Originally Posted by
treadtread
At $714, is your bike still a BSO, assuming it ever was? Mine cost me about $600 so far, I have 2006 miles on it and I don't consider it a BSO at all.
That includes every penny spent on the bike (except helmet/clothes), including lights/locks/fenders/etc... which are pushing $150 or so of that cost.
Also, I think it's important to remember that the UK has 20% sales tax and a low exchange rate now. So, that $700+ includes $150 of tax and $150 of gear (so it's around $400 or so, including nearly $100 in tires with two Gatorskins and a Schwalbe Marathon) ... so the bike is really $300 with a 1.3:1 exchange rate on around a $250 bike (originally £299 with £60 of that being tax).
This exercise has really been for a few reasons:
1. The bike is cheap and has worked well. An expensive bike isn't needed really.
2. The consumable and gear cost A LOT. Lights and locks aren't cheap. Good tyres are very expensive but should last for ever.
3. I'm curious how the bike will die ... I assume theft or maybe accident.
4. I think bikecommuting is more expensive than people think (but also more pleasurable.)