Utility Cycling - Anyone else feel that Xtracycle is pricing itself out?

I'm sure that in time a cheap clone X or BD will appear on he market. A product cannot be all things to all people, and Xtracycle has certain values that they feel are more important than rock-bottom price. That is their prerogative and I do not fault them for it.

I've never like xtracycles. I have lots of friends who do and I've used one but to me a trailer is a better option.

If I had kids I might buy one because it seems to me that the ability to ride one is the biggest quality.

I'm sure that in time a cheap clone X or BD will appear on he market.

Especially now that the X-Longtail standard has gone open source.

I've never like xtracycles. I have lots of friends who do and I've used one but to me a trailer is a better option.

Why?

I wouldn't have paid the money for the X, but now that I have it, I wouldn't possibly give it up for the money I'd get for it.

The big issue with the Xtracycle is the fact that it's totally worth what one pays for it for the vast majority of its customers. But spending the cash on something unknown like that is bad sleep inducing. Dunno what the solution on that one is.

Are they pricing themselves out of the market?

There is only one question to ask: are they selling every unit they produce at full price?

If the answer is yes, than they're pricing things right, or too low.

If the answer is no, than their pricing needs revisiting.

The right price is the price that the market will bear. If you feel that the price is too high, you're not their target market. If they've misread the market, they'll lose sales. Are their sales numbers decreasing? I'll guess not, as they continue to develop new products and expand their offerings.

I love capitalism: so simple on the surface, so complex in practice.

Ok, then why ask a question you should know the answer to. http://bestsmileys.com/angry2/11.gif

Your grammar is poor. You do not understand pricing or economics. Please continue to criticize, correct and opine. It is so very helpful.

Holy thread resurrection batman.

They definately priced me out. Along with most utility bikes especially the overpriced big dummy. I would have never gotten one anyways as i much prefer a solid unit. Thats why i decided to go with the 2009 Kona Ute. Fits my needs perfectly and didnt break the bank at $800. Didnt need to do anything except throw on my lights and computer as well. Best bike ive ever purchased and my only bike at the moment.

Until the Oct. 31, Xtracycles are on sale for $399.

Oh, I want one.
My main motivation to get into biking and try to make it work, right there. On sale! I wonder if my mom wants to buy me a christmas present?

I've visited some bike shops and most of them- the guy looked at me like I was crazy and said they would never do that to their bicycle. I think its the best idea ever. I am balking at the price, but I am also thinking I could sell my dead car to a junkyard, and then the other junk car we were going to resurrect and tag and title... and ride instead of drive. Is 16 miles one way a long way? Hmm.

I really think an xtracycle would be the best option to get my two dogs to ride with me. Grunt doesn't seem interested at all in running alongside the bike, he howls at me, and I know Jackjack is a done deal in a backpack, basket, anything so long as he can go. 40lb Beagle on one side 20 lb Jack Russel on the other?

The Xtracycle is cool, if that much cargo room is needed all the time. I prefer my Burley Flatbed. $200 when I got it, it's held up very well. By quick internet search, I see they now sell for $250-$300, usually with free shipping. I also have a Burley Solo for when I want a covered trailer. Even with an Xtrcycle I would still need my canoe/kayak trailer. I just can't see putting a 14 1/2' canoe on an Xtracycle.

Of course a used but perfectly serviceable kiddie trailer can be had much cheaper and converted into a utility trailer, if desired.

The big plus I see with a trailer is I can leave it behind when I don't need the cargo space and have just a bike. Not so with the Xtracycle.

they definately priced me out. Along with most utility bikes especially the overpriced big dummy. I would have never gotten one anyways as i much prefer a solid unit. Thats why i decided to go with the 2009 kona ute. Fits my needs perfectly and didnt break the bank at $800. Didnt need to do anything except throw on my lights and computer as well.

+1

I thought they were rather pricy too when I bought mine.. I feel now though that I have gotten more then my moneys worth using it...
You have to remember too they are located in Taxifornia... Everything here is taxed and regulated to death.. If they like so many other business have leave the state for a more friendly business enviroment they could probably knock another third off the prices with no sweat..

