chevelle2291

Okay, after shopping around for a good, cheap crit bike, I've narrowed my decision down to two choices. A local hole-in-the-wall LBS is selling a 2006 Fuji Roubaix RC for $1200. The bike felt good when I test rode it, and it handled much better than my current bike (a Lemond Tourmalet). My second option is a BD Motobecane Le Champion SL (Please no booing ). I've read on this forum that the SL is the exact same frame as the 2004 Fuji Team SL and the bike has the same group (Ultegra) as the Roubaix but is about a pound lighter in stock form than the Roubaix. The Champion is also $1200. Tomorrow, I'm going to try and talk my LBS down to around $1,000 which I think might very well be possible. Also, my LBS has offered to give me a set of race wheels of my choice for about 25% off, which I may or may not buy (I'm a teenager, funds are tight), as well as a set of Diamante tires along with the Roubaix. To give more information, I'm not exactly mechanically inclined, so I would take the Motobecane to another LBS (who I had bought the Lemond from) for assembly, which may cost me around $50. As of now, I'm leaning towards the Roubaix, but I'm not 100% yet as the Motobecane is lighter and has a quality frame as well. If you guys could please weigh in on both bikes and give your opinions I would greatly appreciate it!

Links:
https://www.fujibikes.com/2006/bikes.asp?id=126
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../lechamp08.htm

Motman320

Don't do it.

MONGO!

Don't give BD $1200.

Also, good luck offering $200 off the marked price, most stores are on tight markups and the price you see is the price you pay.
You'll have more luck working on wheel upgrades, accessories etc.

Anyway, in short, if that's your only two options get the Fuji.

weavers

i also say upgrade your current bike. what don't you like about your current bike? do you think its to heavy, to old to ride? do you feel every bump in the road? or is it a fit issue?

the Motobecane does look pretty sweet.

ridethecliche

If you know your size and what geometry you need, go with the motobecane. You may need to buy a different stem to get your fit just right though. You should probably overhaul the BB and swap it if it's a chin haur though, so that's about 50 bucks for the build 50 bucks for a new part...

At the price you're looking at, I'd go for a CAAD9 with 105. 1300 bucks, less if it's an older model.

Val23708

2 year old bike they cant sell off? there are much better deals.

as ridethecliche said, id go for a CAAD9 +105 if you're really looking for a crit bike.

chevelle2291

Weavers, I still enjoy the bike I have now, but I feel like the geometry itself is the problem, not the bike's components or weight. After riding the Roubaix, I definitely got a feel for what a more race-oriented bike's geometry feels like and, I may be wrong here, but I don't think that can be replicated on my Lemond. My bike fits pretty well, but I would really like a bike with a mostly Ultegra groupset.

Cliche, yea I've also been looking at the CAAD9, the only problem is that I'd have to switch out the 105 for Ultegra (after trying Ultegra out on the Fuji, I definitely don't want to go back to 105). I know you can buy just the frame and I have another LBS looking into their warehouse to see what they have in stock. But, as far as I know, the cheapest I could put an Ultegra groupset on is around $700 (please tell me if I'm wrong here), by buying from probikekit.com and having my LBS assemble it on the frame (probably around $50 for labor). I know I could sell the CAAD9's 105 group on ebay and I am still considering doing just that (I had another thread where I was discussing the CAAD9, but it wasn't getting much attention ). Do you think, though, that I would really notice a difference with the CAAD9 over the Roubaix? I've heard that its a great frame, but how would it compare to the Roubaix? Also, I've looked on ebay for my size in the CAAD9 (size 56), but have had no luck. Same deal on Craigslist.

Thanks for your guys' input, though, I do appreciate it.