[biker3]

I saw the 2005 specialized catalog a few days ago and saw the total sweetness of the new SX and the new Enduro. I also saw the INSANE price tag. 2800 for the demo 8 frame and 3300 for the demo9. I know there super high quality frame and I know the cost of aluminum has gone up but 500 bucks increase for the same DAMN FRAME? I hope it was a typo in the dealer manual but I dono how anyone will be able to afford 3300 for a frame. The demo8 with the fox DH fork/race kit is 4900 and the boxxer one is 3800. I dono how they justify but its pretty crazy if you ask me. Other then that the line kicks ass. If anyone wants more info on the 2005 trek, cannondale or specialized lines just ask.

 

[COmtbiker12]

I think Im gonna have to get an Enduro this year, get any looks at the pricetags on those yet jesse?

 

[The Kadvang]

Wow. My thoughts of getting a specialized just went out the window. Hell, a Foes Fly with ti curnutt is like 2500...

 

[TheMontashu]

I bet thats a typo because on the website the 05 stuff there showing is priced right.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

I just saw the Trek Fuel 110 today

And saw that there's no more Diesel

 

[Discostu]

Anyone know anything about 2005 Giant DH bikes? I was considering going demo 8 next year at first, but now.... its not happening at that pricepoint.

 

[dw]

I cant comment on the costs of the 05 Specialized line, but anyone who has their finger on the world economy for the last 10 months will tell you that material costs have skyrocketed. Building construction, anutomobile construction, and other material goods construction costs have risen sharply. Hell, oil is at an all time high price per barrel right now. Fact is, enregy costs are up and so is demand. Back calculate from there....

Sucks, but what can you do.

I'm not saing that this is the only reason that prices on bikes are going up, but it definitley is a factor for everyone.

dw

 

[azonicbruce]

I cant comment on the costs of the 05 Specialized line, but anyone who has their finger on the world economy for the last 10 months will tell you that material costs have skyrocketed. Building construction, anutomobile construction, and other material goods construction costs have risen sharply. Hell, oil is at an all time high price per barrel right now. Fact is, enregy costs are up and so is demand. Back calculate from there....

Sucks, but what can you do.

I'm not saing that this is the only reason that prices on bikes are going up, but it definitley is a factor for everyone.

dw

Yep. I know that where I work steel prices have almost quadrupled since January. What sucks is when you've sold something on contract, yet it takes 4-5 months to make, and in that time you just lost money 'cause the price of steel shot up.

Crazy stuff

 

[WheelieMan]

What really amazes me is how specialized prices (especially the demo 9) are so much more than the competition, when they are made in taiwan. I really dont think there is an excuse for that.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

What really amazes me is how specialized prices (especially the demo 9) are so much more than the competition, when they are made in taiwan. I really dont think there is an excuse for that.

 

[Jm_]

I cant comment on the costs of the 05 Specialized line, but anyone who has their finger on the world economy for the last 10 months will tell you that material costs have skyrocketed. Building construction, anutomobile construction, and other material goods construction costs have risen sharply. Hell, oil is at an all time high price per barrel right now. Fact is, enregy costs are up and so is demand. Back calculate from there....

Sucks, but what can you do.

I'm not saing that this is the only reason that prices on bikes are going up, but it definitley is a factor for everyone.

dw

Yeah, despite what some people think, the reason for much of this is that china is consuming raw materials as fast as they can be produced/mined/drilled. The demand is WAY up right now, hence the prices are WAY up.

For the guy that asked about the giant, there is a new giant comming out that should take the place of the VT, the DH bike is unchanged I believe (we are a giant dealer).

 

[Dog Welder]

Yeah, despite what some people think, the reason for much of this is that china is consuming raw materials as fast as they can be produced/mined/drilled. T
.

Cause of world war 3 ...no joke...

 

[Jm_]

Cause of world war 3 ...no joke...

actually it's the best thing that could happen, now they are economically tied to the US at the hip, we can't invade each other or we would not be able to support ourselves. Capitalism has done far more than any anti-communism waring campaign ever could.

 

[scofflaw23]

Uhh...this same discussion took place last year. The way that Specialized and many of the other big companies work is that they basically have two MSRP"s, one for preseason stuff, etc. and the actual one that bikes are priced at when they hit the sales floors. I promise you that the frames won't cost that much when they become available.

