Conundrum: choosing between 3 bikes
 

Thanks in advance for any advice..

This weekend i'm purchasing a used bike and i'm looking at three options:

1. 2015 TMR01, ultegra build with dura-ace crank, random Chinese carbon wheels - $3k
the good: i have always lusted after this bike.
the bad: i think im over-paying. random wheels.

2. 2019 SystemSix, stock ultegra build - $2100
the good: it's almost brand new. appears to have a good name/reputation
the bad: nothing "bad" per se

3. 2016 SuperSix, 105 build with Zipp404 wheels - $1800
the good: seems a good value; valuable wheels
the bad: doesn't excite me like choice 1.

My goals: to ride mostly on the weekends. To improve cycling fitness. Mostly flat Florida roads.

If it were me I'd go with the 2019 SystemSix. I love BMC bikes too. But that seems like it's priced too high. The Chinese wheels can be hit or miss. I know people who have ridden them thousands of miles with no issues. And I know some who have had nothing but problems.

Honestly I don't think any of them are bad choices. The two Cannondales seem to be better buys to me though. The 2019 SystemSix is a $4000 bike and you are getting it almost half price.

I agree with your logic. I'm leaning that way as well. Will take any more words of advice before i make my move, maybe as early as this afternoon. :)

Dont fret too much. Remember most bikes are built by about 5 companies in Asia. They build the same bike, and then slap on the name and logo of the company the ordered a batch.

Yes and no. Built by the same handful of companies, but it's not a case of the same frame being sold by multiple companies just with different logos on them.

I don't know the bikes and don't feel like doing research, but a basically new bike vs. a 7--year-old bike? And an MTB, which tends to take a lot more abuse? The old bike seems like a great deal until the shocks start leaking and the wheels explode. (I actually have Chinese CF wheels on a road bike, and have had no problems .... but as I understand it QC might be spotty, and MTB wheels can take some huge hits (which I why I am glad I have Industry 9 wheels on mine.))

Are we talking about the same bikes? None of those is 7 years old or a mountain bike.

Man, you're such a nitpicker.


:lol:

Sorry .... but yeah .... five, not seven .... i am not good at math.

Apparently.

They say everyone is good at something...

Well, you got the bike part right. I checked, all three are bikes.

Please feel free to heckle my next brain fart.

Once again proving that a blind pig can indeed find an acorn ... by dumb luck.

No, no need to thank me. it is a service I provide.

Without a doubt, #2 is the best choice, Bike less than a year old, you can't go wrong with Ultegra.

EXCEPT - The SystemSix is Cannondale's fully integrated aero package. So ordinary maintenance such as replacing cables/housing can be a major PIA. If you do your own wrenching, are you willing to deal with it or pay someone else to? If you need a stem that's just a wee bit longer, that could be an expensive cash outlay for that integrated bar/stem. Need some more stack height on that bike? You could be SOL.

I still say it's the best option, but the true answer can't be found without riding each of the bikes and see how they fit you.

If you have the money, buy what speaks to you.

I think non hi-mod (low mod?) ultegra bike comes with a standard cockpit.

Chose the systemsix. Really clean. really happy with it. Thanks again. :)

Story it sounds like option number one excites you and you want option number 1… the other 2 are OK blah blah worth it blah blah. But are you gonna want to ride them and still lust after the 1st 1? By what you really want. Buy once cry once

So true. But after looking at the system six i realized how much i liked it. I got it fitted the following day and rode the day after that. Very smooth. Don't regret the purchase AT ALL.