After sizing up specialized's prices.....MOTOBECANE it is!

[Christophe Noel]

There's a bit more to it than just inflation. An exotic sports car in 1985 might have cost $100,000 compared to today's million dollar machines. The discussion of hyper-bike pricing is its own rabbit hole. However, the "sweet spot" of bike pricing hasn't evolved that much relative to inflation.

 

[kojackJKU]

There's a bit more to it than just inflation. An exotic sports car in 1985 might have cost $100,000 compared to today's million dollar machines. The discussion of hyper-bike pricing is its own rabbit hole. However, the "sweet spot" of bike pricing hasn't evolved that much relative to inflation.

Well, I figured out rocky mountians website....prices are much better now that I know that they post the most expensive models and the cheaper versions are hidden!

 

[p nut]

If I were on a budget looking to get quality bikes, makes sense to look on craigslist, pinkbike, eBay, mtbr, etc. there are some bargains on NICE bikes with low miles to be had. Especially off season (meaning you can probably get some good deals on fat bikes now). Look for Salsa, Surly, Spec, Trek, etc fat bikes. You can easily get one for around $1k. A friend of mine picked up a Mukluk with a Bluto last year around this time for $1k.
-
Same with other bikes. Caveat is you better know what you're looking at. There is obviously inherent risks with buying used. But again, you can get some stellar deals.
-
For the record, I could never buy a bikes direct. They Certainly have good deals. But seems either they have the most horrible geometry or ones with decent geo is a direct copy of some other company. No R&D going on there. Not going to support that.

 

[Co-opski]

If I were on a budget looking to get quality bikes, makes sense to look on craigslist, pinkbike, eBay, mtbr, etc. there are some bargains on NICE bikes with low miles to be had. Especially off season (meaning you can probably get some good deals on fat bikes now). Look for Salsa, Surly, Spec, Trek, etc fat bikes. You can easily get one for around $1k. A friend of mine picked up a Mukluk with a Bluto last year around this time for $1k.
-
Same with other bikes. Caveat is you better know what you're looking at. There is obviously inherent risks with buying used. But again, you can get some stellar deals.
-
For the record, I could never buy a bikes direct. They Certainly have good deals. But seems either they have the most horrible geometry or ones with decent geo is a direct copy of some other company. No R&D going on there. Not going to support that.

Rodger that, I'm looking at selling my Ritchey Commando fat bike that I just built up with all new parts except for the Paul/Hadley wheelset and Nate tires are used. I'll be lucky if I can get $1200 for it.

 

[p nut]

Rodger that, I'm looking at selling my Ritchey Commando fat bike that I just built up with all new parts except for the Paul/Hadley wheelset and Nate tires are used. I'll be lucky if I can get $1200 for it.

Didn't you just build that up? Why the sale? How's it compare to your Fatback?

 

[Co-opski]

Didn't you just build that up? Why the sale? How's it compare to your Fatback?

Yep, It was going to be my loaner bike for visitors coming to see me in Alaska. Year round bikepacking bike. Family stuff coming up, is forcing the sale. Taking time off to be with my mom as she is dealing with my stepdads cancer, helping with their businesses and stuff. My Koga Miyata Traveler and 22 foot cedar kayak are also for sale. All those things can get replaced but family and experiences cannot.

So far the ride report on the Ritchey is a very stable yet flexy steel ride in all the right places. It kind of rides like the Surly ECR in a more 4 inch fat bike way than the 29+ platform. Unlike the Soma Sandworm that I had last year that bike felt quick and playful like a fat bike Surly Karate Monkey. I don't know what it is about these steel fat bikes but I would really like to get some saddle time in on an Advocate Watchman. The old Lauffed Ti Fatback is sticking around as my summer bikepacker, beach cruiser, single track rider, and full winter trekker. It is hard to describe the ride of that bike but the best I can do is similar to a lauffed Blackborrow. Next season I hope to try the Wrathchilds on it to tractor through the deep loose snow.

