Commuting - How much did your commuter cost?

Just wondering how much your commuter costs.

Is the risk of theft so great that we're all using pre-1980 bikes, or are there some of us who commute with Ultegra groupsets?

Myself, I have two commuting bikes, a Morrison Pursuit 12 Speed (Built under license in New Zealand by Morrison industries, originally a Raleigh Pursuit), and a Healing 10 Speed Skylark. The Raleigh cost US$20 and the Healing $US5. The Morrison was ready to ride with almost no rust. The Healing on the other hand needed an afternoon's work to get going again. I use the Healing as my wet weather bike and the Raleigh as my fitness bike as well. My brother is planning to take the Healing for starting his commutes.

(All options in poll are USD)

My bike cost $400. After I added fenders, rack, panniers... it was something like $650.

Bike was free, but then I added rear light (http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=search&item=STROBE-3A&type=store), rack, tires and fenders. I already had panniers, a home built light and batteries. I'd say I put in about $150

I have a $350 bike, it's just what I want. The risk of theft for me is pretty much zero, I don't even use a lock, but I just don't really think I have any use for anything more expensive (I almost said "better" but I am not convinced that a $2000 bike would be "better" for my commute. I might like to have one for other reasons though).

Now, if you include accessories, I'm probably closer to about $700. I have a TrailTech HID headlight, blinkies, racks, panniers, SPD pedals and shoes. Not to mention a couple hundred bucks worth of clothes (I'm cheap on clothes, I only buy what I need).

About $250 (used 80's tour bike) but I added clipless pedals and fenders so add another $100.

My bike was a gift, but it cost ~$500. After adding the usual, it probably cost ~600.

my commuter is a fixed gear I built from the ground up and totalled about 450$...

I've got a early, hand made by Derek Bailey, Rocky Mountain Velo Sport road bike made from Vitus 172 tubing, with Campy cranks, Ritchy pedals and Shimano everything else, I use for wet weather days.

Bought it for $180 at a used bike store.

$1300 plus the cost of the MTX trunk bag and rack. Hey, I like a nice ride to work and back while these slob cagers are driving their beemers, mercedes, F250s, hummers etc...

I also put my bike in my office behind two sets of key coded doors and one secretary who will rip the legs off of anyone who tries to get into our labs.

$250 about 15 years ago for a hybid. It has been great. Of course, I've easily put many times that into it in maintenance and new parts (just got a new rear derailleur last week).

Given the stability of my commute and the availability of secure parking at work, I'm looking to get a new road commuter for about $1500.

My last two commuter purchases were just under $400 each. I recently converted my old $2000+ road bike to SS. It is full Ultegra. :D

I probably have -$800-$900 invested in my main commuting bike. I can park it inside though.

I paid $35 for my '83 Austro-Daimler mixte. It would take a spread sheet wiz to figure out how much money I've spent on it, over the past year, (several blinkies, some aluminum angles to build a rack, new seat, etc.)

I bought mine new in Dec 2004. Steel frame, carbon fork (a life-saver), mostly 105 with some Tiagra, Eggbeater pedals (stock). With the added rack and "upgraded" tires,
and 8% Atlanta sales tax, http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/mad/1018.gif the total was ~$1300 -- but it was worth it.

The lights, panniers, computer, and lock are carryovers from the previous commuter.

Mine stays inside close to my desk. If I ride somewhere I try to lock it where "everyone" can see it.

My Bianchi Vitoria 6 speed costed $900 which I upgraded to 8 speed, which with new parts adds up to $1200. It is kind of nice to ride an Italian road bike as a commuter.

Trek 2300 with full Ultegra
Look Keos
Light & Motion Arc Li-Ion HID headlight
Polar CS200 triple wireless computer

Total price tag... probably $2800. I park it in my cubicle.

- Warren

I have three commuters:

Spectrum Track Bike, about $3,500

Spectrum Custom Ti, If I have to tell you about it then you would not understand (gets parked in my office)

Lemond Propad, $1,150

My first commuter bike was the MTB that I already had so that really didn't cost me anything except a set of slick tires, a rack and some cheap plastic fenders (which broke off fairly quickly). I then bought a $700 road bike and now commute on that. It is a Felt F80 from the previous year that I got for a good price since new models were coming out. No rack on the new bike but I do have a few front lights for it when I ride at night (which isn't very often). Since the road bike has clipless pedals I had to buy some shoes and cleats for them which added to the cost but I am still using the same shoes and clips that I started with. I don't like to ride the MTB on the road anymore since it is slow and extremely heavy, at least 2x the weight of the road bike.

Rivendell w/ Dura Ace 9sp. Assembled by me. Cheaper than a new car. Rides like a dream.

