one4smoke

As I consider buying a new bike, I find myself in a dilemma...

Knowing the type of bike I want, and all the components that I "must" have, I have found myself thinking...Well, for just a bit more I can have this... and for only another $$$ I can get this... But if I just double that, I can have the ultimate bike of my dreams!

Where do YOU draw the line?

luevelvet

There aren’t too many differences when you reach the 2-5k range. Almost anything above that you’ll be paying for marketing and the name badge.

Decide what you want for components and go and test ride a bunch of bikes. Don’t let the price rage dictate how “nice” it feels. Ride them and be honest. Does that one really feel better just because it’s red and not black? You can buy a perfectly good road bike for 2-3K or even less if you’re forgiving on the components etc.

Teamprovicycle

If you want a modern top of the line bike like a marine 9 slr it's gonna cost a lot , or a venge disc . If you have the will and cash you will be on one hell of a bike . I like to stay well under 2000 usd for now without bling wheels . It's really down to what you want , but you can always find a cheaper road to get the same result .

sdmc530

As much as my wife will let me!!


Around 2500 for a complete set up is my max.

bruce19

Before yesterday, I would have said around $5K. Yesterday I bought a Cannondale CAAD 12 for $1400. It has Mavic Aksiums and complete 105. It is totally amazing. The only thing I'd add would be a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite USTs and if possible I'd love Campy gruppo. But, I could happily live with this bike just as it is.

indyfabz

It depends.

Kedosto

There's no limit to what I'm willing to spend to get what I want, but what I want isn't much. I'm just not worthy of anything too fancy, lightweight, or high tech. Seriously. As a life long Clyde I have no reason to spend any amount of money to save a few grams. I'm not fast either, so spending any money for the purpose of trying to ride faster is a waste. I don't want the burden that comes with anything too glossy, shiny, or pretty. And, I don't care about trying to impress anyone with the latest and greatest tech gadgetry so I have no need for virtually all of the electronics. I will, however, spend generously for quality, durability, and comfort.

As a motorcyclist it's hard for me to look at an expensive bicycle and not think about it in motorcycle terms. $3-5K can buy a decent used sport bike. $6-8K brings the premium used motorcycles and above that opens up the market to motorcycles with capabilities I can't even appreciate. So, what's a slug like me gonna do with a $8K bicycle? Answer: Waste $6K dollars, easy.

I've got about $2K into one of my most expensive bikes, but I've built up a whole bunch of bikes over the years in the $1K+ range. My current 5 bike stable combines to about $5K max and that's based on a retail perspective. The simple truth is that I'm not that great of a cyclist to appreciate the high dollar bikes so I don't blow my money trying to be anything other than an old, slow Clyde. I have a lot of fun buying and selling, tinkering and building, but it all happens at the middle (and lower) end of the market.


-Kedosto

Clyde1820

I've done a touch over $600, for a previously-owned unit.

Though, I should say that I've got my eye on a ~$3K new unit made-to-spec. Haven't been able to convince myself the difference would be such that I'd never go back.

blakcloud

My latest bike is going to be about $10,000. It is a custom bike that is made of steel, hand carved lugs, and will have top of the line components. Of course I am an outlier on the amount of money most people spend on their bikes here on Bike Forums. I have been waiting over 18 months for it to be built so I am itching to have it completed.

My friend has 4 custom bikes at about $10,000 each. He obviously makes way more money than I do and feels that custom is the only way to go. My two other bikes Rivendell and Brompton are production bikes and are cheaper than custom.

wipekitty

Surprisingly, I've never spent more than $750. That said, I've managed to get deals on used road bikes (as well as a new gravel bike), all from lesser known but reliable brands. I've probably put close to $1K in upgrades in my road bike, though, so there's that.

It's a tough question. I had myself convinced that maybe I should splurge on a new road bike for my 40th birthday, but do not think I can justify going above $3K (I don't make a ton of money, or race, and I have other hobbies.) In that range, I can get a drivetrain I'll be happy with, but the wheels will probably need to go (as will the saddle and probably tires, as usual.) It's tempting to go with NOS and build or upgrade myself and get something a bit nicer for the money.

88Tempo

I paid about a grand for my Surly LHT and it's the only bike I've bought new. I spent quite a bit building an Ogre frame set up with Deore XT but I don't know what the final tab was.

I'm like the other clyde above big and slow so not much point in spending a ton of money on th latest and greatest Once I sell the LHT all my bikes will have been bought used.

Doctor Morbius

Hard to say. I have a 2004 Raleigh Supercourse fitted with mostly 105 and have been having a blast on it lately. It has just under 815 actual miles on it even though I'm the original owner (bought it on clearance on ebay for $650 shipped back when the 2005 models came out).

I don't know what the bike is worth today, but Raleighs from that era don't hold their value at all. All I had to do to get the bike to "fit" was buy a 30 degree 80mm stem and now it's one of my favorite bikes to ride, whereas before it had sat in the garage for over a decade because I felt like I had to reach too far out to ride it.

I guess my point is, I'm not sure spending scads and scads of money would guarantee that I have "more" fun or get "better" exercise than that '04 Supercourse. Some new tires might help, but that was a time when 700x23 tires were the de-facto standard road tire. 700x25 BARELY fits the front fork. 700x26 does not fit.

