Bicycles have gotten 'insanely expensive'

[Deleted member 4210]

When I first saw this post, originally thought it might be about all bikes in general, but this person talks about a $10,000 Cannondale.
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-...campaign=ed104&utm_content=iss54#post20966461


Last week when traveling out of state, I visited some bike shops out of curiosity, and I was sort of shocked to see how many 'average' regular bikes on the floor, were at prices ranging from $900 to $3000. These were not e-bikes.

Don't know if these have been hit with the 25% tariffs yet, but my understanding is that was supposed to take effect June 10th. I bring this up, because I get a number of calls from folks looking for a $600 EBIKE ! And obviously a lot of folks over 50 who visit the shop, making comments about how expensive ebikes are. It often makes me wonder when the last time was they actually shopped for a regular bike ?

So if regular bikes are costing this much to get decent quality, then how is it that so many expect to get an ebike at such low prices, when batteries alone are often $400 to $1000, and then there are motors, controls, etc.

Transportation costs have risen dramatically, and everyone knows the average price of a car in the US is now over $37,000. (Per Kelley Bluebook).

Rather than question the prices being so high, maybe it makes a bit more sense to compare the options of various modes of transportation. An ebike can serve so many more purposes than many regular bikes can, and there is ALWAYS the option to ride it like a regular bike. (i.e. get ALL the exercise you want, and then some).

I think the post is a very good reminder about where costs of regular bikes are actually at these days, the advances made in components since the last time many boomers and so on, who haven't been riding for years, actually bought a regular bike.

With the increasing tariffs coming on regular bikes too, to match the 25% tariff already on many ebikes, even if the tariffs don't last forever and a trade deal is 'struck', during your search for an ebike, part of your homework and research on ebikes might be worthwhile to include a trip to local shops, and see what you can actually get in a regular bike for say $1000 to start. Really look at the components, and quality, and ask the store questions like you will with ebikes. It could add some valuable perspective, and help you realize that the price you end up paying for an ebike, could be a really excellent value overall. It is an investment in your health, especially if it becomes a motivator to actually get out there more than you would have (or are now) on a regular bike. This happens a lot where folks arbitrarily set a mental 'budget' in mind, before they realize what the market is actually like and where things have come since they last made a purchase. Sticker shock happens a lot with new cars, particularly when someone keeps a car for 8 to 12 years. If you insist on a super low budget, then don't expect the longer term outcome to be necessarily what your old regular bike you bought 20 or 30 years ago has been. Or maybe save up for an extra year. (saving appears to be an outdated concept these days, or even a bad word.)

 

[pnop]

In the early 80's I was riding an older Kalkhoff. I got it at a yard sale really cheap. Not making much money at the time it was a nice bike. A few doors down from where I worked was a bike shop. I used to go in all the time and look at the Bianchi's. I will admit that I've never been hard core, I just really like the green that they were painted. LOL

$600. I was never going to be able to afford that. Last year I saw one at a local Play it Again Sports store. $350. It was likely a really good deal but I passed as I knew I wouldn't even get that much use out of it.

Is a $10,000 bike really that much more of a bike over a really nice used $350 Bianchi if you aren't doing this professionally?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

...

Is a $10,000 bike really that much more of a bike over a really nice used $350 Bianchi if you aren't doing this professionally?

Please clearly define "that much more".

If you get into the made-to-order bike world, you can easily get into a $10,000 bike without even trying too hard. Yet the companies that make them are typically backordered 3-6 months, so obviously there are a lot of folks out there who think they are "worth it".

Most mass-produced bikes are compromises, and they operate on some pretty tight constraints of weight vs durability and stability vs liveliness. A nicely made custom bike can get outside of those constraints and give you a fantastic riding experience. Again, whether it is "worth it" is really between you and your credit rating.

Disclaimer: I really, really, really want a Stinner Refugio.

 

[christob]

My local shop had a bike in for a tune up awhile back -- a completely custom-built tandem bike built for a very serious blind rider; I just remember the all titanium frame for starters.
Could lift the whole thing up with 2 fingers... I think they told me then it had been a $17k build.

 

[Over50]

I posted this before but since this is a new thread on same topic: my expectations on the prices of e-bikes, when I first started shopping, were in the right place. Prior to shopping e-bikes, I was shopping for a belt-drive commuter with IGH and/or a touring/trekking bike. About $2K was the low end of the price range in that niche. I ended up buying a Spot for $1.5K and added/replaced about $1k of stuff (dynamo w/lighting, fender, racks, seat, tires, handle bar, pedals...). So I knew before I started my e-bike shopping that a quality, purpose-built bike (moreso from a niche company) was going to cost $3K-$4K minimum (take my prior preferences and add motor, battery, electronics, a purpose-built frame ...).

