Take the "Cooper" name off the bike (photo above) and spec out a "lesser" bike to match components and with no name. Could anyone tell you the which one is better? Would there be a consensus? My point is that there are only so many "geometries" to work with when it comes to road bikes. True you have touring frames, track and TT, etc....but in the general sense of it all, there is very limited choices. Add to that the differences between the component groups...what makes one groupo $500 better than another? Yes there is a difference between a $79 Wally World and a Trek 520 but is there really that much a difference between a $2000 bike and a $5000 bike? Why are some brands coveted more than others? History? Longevity? Tour winners?....who's to say that bike on the other thread, the Roan isn't just as good as the "Cooper" above? Maybe it is but the manufacturer of the company sucked as a business man and failed....just because you have a great product doesn't mean you are going to succeed. My point being is that there really is no difference in bikes in the general sense. It's like saying Ford is better than Chevy and Dodge makes a better truck than Ford. Really? They all get from point A to point B. They all carry and tow a great deal....only when you have a specific need (chore) do the differences come into play and a decision is needed but for general knock around town and runs to the nursery and Home Depot.....any will do just fine and in that respect, none is better than the other. I apply the same to bikes.

And no...this is not a troll.....I just wanted to read what everyone had to say, if anything at all. Just because I didn't post a reply or a "defense" in a timely manner in which you thought I should have does not constitute a troll.

This one?

Easily! Try picking up the bike. Low end steel bikes weigh a lot more.

If the rest of your post is regarding quality among different brands, there is a little bit of personal opinion among us all. I truly appreciate Fuji frames and would toss my Design Series up among far more well known makes as an equal bike. It was a very expensive frame when new, but it hasn't achieved the value of other high end frames for that time period.

I'm ok with that though. If it were equally expensive, I never would have been able to afford it.

I also have several other Fuji bikes, from the DS/Pros to a hi-ten Special Road Racer. They are all comfortable and I enjoy riding them all, but if I feel like going really fast, the Special Road Racer(SRR) isn't the one to choose.

If I am going over slightly more rough terrain or moving at a casual pace, the SRR is far more suited.

No offense intended to the OP - I just figured a blanket statement like "all bikes are the same" was intended to elicit a ton of "no they ain't!!!" posts, with escalating (and maybe not-so-nice) comments. My bad if that was not the intention (I'll go wash my car now...)

Mr. Garrison's bike - what episode is that from? That's hilarious.

I could tell my two bikes from each other by their performance alone. They have a near identical parts spec and setup, and perform about equally, but I can tell the difference every time I ride. It's amazing how similar two things can be, and yet how different. No two models/ setups of bike have yet felt the same to me. Just as no two pianos have aver sounded the same to me.

Yes. All bikes are the same.

Same with beer.

And women(!)

Right, they all have two wheels.

I read an article about marketing some years ago. The point was that adverts are designed to inspire feelings in the viewer that force them to make the purchase. I would assume that a certain combo or colors, materials, shapes and textures attract each of us to something about our bikes.

It would be a bit much to expect people to know and tell truthfully what the attraction is. Thick chrome plating with tiny speckles of rust makes me tingle but care nothing for truck bumpers.

ftwelder...that's funny stuff.

They didn't win the TDF, either.

All bikes are created the same....all bikes are created the same....

Words of wisdom, according to Regan....

Where did you ever get the idea that all bikes are the "same" ?

Many, many years ago a friend of mine and I returned to bicycling with the bikes we already had. Mine was the '81 RRA and his was an '82 or '83 Nishiki 12 speed. The two were nearly identical, even down to color. Both were low end, pretty and heavy.

When we became serious and decided to update I found Cannondale to be exactly what I wanted and he went with Bianchi. Both were the first bikes we rode that fit our personal ideal. As much as I like C'Dale road bikes, I prefer Trek mountain bikes. My friend initially went with a Rock Hopper and then switched to a Trek for the slightly different geometry.

Except for the possible exception with the Raleigh/Nishiki they're all at least just a little bit different, but different enough to matter... one would expect me to also like a Klein, but there's something that puts it behind the C'Dale for me.

Brad

PS A non bicycle difference can be found in electric guitars. I prefer Gibson, others prefer Fender... they're both just guitars, right? Well, not to those that play.

One of the big cycling magazines did a test of several steel framed bikes, This was from the 1980's. They ranged in quality from Columbus Aelle up to real nice expensive frames. In a blind test, the Aelle framed bike was perceived as the best riding.
I once had a copy of the actual article & it has been discussed in this forum before. Maybe someone can post it.

Sure, but the two biggest factors, in my belief, are fit and tires. Not the frame. The frame is the most expensive piece of the bike, so it's wise to choose it well, but that doesn't make it the thing that makes the most difference.

I like to think bikes are like wine. For the majority of people, when it comes to wine, it is glaringly obvious we know what we DON"T like, same goes for riding a a"bad" bike. But distinguishing between a $15 bottle and a $150 bottle, well....that's a very tough nut to crack. Check this video out by John Cleese, https://www.hulu.com/watch/79439/wine-for-the-confused he conducts a blind test with interesting results.

I think bikes are the same way.....can you tell the difference between a $2000 bike and a $5000 bike? My butt says no....for me at least.

I doubt I can tell the difference between a $2000 bike and a $5000 bike. And I'll bet there is little, if any, functional difference. But I can certainly tell the difference between a $400 bike and a $2000 bike!

Probably not, but I can tell the difference between a $200 bike and a $2000 bike, which is more in line with your wine comparison. My butt can tell the difference between a $15 saddle and a $150 dollar saddle though.

Mine can't. Hmm, maybe I haven't tried a $150 saddle. Oh wait, I have a Brooks Pro. I do like that. But I also have a gel saddle which looks like hell, but I love it.

This is the link to the article comparing 7 different Columbus frames made by Mondonico. The tester could not differentiate an Aelle frame from an SLX with all said and done. Very interesting article.

https://www.habcycles.com/m7.html

My perspective is that it's all about getting out & riding! If a $75 bike from Craigslist get you out & riding, It did it's job.
If a $7000 carbon bike makes you ride, It's worth the money. If being a fan of great workmanship makes you happy, be happy with that.

When are you stopping by to visit ?

You can take the Cooper out for a ride (hope you can ride a 56cm) and will set up a test ride on a custom Arvon touring bike and see if we can find a spot where you can ride no handed at 35-40 mph.

And then we can talk about frames and forks...

Sixty Fiver, we couldn't go ahead with our grand trip plans. Maybe next year. Money is tight.

When are you getting married!?

Yup, you are 100% correct. And because they're the same, I'm going to sell you a GREAT bike for $100. I know you're going to be interested because it's a Centurion Ironman, the rare metallic burgundy model or was it that Huffy I picked up, but hey, you don't care because they're all the same.
Please have cash ready, I don't take checks.