Originally Posted by
Frkl
I think also that components could play a more important role in the identity of a bike than people so far have said. I mean, if I took a bike that came originally with Sun Tour components from the 80s and put on a Shimano Di2 system, I think I would have to parse the situation again.
I am not underestimating this at all, it is just not relevant to the question being asked..
The question was not “what parts of the bike make the most difference in ride characteristics?”
The question was “when is it a new bike”.
And my answer to that (entirely subjective question) is “when you change the frame.
In your example above, in my book I would say that I changed the components, but it is still the same bike. The fact that it rides differently is beside the point IMO.