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Difference between a $500 bike and $5K bike

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Difference between a $500 bike and $5K bike

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Old 06-29-20, 02:38 PM
  #126  
theDirtyLemon
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Those are very pretty boxes.
I enjoy the warning not to use a different kind of 'drain cable', presumably because a normal power cord would turn your sand into an active component.
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Old 06-29-20, 02:44 PM
  #127  
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As for the original question, I think he picked $500 because he assumed $500 would buy you a decent new bicycle. (A Trek FX1 is $440 and the FX2 is $630, so this is probably not completely unreasonable, in retrospect).
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Old 06-29-20, 03:10 PM
  #128  
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Skipping the difference between a $500 bike and a $5000 bike is the difference between a $500 bike and a $1500 or $2000 bike.
Generally: the parts on the $500 bike are a lot more likely to break, etc.
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Old 06-29-20, 03:38 PM
  #129  
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The two bikes are actually identical. Same brand, model, age, number of miles, both carbon fiber.

The $5000 bike is flawless. The $500 bike has deep gash in the top tube.
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Old 06-29-20, 05:12 PM
  #130  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
The difference is $4500.

I've learned that most people don't understand how a bike can be over $2000 and never will. But these people would like a $60,000 Mercedes when a $25,000 Kia will get you there
my friend
Kia is no Benz
don't hate the player...but the game.
sometimes more is better....not always needed but just is better.
neighbor has an amazing flat black royals....coupe. with gull wing doors.
crazy nice but insane $$$.
a G Wagon benz would do just fine.
🤓
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Old 06-29-20, 05:36 PM
  #131  
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
my friend
Kia is no Benz
🤓
You're right.... in 15 years the Kia will still be on the road while the Benz has been parked on the side of the home of the 5th owner for the past 3 years.
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Old 06-29-20, 05:53 PM
  #132  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
You're right.... in 15 years the Kia will still be on the road while the Benz has been parked on the side of the home of the 5th owner for the past 3 years.
not sure I understand?
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Old 06-29-20, 06:00 PM
  #133  
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
not sure I understand?
How many 15 year old MB do you see on the road?
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Old 06-29-20, 06:17 PM
  #134  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
How many 15 year old MB do you see on the road?
few I live in fancy pants land.
most newish.
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Old 06-29-20, 06:27 PM
  #135  
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
few I live in fancy pants land.
most newish.
That's because they don't last. After 2-3 years the first owner/ lessor sells the car. The next keeps it for a few years until things start to break. They are overly complicated and any little thing is a $1000 part. The 3rd owner thinks they can afford to maintain it but quickly learns it's a money pit. The 4th owner always wanted a Mercedes and also learns they're constantly putting money into it. The 5th owner buys it cheap, thinks they can fix it themselves but learns they can't and it sits in their driveway rotting away.

While most Japanese cars, such at Toyota, Honda, and Korean Kia do last for over 200,000 miles with only minor repairs.
When it comes to Mercedes, only the second owner gets value. They buy it after the major depreciation and sells it before things go south.
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Old 06-29-20, 06:44 PM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
That's because they don't last. After 2-3 years the first owner/ lessor sells the car. The next keeps it for a few years until things start to break. They are overly complicated and any little thing is a $1000 part. The 3rd owner thinks they can afford to maintain it but quickly learns it's a money pit. The 4th owner always wanted a Mercedes and also learns they're constantly putting money into it. The 5th owner buys it cheap, thinks they can fix it themselves but learns they can't and it sits in their driveway rotting away.

While most Japanese cars, such at Toyota, Honda, and Korean Kia do last for over 200,000 miles with only minor repairs.
When it comes to Mercedes, only the second owner gets value. They buy it after the major depreciation and sells it before things go south.
people with money care not.
also most higher end cars have great warranty and maintenance covered tis why they cost so much.
1st owners have everything covered. as part of the cost.
3yeare full maintenance covered soup to nutz.
why cost higher...
but yes a maximalist or loaded Camry is very nice.
but most at country club prefer the rover.
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Old 06-29-20, 06:52 PM
  #137  
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
1st owners have everything covered. as part of the cost.
3yeare full maintenance covered soup to nutz.
And most leases are 39 months for a reason.
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Old 06-29-20, 07:35 PM
  #138  
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the Last few post is my turn off of Expensive MTB's

buy em ride em for a season, and then move on, Only the Second owners win. the third and fourth owners get screwed over with a bike looking for a shock that might work.
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Old 06-29-20, 08:45 PM
  #139  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
How many 15 year old MB do you see on the road?
Actually quite a lot of them

Their designs age relatively well, and most people think they are younger than they really are



​​​​​
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Old 06-29-20, 11:43 PM
  #140  
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Originally Posted by wgscott
This guy has an engineering degree from MIT and says he can hear differences between power cables.
You know you can use this and throw it back in his ears, so to speak.

