tcs

So you don't subscribe to Karl Marx' Labor Theory of Value?

genejockey 

One of the strangest aspects of "worth" is something I've witnessed over and over on watch forums. Someone inherits a watch from a father or grandfather. They immediately want to know "What's it worth?" even though they swear they'd never sell it. Then they ask it it's valuable enough to spend the $200 or so to get it serviced and running properly, as if the market value is the determining factor, rather than their own desire to wear, use, and cherish an heirloom.

rsbob 

To a person who rides a $200 bike and is perfectly happy with it, a $2000 bike might as well be a $14,000 bike as far as they are concerned, too much, frivolous, made for show offs. Or a more mature approach, if they have the money and it makes them happy, so be it.

Eric F 

You bark about practicality, and how an expensive bike must be about wanting to show off, but seem to be ignorant to (or intentionally ignore) the emotional component in the equation. To me, top-end bikes are exciting. I want to get on and ride...A LOT!!. Sure, a mid-level aluminum bike will get me to where I'm going, and probably at about the same speed (maybe), but that kind of bike doesn't excite my passion to ride in the same way as a lightweight CF bike with deep wheels and top-end parts. Browsing though the "hot or not" thread, there are some bikes that make me go, "OH, YEAH!!", and others that make me go, "Meh". Maybe you haven't felt those kinds of emotions about bikes, but I sure do, and I know plenty of other folks that also do. It's doubtful I will ever have the financial freedom to purchase a brand-new top-end bike, but I have no hard feelings towards my friends that can. What matters more is that we share a similar passion about riding the bikes we have.

Another factor is that experienced cyclists can feel and appreciate the subtle differences between a good bike and a great bike - how the bike handles at high speed, the quickness and precision of the shifting, how it responds to power, etc. These things matter to some people.

freeranger

With my assets, certainly not worth it to me. But to a high paid (insert whichever) sports star, it could be a "drop in the bucket". If I had the $$$$ and the purchase wouldn't affect my purchasing power for whatever else, then I might buy a 5 (or 6) figure bike. I'm not buying a 6-7 figure car or yacht either. It's all relative.
To answer the original ? though, I don't think a bike is worth 5 figures.

terrymorse 

All-electric braking will never happen. No manufacturer in their right mind would make a safety item like brakes 100% dependent on electricity.

Electric-assisted braking, maybe. Just as in cars, where you can lose all electrical power and still stop the car.

BTW, we already have cable-less brakes. Lots of hydraulic brakes options for years now.

vonfilm 

I spent most of my working life selling luxury automobiles:,Porsche , Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW. I know all about luxury items. At least you get a 3,000-5,000 pound vehicle with lots of moving parts that will go 100mph.

For $14,000, one will get a very nice motorcycle, not a basic bike. For $5300 one can get a Kawasaki Ninja 400 which will do a 13 second quarter mile and has a top speed of 116 mph. This is probably the best entry level motorcycle on the market. It is a very highly thought of product.I have had lots of bicycles and motorcycles in my life. If I’m spending more than $5,000 on two wheels, it will definitely be a motorcycle.

Just because one can afford to spend $14,000 on a bicycle doesn’t mean one should. Don’t encourage the manufacturer’s to overprice their products. Would you trust your life to a doctor who is stupid enough to spend $14,000 on a bicycle?



As someone once said, “it’s not about the bike”.

livedarklions

Either buy the $14k bike or don't. Seriously, who gives a flying *%$@ whether you think it's worth it or not?

I've got COVID. I really need a more entertaining troll thread than this.

Eric F 

We're heading far too quickly towards "I can't ride my bike because it won't connect to the internet" - LOL

Eric F 

I hope you recover quickly.

LesterOfPuppets

C'mon, live a little

https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/motor...sport/ninja-h2

seypat

My mistake. I meant the control levers. Get rid of the hand levers and go to something like pressure pads/buttons to operate the system. Make it where you can do it from anywhere on the bike. You could even put them in a pair of gloves with the sensors on the fingertips and the palms.

