or hybrid would fit the bill far better?

Do you know the children's game "Top Trumps", R2? Maybe it was a 70/80s thing... But, basically boys like their toys as we all know, and a big part of that is the numbers and spec sheet, or even just the appearance of it if the reality can't match the dream. It's got full suspension, disc brakes and techno looking grip shifters. Must be top. Rather like the boys with their hot-hatches adding spoilers and body kit on their 1st, then on the 2nd get the one with the best speedy power willy swing numbers. Nothing remotely related to what would work best, be most suitable or make sense, including financial sense.

[Ayesha]

When you look at a BSO, all three chainrings will be welded to the spider, which will be a stamped steel plate riveted onto the cheap alloy crank.

On removal and inspection, the chainline on the BSO chainset will probably be 2.5mm inboard of the accepted chainline for a MTB, compared with Shimano, Suntour etc.

When the BB cartridge unit is removed, its body will be black painted, just like the crumby cranks.

When a ‘low-cost’ bike has a ‘Proper’ chainline chainset and a treated metal finish BB cartridge with a recognised makers name on it, like Shimano, FAG or SKF, it raises above the BSO status.

When a BSO is retrofitted with decent components by fitting a decent chainset, the BB cartridge must be changed to a 113mm from the 118mm crap unit it had.

These two anomaly’s are not seen by the unsuspecting buyer.

When the BB cartridge fails on a BSO, the non mechanically minded owner junks the bike and spends another £150 on a replacement.

[reohn2]

Why would anyone want a psuedo full sus MTB to ride 2 or 3 miles to work,when a sit up roadster or hybrid would fit the bill far better?

Do you know the children's game "Top Trumps", R2? Maybe it was a 70/80s thing... But, basically boys like their toys as we all know, and a big part of that is the numbers and spec sheet, or even just the appearance of it if the reality can't match the dream. It's got full suspension, disc brakes and techno looking grip shifters. Must be top. Rather like the boys with their hot-hatches adding spoilers and body kit on their 1st, then on the 2nd get the one with the best speedy power willy swing numbers. Nothing remotely related to what would work best, be most suitable or make sense, including financial sense.

Yer right of course,sad innit?

[Ayesha]

One scenario is a BSO is built to last just over the 12 month statutory warranty period demanded by British law, and no longer.
A cheap bike that lasts years is not a financial viability to generate future sales.

By the same token, real top-end race bikes are designed the same. To last one season and then be junked or sold on to fans. ‘Real’ top-end race bikes might get a change of some worn components mid-season. The fans, and most importantly the rich guys who want to ride those bikes on Sundays are not told this.

[Freddie]

A few things:

1) I don't think a quality bike, poorly maintained, can be considered a BSO. Some maintenance and it can be revived, unless it is damaged beyond repair, but even then it is only a damaged quality bike, not a BSO. BSOs are born that way!
2) I think that often, but not always, a BSO has to be pretending to be something it is not, but costing less than a good night out. Thick steel tubes imitating aluminium, pretend suspension front and rear, these things increase BSO points. A BSO can have no suspension, but for a given price under £200, something is much more likely to be a BSO if it has front and rear suspension and other "features" which give the superficial appearance of it being something expensive (to Joe Public), whilst simultaneously ruining any potential ride quality.

There is no line as such, just a gradient from total BSO to lesser BSO to bike.