As... when you ride a $5000 bike everything meshes together, you can hear it and feel it. It is like music to your ears. It is the absence of that little annoying click or brush from slight mis-alignment of the lower quality components that you find on a $500 bike. And that annoying sound is with you for hours, like listening to cheap audio equipment.

And for a lot of cyclists, those little noises drive them crazy. They will disassemble a bike to find it. I can hardly bear to pass someone with a squeaky bike, and it is only for a moment. I would go bonkers over a couple of hours. And there is something about a silent drivetrain.

John
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Old 06-30-20, 01:21 AM
  #141  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
How many 15 year old MB do you see on the road?
Many! Been to Africa? Loads of old Mercs around a lot older than that as well as the more recent, 'complicated' models. Here in Europe, they seem to last too. A taxi favourite, a businessman's favourite. Never owned one myself, I prefer BMW and Porsche (9 BMW's, 1 Porsche in my time thus far). I'm one of those who changes car's frequently because I like new toys. Still, I see plenty of old Mercs around.

Here in Portugal, cars cost a lot due to various additional taxes - roughly double and more on some models than what you would pay in the USA, for example. As a result, you get to see how long cars can really last. From what I can see, most car's will last a very long time and it has less to do with original quality than it does the cost of spares. Toyota spares are generally cheaper than Merc, Toyota's are therefore most likely to be kicking around a bit longer while some Mercs will just be cheaper to bin. Stuff all to do with the Merc being inferior mechanically, it just costs more to maintain part vs part. Those who have access to good used spares or better OEM prices, keep their Mercs longer.
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Old 06-30-20, 09:05 AM
  #142  
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Originally Posted by 70sSanO
I can hardly bear to pass someone with a squeaky bike, and it is only for a moment. I would go bonkers over a couple of hours. And there is something about a silent drivetrain.

John
It is far worse when they fly past me on a creaking Fred Sled.
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Old 06-30-20, 04:11 PM
  #143  
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Your friend is a ******bag troll.
if he were to ride a few thousand mike in a season, he would see the beauty. If he doesn’t do that, it’s pointless to try to convince him.
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Old 06-30-20, 07:18 PM
  #144  
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OP: The difference between a $500 bike and $5000 bike is a lot greater than the difference between a $1000 bike and a $5000 bike. Let me explain.

You spend a little more, you get a lot more value. Then you have to spend a lot more to get only a little more value.

The $500 bike may not even shift great, or have good brake modulation, and it will be heavy by modern standards.

The $1000 bike will have great shifting and braking. It will be heavier than the $5000 bike but by a lesser margin than the $500 bike. It is a "very well made, off the rack suit".

The $5000 bike will have superb components that not only function well and are durable but are lightweight. The bike frame will be lighter, and it will be stiff in the way you want it but flexible in the way you want it. The frame geometry will be superb, well designed for the bike's intended purpose, but only noticeable by the most experienced riders. The bike will fit better, perhaps even made to measure for you like a "tailor made suit".
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Old 06-30-20, 07:35 PM
  #145  
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Originally Posted by Duragrouch
The bike will fit better, perhaps even made to measure for you like a "tailor made suit".
I think a custom frame will cost more than $5000 complete.

When you add electronic shifting the price and easily exceed $5000.

All i can say is never take an expensive bike for an extended test ride.
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Old 06-30-20, 07:40 PM
  #146  
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@Duragrouch My custom bike with Di2 was a lot more than $5K six years ago. (I didn't tell him.)

The custom frame is steel, but it turns out it has almost identical measurements to a Trek Domane. It rides a lot nicer than a $5K Domane, so I am not complaining.
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Old 06-30-20, 07:48 PM
  #147  
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Originally Posted by wgscott
This guy has an engineering degree from MIT and says he can hear differences between power cables.
So he's one of those is he?
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Old 06-30-20, 08:56 PM
  #148  
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The real difference between a $500 bike and a $5000 bike...

The $5000 bike is in stock and who knows when the $500 one will be.

John
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Old 06-30-20, 08:59 PM
  #149  
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Originally Posted by Doctor Morbius
So he's one of those is he?
Well, he did buy the amplifier with possibly the best objective measurement specs available at any price-point.
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Old 06-30-20, 09:55 PM
  #150  
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Originally Posted by GlennR

All i can say is never take an expensive bike for an extended test ride.
But do take the $500 bike on an extended test ride!!!
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