Why are bicycles so expensive?

[Timpo]

I always wondered why some bicycles are so expensive.
The material cost, cost of meeting DOT safety standards, emission test, production cost, development cost, and if you consider everything, if just doesn't make sense.

Trek Session 9.9
$9,499
Session 9.9 - Trek Bicycle


Honda XR650L
$7,699
Honda Motorcycle


Trek Émonda SLR 10
$17,499
Émonda SLR 10 - Trek Bicycle


Honda CBR1000RR SP
$18,999
Honda Motorcycle

[meme405]

Mountain Biking is an expensive hobby, always has been, always will be. The cost of the bike is a significant portion of this, but not even close to all of it, even the most minimal of body armor and protective equipment will end up costing $500. Then lift tickets if you go to a lift access place like whistler, silverstar, or coast gravity park, or the cost of gas if you are shuttling. I guess in theory you could also pedal yourself up, but anyone who has been on a full fledged DH rig with 10" of travel below them will know that pedaling is worse than amputating your own fingers.

Overall mountain biking is probably the most expensive sport to participate in, it certainly tops golfing, hockey, snowboarding/skiing, which are all considered super expensive in their own rights.

Road biking can be expensive if you want it to be, but it can also be cheap if you try a little, I mean seriously not everyone needs a 12.5lb carbon fiber road racing bike. You can make do with a $500-$1000 bike from any LBS.

[GabAlmighty]

DH is probably the most fun you can have on two wheels. I never really rode with any armour; I was a full face, gloves, and shin pads kind of guy. Those 10k DH bikes you're paying for the metals, if i'm correct they're starting to make full carbon DH bikes much more available which is obviously stupid expensive.

And all the top companies put in countless hours and funds into R&D, so that's where the other cost is coming in from. Then on top of that you have higher costs for certain names, it sucks but it is what it is.

Fuck, now I wanna go drop 6k on a bike and get back into it...

[Ferra]

those bicycles you posted tailor to a small niche market
like those women's handbags that cost more than a brand new GTR

[HKS PWR]

I'm not in the bicycle industry, but if I were to hazard a guess: R&D and channel of distribution. My biggest pet peeve is that the pricing for bicycles goes up every year but the manufacturing have been moving off-shore to China/Taiwan. "Made In USA" stickers appear few and far in between on bicycle frame these days.

[radioman]

Whats the 0-60 time on those timpo? The Trek Émonda SLR 10 looks like it has good power to weight potential.

[boatcaptain]

Hermes Geranium Porosus, World's most expensive handbag sells at auction for $125,000 | Mail Online

[sdubfid]

Roughly 30-50% of that cost goes right to the store. A large portion of it is all made in china. Look at the boxes they come in, it will say "designed" in Canada or USA. There is nothing fancy about them to warrant the price other than profit margins.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by sdubfid

Roughly 30-50% of that cost goes right to the store. A large portion of it is all made in china. Look at the boxes they come in, it will say "designed" in Canada or USA. There is nothing fancy about them to warrant the price other than profit margins.

So? Can't afford it, get lost.

Sure Companies like Trek and Specialized, use overseas manufacturing, but these are companies who OWN their own facilities out there, they are not simply contracting the lowest bidder to built their gear.

And also Trek's high end shit is still manufactured on this side of the pond.

In any case though if for some stupid reason you don't trust the "overpriced" shit from overseas that you see all the pros rocking at triple the capacity you would ever ride, and you want USA or even local gear you are in luck, cause you live in the fucking CENTER of the mountain biking universe.

Companies like Knolly, and Cove along with MANY others build their shit right here in Vancouver.

On top of that companies like Transition and Guerilla Gravity build bikes in the USA.

This sport is for pleasure and as such, they can charge whatever the fuck they want, and most people will continue to pay it because its so much fun.

To say they don't warrant the price is pretty ignorant considering how many people are willing to fork out the price, you know what the wait is for some new carbon bikes? I had to wait 6 months for my Carbon rear Triangle for my Devinci Wilson.

EDIT: Also for anyone wondering, for a full kit devinci wilson, BRAND NEW were talking $6.5k all in...

This is a world cup level DH sled, the exact rig you will see FMB riders rocking.

Sure you can spend a bit more for other stuff but in general your looking at about 5-7k for a bike like this.

Also you can buy used for like $2500, and get like a 1 year old bike.

[radioman]

I used to enjoy your posts but they've slowly become more and more condescending.

[Manic!]

Walmart bike $78 done.

[twitchyzero]

nice bikes are too easy of a target for thieves
live in a condo? scumbags will easily break into the locker room

no one wants to steal my supercycle...it has disc brakes doe

[suzuka84]

if you are in Asia, you can find current models of the high end bikes with a local chinese brand for 1/10 of the cost.

The part where the bike manufacturers own their own facility in China may only be half true.

[GabAlmighty]

Fuck you guys, i'm going bike shopping now.

[Spoon]

Originally Posted by suzuka84

if you are in Asia, you can find current models of the high end bikes with a local chinese brand for 1/10 of the cost.

The part where the bike manufacturers own their own facility in China may only be half true.

Just go to alibaba.com. According to a friend who's pretty competitive in the sport, the quality of their knock-offs have close to no difference to the real thing at a fraction of the price. Not even surprised if it comes from the same factory, just without the branding.

[sas]

Man, thanks for the sweet wallpaper
(Honda CBR1000RR)

I have a sweet CCM bike. Shocks, pegs,

[sdubfid]

Originally Posted by meme405

So? Can't afford it, get lost.

Sure Companies like Trek and Specialized, use overseas manufacturing, but these are companies who OWN their own facilities out there, they are not simply contracting the lowest bidder to built their gear.

And also Trek's high end shit is still manufactured on this side of the pond.

