Originally Posted by LittlePixel
<Rant> In the UK it is all a bit of a class thing. Moulton's are ridden by either a) Knighted architects and anyone that thinks being seen on a 'design classic' will gain them column inches in the weekend style section b) men of 'independent means' [ie upper class twits, royalty and other rich people] or c) enthusiasts with drooping moustaches and no friends that aren't into trains or vintage sports cars that can excuse the price as a hobby thing...
I think this is a bit of an exaggeration
While you do need to have loads of money to afford a stainless steel new series or even a new AM, most moultoneers ride the more affordable pashely APBs (now replaced by the TSR) or a classic F-frame with all the original parts replaced with modern alloy ones. The very fact that there's a constant supply of classics and APBs on eBay, suggests that there's lots of people seeking to pick up a moulton cheaply. For every moulton on ebay fetching over £1000, at least 10 go for about £100. The typical moultoneer (and lots of nice "affordable" moultons) can be seen at the annual meet up at the home of Alex Moulton in Bradford upon Avon...
http://homepage.mac.com/mikehessey/PhotoAlbum11.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/boa2005/
Originally Posted by LittlePixel
They are definitely nice bikes but madly overpriced. The Pashley ones are supposedly the 'cheap' line as they are an old design built under license from Mouton in Taiwan. Look at the actual Moulton site and you'll see how much the ultra-lightweight ones go for... I dare you!
A second hand titanium one went on eBay UK the other day for £3500 ($5500?)
Firstly, moulton do not make any titanium bikes. There are a few stainless steel models, but most are reynolds 531. The ebay one was stainless. All models, except the APB/TSR are hand made in England, and I'm pretty sure the Pashley models are made in England too not Taiwan, though I'm open to correction on that.
Most moultoneers would say that eBay is the WORST place to by a moulton. The bikes are in such demand that excessive prices are often paid on eBay by people who know no different, and this often astounds moultoneers. Someone paid £35 for a worn second hand copy of Tony Hadland's "The Moulton Bicycle", when a new copy can be easily got for £20 !! The best place to buy a second hand moulton is from the sales and wants list on the moulton bicycle club's website, or in the quarterly magazine, or at the BOA weekend. Membership of the club is only £12 per year - hardly exclusive!!
Originally Posted by LittlePixel
The problem is that they are elitist and old fashioned in their outlook - a bit like Rolls Royce or Bentley were before they were bought by someone else that knows a few things about selling heritage to more than the few. You are paying for all that hand-built exclusivity and prestige - if they were mass produced they'd probably be about half to 2/3rds the price, and just as good - but then the proletariat might start riding them and we wouldn't want that would we now?
</rant>
Comparing a Roller or a Bentley to a Moulton is a bit far fetched. Moultons are light, rigid, comfortable. They have consistently challenged the design of the conventional bicycle. Moulton designs have never been old fashioned.
You are correct about mass production, though. If they were mass produced and cleverly marketed, they would sell much more. I'm sure there is an element of being different (as distinct from being exclusive) that attracts some people to moultons. People who like to be seen to be different, and hate following the pack. If they became too popular/common, these would move on to something else. But there is a certain satisfaction in knowing that your bike has been designed and manufactured because the designer believed that every detail was appropriate for the design, and not because it would be easier to sell, from a marketing point of view. Words like Rohloff or titanium have not appeared in the moulton line up, despite demands from fans, because Alex Moulton isn't yet satisfied with their implementation. He doesn't just throw them into a design to increase sales.
patrido
owner of an APB and a 64 deluxe