Originally Posted by
smd4
A top-of-the-line Kestrel 4000 with full Dura Ace sold for $2,700 in 1989. Adjusting for inflation, that would be $6,757.10 today.
For the Kestrel with Campy C-Record, the price today would only be $7,507.00.
And the Kestrel came with pedals...
A Specialized Tacoma SL8 with Dura Ace Di2 sells today for $14,000.00. A Pinarello with Campy Super Record is $17,250.00. Pedals extra.
I don't know enough about modern bikes to even know if these models are the top of the line. Are they? Or are the top of the line models even more? Are you really getting $10,000.00 worth of "better performance?"
Have bike prices gone up? Sure seems like it to me.
You're paying for cutting edge technology and yes it is expensive but compare that to a similar wrist watch...no comparison...sports car...no comparison...boat...same...snowmobile...atv...etc etc etc
If you want top of the line stuff you pay through the nose.
But you can buy a nice Timex, Honda, Toyota, etc etc etc and get something very nice for a much more reasonable price.
It doesn't work imo to compare prices from 40 years ago to today...it just doesn't make sense.
You can buy a very good quality bike at a reasonable price and you don't even have to work hard to do it...