City Bike Price Guide: How Much Should You Spend?

Are you planning on buying a new city bike and unsure how much you should spend? We've all been there before!

With the ever-expanding city bike marketing and many options available, it can be overwhelming, especially when they're all priced differently.

At Ride Olive, we want everyone to get the best value for their money. So we've put together this comprehensive city bike price guide so you can decide how much to invest and get good value for your money.

Shall we begin?

How Much Are City Bikes?

We get this question so often in our inbox, and it's a tough one to answer because it really depends on what the customer is looking for; some people want lots of crafty modifications on theirs, while others are perfectly happy with a standard commuter bike.

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between €300 to €1500, but these city bike prices can fluctuate, so it's always good to keep an eye on them.

What Impacts the Cost of a City Bike?

Various factors will have an impact on the overall price tag of your city bike. The more features you want that will improve your cycling experience, the higher it's going to be.

Let's look at some of the factors.

The brand - More reputable bike brands will have higher prices because you pay extra for better quality. Fortunately, since the city bike market has become more competitive in recent years, it's left it open for more affordable and well-regarded brands like Ride Olive to challenge these companies.

The materials - The type of frame, fork, and other materials used greatly impact the cost of a city bike. Say a bike was built with aluminium or carbon fibre; it would be far more expensive than one that wasn't. Both of these materials also make a bike lighter. Generally, lighter bikes are more expensive than heavier bikes.

Extra features - Want some extras to make your city bike look extra cool? These are going to cost you. Features like suspension systems and disc breaks add value to the bike, so it's going to drive up the price.

The design - Having a gorgeous city bike that's easy on the eye comes at a cost. Stylish and inventive designs, paired with fashionable colour choices, might lead to a higher cost compared to simpler models.

The country it has been manufactured in - If the bike you're considering buying has been manufactured somewhere where the cost of materials is significantly high, the price will be high. Bikes made in countries with lower material costs are cheaper but may not be as high quality.

City Bike Pricing Breakdown

When it comes to city bike pricing, it's not one size fits all; it's the complete opposite. The costs vary heavily based on some of the things we mentioned in the previous section.

We've broken up different budgets for types of city bikes to show you what you can expect to get.

Budget city bikes (€300 to €400) - Standard bike with steel frame, internal hub gears, rim breaks, average lighting system and more

Mid-range city bike (€400 to €800) - Aluminium frame, multi-speed gears, integrated light system, high-quality saddle, and more

Upmarket city bike (€800 to €1500+) - Carbon belt drive, aircraft-grade aluminium frame, 2-speed gears, detachable fenders, and more

Difference Between Cheap and Expensive City Bikes

Instead of buying your next city bike blindly, learn about the differences between cheap and expensive city bikes so you can make the right decision.

Cheap City Bikes

  • Stainless steel or cheap aluminium frames
  • Basic brakes and wheels
  • Single-speed gears designed for short distances
  • Low comfort level saddle
  • Standard design with an average colour
  • Heavy in weight

Expensive City Bikes

  • High-quality aluminium or carbon fibre frame
  • Advanced brakes and wheels
  • Multi-speed gears, so the bike can be used on steep hills or other challenging terrain
  • Comfortable saddle with cover
  • Stylish design with a nice colour
  • Light in weight

What to Consider Before Buying a City Bike

There are certain things every bike buyer needs to consider before they spend a considerable amount on their next ride.

Your Budget

Before you start looking at bikes, it's a good idea to determine your budget so you know what brands to look at.

If you're going to invest on a city bike, we recommend you spend a decent amount of money on it. A common mistake we always hear from customers is that they go cheap on their first bike because it's more affordable, but they end up having to spend more money down the line on repairs. So, it actually costs them more in the end.

We're not advising you to splash thousands on it; just avoid going into your purchase penny-pinching because it will cost you more in the future.

The Type of Bike

Since you're going to be riding your purchase around your local city, you have to make sure you actually buy a city bike. It's easy to get lured in by sellers to buy their "latest import for a discount price," especially when you don't have much knowledge about bikes in general.

Usually, city bikes are designed for practicality, comfort, and ease of use, so it makes them cheaper to buy than other styles like racing bikes, which have a lot more advanced features to give the rider a competitive edge.

Your Expertise With Bikes

Everyone wants to buy a new city bike for a variety of reasons; some people need it to cycle a couple of kilometres to the office, others might be really into bicycles and use it for a future project.

If you don't have much expertise with bikes and just want something convenient to get around on, there's no point in spending lots of money on your two-wheeler.

Those who have a real passion for bicycles and know the ins and outs of them will probably want to spend more, and that's perfectly fine.

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