Mama-chari help!!! T_T

[Tokyo_gal]

Hello, I want to buy a Mamachari that I can use to bike to school. Nothing too expensive maybe 20,000yen or maybe 30,000yen.
I'm absolutely clueless on bike brands and where I can buy them, what I should be looking for, etc. Any experienced mama-chari ers out there? Brands I think would be most helpful, and different "things" I should be looking for for the bike.... thank you!

[cucashopboy]

Hello, I want to buy a Mamachari that I can use to bike to school. Nothing too expensive maybe 20,000yen or maybe 30,000yen.
I'm absolutely clueless on bike brands and where I can buy them, what I should be looking for, etc. Any experienced mama-chari ers out there? Brands I think would be most helpful, and different "things" I should be looking for for the bike.... thank you!

Are you a mama or thinking about becoming one? Then you'll need to make sure that it can be fitted with child seats (on the front for children up to about 14kg and on the back for larger children). I paid 29,000 for mine, and the child seats were about 5-6000 each.
Otherwise, you'll be able to get a very good one for 20,000-30,000 yen. My wife bought a (child-seat free) mama-chari for about 8000 yen about 9 years ago and it's still going.
Do get it from a small local bikeshop. My experience is that such places treat you like royalty afterwards if you buy a bike from them.
I am not familar with brands but an integral dynamo so that the light automatically comes on when it's dark is a nice feature on mine. Go for three gears if you have children and/or live in a relatively hilly part of town.

[Deathblob]

You should be able to get one for Y7000 from a Home Center shop (Homac/Sanwado up here in Hokkaido). I just replaced mine last year, I'd ridden the previous one for about 7 years. The only thing you need to worry yourself about in regard to child seats is that you need a 'center' type kickstand, not side.

[Hijinx]

http://www.aeonretail.jp/campaign/cycle/index.html

[hennagaijin]

Have you ridden one?
If not, I suggest you try it before you buy one.
The MC is the worst bike I have ever ridden.
Just something wrong with that design.

If you don't have kids and don't particularly want a mama-chari... I would buy a real bike..
my friend has a mountain bike with 10 gears and it is an absolute pleasure after the instability and ridiculousness of the MC.

[NorthByNorthwest]

I agree with the other posters; unless you have a young child whom you're intending to ride along in a child seat, then a mama chari is an over-priced under-performing option. For the budget you indicated, you could get yourself a decent mountain bike or hybrid. Throw in some fenders so that the water does not splash up on your front and back - and you've got yourself something that's a lot more useful, faster, safer and able to handle hills and slopes a lot better.

[Hijinx]

Didn't they intentionally design the MC to be slow? Something to do with being safe to ride on sidewalks with pedestrians.

[hml]

Didn't they intentionally design the MC to be slow? Something to do with being safe to ride on sidewalks with pedestrians.

Possibly. Shorter pedal shafts would make it slower (and harder to pedal) Gear ratio, etc.

[~Murasaki~]

I bought mine at don quiote. It's pretty cute and comfortable. Yeah it's goes slow but it made pretty well and gets the job done.

10,000-20,000 is good deal for some nice quality.

If your are going to spend more than 30,000, I would get a road bike or mountain bike.

[NorthByNorthwest]

I've noticed these Cycle Spot stores all around Tokyo: http://www.cyclespot.net/shops

I don't know if they offer the best deals, but just looking at their online selection, I could spot two models that were below or around Y30,000:

A mountain bike for Y31,920: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000221/ (Aluminium frame etc)

A "Chevy brand" aluminium "cross" bike for Y26,980: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000170/

A 7-speed aluminium "cross" bike for Y33,980. http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000244/

This "vitamin" bike has a heavier steel frame but a lot cheaper at around Y19000: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000185/ lots more examples like it especially within the mama-chari category.

[Plats]

Hello, I want to buy a Mamachari that I can use to bike to school. Nothing too expensive maybe 20,000yen or maybe 30,000yen.
I'm absolutely clueless on bike brands and where I can buy them, what I should be looking for, etc. Any experienced mama-chari ers out there? Brands I think would be most helpful, and different "things" I should be looking for for the bike.... thank you!

The most important thing is distance and slope. For short distances mama-charis are the best. Mountain bikes are for mountains, IMO.

[Tokyo_gal]

I've noticed these Cycle Spot stores all around Tokyo: http://www.cyclespot.net/shops

I don't know if they offer the best deals, but just looking at their online selection, I could spot two models that were below or around Y30,000:

A mountain bike for Y31,920: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000221/ (Aluminium frame etc)

A "Chevy brand" aluminium "cross" bike for Y26,980: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000170/

A 7-speed aluminium "cross" bike for Y33,980. http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000244/

This "vitamin" bike has a heavier steel frame but a lot cheaper at around Y19000: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cyclemarket/10000185/ lots more examples like it especially within the mama-chari category.

wow thanks for the help!! Something like this is perfect so I can actually see what's good, etc...
Btw, is it weird for an ALT for an elementary school to ride to school with a mountain bike? hahaha~~~~ All the other teachers have Mamacharis.
Btw, I have no kids, so I really dont need the seat or anything.... Thought the basket was cute/handy though.

[Tokyo_gal]

Oh btw... are Vitamin bikes any good (besides the heaviness of the frame)? I think I like the Chevy the best so far.... is that a good bike?

Any link suggestions on mama-charis?
Thanks a bunch everyone, I really appreciate ur help!

[themoonrules]

Go to your local bicycle shop in your neighborhood if there is one, also there are many many used bicycle (中古自転車 chuuko jitesha / "second hand bicycle") shops out there as well, you can pick up a used mamacheri in good condition for 5000yen or less (I got one for 4000 yen once). You can go in, many have them on display outside the shop during store hours, so you can ask to sit on one and see how it feels etc.