MPStevens

I've been riding an old Raleigh for a couple of months now, and it's getting to be a little scary at times. I've decided to fork over the cash for a new/used bike. At first I went to my LBS (Brielle Cyclery) in NJ and was suggested the Trek 1.2. After doing some research, it looked like the bike had some shifting troubles, and the LBS only had the triple in stock. I'm now considering spending the extra money for a better built bike that I would keep for years, and the Cannondale CAAD9 6 caught my eye. LBS has my size(54)/model(black/double) in stock, for $1,119. I"m having trouble finding quality used bikes for sale locally, craigslist is a joke.

I will be riding alone about 75% of the time, with 4-6 man group rides on the weekends. Mostly flat land, unless I take trips up north. I'm shooting for at least 4 rides a week at 20 miles (IBSP), with 40m+ rides on the weekends.

Just looking for some expert opinions

JeffS

The CAAD9 would be a nice frame, probably the best you could get in that price range.

$1200 goes a LONG way on ebay though. I would rather see you buy used, but that's just me...

jr05

Well, I am new to the whole road biking scene but I can give some input.

I have recently been looking heavily into the CAAD9 5 ($1299). It was the best bike I have tested (giant tcr c3, trek 5000, specialized allez). It rode very smoothly and had a lot of get up and go. For what you are looking to spend (similar to me) it appears to be a great bike. I am not sure if you have test ridden the CAAD9 6, but I have tried out a few bikes with less than 105 components and had some shifting issues which may have just been a tuning issue....but all the 105+ bikes worked perfect for me.

All I can really say for sure though is buy the bike that fits the best. A better frame will not help if it doesn't fit right. A lot of 54cm frames were pretty close to a good fit for me, but the cannondale 54 was noticeably larger for me than the other 54s. I ended up having the bike shop order me a 52 and will be trying it out this weekend hopefully.

Good luck and hopefully my newbie comments were some sort of help.

mgmoore7

If you can figure out the right size, I would buy used on ebay or craigslist in a heartbeat. With craigslist, you just have to be patient and check multiple times per day.

$1200 can buy you a very, very nice used bike in great condition probably with full ultegra.

bvfrompc

I highly recommend the CAAD9, I have a CAAD8 and it has been great. That said, my wife was in that price range and went with the Felt F85, another great bike at that price point without the frame heritage. It would be between those two for me. She liked that it came standard with a compact crank, great components, and one of the nicer set of OEM wheels at that price point.

curiouskid55

I have been trying to buy a CAAD anything on ebay for months with no succes in that price range. In my experience people pay very close to or over retail most of the time on ebay. However your size is much more typical than mine so maybe you will have better luck.

Amen

I hate to do this... BUT

If you spend a couple more bucks by going here for a frame....

https://pedalforce.com/online/product...3c67a9386416bc

And here for everything else.....
https://gvhbikes.com/

You can have a carbon fiber bike with 105 groupset, for about $1400. Plus maybe 150 for assembly if you cant do it yourself.

JeffS

Out of curiosity, what size are you?

I'm an XL/61/63 and I have no problems buying like-new bikes for 50% of retail (as long as you're not trying to buy a Trek). It would seem to be much easier in some of the smaller sizes where there are much more bikes to choose from.

Ex:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Cannondale-Six13...QQcmdZViewItem

bonerfortuna

FWIW, I just got a size 63 CAAD9 triple in Brooklyn from a great shop for 1119$ . If you want more info I will post here but Im not sure of the rules the site has. Peter

Zouf

I know what you mean, the CAAD9 was one of my used bike buy options last year, and I fished around for a size 56 frame for months - most would go (frame alone) for $800-900, which is far from yielding a full bike in the $1100-1200 range. But if you go off the beaten track a little, i.e. stay off C'dale, Trek and Specialized, you can find a really nice complete bike in the $1200 range, with Ultegra-level. I found a 1-yr old Kestrel Evoke with Ultegra for <$1500, for example. And *just* missed a CAAD9 with Campy Record, Ksyrium wheels, SI crankset, for around the same price... So there are certainly great used deals in the $1200-1500 area.

parabellum

I am on a CAAD3 as my first bike....$700 with ultegras and the carbon fork.

