Hi All:

I've never bought a used bike and was wondering if any of you had experiences (good and bad) to share about buying demo bikes. The bike in question is a 2008 Titus Vuelo, which is a combo Ti-Carbon bike with exogrid technology, whatever that means (https://www.titusti.com/2010/archive/2009/road_vuelo.php) The link provided is for the 2009 model - the 2008 does not have carbon on the rear stays, just on the rest of the tube set.

The price that the shop owner wants to sell it for is $3500, apparently marked down from around 7k for the new version.

The demo bike allegedly has less than 1,000 miles on it and is a custom build with the following kit:

Full Ultegra Gruppo (2008)
Easton Ascent 2 wheels
Easton EC 90 fork
East EC 90 bars
Chris King Head set
Easton EC70 seat post
Titanium Rail Fisik saddle (can't remember the model)
Ritchey WCS stem that they're willing to swap out for a better one

The bike shop owner also offered to throw in a pair of Sidi Genius 5 shoes and ultegra pedals included in the cost.

It seems like a good deal for a lightly used bike, but I have a couple of concerns: 1. This is a used bike regardless of the fact that the shop is offering one year of service, I'm still a little bit wary 2. This is a 2008 bike with older components and 3. This has been sitting around the shop for a little while, and I feel like they may be trying to get rid of it.

Any advice? This is going to be my first serious road bike, and I want to make sure that if I'm spending good money, that it's going to be well worth it.


Thanks,

Matt

so 3500 for last gen ultegra ridden for 1000 miles. are you sure you couldn't find a better bike?

Knock another $500-$1000 off.

touché

1000 miles ain't exactly a demo. more like the rental bike they are trying to get rid of. and just how do you demo a custom frame?

i wouldn't worry about the older components. 6600 work just fine. 6700 are a few grams lighter, but not much. more importantly, do you get original warranty?

one other thing. if you are getting titanium, go full ti. ti is repairable, and more resilient as far as crashes are concerned. carbon, not so much. i'd never buy a carbon bike without a warranty, but i'd be willing to buy a five-year-old ti frame if everything look okay

It's just a thousand miles. Have them put on a new chain and cassette.

Just to clarify, it's not a custom frame, just upgraded parts from what was offered on the original ultegra kit.

Good point about the titanium-carbon frame. Their "exogrid" technology seems to be different than a traditional ti-carbon combo, but it could be something to worry about if I were to buy it.

Would knocking off another $500 be worth it if I can guarantee the original warranty?

This is going to be my first real road bike and I really want to get something that's going to last me a while, but I don't want to break the bank.

I'm not sure what a fair price would be as I don't know the bike but I would make sure they have done a full service. And, more importantly, ask about a warranty. Preferably manufacturers rather than shop warranty.

I do love the like of the bike, maybe the gimmick wears off after a while.

A demo bike with 1000 miles on it in a couple of years does seem a lot as most people will only be riding around the block. When I test rode before I bought I took the bikes out for 30 mile spins, not sure that's normal practice.

by the way the link shows a new Dura Ace bike bike at $$,800 new, where did the shop get the 7k from?

1. Was this a frame demo that would show what would be a custom bike for a potential customer? For example, we have a Mei Vici (Serotta's top bike) to show and for demo. The frame, new and custom, is in the low eight grand range. Our bike, new, was close to eleven grand. Now, it's for sale for the cost of the frame. Has DA on it, but 7800. Zip aluminum team wheels. Great deal. My thought here is that while the bike mentioned by the OP is a "demo" it's a high end bike and given some of the responses here, most don't seem to get that the shop would not "demo" the bike to someone that's not a serious potential buyer.

If it's a standard fit frame, it's the same tubing, just not cut for you. Again, check fit. I am thinking this is single butted titanium, about the equivalent of the Classique Serotta. Very nice frame.

2. The bigger issue is, does the bike properly fit you? This is a lot of bike, if the frame's off for you is not a "good deal".

3. I saw the comment "trying to get rid of the bike"...indeed they are. They are carrying it on their books, and would probably like to get a new one. That does not mean anything other than they want to get a newer version. Trying to get rid of a bike like this is not the same as trying to get rid of a two year old "yeah that fits" Trek 2.1.

4. Generally, at least from my experience, the manufacturer warranty applies as, regardless of your buying a bike that's a couple years old, you are still the original owner. I would have the groupset checked out, maybe have them replace the cables as the one year manufacturer's warranty on the Shimano stuff no longer applies. I don't know what the Titus warranty is (didn't look it up), but if it's lifetime you are good to go on the frame.

5. I see gropupset comments...don't worry about that. You are buying a frame. Just make sure it fits. But don't worry about old versus new Ultegra. It really does not matter, although personally the old stuff is better which is why I ride SRAM Red.

A good shop will stand behind the bike as they do not want a high end model out there with an unhappy customer. But I cannot emphasize this enough...make sure it fits.

This is a "used bike" like a dealer demo Porsche is a "used car".

If this is a good shop, these bikes are only loaned out to pre-qualified potential buyers. These are better riders who appreciate good stuff and take care of it. But the frame's the most important thing and fit is vital.

The 2009 on their site looks to have Centaur on it and they show MSRP of around $4,800.

+1 on fit.

The shop is probably trying to recoup their cost on the bike (just a guess). They got some rental use out of it, maybe loaner use, maybe one of the employees used it for a bit.

At my shop we'd regularly buy bikes for ourselves, upgrade them, then, after a year or so, sell them off at our cost. Our cost was below wholesale because we'd buy the bike on employee purchase, and we usually sold off the parts we replaced. For the guys at the shop it was nice, they got to try nicer bikes for a year or so, and try new ones every year. For customers who fit the same size bikes, they'd hover like vultures after a year or so to try and buy said bikes!

I have no info on the bike so don't know if that's a good price or not. But I wanted to relate the possibility that the shop is selling it at or below their normal wholesale cost.

One more note. If Titus lowered their prices for 2010 the shop is screwed. They have to sell the bike at a loss.

cdr

agree with all points

op, if you truly have $3500 to burn, i'd consider this

https://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-Lynske...#ht_1711wt_939

there are few titanium frame makers as trustworthy as David Lynskey, who used to make the litespeed bikes (i believe he was actually a part owner) before moving down to Tennessee to start his own brand. ask about warranty on this bike (and from what i gather, the Lynskeys are nice enough people that they'll probably work with you regardless). if you do get warranty, you'll be getting a spanking new dura-ace equipped lynskey for not much more than the bikes from bikesdirect

but of course, do make sure the fit is correct. most people can buy "off the rack" and get on a standard frame (the size of which is usually determined by top-tube length). occasionally, you might need to size down depending on the fit, and if your proportion is really outside the bell curve, then you might need to spend the dough on custom frame.

Hi All, thanks for the great feedback. As I've said, this will be my first road bike, so a lot of this is new to me. Mcjimbo - Unfortunately, I think that the 52 Lynskey would be a bit small on me.

I'll E-mail the shop to voice my concerns to see if they'll lower the price. If not, it seems as though they've has it around a while. I'm not in an extreme rush to buy a bike. I'm open to waiting for a good deal.