Help! A Newbie Needs Advice on the Best Klunker

OK—so we’re here to help each other, right? Otherwise, what’s the point?

A reader—we’ll call him “M“—reached out to me asking for some advice on buying his first Klunker. I gave him some options, which I’ll detail below, but…

…I thought—why not throw it out to this community and crowdsource the best options to start him on his journey of Klunkerdom?

Here’s M’s query:

I wanted some advice. I am looking at the Haro Klunkerson. [I am a] 40-year-old dad of three looking to get something to ride around with my kids. This seems to be the perfect thing.

But after reading your review, I noticed we are on opposite ends height-wise. You’re at the top end of the ride height. 

I am at the lower end (5’6″).

I am trying to see if the bike will be too big for me—no way for me to find it locally to try it out. Any ideas? —M

So my first thought was that the Klunkerson, with its low-rise bars, would still fit. After all, I swapped out the bars to better fit me (and for looks).

But I also suggested a State Bicycle Co. Klunker, simply because the lower price point will free up more cash for modifications…

And I also suggested the new Surly Lowside, as its five frame sizes will surely fit the bill—at a cost.

Finally, I thought some of the Big Wheel BMX offerings from Haro and SE could work too.

But a group always out-thinks an individual. That’s a fact.

So what do you folks think would be the best Klunker for a new rider who wants to bomb around with his kids—and is 5’6″?

Comment below! I’ll make sure to approve them as quickly as I can. (If it weren’t for this darn spammers, I’d open comments up completely.)

And if you’re finding this at a later date—still toss up your recommendations! Someone else with the same questions will appreciate it.

Thanks team!

—Klunky D