AlmostTrick

The most I've spent for a bike is about a thousand. I don't see myself ever going much over that, even though I most easily could. Spending more just doesn't seem worth it to me. My wife and I are both quite frugal, and it's paid off handsomely. Debt free, well prepared for retirement and we don't have any need for a budget.

canklecat

Around $200. In my area there are too many good old pound puppies waiting to be adopted to spend much more. I can't justify spending much more. They're just tools for fun and fitness and I'm not strong enough to see a significant difference in performance.

The only problem with that price point is I see something I want every time I browse the used ads. So many bikes that need only a little TLC.

honcho

I've spent the most money on two tandems purchased 16 years apart. $950 in 1997 ($1500 in inflated 2018 dollars) which was a low-end "quality" tandem at the time and $6000 in 2013 ($6600 in 2018 dollars). Both tandems have provided lots of enjoyment though I'm a bit embarrassed to tell people how much the newer bike cost because I don't want people to think cycling is an expensive activity even though many people blanch at the thought of spending more than a couple of hundred dollars on a bicycle. Folks routinely spend more (sometimes much more) money on branded clothes, sneakers, cell phones, dining out and all sorts of things that aren't that important to me. However, I'd probably be very reluctant to spend much more than $6-7k USD for a tandem and probably no more than $2k for a single.

one4smoke

In all honesty, I'm not worthy either. I'm almost 57, not in the greatest shape, and have a top speed average of about 17 mph at best. I ride when I can, getting in anywhere from 20 to 60 miles on an average ride. I don't even dress the part of most cyclists, preferring mountain bike type shorts and loose jersey over a kit. But, you know what? I enjoy the heck out of riding, and enjoy keeping up with most of the technical advances in equipment right now. Not that the weight aspect of a high dollar bike would do me any good as well, it wouldn't, but I like what I like.


I'd probably look ridiculous as heck on the bike I would really like to have, but I'd be one happy ridiculous looking old man riding it. Well, until I noticed the chunk out of my savings account that is.

Witterings

Most I've spent is £1500 which gave me what I think is a good spec bike in terms of gears, brakes and weight, after that the return diminishes and as I'm not racing would struggle to justify the extra although could possibly have been tempted if they did a carbon version for another £500 but would probably max out at that level.

Machka 

This!

wolfchild

The most that I am willing to spend on a bike is about $ 1600 dollars, that's my limit. I just need something that's basic and simple and I am not interested is paying extra for boutique components and fancy groupsets/

Jim from Boston

What's the most you'll spend on a bike?I have posted similarly:My own personal experience:PS:

PGHNeil

I think it depends on your level of commitment. For me, I'd say the $1K to $2K range (buying used, of course) is realistic - provided it doesn't spend most of its time hanging in the back of the garage. I think for somebody who rides religiously as part of their fitness regiment should be justified in spending at least $2K. If you commute (and forego an automobile) then the sky's the limit as far as I'm concerned. For someone like me who needs to be motivated I'm content with riding an $800 bike.

All things are relative and open to negotiation in life though so *my* realistic may not be to others close to me. My wife for instance got to set the limit when she offered to buy me a bike last year for my birthday, which was $500. I thought I was being reasonable by keeping it under $1000 but she still balked at first. I justified it as a "step up" from my $600 (in 2002 dollars) bicycle.

That being said, I try to "educate" her on what's reasonable. It's a constant struggle. I'd talked her into spending just over $500 on a bicycle, (which as I previously alluded to she thought was a lot) but in the end she was happy that she did even if she barely rides it. Jogging and fitness classes are her primary forms of exercise and she's already justified the cost of $200 shoes because of comfort issues. I'm trying to get her to ride with me (her chosen form of exercise is starting to take its toll on her joints) and would support her spending over $1000 on her next bike when she realizes that the $500 hybrid is holding her back. She's already looking at gear and I'm going to buy her a set of clipless pedals and shoes either for mother's day or her birthday. I'll try not to spend more than what she spent for the bike lol!

TakingMyTime

Although some of the above responses have been a bit illusive and would either like more clarification or depend on certain parameters... I can tell you that at this point in time the bikes that fit my need and satisfy my riding ability fall in around $3500. That would probably be my top dollar out the door limit. I have also seen configurations in the $2500 range that could probably be my "last bike" I would ever purchase.

Hiro11

I spent $5,600 on my last road bike. This is a bike I plan on riding a lot, a workhorse. For a dream road bike, I'd probably be willing to go with custom Ti, Di2 and nice carbon everything, probably $12k-$15k. However, that's a complete "want" rather than "need" scenario. I'd do that for the experience. I see people commuting in stop and go traffic in 911 GT3s, I know people who blow $20K / year at Disney, my friend's wife wears $2,000 shoes to her job as an assistant in a public school. I figure ridiculously overspending on a bike is far from the worst way to blow money.

Also, to those above saying there's no difference between a $2,500 bike and a $5,000 bike... I beg to differ.

base2 

$8000 all in, after tax.

Custom paint, custom geometry with clearance for 2 inch mtn bike tires, super extended wheel base & sized for my particular proportions in Vari-wall ThermLX tandem tubing, travel package, Rolhoff hub, Gebla Rohbox, SRAM shifters, Velocity 26 inch Dyads, Powertap chainring, Bushnell eccentric, 180mm Icetech rotor front, 180mm disc rear, TRP Spyre calipers.

Yes, purpose built for all roads on all continents with 100 pounds of gear.

(And just to Fred it up a bit, I run flat pedals.)

Rodriguez High Roller UTB Disc, custom geometry by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr

indyfabz

Actually sounds like a good value when you consider an off the shelf Disc Trucker is probably something $1,600 before tax. The S&S couplers installed have to be several hundred dollars alone.