 

[Fulton]

Yep. I know that where I work steel prices have almost quadrupled since January. What sucks is when you've sold something on contract, yet it takes 4-5 months to make, and in that time you just lost money 'cause the price of steel shot up.

Crazy stuff

It's wierd that you say that, I just heard today that my buddy's family's steel company is going under for just that reason. Contracts made a year ago that they can no longer afford to honor. Sucks. Whats causing the huge price increases?

 

[roamingoregon]

Hey Discostu,

Just wait till you see what Giant has I promise people will be blown away.

 

[freeridebiker21]

the 2005 specialized bikes are way of priced! the demo 9 is complete for $5200! i just got the 2003 red bull rampage vid and i saw Kyle Strait on the demo 9 and i went straight to the specialized site to look at it and i was amazed!

 

[Discostu]

Hey Discostu,

Just wait till you see what Giant has I promise people will be blown away.

Sounds good man, how long until the '05 giant is unveiled? I can wait cause I won't be in the market until next Spring.

 

[Espen]

It's hard to understand how these prices can be that high. A Demo/ Fox combo for 52k, thats around the same as the BMW Racelink/DHFTi combo G-R is selling.

Edit: 4900
The Racelink/DHF costs 4995$

These top of the line things are made of minicompanies with no big Taiwan facilitys.

E

 

[chicodude]

It's wierd that you say that, I just heard today that my buddy's family's steel company is going under for just that reason. Contracts made a year ago that they can no longer afford to honor. Sucks. Whats causing the huge price increases?

hmmmmm, i wonder why

Yeah, despite what some people think, the reason for much of this is that china is consuming raw materials as fast as they can be produced/mined/drilled. The demand is WAY up right now, hence the prices are WAY up.

.

 

[scofflaw23]

It's hard to understand how these prices can be that high. A Demo/ Fox combo for 52k, thats around the same as the BMW Racelink/DHFTi combo G-R is selling.

$52,000?!?! That is a lot!!

 

[scofflaw23]

the 2005 specialized bikes are way of priced! the demo 9 is complete for $5200! i just got the 2003 red bull rampage vid and i saw Kyle Strait on the demo 9 and i went straight to the specialized site to look at it and i was amazed!

My engrish not bery good.

 

[binary visions]

What really amazes me is how specialized prices (especially the demo 9) are so much more than the competition, when they are made in taiwan. I really dont think there is an excuse for that.

That logic only holds up if you work under the assumption that all things coming out of Taiwan are of the same quality (i.e. not as good as something produced in the U.S.).

Wal-Mart bikes come out of Taiwan, and Wal-Mart can see a bike, complete, for $90.00. It amazes me that bike companies can charge so much more than Wal-Mart, I really don't think there's an excuse for that...

I'm not going to try and justify Specialized's pricing here - I have no idea what it costs to make their bikes. But high quality is high quality, whether it's made in the U.S., Canada, or Taiwan. Don't assume that because it's made in Asia, that it's automatically inferior to domestic products, or should cost less.

 

[MikeD]

BV, you do have to admit it's kind of odd, considering Specialized originated as a company using offshore production to make affordable bike frames cloned from the handmade US originals. Their MO/business plan has obviously changed over the years, and they are innovators in their own right, but people still expect value from Specialized compared to domestic products.

MD

 

[Jm_]

That logic only holds up if you work under the assumption that all things coming out of Taiwan are of the same quality (i.e. not as good as something produced in the U.S.).

Wal-Mart bikes come out of Taiwan, and Wal-Mart can see a bike, complete, for $90.00. It amazes me that bike companies can charge so much more than Wal-Mart, I really don't think there's an excuse for that...

I'm not going to try and justify Specialized's pricing here - I have no idea what it costs to make their bikes. But high quality is high quality, whether it's made in the U.S., Canada, or Taiwan. Don't assume that because it's made in Asia, that it's automatically inferior to domestic products, or should cost less.

Yep, specialized basically tells the factory what kind of quality they want, and based on whatever quality it is, the price will be according.

