Davespix

Generally speaking, give a budget around $2500 what are the pro/con of buying a 2015 model with all high end gear that originally sold for $9000 Vs a 2020 for the same $2500? Both are carbon fiber construction. Has that much tech and quality trickled down in the last five years to make them comparable or has basic components and manufacturing made a 2020 mid range bike better than a 2015 top end bike? Of course this assumes the 2015 checks out in great condition.
thanks for your thoughts on this.

GlennR

I have a 2015 Emonda SLR and it's just as much fun as the day I got it.

If it's in excellent mechanical condition... get it.

Cyclist0108

I have a 2014 custom bike with what were then bleeding-edge components. The only substantive change since I got it is thru-axle rather than quick release (which is an improvement if you have disc brakes). It is 11 speed Ultegra Di2 hydraulic. I'm in no rush to upgrade it. It has 40mm tire clearance, so the Trek Domane, for example, has only recently caught up to it.

In general, wider tire clearances and thru axles are the main improvements.

oris

Generally wider tire clearances and disc brakes. However in my case, I can only really say a bit more tire clearance but otherwise really nothing. My comparison is from about a $9000 to $2000 bike with rim brakes.

I've got a 2015 Cannondale SuperSix HM w/ SRAM Red and a 2020 Orbea Orca w/ Shimano 105. Between the two, really no difference in technology aside from the obvious performance differences in weight and groupset. The Orca is the OME frameset so it's bit more relaxed and more comfortable for longer rides. The SuperSix being lighter in weight and more aggressive geometry, averages about 1 MPH faster on the same routes.

I had picked up the Orca before they dropped rim brakes from the line up earlier in the year. However the next bike I'm planning on is an aero bike with disc brakes since I've got to get with the times.

noodle soup

It depends on which models you are comparing, but their hasn't been a massive change in technology in the past 6 years.

datlas 

Agree depends on the details, including model, wear, and of course fit matters most.

sfrider 

Some new things since I last updated my bikes in 2013:

Endurance geometries
Disc brakes
Thru axle wheels
Electronic shifting and computer linking
Bluetooth sensors
Integrated cockpits
Universal internal cable routing
Press fit bottom brackets
Tubeless tires
Wider tires
Broad acceptance of carbon fiber wheel rims
Much greater selection of power meters (back then they were hub based with just the first crank PMs making an appearance)
PM based advanced cycling dynamics
Really small saddle bags for tubeless setups
Aero road frames
Improved power transfer pedal -> wheel made possible by frames designed around wider press-fit BBs
Rear-facing radars

Just a laundry list. You may or may not care about most of this.

big john

Is the used bike equipped the way you want it or will you have to make changes to the gearing and components? Could be more $$ there.
Does the used bike have any warranty? A guy on here bought a used bike and the frame cracked and the warranty was for the original owner so he was out.

Steve B.

Disc brakes and wider tires. A frame using disc brakes often allows the wider tire, but of the 2, wider tires is the more useful most of the time. My ‘15 model year frame as example, will not accept a tire larger than a 25mm. The other issue related is that is due to the clearance allowed by disc brakes, there’s been a move towards wider rims, which when used on an older frame will make a 25mm tire run wider, like 28mm or so. That means that should you need a new rim/wheel, you’ve got to pay attention that a rim that is now 5mm wider than what you run now, may result in clearance issues with your current tires. Thus you are shopping for a legacy narrow rim.

noodle soup

This is why it really depends on the model. I have a 2015 bike with disc brakes, and it'll take up to 33mm(measured width) tires.

GlennR

I have a 2016 that can take a 38mm but it's a CX bike. My road bike can fit 25mm, 28mm will not fit... and i'm OK with that.

The biggest thing is the frame. a $9000 2015 bike frame will still be better than a $2500 2020 frame. Dura Ace Di2 from 2015 is better than 2020 105. 25mm tires on carbon rims is better than 30mm on cheaper alloy.

Both bikes will be 11 speed, thru axles, disc brakes and 28mm+ tires just don't make as big an improvement over a bottom level carbon compared to top level.

It all depends on the condition. Replacing the bottom bracket, cassette, chainrings, chain, tires and brake pads can easily add another $1000.

noodle soup

Which 2015 and 2020 bikes are we talking about?

Dean V

The older one will certainly be a lot lighter.

noodle soup

I disagree. There's no way I would want a bike that forced me to use 25mm or narrower tires.

GlennR

How about that forced you to a heavier and less compliant frame?

To use mechanical 105 vs Dura Ace Di2?

I guess it all depends on what's important to you.

Which?
2015 Emonda SLR, Sram Red eTap (or Dura Ace Di2), Zipp 303, 25mm tire, rim brakes 14# - $10,000
2021 Emonda SL, Shimano 105, Bontrager alloy rims, 28mm tires, disc brakes 20# - $2500

Sorry, i've ridden both and the 2015 is still my choice.

noodle soup

I have no problem riding a 2015 bike(I do it everyday), but you couldn't pay me to ride a skinny tire bike with SRAM wiped all over. It all depends on the specific bikes the OP is asking about.

GlennR

That's why I added Dura Ace. I'm surprised you didn't say you'd never ride a Trek... you're so predictable.

noodle soup

I still don't want skinny tires or rim brakes, and the OP doesn't have to settle for them either.

GlennR

Or settle for mechanical shifting and a heavier and less compliant frame.

Pick your poison.

shelbyfv

Again, OP needs to specify the two bikes. We're sort of assuming 11 speed DuraAce Di2 and fancy carbon wheels but a seller could describe anything as "top end."

sfrider 

Bike wars!

GlennR

He said $9000, so unless he's looking at a full suspension bike and posted in the wrong forum.... Di2 and carbon wheels are a safe assumption.

noodle soup

It all depends on the bike. I have a very compliant 2015 bike with Dura-Ace Di2, disc brakes, and room for wide tires. If the bike the OP is talking about doesn't have those, I wouldn't want it

I'm not sure why you think the high end 2015 bike is going to be more compliant. That's rarely the case.

Steve B.

True for disc brakes bikes, is maybe the only reason I see an advantage for a road bike.

The rub on this with a 5 year old rim brake bike, is you really need to look at some key areas like under the fork, the chain stay clearance, etc..., to determine if you would have the clearance in the event you want to run a 28 or 32mm tire. You are more likely to get tire clearance on a newer frame.

I happen to be of the same opinion as Glenn that I’m perfectly OK with a 25mm tire on my road bike.

It would help if we knew what bikes the OP was looking at.

shelbyfv

I think I may have misread the first post. I had in mind OP was trying to decide which of two bikes to buy. Now I see "Generally speaking...." so maybe there aren't two actual bikes and this is just noodling. If that's the case, never mind, over and out.