Cost of bike parts vs car parts
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,836
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 675 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
430 Posts
Cost of bike parts vs car parts
This is just a short rant. I recently replaced disc brake pads on both my well-used bike (5K miles/year) and seldom-used car (2K miles/year). The parts cost about the same, $25 for pads for two wheels. If you've never done a brake job on a car, the pads must weigh about 100X more. I get the economies of scale, but I think it's a shame--it should be the other way around.
#2
I’m a little Surly
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
647 Posts
The 8 control arms I put on my Jeep cost more than many people's entire bike. My not inexpensive RH tires cost $170 to my door and that's about 2/3 of the price of one tire and there are five.
#3
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,211
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2579 Post(s)
Liked 5,636 Times
in
2,920 Posts
Recently had the front discs and rotors replaced on my euro-ride vehicle - $2000.
The rears will need to be done in the not too distant future to the tune of $1500.
Replaced my front disc pads on my road bike, $25. Don’t care to calculate the grams to grams value between the two, but might be similar.
Feel a bit better now?
The rears will need to be done in the not too distant future to the tune of $1500.
Replaced my front disc pads on my road bike, $25. Don’t care to calculate the grams to grams value between the two, but might be similar.
Feel a bit better now?
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Last edited by rsbob; 06-06-22 at 10:11 AM.
Likes For rsbob:
#4
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,431
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3133 Post(s)
Liked 1,700 Times
in
1,027 Posts
Yeah, that’s gonna depend on the car. Front brake pads for my Giulia are in the $170 range, not $25, and the rears around $150. Once you add in labor time, tool and equipment cost, you’ve got your 100x cost increase and then some.
Likes For billridesbikes:
#6
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,509
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2744 Post(s)
Liked 3,390 Times
in
2,053 Posts
#7
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
$25 to replace the brake pads on my bike sounds fair to me. I don't really care how it compares to car parts.
Likes For Rolla:
#8
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,795
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9653 Post(s)
Liked 6,365 Times
in
3,505 Posts
Tires fit this test as well. I paid about $50/tire for the bike. The tires for my car are about $400/tire.
Likes For Mojo31:
#9
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,211
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2579 Post(s)
Liked 5,636 Times
in
2,920 Posts
#10
Thread derailleur
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 637
Bikes: Merlin Extralight '94 & Cannondale Supersix '15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Liked 458 Times
in
261 Posts
I ride my bikes more than I drive, so I spend far more on bicycle maintenance.
On the other hand, a triple-bypass costs far more than said maintenance.
On the other hand, a triple-bypass costs far more than said maintenance.
Likes For roadcrankr:
#11
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Likes For livedarklions:
#12
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,984
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6192 Post(s)
Liked 4,807 Times
in
3,316 Posts
LBS doesn't charge much to install those disc brake pads on a bike. Think about what you'd be charged by the auto dealership if you had them replace those disc brake pads on your car instead of DIYing them.
Yes economies of scale do apply here for the manufacturing of the pads themselves.
Yes economies of scale do apply here for the manufacturing of the pads themselves.
Likes For Iride01:
#13
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
I realize not everyone falls in this camp, but you go on group rides or attend races or view bicycle chat groups and see the comment "expensive bikes too expensive for me! Wish I could have that fancy excessive stuff". Then the person drives home from the group ride in a $40k+ vehicle.
I've always found that one curious.
I've always found that one curious.
Likes For burnthesheep:
#14
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
This is just a short rant. I recently replaced disc brake pads on both my well-used bike (5K miles/year) and seldom-used car (2K miles/year). The parts cost about the same, $25 for pads for two wheels. If you've never done a brake job on a car, the pads must weigh about 100X more. I get the economies of scale, but I think it's a shame--it should be the other way around.
So basically, bike brake pads should be heavier to make them a better deal per pound?
#15
I’m a little Surly
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
647 Posts
I like my bike and Jeep parts boutique.
I love me some Savvy Offroad
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6...LWvUwyA/videos
I love me some Savvy Offroad
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6...LWvUwyA/videos
Likes For Germany_chris:
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,836
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 675 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
430 Posts
Recently had the front discs and rotors replaced on my euro-ride vehicle - $2000.
The rears will need to be done in the not too distant future to the tune of $1500.
Replaced my front disc pads on my road bike, $25. Don’t care to calculate the grams to grams value between the two, but might be similar.