Eric F 

Depends. What kind of bike did they buy?

More importantly...What makes you an authority on what is "stupid" or not when it comes to other people's decisions about value?

terrymorse 

You can use electric buttons for shifting, which is not safety critical. In fact, they already exist: SRAM Red eTap Blip Shift Buttons.

But you'll never see buttons or switches for braking. There you need mechanical action, for when the power goes out.

Koyote

In my experience, even most Marxist economists don’t subscribe to it.

veganbikes

This is my current dream bike: https://www.sturdycycles.co.uk/models/cilla
People like the OP and others can say "it's so overpriced you can buy 400 toasters" or whatever but it is a work of art, functional art and Tom has certainly put some time and effort into this. Putting a groupset on this would add more to the cost luckily cranks w/ chainring, headset, fork, seatpost, BB, and custom bar/stem and some other fun goodies come with it.

If you want to spend that kind of money on a bike go for it especially a work of art like the Cilla or any one of his other models. If you think a $2000 will be exactly the same or even better then have your strange and incorrect beliefs you are allowed to do that. However having silly threads complaining that something is expensive because maybe you cannot afford it or maybe you can but are trying to be a person of the people with one standard brown shoe for everyone is just silly. Folks it is a bike forum called Bike Forums enjoy bikes for pugs sake. People always have to do the whole reverse snobbery thing and it is old and tired and not needed.

LesterOfPuppets

Electronic shifting buttons were around in the early '90s,

Dave Mayer

Advice: if you are going to buy a bike, now is the time. Shops are dead, and the owners and staff want to be your friend. In 2 months, during the first dry warm weekend, folks will be lined out the door ready to wait 2 weeks and pay big $ for a 5 minute derailleur tweak.


It is like skiing. During the weekdays, the hills are covered in fresh powder, the staff are friendly and no lineups. During weekends, the surly staff call-in sick, a traffic nightmare to get to the hill, and prices and lineups go up for everything.


$14k for a road bike? No. I just bought a new 11-speed Dura-Ace Di2 kit for $1,500. UCI-level carbon frame/fork/bars direct from Asia will cost about $1k. Campagnolo Shamal wheels less than $1k. The rest: scavenged from my overflowing horde. All in, a sub-16 pound bike for well under $5k. Rim brakes of course, as discs are heavy, fussy and unnecessary. Spec'ing the gear yourself can also avoid the major PITA of fully integrated brake and shifter housings.


If you need service, then buy retail. If you don't, buying second-hand, or building yourself cuts out several layers of middlemen and the expensive retail infrastructure. Plus the big-3 brands big costs for marketing, promotions, racer sponsorships, lawyers, and pharmaceuticals.

seypat

Better get a mount for your smart phone. We're already there.

Eric F 

Yes, but ones that actually work reliably are much more recent - LOL.

seypat

If anyone is interested, I know a former BF member that might still have the complete group. Heck, some of you may know the person as well.

LesterOfPuppets

Hahaha, yeah they were a little problematic Good thing Shimano came out with brifters at just about the same time, saved us all

vonfilm 

I do find this Titanium hand built bicycle more appealing and a better value than the $14,000 Specialized Carbon bike. I expect it would last forever with reasonable care, something that cannot be reasonably be predicted for a carbon fiber bike. The most expensive new bike I ever purchased was a new Davidson Impulse in 1989 for about $1100. Probably about $3,000 in todays dollars. I have strongly considered ordering a custom hand built Mercian frame set for about $3,000. I would never pay much for a carbon fiber bicycle.

Eric F 

Wait...Aren't you the guy who said you walked into a bike shop, told them that you had $15k to spend on a new bike, but refused to buy one because it had disc brakes? Interesting that you're now being critical about others who will spend that much. Or, maybe your $15k story was fabricated as part of your "disc brakes are bad" campaign.

vonfilm 

Good job. You are a wise man.