 

[kojackJKU]

What do you think of this bike guys? the local store can get one for a good deal for me.....

http://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/mountain/trail/reveal/reveal-27-5-1-1

 

[givemethewillys]

I think you'd be very happy with that fuji. Deore components seem to be the happy place for budget vs. Quality. Obviously you could upgrade as parts wear out, but deore seem to last a long time.

As far as motobecane bikes are concerned, I bought a mirage pro a few years back ("triathalon" bike ) and wasn't really happy with it at all. It was basically a road bike with clamp on aero bars, and as others said, only some of the components were really name brand. The hubs, for instance, retailed for 15 bucks when I looked them up. Tires were slippery out of the box, rims were Alex bottom tier. The geometry was just weird for me, and I could never get comfortable on it.

 

[kojackJKU]

Yeah, I have been doing more research, and I am going to spend the extra money on specialized bikes. The Fuji is nice, BUUUTTT the Epic is nicer'er. Almost like computers....yep my dell is nice....and works, but damn, am I not getting ready to order 2 new macbooks, ipad pros, and apple watches for me and da missus!

 

[Christophe Noel]

I know a lot of people are brand loyalists, but the reality is, as long as you're buying a bike offered by any of the core industry brands, you'll get a fine bike for your money. There's nothing about a Specialized that is any better/worse than a Trek, Salsa, Cannondale, Scott, Rocky Mt, etc. People will develop personal preferences, and might be able to pick out nuances they like with one brand over the next, but anyone who thinks there is a wide variance in better/worse from brand to brand is kidding themselves. The only caveat to that is with the second tier brands which includes Diamond Back, Haro, and I would slip Fuji in there as well. Again, not to say they are bad bikes, but the goal in that category is to simply hit lower price points.

I certainly have brands I like and respect, but I'm not fooling myself into thinking there are dozens of bikes I'd be more than happy to swing a leg over.

 

[kojackJKU]

I have ridden many other bikes, including cannondales, RM, Giant, Marin, and others....there is "something" about my specialized frame that is "IT". THe other bikes are KICK *** too. Just the specialized SPEAKS to me. I get on it and it's "HOME"....it's geometry is sweet. Dunno...maybe it's me, but I don't think so...I have tried many other bikes trying to replace it, and none, I mean none, regardless of price point can "feel" like that bike. I have ridden Full suspension Specializeds too from the late 90s and they have "IT" too. When I was racing, I was trying everything out there that my local store had and just could not buy anything else. I put XTR gear on mine, wore it out...and swapped to lower end stuff just to get riding again. I am now looking for a FULL XTR grouppo for it. Crank, F/R derailliuers, 8 sp cassette, I already have the brakes and shifter/brake combos on there. and I am going to get the XTR hubs laced to a new set of mavic hoops. Bring it back to its former glory again. It's good now, but with that stuff it will be what it was when I was riding hard....ALOT....

 

[zimm]

What do you think of this bike guys? the local store can get one for a good deal for me.....

http://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/mountain/trail/reveal/reveal-27-5-1-1

looks like a replica of a 20yo santa cruze single pivot.

if youre going full suspension, put your cash into a modern design over parts kit.

or, if you're a medium, i'd be on CR, looking at older litespeeds or something.

 

[DaveInDenver]

looks like a replica of a 20yo santa cruze single pivot.

if youre going full suspension, put your cash into a modern design over parts kit.

or, if you're a medium, i'd be on CR, looking at older litespeeds or something.

It's probably not a direct clone, the pivot looks to be placed more forward and higher than the Superlight. You could do worse than an old Santa Cruz single pivot, but yeah, things have continued to develop in the years after that.

 

[kojackJKU]

No worries, I'm going with a specialized epic soon enough.

 

[Flocker]

I bought a Motobecane Fantom Cross bike from BikesDirect about six years ago. I think i paid $400. It has been one of single the best equipment purchases that i've made in years. The bike has been tough as nails, easy to service, fun to ride and has stood up to more abuse than i ever expected. I used it like a mountain bike last winter, expecting it to break, and the bike is as good as ever.

I don't know what it is about bike shop people, but in my experience, 50% are great, and 50% are total snobs. One guy called my motobecane bike "garbage" when i went in to buy fatter tires for it. I laughed, knowing how much fun i've had on that bike.