Just to chime in... IME there is a huge difference between an entry-level bike and one that costs $1000+. For me I could feel the difference just pushing the bike out of the store for a test ride. Tighter tolerances, sealed bearings, and smoother action lend themselves to a quality feel that cannot be matched by lesser bikes. That's not to say that a decent new bike can't be had for $300 - $400, or even less for that matter, it's that the difference between that bike and one that costs 3 to 4 times as much is palpable.