What is specialized smoking?
 

$3000

http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...+Pro&Type=bike

Low end SRAM, Cheap Wheels, MTB shifters, Commuter bike.

It's because of the Zertz inserts. They're made of unicorn hooves.

1. It's a full carbon frame w/matching fork. Trek's FX 7.9 is full carbon, I'm sure there are others out there.
2. Unsure of SRAM gruppo's, but I think that SRAM low-end is equal to Shimano mid-line, like Tiagra.
3. Kinda hard to mount brifters to a flat-bar, don't you think?

Lots of folks out there want a fast bike but are scared to death of drop bars. The high end Sirrus is basically a Roubaix with flat bars. The Roubaix has been a great "comfort" road bike for Specialized over the past few years winning their share of races on less-than-perfect road surfaces. The Roubaix model was named for the infamous Paris-Roubaix race that runs racers over dirt/mud/cobbles for sadistic fun.

Anyway...people buy the Sirrus if they want a true high performance machine with flat bars and a snazzy carbon frame and fork that won't rattle their teeth out in the real world. The whole Sirrus line also tracks better than their Tarmac (full blown carbon roadie machine), more stable at any speed (less twitchy), and way more comfy (vertical compliance) yet stiff as hell laterally. Flat bars can only add to the feeling of stability.

For me...drop bars please. Otherwise, it's a pretty b@d@$$ ride. The $$$ are in the frame mostly.

That's just Specialized for you. :rolleyes:

It's an all-carbon bike... of course they'll cost a bit more, even just for the frame... And the SRAM Rival group is on par with Shimano 105... so it's not a bad group. $3k is a little steep, but there is a big jump from aluminum frame to carbon frame. Like others mentioned... people who want a fast(er) road bike who aren't used to a drop bar are probably running out of options, and willing to pay a premium.

SRAM Rival is actual on the Shimano Ultegra level... if not better.

Reasons why it's expensive
Fact 9m full carbon frame w/ Zertz inserts
SRAM Rival groupset
Specialized components (stem, saddle, seatpost, etc.)

$3000 is a bit much, but I could see why it costs that much.

that was 2009? it is now 2011 so $1900

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...01&scname=Road

+1 Specialized has a tendency of doing things their own way which usually emphasizes performance and racing. The Sirrus started life as a budget racing bike. This happens to be an 88 Sirrus:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=176752

and this is the same model bike roughly 20 years apart:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=176756

The '88 has a very lively responsive ride and the 07 is what I would describe as more stable, but I'd have no qualms riding or racing in a century on either bike.

Modern Sirrus convert very nicely to drop bars.:thumb::p:D

:D :lol::roflmao2::roflmao:

I thought they were made of Unobtaineum blessed by the Pope, forged in the fires lit by 13 vestal virgins and then reposed in the hold of the Titanic and only small samples brought up every 10 years..:rolleyes:

I didn't know you could get double tap shifters for flat bars. I wonder what that would be like? Anyway, the cassette would bother me on this bike.

I actually like Specialized Sirrus bikes, when I got into serious commuting over two years ago I bought a Sirrus because I wanted something fast but I didn't want to bother with drop bars because I was doing mostly city biking. A few years before they made some models with disc brakes which I wish they would bring back, I would almost be tempted to buy one again if they did.

Actually they have brought back the Sirrus Disc: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...port%2FFitness In fact compared to the '04 version they flipped the disc mount to inside the triangle so it won't interfere with a rear rack.

the sirrus disc is awful, especially the disc brakes. wish the they would bump the price and spec up. its current form is very lacking

I have the same brakes on my Norco (Shimano BR-M416); my bike can stop on a dime and give change. ;) Perhaps not as user-friendly as the venerable Avid BB7, nor do they have the awesome modulation of hydraulics, but IMHO they're great brakes nonetheless.

I'd like to ask the same question to most bike companies. When so so quality mountain bikes cost $2000 dollars, When a "real" mountain bike for 5 year old kids bike costs $300- $400cdn. Real meaning Not heavier than my bike and comes with front hand brakes. Not two rear brakes.
Sorry, probably the wrong place for my little rant.
Shawn

Maybe to you. Personally I like prefer Ultegra in function and appearance.

When I saw this thread I was wondering how smoking could be a specialized activity...


Anyway...I remember when I was looking for my first nice bike commuter the Sirrus was the sweetest hybrid out there that I saw. If I had enough cash I would have paid for it and it wasn't that exciting when I look at what is out there now. It was so light smooth and sweet looking. Anyway, I think I probably was better served by the lightly used Marin Muirwoods that I bought at a used bike shop. I have a friend that was looking at a $1000+ flatbar hybrid (roadbike or whatever you want to call it) before he spent all his extra cash buying tricked out Mini Cooper. There is a market for the flat bar road/hybrid bike.

With bike pricing, mostly you get what the sum of the parts adds up to. For a commuter it seems extravagant, but for other consumers it is just a fancy toy.

So much depends on the user. Quality touring bikes can easily be in this price range with all the amenities. The bikes used on the Tour de France are about 12 to 15K each because they only make a few of each and the materials are top notch. There's also paying for brand panache, for sure. Just witness what Colnago and the other Italian brands can get away with. As for Specialized, they probably won't sell many of these but it builds brand prestige. Sort of a loss leader from a marketing point of view. Helps them sell more of the less expensive bikes by association.

In 2009 specialty bike retailers sold most bikes in the 500 dollar range, but a small slice of the pie keeps buying 5,000 dollar bikes so the manufacturers keep making them.
http://nbda.com/articles/industry-ov...-2009-pg34.htm

It's all about market segmentation, like with cars, cameras, homes, or any other good. The median income in the US is about 40 to 50 K for a household; half make more and half make less, but 1% makes 200K+. Guess who those bikes are targeted at? I am willing to bet that not many will be used as commuters :lol: but will end up as Sunday riders on bicycle paths and parks.

plural = gruppi!

Actually no; xtr does braking and shifting w/ one lever.

Specialized gets those prices because they can. There are cheaper alternatives with same components, but Spec does make an awesome bike.

Thats what I thought too. It was also my understanding that the carbon fiber frame was obtained from the naturally occurring carbon fiber skeleton of the Na'vi.

Wow, zertz inserts made of unicorn hooves and a frame made from the bones of fallen Na'vi warriors? I think I'm going to put this in my ad for my '06 Roubaix. It's blue, even!