pricing components
 

I've often read where bikes in a given price range have similar quality components. If that is true how would one break down the cost of components on a $500 hybrid ie. frame, tires, drive train etc? This could be done with percentages or with actual dollar costs. Would the percentages be similar for a $1,000 bike? I am thinking of upgrading tires and grips on my $500 bike and was surprised that the upgrades would be $150.

Below is a link to gear sets by quality. It might be useful to you.

Bike Gear Set Levels

Anything aftermarket will cost more, since the manufacturers get good deals on components. The prices are so favorable for full bikes that some people buy complete bikes inbstead of group sets, and sell the frame and possibly a couple of components they don't care for instead of buying independently.

Honestly, trying to break down the percentage of cost for each component on a bike is not going to lead to any real useful information in buying or upgrading a bike. In general similar price = similar components, although each brand and model may make slightly different choices to meet whatever price point they are targeting with the specific bike.

Last year I bought a 2 year old bike for about $250. I then bought a $150 set of wheels (beefier rims for gravel grinding with a heavyweight rider), a set of wider nice cyclocross tires at $100+ for the two, added Ergon grips and swapped a few other components. The upgrades in my case cost more than the bike, but I have a bike that I am extremely happy with, and have a spare set of lighter wheels with narrower tires in case I decide to shift from gravel to road for long enough to make the wheel change and possible shifting adjustments.

If you go with really nice tires you will definitely be better off than if you spent $150 more for a higher end bike to get slightly better components... Same with grips. My Ergon grips have been well worth the upgrade cost to me.

The biggest bang for the buck for upgrades on a bike are tires, and the contact points (saddle, grips and pedals) The trick is kind of the same as getting the right bike, and that is to get the right components for you.

Rough numbers per the OP's request.

[TABLE="width: 146"]
[TR]
[TD]frame[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]17%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]RD+FD[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]17%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]fork[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]shifters[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]saddle[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]seat post[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]brakes[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]brake levers[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]grips[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]hubs[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]spokes[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]rims[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]tires[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]tubes[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]cables[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

For drop bar bikes with brifters, the shifter/brake lever combination increases to around 20%.

Thanks for all the responses and the detailed information. Pedals get mentioned quite often as a good upgrade, I have never looked into that. I will check it out. Thanks

Interesting numbers!

I like these the best: http://www.amazon.com/MKS-Lambda-Ped...rds=mks+lambda

With my wide feet, I use these:
http://www.amazon.com/16-Pedal-Exten...nlite+extender
21mm version.