Or lie like a rug.

She bought me a bike and it's a piece of crap.

Depends on who "she" is.

Anything can be communicated in a positive way, or in a negative way.

If you can only do it caustically, callously, angrily, or in an otherwise offensive way, then I would say don't. If you can instead talk to her about why she made the choice, and work with her to improve her chances of doing better in the future, you might make the best of things.

It's a gift?

the kind ya peddle or the kind that takes gas?

IMO be truthful.
But approach it with the mindset that you can use it as an opportunity to teach her how to spot or shop for a bike that isn't a piece of crap.
Make it an activity you do together from now on.

That's the only thing I've seen work, personally.

I knew someone that built and raced cars on the weekend.
He got married.
His wife wanted to be part of his hobby so she bought some old car off craigslist as a surprise to go with him to his next meet.
It was a piece of crap.
He didn't want to make her cry or make her feel stupid so he worked with her to try and salvage it, pointing out things like frame damage and why it's important, but they ended up junking it, and then they worked together in building her own car, and now she loves racing too.


Just telling her it's a piece of crap is just communicating there's a problem and you're holding her responsible.
Lying to her is going to cause problems when she notices you never use it, or if you try to do a brady bunch and destroy it she'll buy you another new piece of crap.

The fact she bought you a bike may be her trying to tell you that she wants to know more about that side of you or connect with that part of you.
I don't know how important bikes are to you.
I have no idea if you're talking about motorcycles or bicycles.

Either way, it's better to focus on what's next for you both rather than what happened or apportioning blame for what happened.

Wondering "how do I tell her? How do I avoid making her feel bad? How do I avoid getting nagged or judged bad for being honest?"
That's all rearward thinking.

Isn't it the thought that counts.

I'm thinking that maybe you could thank her profusely , but don't use the bike.

Chances are she will ask you why you aren't using it and then it would be appropriate for you to tell her that you appreciate her so much for thinking of you but that you have different tastes in bikes to her.

Hopefully she will ask what is your taste and you can either explain it to her or take her to a bike outlet to show her

Tell her it's the bestest gift ever....and then three days later return it to Wal Mart.

I practice "don't ask, don't tell"

If you don't ask, I won't tell

I would fib alittle...I would say that a friend of mines kid had their bike stolen and if it was cool with her to give it away...

Lie like a rug. Say, It makes my butt hurt, and then trade it in on what you really wanted. Add that you have an oddly sensitive butt and/or that your best friend's mother was killed on a bike just like this one.

Then cry a little in a manly way.

Some people are just good with lying, they would let you buy their beautiful package of words only to find out it's all a crap, nothing but lies. They would try to make you believe, and human nature, we always want to hear good words to make us feel better but later when we find out the truth, everything is blown to pieces like a bomb that explodes. Telling lies always ruin a relationship, telling the truth ties up a relationship more stronger.

Now I had to tell her the truth.
It took forever. And I'm not sure she got it.

A while back I bought this rusted Mongoose Californian, Parted it out and made $550. Then I bought this road bike that was custom made at goodwill and did the same.

So what she come back with a Ross 3 speed with road bike handlebars.

I told her I know you were trying to help.

I asked God for a bike, I know he don't work like that. so I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness...

Speaking the truth is always the best answer.

Remember it not what you say it's how you say it

There you go, perfect. You made it clear that you appreciated her effort, and gave her a little education into why one pile of rust has value, and another does not. A little bit of mild embarrassment for her now, instead of letting it fester and get worse, or establish the beginning of a pattern of "lying to each other for the sake of love."

Careful honesty is always the best choice, I think.