Help a brother shop for used.... If you would want to....

i don't do facebook...

get the bike with the scerbo bars and front brakes.

Yes, modern-day freestyle frames fit 14mm axles, and the front wheel axles/fork dropouts fit mostly 3/8". As far as the width of the hub, it doesn't need to be pin-point perfection as frames (and forks) bend a little when tightened, as they do by design, but you should be okay.

If I had to rule some out:

The 3rd option, "Haro 200.0" because the headset is non-integrated.

The 8th option, with just the frame and fork, for the same reason.

The last option, again, same reason, but it's also not quite a step-up from what you've got now.

I kinda like this one for the money (offer them $150 and go from there)

It has..

Top load stem
Gsport back rim, front might be too
Looks like 48 spline cranks?
Is that a freecoaster?

I liked that one too, only thing is the bars look to be 8” or less lol.

How far away from you is this?

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/d/chicago-kink-gap-bmx-used-once-for/7052253660.html

Although I'm not positive that is a 2020 Gap?

If I could get that kink for 150 I could afford new bars I think. The Birthday money is rolling in. LOL. It's possible I might have almost 350 to spend by the end of the weekend. Now I'm wondering if I SHOULD go new.... BUT, it would be nice to not have to spend that much. I don't really know if I want to use it all for one bike. I mean I've been riding 20 dollar bikes all year it seems like..... what does it seem like..... oh what's the word I'm looking for...... like overdoing it. There's a word I'm looking for....

I've got a few more I contacted last night. One is a 2017 Kink Launch with a top load stem.

As much as I don't want to care about it, some people's tastes in colors just really doesn't look good to me. I told myself I'd try to keep my mind open but most bikes I've posted here don't look good to me. That kink one looks clean and all that but blaaaaa on the colors. I'm anti black. Everyone's bike is black. (exaggeration but you get what I mean) I don't mind the color of the dark red Haro. But what's with Haro? Haros Haros everywhere. But I'm skeptical if I wanna buy one. It seems like most of the guys on here are not down with them. Is there a reason for that?

And yeah, what's with everyone riding short bars? Or is that just cuz they're cheaper and that's what bikes come with?

This one looks good to me. Only thing is about buying used I'm a bit concerned about buying a stolen bike. I don't mean to be prejudice but if I go to a bad section of town, in my mind the likelihood of that goes up a bunch. I mean I used to work at an electrical contractor and a lot of our jobs were in the hood and tools were constantly being stolen out of the guys trucks. And I'm pretty sure people weren't stealing them from having a construction project to work on......

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1419332754910423/?ref=messenger_banner

I also like the idea of the Premium one listed above and there was another Premium one I'm talking with. But I can't get a read from you guys about that brand. I posted in the current thread about brands asking about premium and no one commented. I also read through the whole thread and didn't see Premium talked about once.

This one seems clean and the guy that owns it seems like he took care of it. But man the color scheme. Wowz..... If I could change some of the stuff on it I can get behind the frame color.... He says he bought it used a few months ago and doesn't ride it. And it's a 2016 model.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2533189750112781/?ref=messenger_banner

I asked the kink launch seller where he bought it and he didn't seem to answer that. He just told me what he changed on it:

"Rebuilt rims,half link chain,it has a haro sprocket,double wall female rim with eastern sealed hub and cream cult tires
Parts list^
But other than that its a complete
White kink tires*"

Isn't there a way you can check for stolen bikes. Some database?

The only one that has me wondering is there is an FBM for 85 bucks. But I'm not sure I want to own a bike that's called a "Heathen".

I might go down to this place. Some of those kinks are decently priced but shorter bars and might have short top tubes... The bike I'm riding now is only 20" top tube and I don't mind. But then the chainstay is over 14" so.....

I probably would be better off with 20.5 but not sure that 1/2" would feel that much different.... Or better.

I need to call them and see if they have anything used. I hit another shop yesterday and no used. A decent Cult for 4 bills though.

https://www.southport-rigging.com/category/398/bmx-bike

The Kink Launch with the white tires went down to 200 bucks and he told me where he bought it......

Sounds like all of these would be an upgrade, so I'm sure you'll be happy with any of them. That said, I spent 20 years riding a 40 lb mid-school tank. Bought a custom on 2018, and now I feel like I've wasted 20 years of my life! Coulda had more fun, and I'd be a better rider today, if I'd bought a better bike years ago. You have one excuse and opportunity to buy, spend like it's your birthday! Assuming the bills are paid, of course...