 

[biker3]

Uhh...this same discussion took place last year. The way that Specialized and many of the other big companies work is that they basically have two MSRP"s, one for preseason stuff, etc. and the actual one that bikes are priced at when they hit the sales floors. I promise you that the frames won't cost that much when they become available.

considering I looked in my shop's dealer book I really don't think the PRINTED prices are going to change much unless my manager decides to offer a lower price of the msrp which I HIGHLY doubt. Regardless of what dealers sell them for the MSRP is written as 3300 for the Demo 9 frame and 2800 for the demo8 frame. Unless spec. sends us a whole new pricelist for 2005 which i doubt that also things are gunna be out the wazzoo. Cannondale has actually kept to their prices but I just cant ride the single pivot for another year.

 

[cali4niabiker]

considering I looked in my shop's dealer book I really don't think the PRINTED prices are going to change much unless my manager decides to offer a lower price of the msrp which I HIGHLY doubt. Regardless of what dealers sell them for the MSRP is written as 3300 for the Demo 9 frame and 2800 for the demo8 frame. Unless spec. sends us a whole new pricelist for 2005 which i doubt that also things are gunna be out the wazzoo. Cannondale has actually kept to their prices but I just cant ride the single pivot for another year.

They tend to keep the prices up because of the hype surrounding the Demo8/9. If the inventories of the bike remain high, say in June/July of '05... the price will drop like a rock falling from the sky. I could see that happening if they overprice it.

-CAbiker

 

[Jm_]

Hey Discostu,

Just wait till you see what Giant has I promise people will be blown away.

the new platform is called the meistro (sp?), comes in 4, 6 and 8" travel variants. Expect the VT chassis to go away. AC or giant DH might go away too, we have to wait and see. What is known right now is that there'll be those 3 different travel chassis based on the same general design.

 

[Bicyclist]

Well these prices also depend on the dealer... at the LBS, stuff is cheaper than that.

 

[dan-o]

Wal-Mart bikes come out of Taiwan, and Wal-Mart can see a bike, complete, for $90.00. It amazes me that bike companies can charge so much more than Wal-Mart, I really don't think there's an excuse for that...

That is incorrect. Nearly all mass market bikes are produced in China and Vietnam. Taiwan can no longer compete on price for the low end product. In fact, if you pay attention you will notice that an increasing number of "nice" bikes are coming from somewhere other than Taiwan. The product quality out of China is pretty damned good these days.

 

[Cave Dweller]

the new platform is called the meistro (sp?), comes in 4, 6 and 8" travel variants. Expect the VT chassis to go away. AC or giant DH might go away too, we have to wait and see. What is known right now is that there'll be those 3 different travel chassis based on the same general design.

The giant DH bike is the same in 05, just with a sloping down tube like a VT.

 

[Rik]

the new platform is called the meistro (sp?), comes in 4, 6 and 8" travel variants. Expect the VT chassis to go away. AC or giant DH might go away too, we have to wait and see. What is known right now is that there'll be those 3 different travel chassis based on the same general design.

Hrm, interesting... I'd like to see what they come up with, because right now Giant just seem to offer alot of variants on a single pivot system. Claims that the VT linkage helps eliminate pedalbob make me laugh so damn hard

 

[binary visions]

BV, you do have to admit it's kind of odd, considering Specialized originated as a company using offshore production to make affordable bike frames cloned from the handmade US originals. Their MO/business plan has obviously changed over the years, and they are innovators in their own right, but people still expect value from Specialized compared to domestic products.

Well, I'm not specifically pointing to Specialized's pricing - I agree that their prices have gone up drastically and whether or not the quality is there to support the price, they are still no longer in the "value priced" category.

I just don't like the logic of Taiwan made = crap.

dan-o, you're absolutely right. The same thing has happened to Taiwan that happens to all countries that get a lot of outsourced manufacturing - pretty soon the workers want a dollar an hour instead of a dollar a day, manufacturing prices go up, companies move out to another country - cycle repeat. But the logic still stands. Even if you don't look at Wal-Mart bikes, there are a million unbelievably cheap bikes coming out of Taiwan.

 

[Jm_]

Hrm, interesting... I'd like to see what they come up with, because right now Giant just seem to offer alot of variants on a single pivot system. Claims that the VT linkage helps eliminate pedalbob make me laugh so damn hard

I've seen a picture of it, but I can't remember any specifics. I happened upon the AZ giant rep in flagstaff yesterday, and since we are a giant dealer, we got to talking.