Thoughts on this video - why do high-end bikes cost so much?
 

How is it you can have bicycles that cost more than a decent motorcycle?

If you've seen this video, do you think there any fallacies in what he talks about?

Bicycle Truth: Weight Scam - True cost of riding - YouTube

Someone has to pay for all of the freebies that are handed out.

The Man was Spot On !! :thumb: :thumb: That's something more people need to see.

-stated in the first few mins, the video is for recreational cyclists and doesn't apply to racing
-then proceeds to compare high end racing bikes to recreational cyclist needs

major fallacy right there, pulling examples from outside the stated context/pretence

no, I'm not sitting thru 30 mins more when there's already an obvious issue with the argument

That is the point. 99 percent of the people out there spending their HARD earned money on bikes and equipment don't need most of what is thrown at them just because some weight weenie roadie salesman says so. Nuf Said.

implying Conspicuous Consumption isn't a valid reason

A rider that does 4000 miles per year, and a 17 mph average, rides 235 hours per year. After 4 years, that's 940 hours. So, writing off the whole cost of a $6000 bike in just 4 years, it's costing $6.38 per hour. Is that worth it to you? Go buy the bike. If not, keep riding your other bike.

Are there posts on car forums about not needing the $5000 package of leather seats, fancy wheels, upgraded sound system, and LED headlights?

Get the same in Korea. Somehow to be 'serious' you must have a 5000 dollar bike. I disagree. Past 1500-2000 the differences aren't worth it.

Probably.

But it's their money, so they can spend it on whatever they want.

The buy the bicycles they want ... because they can. :)

Who said purchases are - or should be - purely about "need" anyway?

The short version - what justification is there for *any* bicycle under any circumstances costing more than a motorcycle that has a fuel delivery system, ignition, transmission, water cooling, suspension, etc. etc. - i.e. a far more complex and intricately engineered vehicle with exponentially more material?

Because someone is willing to spend THEIR money on such a bicycle.

+1

And we can do what we want to do. :)

The justification is that there are consumers willing to pay the asking price. Sale price for any item is based on what the market will bear, not the cost of manufacture.

For some reason this reminds me of the high cost of an education and the increasing divide between the haves and the have nots...

"We are privileged simply because we can afford to be privileged"..."Let them eat cake..."

Oh boy, here we go again! :rolleyes:

Sounds to me like whining about living in the land of plenty.

It's true, bicycles come in a price range that's enormously wide. Everybody gets to choose where in that price range they are comfortable. What I don't get are the skoffers who feel the need to criticize others for their bike price range choice as being either too high or too low. I'd think that if you were really comfortable with your own choice you wouldn't feel compelled to do that.

Most bicycle units are purchased from Xmart stores. I personally don't believe that a bicycle purchased from an Xmart store should be considered as a bike being a "comfortable" choice within that price range. For the most part, people buy what they can afford. Unfortunately, most people can't afford a heck of a lot. The majority of Americans today are just a few pay checks away from applying for food stamps. Of course, this also includes many so-called "middle class" Americans.

Sure, we would all like to have the best bike at the top of the line, just like we'd all prefer to eat steak and drink Mango juice, as opposed to just bread and water. The problem lies in the fact that thus far, humans have proven themselves to be far too ignorant, greedy, and corrupt, to address the essential needs of the world's human problems.

It's still a dog eat dog world, where only a minority will thrive.

Class Envy?

Just because the pros ride a $10K bike doesn't mean you have to .. just like there is a VW and a Porsche, car buyer ..

My first bike was a $99 Huffy [admittedly I was younger].

My second bike was a ~$400 Trek Hybrid that I still ride and love.

Looking at maybe getting a cyclocross or a higher end hybrid mostly for the upgraded brakes/wheels/frame but it's certainly not necessary - I will get by just fine on my Trek I have now but I have some money and I really like the way the newer bikes look and the upgraded brakes are a big one for me - the rest is just nice to have.

If you think a bike is too expensive the solution is simple -> don't buy it :).

Agree completely. I think it is both arrogant and condescending for any one person to presume that their subjective and personal assessment of value should be applicable to all.

$4000 motorcycle???
A Race-ready competition motorcycle can be 10x that.

Please, no one say they actually watched that whole video? I gave it 5minutes-- mostly because I got distracted picking my toes for a moment-- but nonetheless, 5 minutes, and now I'm angry about it. That narrator was a bore and a nerd. Very unappealing and uninteresting, and I'll tell you what, I'd spend thousands on bike just to be sure no one confuses me with a loser like that.

The justification is that bicycles are manufactured in much smaller volumes than motorcycles so the manufacturing costs are higher. Bicycles also require custom fitting so the distribution costs end up being a little higher.

Agree with you.