How Much to Spend on a Bicycle

If you are planning to buy a new bike, you must be wondering how much to spend on it. In fact, when I was buying my first bike, the decision regarding its cost was the first one that concerned me. 

Who doesn’t want to make the most out of the amount they spend on buying a new bike? Well, in order to get there, it is of utmost importance for you to be aware of the amount you should ideally spend on buying a new bicycle. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank while getting yourself a new bike. 

Depending upon the type, purpose, and quality of bikes, their prices could significantly vary. Let’s first understand how much does a bike cost you, and then we’ll get to how much you should ideally spend on getting a good bicycle. 

How much does a bicycle cost?

Cost of the bicycle by its type:

Mountain bike

Mountain bikes tend to come up with a more expensive price tag than road bikes. Their prices could also vary depending on the quality and type of mountain bike you choose.

The cost of hardtail mountain bikes could range from $900 to a whopping $5440 or even more. Full suspension mountain bikes, on the other hand, can cost you anything between $2000 and $13000 or more. 

Bmx bike

To get a decent-quality BMX bike, you should at least spend $200. However, their price could range from $200 to more than $2000 depending upon the build quality and reliability. 

Road Bike

If you are looking forward to buying a good quality road bike, you should get ready to spend anything between $1000 and $10000 or even more. A well-built entry-level road bike could cost you at least $1200 or $1800. 

E-Bike

If you have decided to buy an electric bike, you can spend as less as $750 to get one. However, the costs of electric bikes can reach a whopping $14,000 if you are looking to maximize quality and performance. 

Cruiser bike

The average price of a good-quality cruiser bike could range from $330 to more than $1300, depending upon the amount you are willing to invest and the build quality you are expecting. 

Gravel Bike

Well-built gravel bikes could cost you a minimum of $1000. If you are willing to get better quality and performance, the cost of a gravel bike could typically surpass $10,000. 

How Much To Spend On A Bicycle

If you are an entry-level biker, you should ideally spend around $1000-2500 while buying a new bike. This amount may vary based on a number of factors. Nevertheless, getting a new bicycle should not cost you a fortune. 

You may not have to spend any more than this, especially if you are a novice rider looking to integrate cycling into your lifestyle. Whether it is your first mountain bike or any other type, you can have great options within this price range to give you a solid start to your journey. 

In fact, it would be best to spend a limited amount and assign a strict budget if you don’t plan to cycle too often. Even in this price range, you are open to choosing from countless options with excellent quality. 

However, there are several things to consider before buying a new bike. Your budget is susceptible to being influenced by a number of factors that you should consider before spending your money on a bike. Such factors are discussed below. 

Your purpose

Before spending your money on buying a new bike, you must work out the way you plan to use your bike and the purpose you intend to fulfill. You should be well aware of where exactly you intend to ride your bike. 

Furthermore, the bike you choose should complement your riding style. Being well-worn with your purpose and intentions will allow you to make a better choice at choosing the right type of bike, which will eventually fluctuate your budget for getting a new bike. 

You must know whether you plan on using your bicycle for stunt riding, road biking, hill climbing, racing, comfort and leisure riding, commuting, mountain biking, or any other purpose. Bikes are designed differently and specifically to suit these purposes and fulfill your expectations accurately. 

If you are to take your bike off-road but end up buying a bike for pavements and smooth city roads, your bicycle will not only be damaged, but you will also have a poor and unsafe riding experience. Therefore, being well-worn with your purpose is the foremost thing to consider. 

Type of Bike you need

You need to be well aware of the type of bike you need before you decide on a budget for the same. The amount you spend on a bike will vary according to the type of bike you are willing to get. Therefore, you need to decide among various types of bikes and choose the one that fulfills your expectations. 

If you want a regular road bike for commuting on a regular basis, your budget will fluctuate accordingly. In contrast, if you want a mountain bike for tackling complex topographies, your budget will definitely rise when compared to a road bike. 

Deciding the right type of bike as per your purpose becomes important as everything else would depend upon this. You may want a BMX bike for stunts and racing, an electric bike, or a cruiser bike for a comfortable riding experience. 