It started off as a simple $300 Ibex. But I geared it up for a Maine winter with disc brakes and disc wheelset, new cables, fenders, studded tires, rack, rack trunk, swapped out the boinger for a rigid fork, etc. But it made it throught he winter, never had to ask for a ride, and proved the Mainer naysayers wrong.

$60, but about $700 in accesories :-(

The only Ultegra on my bike are the bar end shifters.

The bike itself was about $230 (used 80's touring bike). But then I needed new levers, fenders, new brakes... you get the idea. And then I needed to keep upgrading it - new freewheel, bar end shifters instead of downtube shifters, and so on. So all in all, I've spent somewhere between $800 and $1,000 on it. I think. If you count my touring and utility stuff like panniers, a messenger bag, basic lights, parts for a homebuilt lighting system, well, now we're well past $1k and into the $1.5k+ range. But I think the bike so far is around $1k.

Still, it's kind of a lot for shuttling my butt around campus, so I've gone through a series of beaters, and I'm hoping to have version 3 (the final version!) prepared by the time the fall semester starts up again. That one should be done for about $70. Of course, if I add up the costs involved with the two previous bikes (an old 3-speed, an old ten-speed converted to a 6-speed with the 3-speed's hub), which have been steps along the evolution to the current plans for a beater (old Schwinn LeTour III converted to a 3-speed flatbar bike), then it'll be somewhere between $135 and $150. Not bad!

As for the nice bike, it will remain the vehicle of choice for fun riding, longer distance commuting, touring and shopping trips that require a lot of pannier space. I'll feel safer without having it locked outside on a college campus for most of the day. Funny how our plans for a cheap bicycle so often end up costing us a lot more than we thought they would, isn't it?

I almost always ride my Rivendell Quickbeam (on my commute that is), which cost me $1300 + shipping and that didn't include pedals, saddle and fenders, all of which I've added. So I've probably got $1500 or so into it. Like others, I'm able to bring my bike into my office with me. Occasionally I'll ride one of my other bikes, both of which actually cost me more than the Quickbeam.

#1 $300
#2 $3000

I have no idea how much my commuter costs.

I bought it for $900 in '99. It was an RSX-equipped Novara Strada. A couple of years ago, the frame developed a crack in a weld so REI replaced the frame. Since they didn't have a Strada frame in stock in my size, they upgraded me to their top of the line frame for free. A year or so later, I swapped the Ultegra group from my "A" bike and got a nice set of Open Pros on Ultegra hubs.

And then this year, I took all that Ultegra stuff off (other than the BB and crank) and made it into a fixed gear.

So the weird thing is that I consider this the same bike I've had since '99, but the only parts that remain of that bike are the Ritchey seat post and the RSX front brake caliper.

And how much have I spent on this bike? Beats me. What's its replacement cost? It's priceless.

My current bike cost ~250 including accessories, the bike itself was 180 (including tax).

I want to get something new in the 800-1200 range though. But I'll also be upgrading my locks when I do it (right now I use an onguard mini bulldog). I don't think theft is that bad on my campus though, there are bikes that are in good shape that I know have been locked with nothing but a cheap cable for weeks straight without even having the unlocked quick release wheels taken. The only reason my current bike was so cheap was that it was quite literally all I could afford at the time I bought it, not because I was afraid of theft.

Put me in the way-too-high-price category.

I've got a handful of cheap bikes, but it just somehow seems wrong to me to put such a large percentage of my riding time (I figure commuting is 50-75% of my yearly kms) on something other than my custom built bike. I bought it to ride, and I justified the cost by the time I'd be spending on it.

I keep it in the office, but occasionally lock it up outside. The average bike thief wouldn't look twice at it, though. It doesn't look that fancy.

100.00 for the bike used after my single speed was stolen. Rack and fenders for winter riding has kicked it up to $150.00. If I stick with this I may break down and grab a redline 9-2-5 this year for giggles and go back to single speed. That'll kick me up to the $500.00 range. (gasp!)

I have two commuter bikes, one is a 15 year old giant bike and the other was given to me, a 4500 Trek. I spent about 150 to add new things like tires, etc.

about $250. I bought it used and put about $125 into it so far.

$150 spent on used Specialized Hardrock in early 1990's
$250 replacing everything but the frame, front wheel. seat post, and rear rack in 2005

In the process of replacing the front wheel with a drum brake hubbed custom wheel. Probably $120 this year.

Oh, and I'm on my third seat now, but I'm not sure those count. Kind of consumables like tires aren't they? ;)

I started commuting 20+ years ago on a steel mountain bike ($250 new) with slick tires. My 'other' bike (also used for commuting) was an early 80's steel Japanese bike-- a Lotus Classique($300 new).

Both those bikes have been given away to worthy new owners. I then used a first generation carbon Specialized Allez with 105 components for commuting for about 12 years. It has also been given away.

