Clicking in from Colorado

[Dragon22]

Looking for a cheap used kids bike but legos are also okay.

Might just grab one at Wal Mart but I feel guilty when I buy there.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Bikes???   I remember when my sister's kids were young, and she could not really afford bikes for the kids I took her up to the county dump with my pickup truck, and just sat by the metal recycling pile.  Whenever I saw a decent bike being unloaded I asked for it.  Within 15 mins we had decent bikes for all the kids, most needed nothing, a couple needed minor repairs. Its amazing the stuff people take to the dump.  I did the same when my sister needed a lawnmower.  We found a decent mower that needed minor repairs (flushed bad gas out of tank, changed oil and spark plug) for free.

[Big Daddy Audio]

Unless the bike is in really great shape, you might as well go the Wal-Mart Route.  You have to remember that most kids bikes are really beat on and are not well cared for (in general).

I say this (not to downplay thrift stores) because prices on bikes in thrift stores are really high (at least in the Phoenix area).  Most need work, and unless you can do it yourself and have a cheap supply of parts, the cost in parts and labor will bring the "thrifted" bike up to the cost of new.

There are occasions (and these are RARE) when you can find a really good kids bike for cheap.  I can count on the fingers of two hands (10 that I can remember) the number of bikes I have thrifted in ALL THE YEARS I have been thrifting (and I'm in various stores A LOT).

1. Haro 540 (10.00)
2. Cannondale SM 600 (7.00)
3. ReBike (150.00)
4. Maito Italian Road Bike (10.00)
5. Raleigh Sprite (12.99)
6. Gary Fisher Big Sur 15" (16.99)
7. Gary Fisher Big Sur 17" (16.99)
8. Schwinn Varisity (vintage) (24.99)
9. Sears "Mary Poppins English Garden Variety" Bike (Made in France - looked like it had been stored inside for years) (26.99)
10. Free Agent BMX bike (this one looked new) (40.00)

These are all good quality bikes, and it doesn't pay to buy a used "Wal-Mart" type bike for 20 or 30 bucks, sink another 30-50 into it to make it ride-able , when you can buy a new one for a few dollars more.  I'm all about the thrifting, but you really need to know which bikes are quality, which components on the bike are quality, and you have to be able to do a lot of the work yourself.

Good Hunting.