What would you change about your current ride, mainly on the frame? You can always buy taller bars for Fathers' Day.

Fortyseven wrote:

The Kink Launch with the white tires went down to 200 bucks and he told me where he bought it......

That thing is hi ten steel, bars and all..

The Kink in the Craigslist link I'm pretty sure is mostly cromolly with big cromolly grizzly bars, newer by far, and same price, normal looking tires, top load stem..

Is the color not working for you on that one?

Black Swamp Ghost wrote:

How far away from you is this?

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/d/chicago-kink-gap-bmx-used-once-for/7052253660.html

Although I'm not positive that is a 2020 Gap?

Here's the specs on that one^

https://m.vitalbmx.com/product/guide/Bikes,6/Kink/GAP-LHD,10122

I could maybe live with black. It does look clean. Those bars don't look all that tall though. If I had to change them I could do Chrome and for me that would totally change the look of the bike. I don't like the green and red motif going on with the Green tires. Blaaaaaaaaa.

I'm just not a fan of black. I like cheery, uplifting colors. But that's not the norm.....

There is this one that if I could get her to come down on price might be a good one. The bars are 9" off the bat and I think it's chromoly. But I'm not sure 9" is tall enough.......

Let me know what you think of this one. And I appreciate the help!!!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/520005961914335/?ref=messenger_banner

you know..... you can always paint parts any color you want...

True. But I won't do as good of a job as the manufacture. I guess with that one if I changed the tires and grips it could change the look of it a lot Some chrome bars.....

I haven't heard back from that guy yet. I asked if it was a freecoaster. I told myself that that's what I'd want if I ever bought a good one but this cheapy one I'm riding is a cassette and I'm liking it. But I'm not doing fakies yet.....

Black Swamp Ghost wrote:

How far away from you is this?

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/d/chicago-kink-gap-bmx-used-once-for/7052253660.html

Although I'm not positive that is a 2020 Gap?

Black Swamp Ghost wrote:

Here's the specs on that one^

https://m.vitalbmx.com/product/guide/Bikes,6/Kink/GAP-LHD,10122

Chicago is kind of far to go.... But maybe?

If you have 350 to spend the L100 is 330 on Amazon right now. L100

I'm not sure 8.75" bars is gonna be high enough.... Although it might be with the top load stem. Would be nice to kick my leg over one somewhere......

So that's a decent bike? I'm guessing yeah, otherwise you guys wouldn't have suggested it. I gotta buy knee pads with that budget too. And some tylenol. LOL. I already have that.

It's like Haro has the lock on the bike shops. I was in my Trek store today returning some stuff I bought for another project that got put on hold. So that 45 is back in my budget. I have 200 right now and my kids are gonna pony up some money for their old man's bday. And I might get some money from my Dad this weekend. LOL. I probably could squeeze a few dollars out of the budget too, cuz we just refi'd the house but really all that normal money needs to be spent on life stuff..... billz. I got 7 trees to cut down cuz in our state we have this stupid thing called an Emerald Ash Borer. It is a bug that is killing all the Ash trees and guess who had a yard full of them? Yep, me. Grrrrrrrrrr....

But the Trek store, the only BMX bikes it had were 4 Haro's. I mean what gives with them? They're everywhere. The 2 Leucadias were like 330 bucks and I think are chromoly. They had a cheap version for 250 ish but it had cheap cranks Was the best looking one though. LOL. Hi Ten steel.

What's the big difference between HiTen and Chromoly?

Fortyseven wrote:

I'm not sure 8.75" bars is gonna be high enough.... Although it might be with the top load stem. Would be nice to kick my leg over one somewhere......

So that's a decent bike? I'm guessing yeah, otherwise you guys wouldn't have suggested it. I gotta buy knee pads with that budget too. And some tylenol. LOL. I already have that.

It's like Haro has the lock on the bike shops. I was in my Trek store today returning some stuff I bought for another project that got put on hold. So that 45 is back in my budget. I have 200 right now and my kids are gonna pony up some money for their old man's bday. And I might get some money from my Dad this weekend. LOL. I probably could squeeze a few dollars out of the budget too, cuz we just refi'd the house but really all that normal money needs to be spent on life stuff..... billz. I got 7 trees to cut down cuz in our state we have this stupid thing called an Emerald Ash Borer. It is a bug that is killing all the Ash trees and guess who had a yard full of them? Yep, me. Grrrrrrrrrr....

