Originally Posted by unterhausen

I have to admit to having sticker shock after ignoring bike prices since the early '80s.
Two data points: a Paramount went for just under $500 in 1975, and I remember the name Italian bikes going for $750 or so at that time. By 1980, you could easily spend $1500 at the top end on an Italian bike. So we are talking $2500 to almost $4000. Sure, the top end is more than that now, but you can do pretty well for $4k. And depending on your perspective, today's $1500 bikes are probably better bikes than the top of the line bikes from 1980. But I didn't say that in C&V