Haro hasn't had an american made frame in at least 5 years. Most (this goes for all manufacturers) are made by Giant these days. They are the largest frame manufacturer in the world and do most of the outsource work for every other company out there. One of the reasons I'm a fan of Giant is because you're getting the same frame without the middleman. Good bang for the buck.

As for frame material, at that price you'll be limited to aluminum. If you're getting a road bike try to find something with a carbon fork. The carbon will help the ride quality immensely. Steel has become somewhat a niche because of the proliferation of cheap aluminum from the asian market and the incorect perception that aluminum is always lighter. Through butting and shaping of the tubes aluminum has gotten a much better ride quality than the early straight-guage frames had.

I'd also avoid Schwinn. They aren't the same company from your childhood days. They're owned by a group that in the past few years *****d the name out and began making bikes that are now carried at Walmart. In the wake nearly 99% of the private bike shops out there dropped them.

While REI may be a little cheaper than a local shop, I'd go local for a few reasons. First, I worked at a shop through most of highschool and college. Second, I have friends that own shops in the St. Louis area and like to support their business. And third, while you may see a higher initial cost, I feel you'll make it up through discouts and free service in the future that REI's employees can't give you due to company policies.

If anybody here has any specific questions about repair or products feel free to PM me. Cycling is my other expensive hobby and unlike aviation there isn't too much that I haven't done on, or to a bike.

 

What type of bike are you looking for?i bought a sweet cruiser bike...its a Raleigh brand and i paid around $350..visit WWW.Raleighusa.com..give it a look

 

This thread hasn't seen any activity in a while, so I doubt I'll influence the decision that started it, but I figured I'd weigh in anyway in case anyone else is interested...
That said, I have fairly extensive experience in the bike business, and I have to say that the best value-for-money deal I've come across is the Surly Karate Monkey. It's a mountain-bike frame designed for 29-inch wheels, which have become something of a fashion in the past few years. This adds an element of versatility, as the frame can therefore clear the larger wheels designed for road bikes. The bike also comes with eyelets and braze-ons for racks and fenders (details ignored on many other cheap frames), and is built from sturdy 4130 chro-moly tubing. I ride another frame built by the same company, and it survived being run over by a Chevy Tahoe (I was hit from behind, and every piece of equipment on the bike was trashed, but the frame stayed straight). Bike shops usually don't stock Surlys on the floor, but they can usually order them from Quality Bike Products (a major wholesaler, just about every shop deals with them). Depending on the components and finishing kit, one of these bikes could easily be had for $7-800.
If quality and country of origin are an issue, I'd recommend looking into smaller independent builders, many of which can provide you with a frame handbuilt to your dimensions and specifications for a surprisingly modest price...

 

It depends what you would like to use the bicycle for. I have several brands in mine. Giant is a good choice, they are from Japan, but are by no means, a "cheap bike." I would suggest Trek because they have a great product, but they are overpriced. Specialized also has a very good product and is very reasonable.

 

I've had a pretty basic Specialized (It was about $300) for a couple years and have been pleased with it. It seems like there is a ton of Treks around which makes me wonder if they are begining to go the way of Schwinn. Maybe not, but at any rate they are too pop culture for me. What did you end up going with?

 

Giant is Taiwanese-based. They make nearly 90% of the bicycle frames in the world, including most other brands'. Companies that I know of using their frames include Specialized, Haro and a host of others. Not that it's a bad thing, they make nice stuff.

I think much of the reason you're seeing so many treks is the "Lance" factor. His team was/is sponsored by trek and as a result has the most exposure over the past few years.

 

Exactly. Although Trek does make excellent bikes- I've had several over the years, as have many of my friends, and they've proved durable and effective. Their mid-to-high end stuff is made in Wisconsin, also. You can often find great deals on their carbon frames from a few years back, as shops would order them as their high-end display model, and then sell them for a discount as they became "obsolete."

 

That's what I ended up doing was buying a year old Trek 5200 that was sitting the dealer's warehouse. I got a killer deal about 40% off retail and a great bike. The whole Lance factor thing is hard to live down but it is a great bike (and made in the USA!).

 

Oh, they do make good stuff (I've owned 3). Most brands carried by specialty shops are reputable. As a result, I think it's more important to choose based on fit, and warranty offered by the shop.

 

Huffy from walmart!! You can get a full suspension for under $100. Sure it is heavy, but your doing it for the work-out... right? Get one of thoes bike trailers to haul the neighbor kids around with. Its just like throwing out an anchor. And if you pull all thoes stupid plastic raceing stickers off the bike, it looks like a $500 bike. Not to mention that when it gets stolen, the jokes on the out of shape theif that has to peddel that tank across town. Plus you can get another brand new bike for under $100 again. Bam, $200 invested now and you still have a new bike. And once you get your endurence up, you will out last anybody on one of thoes expensive carbon bikes!!