The type of bike you choose can also depend upon your physical condition. If you prefer not to ride a heavy bike because of your weak pedal force, you should not opt for a fat bike. Similarly, if you are a little weak and prefer commuting for leisure, you can consider a commuter bike, which can cost you between $500 and $6000. 

Since different types of bikes offer different features, you will be required to analyze those and make a choice. Among all the types of bikes available in the market, you must decide which type will align with your preferences and expectations. 

Brand or non-brand

Before spending your money on any bike, it is important for you to establish your stance regarding brands. You need to be clear about your perception and preferences. Does the brand name matter to you? 

Or are you more willing to choose a non-branded bike that is in sync with your strict budget? Before you choose between branded and non-branded bikes, you should know how getting a particular type can influence your experience. 

If you are looking for after-sales support and prompt customer service, getting a branded bicycle would be appropriate. On the other hand, if you are not concerned about after-sales services and customer support, you can just spend way less to get a non-branded bicycle. 

However, getting a non-branded bicycle with poor quality can make you incur maintenance and repair costs. As per your requirements and preferences, you should decide between a branded and non-branded bicycle. 

Riding experience

Your riding experience and the knowledge you possess have a lot to do with the amount you should spend on getting a new bicycle. If you are a beginner trying to inculcate cycling into your routine, you can have a solid start with an entry-level bike with an affordable price tag. 

If you’re just discovering your riding style and learning to ride a bike, it would be best to spend less and look for inexpensive options. Once you feel you’ve gained experience and sufficient knowledge, you can always upgrade your bike in sync with your preferences. 

Therefore, your riding experience would let you decide whether you should go for an entry-level bike or a high-end model. If you are a novice, you can even get a used bike through online websites or garage sales. 

Budget

At the end of the day, your budget would decide the kind of bike you will be able to buy. Although you don’t have to break the bank while buying your first bike, you cannot spend too less either. 

If you don’t prioritize the build quality and assign the budget accordingly, you will later be burdened by maintenance costs and constant repairs. Poor-quality bikes may cost you less and subside under your budget, but they will not last as long. 

It is just as disadvantageous and unnecessary to overspend, especially if you are a beginner. Therefore, your budget should be carefully formulated to get the best out of what you can invest. As discussed before, you can ideally spend as less as $1000 and as much as $2500. 

This is what I considered before buying my first bicycle, and you should too.

The first factor I considered before spending on a bicycle was my purpose and intentions with the bike. I was sure that I wanted a bike for serious riding. I intended to have a smooth ride around the city and tackle steep descents too. 

Considering this, it was evident for me to prioritize a branded and high-quality bike over a non-branded, low-quality, and cheap bike from a local bike shop. Since I was a beginner with minimal riding experience, I knew how the quality of my first bike would influence and shape my love for cycling. 

Therefore, I wasn’t willing to settle for poor componentry, which I could not rely on. At the same time, since I had just begun my journey of integrating cycling into my routine, I wasn’t willing to spend a fortune either. Considering all of these personal preferences, I decided to buy a decent road bike for $1500. 

With the quality and comfort it gave me, I was willing to ride more and take up different adventures. It was affordable for me and definitely gave me a solid start, as I could comfortably ride on a regular basis. 

Are more expensive bikes worth it?

Now that you know how much you can spend on bicycles and how this amount may vary depending on a number of factors, it is natural for you to wonder if it is worth spending on expensive bikes. Choosing between cheap and expensive bicycles is an important decision.

It goes without saying that a high-end bicycle will be equipped with a reliable componentry possessing excellent quality and durability. With better bike parts, you can expect better performance from your expensive bike and have an enjoyable experience riding it. 

The same cannot be said about a low-quality non-branded bike. For such cheap bikes, you may make them last longer with proper care, but you have to be burdened with maintenance costs and constant repairs. Such bikes may not provide efficient after-sales services and may even compromise when it comes to frame quality and comfort. 

An expensive, branded, and higher-quality bike, on the other hand, will only demand a one-time investment to offer long-term reliability, warranty, and customer services. By spending more on a bicycle, you will be assured of the quality of its components and frame material and have an enhanced biking experience.