His_j_man-----d**k's Sporting Goods is selling a Schwinn Protocol 2.0 26" Men's Full-Suspension Mountain Bike?

Question

It's going for $599.99 but right now is selling for $349.99. Should I by it??? I would like it but I wish that it had disk brakes in the back as well. What is your opinion? Can you check it out online and let me know?

Answer 1

I looked it up, for the sake of principle, but I didn't need to.

When a company sells out to department stores, you know their quality is about to drop. Schwinn is not the brand name it used to be, sure it was your grandfather's bike, but it fizzled out in the early 90s after the Sierra lineup gave it's final bow. It's changed hands about 12 times in the past 30 years, that should tell you something about their financial stability.

There is a d**k's Sporting Goods where I live, and their bikes are rivaled only by WAL-MART or Toys "R" Us. More proof of their quality is that their bikes are not built by skilled mechanics, as former employees have come from d**k's looking for a job with us, and we cannot hire them. They open a few boxes and turn a few wrenches, then think they are bicycle mechanics, yet get confused by old center pull cantilevers, don't know which way to thread a Campagnolo bottom bracket, and have never seen a trueing stand.

Having said all that...if a full suspension bicycle is what your heart is set on, then a Schwinn at that price is better than any Next, Roadmaster, or Pacific out there, but not at the level of Diamondback, Fuji, or Raleigh (2nd tier bicycles).

Something to remember is that the frame is everything. It's the most expensive part of the bicycle. Don't become a component junkie.

You can take that $349 Schwinn and give it a SRAM, Shimano XTR, or Dura Ace, a Fox front and rear pneumatic suspension, egg beater pedals, and heck even throw in some Bontrager XR tires, and that Schwinn will never be worth more than $1,200 new. A Next wouldn't even break $1,000.

On the other hand, you can take the top of the line models in any of the leading retail store brands, give them the cheapest, dinkiest components out there, and they will still be worth $4,000+.

Why?...

The frame, and all that went into it. Wheels come in a distant 2nd (on mountain bikes.)

So, since you asked my opinion, do I think you're wasting your money? Kind of. But if a full suspension bike is what you really want, that's the best you can get at that price.

Answer 2

You are not going to get a full suspension bike that is any good for less the $900. Go to your local bike shop and get a good hard tail bike for $350.  Full-sup bikes at that level are very inefficient.

Answer 3

i bought a very similiar bike to this one it is a schwinn full suspension ditch1.0.  i paid 290 after taxes.  since then i have realized what is a good bike and what is not.  this bike is on the lower end.  it is not horrible but not that great.  mine is the large and im 6 1 and its too small.  the suspension works fine though. ive taken it down some hills nothing too serious and it works fine.  however i rode a 2000 dollar bike and it was like i was on air.  i know ride a 800 dollar hardtail and it is a better ride than the schwinn. i kept the schwinn for small s***w around days when i know im not going to do anything serious or stranious.  if all you want the bike for is to do a litte dirt jumping or small hills it is fine.  its a good bike to get you into the sport and try it out before dropping  tons of money into it.  349 sounds a bit much for it try to find one about 100 less.  if you do buy it upgrade the back shock if you have the money.  i found a used better one off of ebay for 25 after shipping and it makes a difference and know i know it will withstand some hits