Are top of the line bikes going way out of price?
- Thread starter Chunky Munkey
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binary visions said:No, I don't agree.
You are buying at the absolute bleeding edge of the sport. This is very unlike, say, motocross bikes. With motocross bikes, the bike a pro is riding is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in development and showcases technology that simply cannot be bought for any amount of money.
For $5k, you can ride the exact same bike Sam Hill rode to a world cup championship. For a (relatively) affordable price, you can buy everything that Ned Overend had on his uber light XC bike. For a few hundred dollars you can buy the bleeding edge in crank technology from Shimano. These things are simply not available in many other sports.
The fact is, for $250 you can have an extremely capable, durable hardtail from your LBS. Just because you're looking to spend at the top 10-15% doesn't mean they're overpriced
Except you can't buy the wheels Ned has on his bike right now because I won't sell them to you 
neaky: Economies of scale and cutting edge products have the biggest impact.
Those two bikes are different, but I'll bet you a nickle the 2004 stinky and 2005 stinky are almost identical. I'll bet you another nickle that the Jeep GCs from 1996-2006 anre not 10 completley different cars, in fact I would be suprised if anything on the Chassis has changed at all.cadmus said:
golgiaparatus said:Especially when a friggin rear der can go for $200... WTF is that!
i am amazed at the amount of people who run the SRAM X.0 derailleur.
narlus said:
i am amazed at the amount of people who run the SRAM X.0 derailleur.
I run a SRAM 9.0 I got from www.chucksbikes.com for $20.00 brandy new........sure it is probably about 8 years old, but it works for my riding level (which is average at best).
that is true but i think that the sport is changing so fast that if you get behind in frame design or anything else. whilst your competitors surge ahead you'd be behind for that year and years to come granted kona has had their general frame design for many years but they change it yearly with new pivot points even specialized's fsr for the enduro is quite different for 2007. but the technology changes so quickly in this sport, (vpp, fsr platform shocks disc brakes) i mean a downhill bike in year 2000 is practically obsolete, compared to a year 2000 car. i bet it would seem like a new car to half of us. its kinda like manitou and fox. propedal blew spv out of the water and now manitou seems to be behind in market share.cadmus said:
oh and yeah i was wondering this too how much does a tubeset cost for a bike i mean sx frame only is 1700 does anyone have info on markup and much it cost to assemble a frame, paint and ship.
i dont feel like im being ripped off and that when you drop 2-4 grand on bike you get what you pay for. i have been quite pleased with my high end bike
Besides someone has to buy the newest top of the line bikes that fuel the used bike market.
Thats how I got my SGS. As I'm new to the whole bike scene I was talked out of buying a higher end bike as it would be WAY beyond my skill level. As I gat better I may upgrade bikes, not just change for changes sake, but to get more enjoyment as I (hopefully) become a better riderN8 said:
Although yes, I do agree with you on this and yes the sport is too expensive and the little guy just can't afford it.Chunky Munkey said:
But from another point of view:
Buy a $6,000 mountain bike and you could compete with the pros assuming you have the skills.
Buy a $6,000 dirtbike and you have not a chance on the pros or even many of the ameratures.
To compete on a pro level of motocross you should ideally have a $60,000- $120,000 bike. The front suspension alone should be worth about $10,000 or more... this is why unless you are a full facotry rider, it is almost impossible to win the main.
so the main triangle changed a tiny bit and the rocker arm grew some speed holes. no, i doubt that that much engineering know-how went into the change or the testing. hardly the same as comparing successive generations of jeeps or the like.cadmus said:
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