I look at touring, trekking and niche urban bikes all the time online (like Rose Bikes, Van Nicolas etc) and I think $4-$8K is about what I am used to seeing (non e-bikes). So I am always surprised when I hear folks who think $2K for an e-bike is a ridiculous amount of money.

 

[Alex M]

$2K ebike IS a ridiculous amount of money . What you are getting is 1) $200 worth of frame with entry-level mechanical components and 2) low-average electrical components - think motor by Bafang or Shengyi and battery Panasonic-branded and China-assembled. I suspect that #2 is what they are making money on.

 

[DavidBer]

Disclaimer: I really, really, really want a Stinner Refugio.

Is this bad but they are literally one street away from where my wife works and a mile from where I work and I had no idea they even existed. Thanks for mentioning them, now I have something to go look at during lunch

 

[6zfshdb]

I am also surprised by all the comments here about high bike prices. Like so many other things in life, for the most part, you get what you pay for. I paid more for my Trek conventional MTB 12 years ago than I did for my current Pedego e-bike. At the time, my brother bought a $69 MTB from Walmart and laughed at me for spending so much more. His lasted less than a year while my Trek is still going strong with only minimal $$ in maintenance. Seeing the light, his second bike was a Trek similar to mine.

Even though we both ride Pedego's now, we are considering E-conversion kits for Our Treks. As tariffs, materials & labor costs push bike prices higher, E-kit and used bike markets are sure to benefit.

 

[pnop]

I am also surprised by all the comments here about high bike prices. Like so many other things in life, for the most part, you get what you pay for. I paid more for my Trek conventional MTB 12 years ago than I did for my current Pedego e-bike. At the time, my brother bought a $69 MTB from Walmart and laughed at me for spending so much more. His lasted less than a year while my Trek is still going strong with only minimal $$ in maintenance. Seeing the light, his second bike was a Trek similar to mine.

Even though we both ride Pedego's now, we are considering E-conversion kits for Our Treks. As tariffs, materials & labor costs push bike prices higher, E-kit and used bike markets are sure to benefit.

I still have and on occasion ride my Roadmaster from 1968.

 

[indianajo]

As they say on the news & business programs, all the income growth in the US the last 20 years has gone to the richest 5%. So if a business wants some of the easy money, he tunes his product to the tastes of the very refined. Upper end yachts and motor homes do well, to. The new houses being built are $250000 up. We e-bikers are being supported by the oriental mass market taste for cheap transportation, which has financed the development of the $200 bike motor, the $35 controller, and the $400 battery. There are decent e-bikes available for $1400, but not in stores where the owner is subject to endless questions complaints & trials of the local consumer. Part of why local retail is going away except in candles & flowers.

 

[tomjasz]

In 1971 I bought a Schwinn Paramount. EVERYONE I knew thought that was completely insane, given the $400 price tag.($2500 in 2019 dollars) As far as I can see, nothing has changed. Quality comes at a price.

Secondly, this is the USA. NOT a bike for transportation country. eBBikes are still toys to many, and as toys seen as expensive. Those high-end bikes aren't built around a $500 bike like the Juiced, RAV, Biktrix and others.

Maybe when the general public accepts climate change and is willing to live with less... or not.

 

[AlanDB]

A while back I was at the bike shop and a man brought in a Cannondale road bike for adjustments. I noticed that the LBS staff was kind of swarming around him and treating him like royalty. I mentioned something to the salesman who I was working with if I would get that same treatment if I made my purchase. He grinned and said "Of course!", then took me off to the side and said the bike was a $10000 bike, and the man had recently bought 2 of them (one for his wife too). I just smiled and said, "Do you need to go help him? I can wait." It was all said in good humor. I did buy my $2500 e-bike and they have treated me very well so far.

 

[Alex M]

There are decent e-bikes available for $1400, but not in stores where the owner is subject to endless questions complaints & trials of the local consumer.

Yes. Workhorses. If you are not too picky about frame esthetics, color, can live without automatic transmission and your riding requirements are not too exotic - think transportation rather than conquering rough terrain where you don't have to be and most people don't want to - there are good choices under $1,600. Yes, they are online only. Clueless customers cost your business time and money, and they are prevalent in ebike sector, so you have to charge more.

 

[MechaNut]

When I picked up my Bianchi Volpe in 2007 it was $850 retail, and by the time I had it built up for me the total price was somewhere between $1200 to $1300. My first e-bike was $1500 (Rad Power Bikes Rad City). All things considered, not that big of a price difference. One being a traditional bike and the other an e-bike.

Bicycles, and by extension e-bikes, cover a wide range of price points and capabilities only limited by how much you are willing to pay for. This is nothing new if you ever shopped in a dedicated bike shop. If your frame of reference is coming from the world of department store retail where bikes are $100-$200 I can see how an e-bike seems to be crazy expensive when it really isn't.