I also used a bike that was given to me and converted to single speed (not fixie), which I used for about a year until I bought the track bike. I gave this bike away also.

My current commuters are a Raleigh R700 (full ultegra) that cost $1000 and a KHS track bike whcih cost $400. Ihave added about $100 to the track bike (pedals, brake, bell). The track bike gets about 60% of my commuting time.

train safe

I just recently bought a second-hand BikeE AT semi-recumbent for commuting. Originally, it was $2,500.00 bike and I purchased it in A-1 condition and fully equipped with hydraulic suspension, top-of-the-line seat, fenders and panniers for $800.00. I haven't had to add a single thing. I already possess four excellent locks, three lights and two rear blinkies (I also have two other bikes, though they are not suitable for commuting).

Bike and upgrades approximately $800.00

2003 Trek 4900, I believe it was $1009 CAD with taxes. It's served me well but seeing as it's a 19.5" and I'm now 6'4 I'm getting a new commuter. Ordering my 2006 Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra tommorow, can't wait!!!

This year I bought a new commuter for $630. The rack, trunk bag and basket brings the total to $750. I have a secure, indoor storage area so no worries about theft.

That's a nice looking bell curve. My Dahon cost me about $125 brand new, which is considered quite a lot for a bicycle here. Dahons are much cheaper in China than outside, and I got a good deal from a friend of mine who was planning buy the bikes in China and sell them internationally. Normally the Boardwalk model sells for about $185.

I still haven't spent too much on accessories/upgrades (cheap downhill platforms, and replacement fenders when the originals broke), but that might change.

2003 Trek 4900, I believe it was $1009 CAD with taxes. It's served me well but seeing as it's a 19.5" and I'm now 6'4 I'm getting a new commuter. Ordering my 2006 Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra tommorow, can't wait!!!

Nice! I'm a big Bad Boy fan -- I think they make fantastic urban commuters. When I came to China, I left mine with my sister in Canada. She was just complaining to me that university exams are preventing her from taking it for a ride in the gorgeous weather she's having. Enjoy your new bike!

The bike (Specialized Hardrock) was $330 new. If you add up the cost of everything attached to it, it's $735. This includes new tires, rack, fenders, seat, bar ends, lights, fork, and pedals. I've spent some good money on Arkel panniers but they get used for much more than my work commute so they don't count. I don't lock my bike at work because no one there would lower themselves to be seen with a bike and our building is far from public view.

I gave $25.00 for my Techra lite. I have bought 2 sets of tires at $20.00 and now have Gatorskins on it that cosr $53.00. Hade to replace the break pads $3.00, and the back cable $4.00 and a back spoke $1.00. So Total so far is $125.00

The total package, maybe around 1900-2000 but I get to park it inside and most people on the shop think the other commuter's shiny chromed walmart bike is more expensive than mine... most of the extra cost is actually just safety equipment.

Original purchase prices of $0 for the '78 Centurion and $15 for the '70 Raleigh Grand Prix. Both gas pipe frames but light and sturdy enough for commuting 5 days a week. After paint, steel wool, component tweaks, cables, bar tape, brake hoods, frame pump, lights, fenders. Maybe $100-150 each, but I would counsel not including most of that stuff in the final cost. More durable, universal accessories, like the fenders and racks can be moved from bike to bike.

1971 Schwinn Traveller - 25$

Wheel and tires - 100

Other moneys spent on manteinance 200$

Riding a frame as old as I am = Priceless

$1,950.00 bike and rear rack. I would have kept the old $60.00 Cannondale as my commuter and used the Bruce Gordon BLT as the fun bike but the wife would not have understood spending that much on a bike and not using it a lot.

Three commuters:

1. Univega SS MTB: $20 frame, $40 coaster brake rear wheel, $10 used front wheel, trash-picked parts bin stuff = $70
2. Motobecane Super Mirage with 3-speed wheels: All trash-picked parts except the brake levers ($10) and saddle ($30) = $40
3. Velosolex La Parisienne fixed gear conversion: $10 frame, $100 rear wheel, $20 saddle, $12 replacement bb axle (so I don't have to use cottered cranks), $15 seatpost, $20 saddle, $14 chain, $8 cable lock to attach saddle to frame, trash-picked everything else = $199.

Marin Belvedere. Ride 40 miles, break a spoke. Ride 40 miles, break a spoke. It has been in the shop after every second ride or so since December.
I am picking it up today after the wrench has replaced all the spokes. (rear wheel).

I bought a bike used off ebay for ~$400. I've still got that frame, but everything else is different now. I have no idea how much I've put into it, but I'm a tinkerer so probably several hundred more.

I paid $380 for a practically new Langster from the classifieds on RBR. I have spent more than that on lights, rack, pannier, etc.

About $800 for all the parts for the LHT I built. I used wheels, racks, bags, lights, and seatpost that I already had.