Just a thought...if you go used you can get a LOT of bike for your $$.

jr05

Used is great, but if you are just starting out (like me) you may save a lot on the bike, then spend a lot throughout the year with repairs, fitting, etc.

You have to also take into consideration the in shop discounts if you buy new. Lots of shops offerdiscounts, just make sure you work something out with them before you agree to buy. For me, it looks like it is going to be a better investment to go for a new cannondale and get the free Serotta fitting, 1 year of adjustments, and 20% off all accessories than to buy a used bike and pay for all that stuff when I will most likely need it.

YMMV

MPStevens

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'll keep sifting through Craigslist and Ebay looking for a good used bike. I'm looking to buy within the next two weeks, so I can't wait for any group buys, thanks though.

What about a Bottecchia CF662? This 2008 Motobecane Immortal Pro looks like a decent deal. I'll head over to my LBS later this week to try out a few more bikes, before I was only looking at the sub $1k range. I just want to ride!

edzo

join the shame train
1200 bucks will go long at bikesdirect


/not a shill
//just sayin
///I have one motobecane and I love it

parabellum

Yeah...wow....my LSD gave me a free fitting, free additional fittings and free adjustments for the next month even with my used bike.

I guess it pays to shop both for bikes AND bike shops. :-)

stapfam

I would go cheaper. The first bike is only to show you the size- type and quality of the bike you should have got in the first place. Second bike, that comes within a year, is the only to show you what your 3rd bike should be.

Madisonian

I'm in the same position as the OP, and I got a chance to ride a CAAD 9 this past weekend...I gotta say, after riding a few other bikes in this price range, I was surprised at how smooth and responsive the frame was. Has anyone else ridden/owned a Felt 75/85? I've pretty much narrowed it down between those two and the CAAD9 6 in my price range ($1300), and was looking for impressions.

Lividkoi

SCOTT SPEEDSTER FRAMES:

How do these compare with the CAAD frames????

bailcash09

That looks like the group buy frame. Try searching the bottechia bikesdirect group buy and you should get some good results. I haven't heard anything bad so far - that looks like a good deal, IMHO.

SingeDebile

Ive seen some beautiful custom spectrum bikes (even in titanium) go for that much on ebay... I think that would be your best option, unless you HAVE to have something new.

curiouskid55

Speedsters are pigs at almost 20 lbs.

jr05

I was referring to buying a used bike off a place such as ebay or craig's list, not through a bike shop. You have a good point though, just wish there was a good shop around here that carried used bikes....you are luckier than I.

lechat

[QUOTE=MPStevens;5985401]I've been riding an old Raleigh for a couple of months now, and it's getting to be a little scary at times .suggested the Trek 1.2. After doing some research, it looked like the bike had some shifting trouble,

scary how? is it trek 1.2's in general or just that particular one

VT to CA

+10.

The OP isn't going to appreciate the subtleties between a CAAD9 frame and a Motobecane, and he'll have top-shelf components when he wants to get a nicer frame...

I'm not hating on CAAD's, I love 'em and have owned 'em... but I saw with my own eyes a guy who had come over to buy my buddy's CAAD8 get on a BD Motobecane that was leaning against the wall (it was bought for the Record group, but had yet to be stripped) and the guy preferred the Motobecane. Said he liked the colors better (the CAAD was a raw), and that the bike felt more "compliant".

Of course, my buddy sold it to him without hesitation... stripped it down right then. The dude was ecstatic that he ended up paying less for a frame that was, in his estimation, better.

A new guy might not appreciate the subtleties of frames, but I think they will definitely appreciate ease of shifting and problem-free components. BD is great for guys starting... and no, I'm not a shill either.

BarracksSi

It's a hell of a frame; get it. If you're into aluminum, you might not find a better-framed bike for the money. If/when you wear out the components, upgrade them with some more good stuff.

I got a CAAD8 last fall, and even though it shifted funky on the test ride, I said, "Get the shifting right and I'll buy it right now." They took it into the shop, made the adjustments, and I walked out with a new, slick-shifting bike.

I may be new to road bikes, but even so, I appreciated the subtleties between the CAAD8, Synapse, Allez, and Nirone enough for me to make a confident decision.