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it the Xtracycle is an cargo add-on kit for a regular frame and the Big Dummy and Yuba Mundo are built as cargo bikes from the ground up?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it the Xtracycle is an cargo add-on kit for a regular frame and the Big Dummy and Yuba Mundo are built as cargo bikes from the ground up?

That is true so far as it goes, but the Big Dummy is designed to accept Xtracycle's accessories, while the Yuba Mundo, Kona Ute, Madsen, and Rans Hammertruck do NOT.

That would be the Kona Ute 2010. I could swear its a BD clone! I already have a BD I won last year on eBay for a steal!;)

The latter come built up while the BD is designed to work with the Xtracycle kit installed around a purpose-built longtail frame.

That would be the Kona Ute 2010. I could swear its a BD clone! I already have a BD I won last year on eBay for a steal!;)

I'm looking at the picture on Kona's website:

http://www.konaworld.com/images/bikes/med/ute.jpg

Compare it to the Big Dummy:

http://surlybikes.com/uploads/bikes/BK3166.jpg

While very similar, there are several points of difference.

Here is a picture of the Big Dummy frame:

http://surlybikes.com/uploads/frames/frame_bigDummyON.png

This will show the differences more clearly.

Not trying to bash what I think is one of the best concepts for bikes, and god knows I wish I'd bought one a couple of years ago. But Free radicals are closing in on 500 bucks now? Yeah the base set up at sub 300 is reasonable I guess, but then you got to figure in the options or build yor own( not that I object to home engineered stuff). I do like some of the new options introduced allowing for using conventional paniers....never liked those pillowcase bags with the free rad. I may just go with a B.o.B trailer.

I know times are tough and all but I don't see a free rad being worth 500 bucks. Show me the errors in my thinking please, maybe I'll buy one.
It's called inflation.
The government tries to tell you it's all in your head, but take you wallet for a walk through the nearest grocery store and you'll feel differently.

------

For what it's worth, in the last couple years at least two of the bigger recumbent-bike manufacturers in the US began to outsource at least some of the frames they used to make domestically. These are companies that made all their frames in the US for the last 30+ years.
~

@Littlefoot:

Consider how much it costs Xtracycle to make the things. Then allow for a reasonable profit. If they can't make a profit, they can't stay in business and that won't be good for anyone.

Go to your local community college and enroll in Economics 101 if you don't understand the above.

Inflation is averaging 3-5%, more for food. It's not all in your head, and the government definitely isn't trying to claim it is. The calmdown in gas prices helped some.

The big problem for inflation is that the necessities are getting expensive faster than the luxuries. So if you're rich, you're pretty happy. But if you're struggling, you're feeling it worse.

Hey there is no inflation... The cost of living did not rise last year thus no SS increases for anyone... Of course the politicians got there cost of living raise... More BS from the goverment

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs259.snc1/10632_1071830376287_1841982260

Here is what my friend rigged up with my old Free Radical from my pre-Big Dummy days.

[QUOTE=Kimmitt;7890214]
A good frame costs what, $3-400?

Depends on what yo want to use it for...

I think the xtracycle is price about right now days.Like gas back in my day gas was 23.9 to 26.9 a gal.So I am old lol.Look at it now days wow gas cost way to much but we still have to go places so why not go by bicycle sure it will take longer to get there.But your body will love it over time.Xtracycle has great stuff I put a lot of money in to my Big Dummy and the Xtracycle parts lets me do what I want to do save gas money and live a better life well I hope anyway.I look at it this way when I am gone where will your money be it want be with you so use it while you can and start to have fun riding again.My 2 cents anyway.P.S I do want to order a Xtracycle kit later in 2012 for my Surly LHT.

I didnt know the Xtracycle existed until about this time last year. At the time, my wife and I were lookig to do more outdoor stuff with the kids and her and I had been really into cycling versus driving everywhere. So the kids were getting older and we thought it was time for biking to make a comeback into out lives. We soon realized that backpacks werent a good way to make quick grocery runs and the trailer was full of kids. Then I saw someone on Bikeforums that had an Xtra. I was sold on the concept and the following spring I made my purchase for the add-on kit, Flightdeck, H-racks and Freeloaders. I have loved this so much that I bought a slightly used setup to install on my wife's bike. I've carried kids and groceries and even have a bracket to carry a standard bike (without rider) on the back of my Xtra. I lost weight, saved gas, and spent many hours just pedalling around with the family. Sure it's a little extra weight to ride with on the days I dont need to carry stuff, but it is convenient for the days I didnt plan to carry stuff and had last minute plans to grab groceries or Friday night beer runs on my way home from work.

