actual cost to build a $14,000 bike
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actual cost to build a $14,000 bike
So does any one know what the actual cost of a $14,000 bike is to the mfg? What is their profit.
Also what is the huge difference between a $5000 bike and a $14,000 bike? Im talking the actual mechanical difference.
Also what is the huge difference between a $5000 bike and a $14,000 bike? Im talking the actual mechanical difference.

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... because 16 pages (and still going) on this isn't enough.
How can a $14,000 bicycle possibly be worth the money?
How can a $14,000 bicycle possibly be worth the money?

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Mechanically, the difference will be in the quality and/or weight of the parts. Most people will find those differences minimal, inconsequential, or meaningless. That said, a $14k bike isn't for most people in the same way a Ferrari isn't for most people.
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Geez, I'm still yawning from your last profound question.

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How much does a 400,000 Rolex cost to make, how much does a multi-thousand dollar Pokeman card cost to make? Some things are more expensive to own then to make it is not an uncommon thing at all. This thread is boring like the same one you already posted on the same topic. Come up with some new material. You already smashed the watermelon we saw it we briefly laughed and it was over. You are trying to do the same Netflix special over and over except not on Netflix more like a hotel T.V. channel on repeat.
Bikes are fun!
Bikes are fun!

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How much does a 400,000 Rolex cost to make, how much does a multi-thousand dollar Pokeman card cost to make? Some things are more expensive to own then to make it is not an uncommon thing at all. This thread is boring like the same one you already posted on the same topic. Come up with some new material. You already smashed the watermelon we saw it we briefly laughed and it was over. You are trying to do the same Netflix special over and over except not on Netflix more like a hotel T.V. channel on repeat.

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Their costs are an awful lot more than just the cost to build. Also, much of this is going to be bookkeeping--there's presumably a lot of R&D that goes into producing the $14k bike--do you count the costs of that against the profits on the $14k bike even if you're going to trickle down the new tech later?
Are you being paid by the thread?

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The worst is when the two pumps you're close enough to hear are just a fraction of a second out of sync, although I have to say that the name ""Maria Menounos" sounds completely trippy that way. True gas station stories.

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Substituting some more carbon or titanium does not raise labor costs 1000%. A hard to lay up frameset might take at most twice the labor time. Nothing actually requires meticulous added labor and none of the materials are anything but standard industrial stuff.
A $14k Aethis maybe cost Merida and Shimano a grand at most. A pair of handmade shoes probably takes more labor hours.
Aside from luxury price points, the main thing that raises the price is all the middlemen that each add a margin.

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But, remember, the manufacturer has huge advertising and public relations costs so that those not on the $14,000.00 bike can recognize it when you ride up on it.

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More money gets you higher grades of carbon fiber, and a different and more complex layup which, which is done by hand, as well as the engineering and design that allows it to be made. And what are you but 11 gallons of water and a few bucks worth of chemicals?
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Clearly this is a trick question, and you will eventually turn the discussion toward mechanical differences.
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Why not pick a specific example of a $14K bike in which the vendor (Trek, Specialized, Giant, Scott, whomever) lists the individual components.
Then look up the price of each component or group-set, and write it down.
Then add up the prices of each of the individual items.
If the frame is available separately, you can add that in. Otherwise you will have to guestimate. (Maybe start with $4K for a very high-end carbon frame.) Add in that price.
Now add it a few hundred bucks for assembly.
Finally, don't forget the import taxes that agent orange imposed.
Then look up the price of each component or group-set, and write it down.
Then add up the prices of each of the individual items.
If the frame is available separately, you can add that in. Otherwise you will have to guestimate. (Maybe start with $4K for a very high-end carbon frame.) Add in that price.
Now add it a few hundred bucks for assembly.
Finally, don't forget the import taxes that agent orange imposed.

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I can't believe you guys are doing this again. The other thread is still in the top ten.

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There are carbon framesets you can buy new for $500. There are groupsets that cost $150. There are all carbon trispoke wheelsets that cost $500. And that includes the profit.
Substituting some more carbon or titanium does not raise labor costs 1000%. A hard to lay up frameset might take at most twice the labor time. Nothing actually requires meticulous added labor and none of the materials are anything but standard industrial stuff.
A $14k Aethis maybe cost Merida and Shimano a grand at most. A pair of handmade shoes probably takes more labor hours.
Aside from luxury price points, the main thing that raises the price is all the middlemen that each add a margin.
Substituting some more carbon or titanium does not raise labor costs 1000%. A hard to lay up frameset might take at most twice the labor time. Nothing actually requires meticulous added labor and none of the materials are anything but standard industrial stuff.
A $14k Aethis maybe cost Merida and Shimano a grand at most. A pair of handmade shoes probably takes more labor hours.
Aside from luxury price points, the main thing that raises the price is all the middlemen that each add a margin.
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But it's close.
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Each one of these bikes is 5k plus but there is no thought or testing given to aero, or weight, it's all expensive components on gas pipe. Your perception of cost needs a reset
Last edited by Germany_chris; 01-16-23 at 04:10 PM.

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There are carbon framesets you can buy new for $500. There are groupsets that cost $150. There are all carbon trispoke wheelsets that cost $500. And that includes the profit.
Substituting some more carbon or titanium does not raise labor costs 1000%. A hard to lay up frameset might take at most twice the labor time. Nothing actually requires meticulous added labor and none of the materials are anything but standard industrial stuff.
A $14k Aethis maybe cost Merida and Shimano a grand at most. A pair of handmade shoes probably takes more labor hours.
Aside from luxury price points, the main thing that raises the price is all the middlemen that each add a margin.
Substituting some more carbon or titanium does not raise labor costs 1000%. A hard to lay up frameset might take at most twice the labor time. Nothing actually requires meticulous added labor and none of the materials are anything but standard industrial stuff.
A $14k Aethis maybe cost Merida and Shimano a grand at most. A pair of handmade shoes probably takes more labor hours.
Aside from luxury price points, the main thing that raises the price is all the middlemen that each add a margin.
Don't get me wrong. I agree that $14k is a price that gets inflated at multiple steps, and leans heavily on the exotic/luxury factor in the same way as exotic/luxury cars do. However, there is a lot more to the cost to produce a product than just the raw materials and the guys who lay fabric in the molds and push the buttons on the machines.
There might be $150 groupsets, but you can't possibly believe that they are made with the same manufacturing precision and consistency, and have the same level of durability and performance as a Dura Ace Di2 groupset.
EDIT: What it really comes down to is simple business - sell it for the highest price that people will pay for it. In that, it seems that Specialized has been successful with their $14k bicycles. If you don't like it - for whatever reason - don't buy one.
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Last edited by Eric F; 01-16-23 at 04:16 PM.

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What about a $19k recumbent combine everything together. Some of those Velomobiles are pretty expensive.
