TarmacDude

Been looking at some bikes at bikesdirect and have been thinking about buying another road bike there. How would these brands compare? Is it pretty much the same with a different brand slapped on the frame? Would you say a Motobecane road bike from bikesdirect is of comparable quality to a specialized bike with similar components?

z415

I say you get what you pay for. If you can find a Motob that is similarly priced to a Tarmac, they will be similar.`

obliterator

I bet theres not too many people who ride a tarmac and have also sampled a motobecane. Ask road bike action magazine to do a comparison for you.

Pugsly

ya know, I was thinking the same thing about cars. There's a Hyundai that looks a lot like a Mercedes. I'm thinking its just a rebadged Mercedes.

patentcad

The automotive press reviews of the Hyundai Genesis have been stellar, and Road and Track for one finds the car comparable to cars that cost $20K more. The only question they have is whether people will spend $35K+ on a Hyundai. I'd say you could make a similar argument about many BD models vs. the big name brands. My BD Motobecane MTB certainly feels like a $5K+ bicycle. It cost $2K.

Pugsly

LOL, you BD and Hyundai shill

patentcad

It's your dough Fred.

kwrides

My PC feels like a Mac

sced

Smell the coffee.
https://money.cnn.com/2009/01/08/auto...ion=2009011110

I've had a Hyundai for 5 years and it's been flawless. Given Mercedes' poorer quality/reliability ratings during these years, gas guzzling products, and stupid prices, ask yourself, what kind of a person buys a Mercedes?

lukasz

There's a world of difference between two metal triangles welded together and a modern automobile. And besides, Mercedes quality control sucks while Hyundai is the new Toyota.

kshapero

back to the original discussion, Components are components. But frames that's another story. Check out: www.neuvationcycling.com if mail order is your thing.

captnfantastic

Check out the bottechia frame on bikeisland...

It is a no-badge carbon frameset for like $500 or something...

Identical to the Pedalforce, which is a frame you can find TONS of reviews on.

We gotta make a sticky with links to all our hundreds of pedalforce, motobecane, bikesdirect, and $400 carbon chinese ebay threads...

...then again if we did that the forum would rarely see a new thread.

yogi13

Identical to which PF? It certainly doesn't look like my RS2...though the Ribble Sportive Racing bike now on sale at https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ does.

BTW, bikeisland.com is the bikesdirect.com owned site for selling components..

captnfantastic

It's the same as the RS, not the RS2. The only difference is the width of the carbon weave.

gettingold

Sorry, a Hyundai may look like a merc and it may be a much better value, but it in no way, shape or form drives like a mercedes.

DrPete 

This is all based on the extremely faulty assumption that all carbon frames are created equal, when in reality there's as much as--if not more--potential variability in quality of construction than with any other frame material, and most people (myself included) don't understand those nuances.

invwnut

Depends on the Mercedes. They don't have the same feel like they used to. Too much fat and soft suspensions for the American drivers. They don't like the harsh rides....

As for the MB to Tarmac, I don't really know. Some say you get what you paid for but then again is the Tarmac overpriced because of the Specialized name? You pay a large price just for the Specialized name. How bad is the frame on a MB?

intence

I don't own a BD bike, nor have I ever owned one. Trek, Specialized, and almost every other mainstream bike company has their bikes made in one of a handful of factories in Taiwan or China. Usually the lower end stuff comes from China, higher end from Taiwan. Trek fortunately still makes their top-end stuff in the USA.

These same factories (Giant, Ideal, Merida) may produce frames for multiple companies based on their spec. Sometimes the spec may call for something proprietary or tubing that is unique. In other cases you may find the same frame or very similar frames rebranded and repainted under various names.

The rest of the parts are "off the shelf" whether they're Shimano, SRAM, or Campy. A bike with Tiagra parts thrown onto an Aluminum "Trek" frame are not going to be much different that a bike with the same components, using a frame made in the same factory assuming both frames have the same tubing, aluminum/carbon types, and geometry.

Sadly, many of the "bike" companies are no longer in the bicycle manufacturing business. They simply do the marketing/promotion and distribution of bicycles. This is especially true for their lower-end offerings.

What you do get with a brand is hopefully better customer service, and support from your local shop. If you took a low end Trek or Giant or Specialized and stripped the paint off the frame, and then did the same with a similarly equipped BD bike, i'm betting you'd have a hard time telling the difference.

wfrogge

Both are made by ADK... cheaper to buy it from ebay than PF

mgbguy

You're right. IMHO the Genesis drives and rides much better. And I'll bet the paint won't peel off and the buttons fall into the dash like they did on my M-class.

intence

Comparing to the auto industry is not accurate (although currently it appears that Hyundai does have better quality than MB). Automakers typically do not share entire engines, body panels and other major components. They may purchase from the same suppliers but it's not like bikes where the frames come out of the SAME factory along with IDENTICAL components.

kwrides

My local brewery makes ales and stouts in the same factory with the same workers. Does that make them both the same beer?

nycphotography

Correlation: 1.0000

TimothyF

Very happy with my BD Windsor Tourist. Looks like the Fuji Touring bike. I can't compare to the >1000 dollar bikes, as I have never owned one. But I like what I have and I feel like I got a great deal.

Mash Master

Well I have a Motocambe Titanium bike and I love it. My co-worker is a master welder and he examined it very closely and he was impressed with all the welds as well. So call me a shill I really don't give a $#&$. it is a good bike, I thought they stopped making them so what do I know...