But the Trek store, the only BMX bikes it had were 4 Haro's. I mean what gives with them? They're everywhere. The 2 Leucadias were like 330 bucks and I think are chromoly. They had a cheap version for 250 ish but it had cheap cranks Was the best looking one though. LOL. Hi Ten steel.

What's the big difference between HiTen and Chromoly?

Chromoly and HiTen are both steel alloys. Chromoly is just a much stronger alloy, I believe it's lighter, too.

Black Swamp Ghost wrote:

How far away from you is this?

https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/d/chicago-kink-gap-bmx-used-once-for/7052253660.html

Although I'm not positive that is a 2020 Gap?

Black Swamp Ghost wrote:

Here's the specs on that one^

https://m.vitalbmx.com/product/guide/Bikes,6/Kink/GAP-LHD,10122

Fortyseven wrote:

Chicago is kind of far to go.... But maybe?

Tell em it's hella far for you, but for $170 you would have no choice but to make the drive and check it out... Its 20.5tt, the add says 24" wheels but I'm sure that's a mistake..

Fortyseven wrote:

I'm not sure 8.75" bars is gonna be high enough.... Although it might be with the top load stem. Would be nice to kick my leg over one somewhere......

So that's a decent bike? I'm guessing yeah, otherwise you guys wouldn't have suggested it. I gotta buy knee pads with that budget too. And some tylenol. LOL. I already have that.

It's like Haro has the lock on the bike shops. I was in my Trek store today returning some stuff I bought for another project that got put on hold. So that 45 is back in my budget. I have 200 right now and my kids are gonna pony up some money for their old man's bday. And I might get some money from my Dad this weekend. LOL. I probably could squeeze a few dollars out of the budget too, cuz we just refi'd the house but really all that normal money needs to be spent on life stuff..... billz. I got 7 trees to cut down cuz in our state we have this stupid thing called an Emerald Ash Borer. It is a bug that is killing all the Ash trees and guess who had a yard full of them? Yep, me. Grrrrrrrrrr....

But the Trek store, the only BMX bikes it had were 4 Haro's. I mean what gives with them? They're everywhere. The 2 Leucadias were like 330 bucks and I think are chromoly. They had a cheap version for 250 ish but it had cheap cranks Was the best looking one though. LOL. Hi Ten steel.

What's the big difference between HiTen and Chromoly?

Bullet has one. He could tell you about the pros and cons. It's a brand new full chromoly bike for the price of an entry level hiten bike. I'm sure not everything is perfect but it's new and a significant upgrade to what you have.

The gal with the root beer colored Kink Gap for 300 got back to me.

It's chromoly 2019 and has 9" bars.... 20.5 tt. I don't think she'll budge on price though. It's brand new. They bought if for their kid and said it was too big and it was never ridden. I like that one though..... But I won't like it if the bars aren't high enough and I need new ones... It's the same with the L100. I like that one too, but if the bars are too short.... When I was at my local place yesterday they had some nice Cult 4pc bars that are 9.6" and they were 60 bucks. That seemed like a good deal.

[img]https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/78373240_10156811185173105_691205536670023680_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=ntDSlQ9LLHcAX-Ma6jH&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=4b041c3c57384afa754316d63bbe0ec0&oe=5EA40567[/img]

That pic doesn't work for some reason. It's the photo of it on FB. It does look real clean. Like it's never been ridden.

How tall are your bars BSG?

No thoughts on Premium as a brand? Or what's the deal with haro's? Stay away or not? They're everywhere up here. It does look like there is a big range of quality with those.

pnj wrote:

you know..... you can always paint parts any color you want...

This 100%

As long as you take the time to prepare and spray properly, any novice can do pretty good paintwork. Plus, you can get super creative.

Yeah, it's just that if I end up crashing and not able to ride, I would rather leave it stock somewhat so I can sell it. If I spray it, it aint gonna look near as good as factory or be as desirable. On the other hand, my typical mantra is to buy something and use the crap out of it. I usually drive my cars until they are looking pretty shabby. I'm not sure if I'll make it that far with a BMX bike though. LOL. Remember, I'm getting old.

I'm not necessarily against that first one. I think if I could get him down on price I can change bars, grips and tires and get it more to my liking. He's about the only one that hasn't gotten back to me though.

8.75 isn't that low for bars. How tall are you? If I were you I'd go new and upgrade the bars later. I hate buying used bikes, most of the time the person doesn't even know what it is and they've never heard of doing maintenance.

Hi-Ten and Tri-Moly are for people who want to buy a bike that never gets ridden, then gets tossed in the trash after it rusts.