So is the new FreeRadical worth $500? TO me, it is, and that's all that matters! ;)

As long as the company is providing a decent living for its employees and their familys. Then no, it's not.

It's too much for me though. I work in manufacturing, and understand that there is a lot of work in it, almost as much as a full frame, and can understand the price.

However that is also the problem. If I am going to pay for the work of a full frame I may as well buy a full frame. Over here the Freeradical kit is £449.99. A Yuba Mondo frame is £499. I'd rather have the rigidity and attached frame rails of a designed solution.

It's a shame, but when the "Bodge" costs as much as "Doing it properly" it's hard for me to make a case. (I know those are loaded terms and there is more to the choice, I'm just trying to illustrate my thinking.)

Yeah but that $500 is just for the Mundo frame, you still need all the tires/wheels/gearsets/everything else and the bags are quite a bit more expensive for the Mundo than for an Xtra. The $500 you spend on the FreeRadical will get you the frame extension, conversion hardware, and bags/racks. Ready to use with just about any non-rear suspended bike. May not hold as much as the Mundo so if weight capacity is your thing, then the FreeRadical probably isnt for you. And the FreeRadical isnt a "bodge" just as much as the Mundo isnt "doing it properly", they're just different options to get you hauling cargo with something that rides almost like a regular bike versus using a trailer or a trike.

As long as the company is providing a decent living for its employees and their familys. Then no, it's not.

It's too much for me though. I work in manufacturing, and understand that there is a lot of work in it, almost as much as a full frame, and can understand the price.

However that is also the problem. If I am going to pay for the work of a full frame I may as well buy a full frame. Over here the Freeradical kit is £449.99. A Yuba Mondo frame is £499. I'd rather have the rigidity and attached frame rails of a designed solution.

It's a shame, but when the "Bodge" costs as much as "Doing it properly" it's hard for me to make a case. (I know those are loaded terms and there is more to the choice, I'm just trying to illustrate my thinking.)

Typically the bodge take an unused old mtb frame and makes it useful.

Mundos are great, but they are heavier.

Deleted for pointlessness.

Yes, with a plethora of options out there... Big Dummy, Sun Cargo Bike, Yuba Mundo, etc... The Extra Cycle is relatively expensive compared to those options. I mean, I can get a Sun Cargo bike brand new for slightly more than the cost of an Extra Cycle. The Extra Cycle is definitely a great idea, but in my book if I was looking at a long-tail option, I'd probably be looking elsewhere. Of course, I have a couple of great trailers, so I won't be looking for a long tail anytime in the near future.

Again with the Sun Atlas Cargo, the price is $680 for just the bike, this doesnt include any racks/decks/bags. Add $300 for the stuff to carry cargo and you've doubled the cost of the FreeRadical. But if you're looking at basic kit costs (so it's an apples to apples comparision), the FreeRadical is now $200; quite a bit cheaper than the Mundo or Atlas Cargo and you re-utilize your current bike.

Dollar value is nice and all, but what about performance, and durability? When you buy a cargo bike from the ground up, it's designed around the cargo platform. So it is stiffer, lighter (relative to load capacity) and the stress on the frame is less.

Add $300 for the stuff to carry cargo and you've doubled the cost of the FreeRadical.

you forgot the cost of the bike attached to the freeradical :)

you forgot the cost of the bike attached to the freeradical :)

Not it you have an old mountain bike laying around. Many times they have better components than those that come with the Sun. Don't get me wrong, no matter how you look at it, longbikes aren't cheap. Personally, I am so glad I bit the bullet and got one (I got a good deal on a used bike with x-tracycle kit). I am doing so much more biking now and having a lot of fun running errands and haulings stuff with it.

I knew when I saw them, I was going to have to have one. I didn't even have a bicycle when I ordered my Freeradical. I feel that it is worth every penny I have spent, even with buying a new bike to attach the Freeradical to.

just looking it seems that some of the radish options are not that pricy......

http://www.xtracycle.com/cargo-bicycles/radish-cargo-bike.html