[Drake]

Well after reading this subject, i've just realised that i'm riding a BSO.
But then again is it.
Yes it's steel. And yes it's heavy. It also has a large diameter down tube, and a pair of front susoension forks that would do justice to the Titanic.
What else makes it a BSO. Well it's got alloy wheels, with those nasty stainless steel spokes that sparkle and gleam in the sun. It's also got those funny little pencil thin chrome steel hubs, that seem to spin up forever. Did i mention that the wheel rims run true ?
Now we get down to the real nasty stuff. It's fitted with one of those loose ball and cup BB's. Didn't i read somewhere. that millions of bikes used this system once ? Maybe not.
Now if you frighten easily . . don't read any further. It's got, (wait for it) pressed steel chain rings. with steel crank arms covered in grey plastic (cringes) But funnily enough, they don't show signs of rust.
But of cause, being a BSO i've spent a fortune on spares over the last 3.5yrs. 2 inner brake cables . . 3 pairs of brake blocks and 2 new tyres. Oh and recently a new freewheel hub cluster and chain.
But in reality, would i hurtle myself down a mountain on it ? . . then the answer would be NO!
Most of my riding is done on tarmac, with the occasional ride up rough tracks. I just don't understand how this machine copes . . being a BSO that is

[Pat Dwyer]

Maybe the concept of a bicycle-shaped object was postulated by a person-shaped object?

[Brucey]

i've just realised that i'm riding a BSO.
.... Well it's got alloy wheels, with those nasty stainless steel spokes that sparkle and gleam in the sun. It's also got those funny little pencil thin chrome steel hubs, that seem to spin up forever. Did i mention that the wheel rims run true ? ...

stainless spokes? Wheels that run true? It is already sounding un-BSO-like...

cheers

[Ayesha]

Did I mention?

A BSO is any bicycle which DOESN’T save its owner its cost in petrol.

A £12,000 Pinarello, bought as a ‘Sunday jolly’ posing machine DOESN’T save its owner its cost in petrol, so IS a BSO.

Have we got that understood now?

[bigjim]

I saw a shiny non-sus new BSO on sale for £60 from Bolton Cycles. I thought I'd take a punt and use as a shopper etc. It duly arrived complete with punctured front wheel and dry bearings. I greased wheel bearing, cables and BB. Wheels were true. Took it in a 20mile run. It was horrible! I gave it to my son to use for work. He rode that bike for 2 years commuting. Took it off road for miles. Only ever changed the brake blocks. The tyres just never wore. He hammered that bike! It just carried on. Eventually he gave it back to me with the now wobbly wheels and scratched frame. I must get rid sometime as well.
He now rides a full carbon road bike and an expensive Orange MTB. That crappy BSO kept him fit and got him into serious biking.

[tyred]

I own an early 1980s no-name 3 speed roadster. It was I'd imagine some sort of catalogue special in it's day, it's heavy, came with horrid plastic pedals, grips and saddle, terrible quality chrome work and could be considered a BSO. I pulled it out of skip with the intention of using it for a short distance utility riding with no need to worry if I was leaving it anywhere.

I re-lubed everything and was surprised to find it rides like a dream after it was assembled and set up properly and I rather fell in love with it. I fitted quality dynamo lights, a second hand Brooks saddle and better second hand pedals and a carrier that wasn't made out of recycled coat hangers. In doing so I have spent more than the bike could ever be worth.

Many would consider this stupid to spend money fitting expensive parts like B&M lights and a Brooks saddle to a low-end gas pipe bike. I disagree as it's given me thousands of miles of enjoyable and trouble-free cycling and will continue to do so.

Don't dismiss cheap bikes out of hand. With sympathetic maintenance they can give perfectly good service.

[pete75]

Did I mention?

A BSO is any bicycle which DOESN’T save its owner its cost in petrol.

A £12,000 Pinarello, bought as a ‘Sunday jolly’ posing machine DOESN’T save its owner its cost in petrol, so IS a BSO.

Have we got that understood now?

So what you're saying is any bike bought by someone who runs diesel vehicles is a BSO

[Ayesha]

Did I mention?

A BSO is any bicycle which DOESN’T save its owner its cost in Internal Combustion Engine fuel.

A £12,000 Pinarello, bought as a ‘Sunday jolly’ posing machine DOESN’T save its owner its cost in Internal Combustion Engine fuel, so IS a BSO.

Have we got that understood now?

So what you're saying is any bike bought by someone who runs diesel vehicles is a BSO

Is that better?