Signs that you're looking at a BSO

bails87

I suppose to help new people and provide a quick way of telling if something is a 'real' mountain bike or not, what signs are there that something is a BSO?

Not being snobbish, (there's a difference between a Carrera Vulcan and a full sus BSO costing the same amount) but I mean things like plastic crank arms, or the trouser guard on the chainset. I don't remember seeing a half decent (regardless of price) MTB with either, but most BSOs will.

So, what else?

BorisSpencer

7 speed.

MacAndCheese

Suspension forks, but with the old-fashioned quill stem headset.

Mancunianfightingcat

unified rear triangles

disc brakes on the rear and V's up front

quill stems

hubs held in place by massive nuts

side stands

seat posts clamped by a nut

Rindle

Semi horizontal rear dropouts with a seperate mech hanger.

jrduquemin

Front forks on backwards :-)

cat_with_no_tail

The fact it's for sale at JJB sports
The fact it's made by Reebok

Kiblams

Shimano branded mechs/shifters with no model name on them (e.g. Alivio/Deore/Deore XT etc.)

Threaded headsets are another obvious indication.

weescott

Buying it from a supermarket next to the frozen pea section.

Double clamp forks
Hi Tensile steel frame

bails87

weescott wrote:

Buying it from a supermarket next to the frozen pee section.

Where the hell do you shop?!

schweiz

weescott wrote:

Buying it from a supermarket next to the frozen pee section.

Double clamp forks
Hi Tensile steel frame

you can buy frozen pee in supermarkets? :shock: :shock:

Herbie The Dog

It's got Trek/Specialized/Giant written on it.*

*For those with no sense of humour: THIS IS A JOKE.

weescott

Do'h! I fullly deserve to get the pea taken out of me for that spelling mistake. lol

Ginjafro

Massive padded seats that look like stuffed turkeys!

mudsucker

Y shape frame and looking like it is made of cast iron

BenS999

Heals on pedals, toes pointing outwards.
Chain line at about 30 degree's, using lowest gear out back and big ring up front

Ginjafro

Any two wheeled object seen outside a "cash converter/pawnbroker" type shop.

t0pc4t

what is a BSO?

stampedingturtle

When the bike contains more iron work than the forth rail bridge.

cat_with_no_tail

t0pc4t wrote:

what is a BSO?

Bike Shaped Object

Term used to describe the horrible tat put out by supermarkets and chain stores pretending to be bikes. Usually seen with all the characteristics described above.

t0pc4t

ah right, thought something like that

I don't think this is a snobby question at all, indeed when looking at my extremely competitive brother's bike the other day the first thing I said was 'how much do you owe the catalogue on that?'

mind you it was a specialized

Anonymous

BorisSpencer wrote:

7 speed.

7 speed? PAH! i built a BSO this weekend with a 6-speed cassette.

Which reminds me, I have a few crap pictures of it.

Mrs Toast

It's so heavy it can double as an anchor for an aircraft carrier.

jrduquemin

Herbie The Dog wrote:

It's got Trek/Specialized/Giant written on it.*

*For those with no sense of humour: THIS IS A JOKE.

Sir, I must protest. Surely it should be Giant, Specialized, Trek :-)

edhornby

steel rims

Anonymous

a description in the following style:

17 gears for efficient fun cycling

steel front suspension fork for strength

double suspension for the taming of mountain trails

paint for looking at.

and so on and so forth.

Anonymous

17 gears

MacAndCheese

sheepsteeth wrote:

a description in the following style:

17 gears for efficient fun cycling

steel front suspension fork for strength

double suspension for the taming of mountain trails

paint for looking at.

and so on and so forth.

My favourite was "pedals with bearings"

also, unrelated;

I'll tame your mountain in a minute.

Anonymous

MacAndCheese wrote:

sheepsteeth wrote:

a description in the following style:

17 gears for efficient fun cycling

steel front suspension fork for strength

double suspension for the taming of mountain trails

paint for looking at.

and so on and so forth.

My favourite was "pedals with bearings"

also, unrelated;

I'll tame your mountain in a minute.

you havent got a mountain taming in you

The Northern Monkey

there's lots in London that are tied to Borris Johnsons wallet... give him £45 a year and you can use one!

stumpyjon

This


Anything branded as being made by a car manufacturer e.g.

Jeep
Lambourghini
Land Rover

Anything described as a 'Gents Mountain Bike'.

or this


anything with gaiters on the forks.

Anything full suss for less than £ 500.

or this



anything called an 'Afterburn', 'Tornado' or 'Altitude'.