Feel a bit better now?
The rears will need to be done in the not too distant future to the tune of $1500.
Replaced my front disc pads on my road bike, $25. Don’t care to calculate the grams to grams value between the two, but might be similar.
Feel a bit better now?
Yes I do feel better, thanks.
I drive a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon--inexpensive, reliable, versatile, and it even has a cassette tape deck! Your two brake jobs will cost more than the entire lifetime cost of the car I bought used ten years ago, including the purchase price and new tires. I'm at $3100 so far. But I don't feel like an Italian count when driving it.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,380
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,966 Times
in
1,915 Posts
The OEM replacement parts tend to be a pocket sizzler, but the aftermarket (not the questionable brands) pricing usually is less..... Just hard to find sometimes.
You do the headgasket delete yet?
Yes I do feel better, thanks.
I drive a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon--inexpensive, reliable, versatile, and it even has a cassette tape deck! Your two brake jobs will cost more than the entire lifetime cost of the car I bought used ten years ago, including the purchase price and new tires. I'm at $3100 so far. But I don't feel like an Italian count when driving it.
I drive a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon--inexpensive, reliable, versatile, and it even has a cassette tape deck! Your two brake jobs will cost more than the entire lifetime cost of the car I bought used ten years ago, including the purchase price and new tires. I'm at $3100 so far. But I don't feel like an Italian count when driving it.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#19
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,795
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9653 Post(s)
Liked 6,365 Times
in
3,505 Posts
I realize not everyone falls in this camp, but you go on group rides or attend races or view bicycle chat groups and see the comment "expensive bikes too expensive for me! Wish I could have that fancy excessive stuff". Then the person drives home from the group ride in a $40k+ vehicle.
I've always found that one curious.
I've always found that one curious.
https://www.kbb.com/car-news/average...ce-tops-47000/
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nevada County, California
Posts: 789
Bikes: Subject to change at any given moment but currently is...... Colnago Mapei, Colnago C40, Wilier Triestina Carbon, Wilier Triestina Ramato, Follis 472, Peugeot PX60, Razesa, Orbea Terra, Soma Pescadero and 1/2 owner of a Santana tandem.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 782 Times
in
264 Posts
Purchase a high mileage BMW and bike parts will seem like they’re free.
#21
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,795
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9653 Post(s)
Liked 6,365 Times
in
3,505 Posts
Recently had the front discs and rotors replaced on my euro-ride vehicle - $2000.
The rears will need to be done in the not too distant future to the tune of $1500.
Replaced my front disc pads on my road bike, $25. Don’t care to calculate the grams to grams value between the two, but might be similar.
Feel a bit better now?
The rears will need to be done in the not too distant future to the tune of $1500.
Replaced my front disc pads on my road bike, $25. Don’t care to calculate the grams to grams value between the two, but might be similar.
Feel a bit better now?
Likes For Mojo31:
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,836
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 675 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
430 Posts
Yeah, body parts especially are getting hard to find. Broke a dome light switch last month--forget about it.
Likes For andrewclaus:
#23
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,113
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 853 Post(s)
Liked 1,434 Times
in
816 Posts
My bikes mean a lot more to me than my car does. And, for the third consecutive year, they will get more miles. I also put more money into them than my car. I just had a oil-filter-lube job done at not quite 3,000 miles, but the last one was done July 7th of last year. Other than fuel, that was the only money spent on the car. I spend money on bikes for things I want, but really do not need, on top of what I consider needed. I don't do that with the car.
Likes For delbiker1:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,925
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1818 Post(s)
Liked 1,693 Times
in
974 Posts
This is just a short rant. I recently replaced disc brake pads on both my well-used bike (5K miles/year) and seldom-used car (2K miles/year). The parts cost about the same, $25 for pads for two wheels. If you've never done a brake job on a car, the pads must weigh about 100X more. I get the economies of scale, but I think it's a shame--it should be the other way around.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,872
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6958 Post(s)
Liked 10,959 Times
in
4,686 Posts
This thread reinforces my choice of a Honda. Our older one has 150k miles and still has 40% life left on the front pads; rear pads have almost no wear. And in the unlikely event that I ever do need to replace them, I know (from experience) that the cost is reasonable.
Last edited by Koyote; 06-06-22 at 08:02 PM.