not egregious? $3000 bucks for a bike with (almost) no gears? or $2000 for the steel version?

you need to mosey over to the "i luvs me some crabon" thread, where discussion of price
is not permitted.

That's full retail. The actual price may vary considerably. My local shop sold a demo model of the steel version in near-perfect condition for just over $1,000.

I consider $3k excellent for a full carbon bicycle with a good wheelset and good component choices. You're also talking to the wrong person when you mention the available gears.....

If you're buying from a shop, most places will drop that price by a lot once you get closer to the end of the year and the newer models have been out for a bit. MSRP on my last CX bike was something like 4k, got it for 1500.

I will tell you, there is one fatal flaw of carbon bikes, and it really puts me off.
They don't come in my size.

oh, okay, so i should compare the end of year closeout crabon price with the
hot off the presses full retail real steel price?

msrp on my last steel frame was something like $500, but i got the closeout for about $85.

I own a Niner RLT 9 RDO which y'all are discussing and would be happy to answer any questions not answered in the build thread.

https://www.bikeforums.net/recreation...rdo-build.html



Side loader cages were installed since the photo was taken.

This isn't a CX bike. It has an endurance road geometry, not a tight CX geometry. The RLT 9 RDO is Niner's gravel racing bike. RDO stands for "Race Day Optimized". The carbon layup (schedule) is very similar to that used on their mountain bikes and Niner tests them to mountain bike specs. Niner forks are revered in the gravel/MTB world.

This one is Ultegra Di2 50/34 front, 11/36 rear, 16° flared carbon bar, 29er wheels with larger rotors than the factory builds, Schawlbe G-One 35's (38 actual). It will fit 45's, maybe a little less in the rear. 19.8 lb with pedals, cages and GPS mount. Cost was a few dollars north of $6k.

Over the next year I plan on adding Apidura seat and bar bags and might get a Warbonnet hammock and/or start doing some light credit card touring. I'd like to tour Andalucia, Spain in 2019 or 2020 and would not hesitate to do it on this bike.

I couldn't care less if someone hates it.

PEACE

-Tim-

No, I'm saying you shouldn't get hung up on MSRP regardless of the bike. There's plenty of overpriced steel and aluminum around too.

Besides, most bike shops I've dropped in to seem to sell below the listed price on the manufacturers site anyway.

I don't hate carbon, and actually have no direct experience with carbon bikes, outside of a carbon fork and seatpost about 10 years ago, with which I experienced no problems. A good friend of mine swears by it. The only reservation I would have about carbon is air transportation, those plane loading guys don't fill me with confidence. If touring in your own country, there may be no downside.

So here is the real issue. If I go touring on my Trek Bicycle how can I talk about Crabons on BF?

After poo poo'ing carbon, because I'm kind of rough on my bikes, I started pondering the RLT 9 RDO and now the Haanjo EXP, the price is just too hard to beat. My concern with both is comfort. I realize this is a somewhat subjective opinion but how comfortable is the RDO compared to your most comfortable bike and what is your most comfortable bike?

I drove my carbon bike (Specialized Sirrus) into a roof, while it was fastened on a roofrack. Tore the whole roofrack off the roof with the bike still on. Got out of my car, walked to where the roofrack lay with the bike, separated the two, took the bike to the bike shop. Shop checked it out. Broke, two spokes and a brake handle. Other than that the bike was ok. That was two years ago and I'm still riding that sucker. :-)

Having said that, I do enjoy riding my Surly Disc Trucker more. I'm about same speed on both bikes. Go figure - probably the drop bars vs flat bar on the specialized Sirrus give me better aerodynamics. No idea.

Besides the pedals (one day I might put titanium eggbeaters on it), I have optimized everything else to save weight. Added carbon handlebars, carbon stem, carbon seat post, titanium rail bicycle seat, carbon rims, riding tubeless... I don't think I've gotten much faster than the original bike configuration ;-) I don't think adding the titanium eggbeaters will change that ;-) but when it comes to strength of the material I have no fear of carbon.

I want the comfort of the AWOL/Vaya and a lot more pep but I'm not sure it's possible, my fear is that I'd end up in a situation like you, the $$$$ carbon would be no faster than the Vaya and less comfortable to boot.

I don't know why anyone would hate carbon or any other modern bike frame material. They all have advantages and disadvantages. It's clearly demonstrated in this thread that certain carbon bikes are well suited for touring. Very light bikes can be made from steel tubes or heavy weights can be carbon. Weight, strength, geometry, fit, ride quality, and accessories are a consideration no matter the material. Do we all have a preferred frame material? Probably. Are some more suitable for certain applications? Maybe. Is one clearly superior to the others? No. It's an age old discussion that will never end.

I don't know if it's possible to hate inanimate objects. Then again, this is bikeforums.

Don't see anybody hating carbon. Kind of dull, really.

I can post to BF from my cell phone. Don't leave signal range, I guess?

Couldn't take the cellphone but I have 5 different carbon accordions ; )

You can't hate carbon, it's essential to life as we know it.

I'm an American damnit and I can hate whatever I want...U-S-A U-S-A U-S-A

Sorry for resurrecting this thread but I'm adding a pointless update: someone was selling new Eggbeaters 3 for $50 so I gave them a try. Saved 200 grams! ;-) And this morning I was 1 minute faster on a 14 mile commute! ;-) ... ok I'm going to chuckle to myself ...

Have you optimized the weight of the motor😁?
That's what I'm working on🤣
Cheers!
Have you optimized the weight of the motor

Do not tell me I need to put out more effort!

... And yeah, the motor size could be a minor factor 😁

I'm sorry I didn't see this @edthesped. Hopefully you will see this.

I can't speak to it's durability but the Jamis Renegade Elite is another you may want to look at. It has an amazing parts mix and I would likely own it if it came with Di2.

The Niner is easily the most comfortable bike I own. My others are a highly modified steel fixed gear bike which rides like butter and an older Aluminum Fuji endurance bike which is actually rather harsh. The Niner just fits me better than the others but fit aside, I really enjoy riding the carbon. Keep in mind that this is the only carbon bike I've ever owned so my experience is limited but it does seem to absorb any harshness where the steel bike flexes and the aluminum bike transmits. I beat the crap out of the Niner too. I built it to ride, not to worship and am not afraid to use it.

Don't hesitate to send a PM if you have specific questions and please let me know what you decide.




-Tim-

I had 3 crashes with steel bikes running into a car & all 3 times the frame was totaled.

I agree, main problem is choice & options. I want a CF tourer with couplers, room for fat tires/fenders, suspension-fork option & split rear drop-out for belt drive.

simple solution......stop running into cars!