In any case though if for some stupid reason you don't trust the "overpriced" shit from overseas that you see all the pros rocking at triple the capacity you would ever ride, and you want USA or even local gear you are in luck, cause you live in the fucking CENTER of the mountain biking universe.

Companies like Knolly, and Cove along with MANY others build their shit right here in Vancouver.

On top of that companies like Transition and Guerilla Gravity build bikes in the USA.

This sport is for pleasure and as such, they can charge whatever the fuck they want, and most people will continue to pay it because its so much fun.

To say they don't warrant the price is pretty ignorant considering how many people are willing to fork out the price, you know what the wait is for some new carbon bikes? I had to wait 6 months for my Carbon rear Triangle for my Devinci Wilson.

EDIT: Also for anyone wondering, for a full kit devinci wilson, BRAND NEW were talking $6.5k all in...

This is a world cup level DH sled, the exact rig you will see FMB riders rocking.

Sure you can spend a bit more for other stuff but in general your looking at about 5-7k for a bike like this.

Also you can buy used for like $2500, and get like a 1 year old bike.

Take a chill pill. I worked at a local manufacturer and have seen the invoicing. Timpo asked why they are so expensive. The answer is so everyone can get a piece of the pie. Nowhere did I say I don't trust anything or can't afford it.

[asian_XL]

we call it the "street bike" in Asia. More and more rich people who have no where to spend buying these high-end bikes. A low-end one can cost as much as 10,000cdn easily, those display model has a price tag of 40,000cdn, and it can go as quick as a car.

There is a shop near where I live, those bikes are super light. You can pretty much lift it up like this.

[MarkyMark]

Originally Posted by meme405

So? Can't afford it, get lost.

Sure Companies like Trek and Specialized, use overseas manufacturing, but these are companies who OWN their own facilities out there, they are not simply contracting the lowest bidder to built their gear.

And also Trek's high end shit is still manufactured on this side of the pond.

In any case though if for some stupid reason you don't trust the "overpriced" shit from overseas that you see all the pros rocking at triple the capacity you would ever ride, and you want USA or even local gear you are in luck, cause you live in the fucking CENTER of the mountain biking universe.

Companies like Knolly, and Cove along with MANY others build their shit right here in Vancouver.

On top of that companies like Transition and Guerilla Gravity build bikes in the USA.

This sport is for pleasure and as such, they can charge whatever the fuck they want, and most people will continue to pay it because its so much fun.

To say they don't warrant the price is pretty ignorant considering how many people are willing to fork out the price, you know what the wait is for some new carbon bikes? I had to wait 6 months for my Carbon rear Triangle for my Devinci Wilson.

EDIT: Also for anyone wondering, for a full kit devinci wilson, BRAND NEW were talking $6.5k all in...

This is a world cup level DH sled, the exact rig you will see FMB riders rocking.

Sure you can spend a bit more for other stuff but in general your looking at about 5-7k for a bike like this.

Also you can buy used for like $2500, and get like a 1 year old bike.

You're a pretty intense guy eh, he was just pointing out the fact that profit margins are high for those bikes.

[bcrdukes]

Some of you touched on "Made in China/Taiwan" and less and less of Made in USA.

Fact of the matter is that manufacturing abilities, processes, and technologies are far more advanced in Asia than in the USA. American companies such as Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale, who were at one point at the forefront of an American manufacturing empire, nearly went bust because the quality was nowhere as good as their Asian counterparts (Giant is one of them who showed them what's up.) Cannondales were dubbed "Crackendales" at one point because their frames were known for cracking. And yeah, they were hand-made in the USA. Go figure.

There are so many factories in Asia these days who have the technology and raw materials and craftsmen who are capable of pumping out huge volumes of bicycles. Let alone the workmanship and quality of these bikes far surpass those of their American and Italian competitors. Don't be surprised if your Italian and American branded bicycle is manufactured in Taiwan or China.

Keep in mind - some of the higher end bikes are still manufactured in-house (i.e. Trek, Cannondale, Specialized etc.) but you need to remember that these are high-ticket bikes with low demand. Profit margins on current-year bikes are huge and it's normal for stores to make 30 to 40% on them. Shops have to be careful with what and how much they carry. Some shops need to meet quarterly, semi-annual, and/or annual sales targets in order to remain a dealer. It's tough to move high-ticket items/bikes as opposed to your run of the mill aluminum bicycle.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by MarkyMark

You're a pretty intense guy eh, he was just pointing out the fact that profit margins are high for those bikes.

No he wasn't JUST pointing that out, he also took a huge dig at the fact that some companies have moved manufacturing to Asia, and tried to infer that prices should come down because of that.

As myself and BCRdukes are pointing out, the fact that they moved manufacturing overseas doesn't make any difference.

Look at any sport that most people do for pure pleasure, the profit margins on gear are RIDICULOUS, but people will pay it because its what they WANT to spend money on.

What do you think the profit margin on a $600+ Lib Tech snowboard is?

How about a set of golf clubs which cost $3000?

Hell I have a hockey stick that was $400. Probably only costed like 50 bucks for them to form it.

[multicartual]

I had a Santa Cruz V10 with a carbon fiber front shock with like 8 inches of travel and all the gear!

DH mountain biking is fun, dangerous, and expensive!!!

[meme405]

Originally Posted by multicartual

I had a Santa Cruz V10 with a carbon fiber front shock with like 8 inches of travel and all the gear!

I can tell you right now... No you didn't.

[multicartual]

Originally Posted by meme405

I can tell you right now... No you didn't.

OK, whatever you say, I was making 20k a month during that time and blowing money like water!!!

[melloman]

Back when I rode alot (6-10 years ago) I took my Norco Bigfoot (hardtail) up Whistler and did black diamond/double black diamond runs no problem. Without the travel, all I had happen was afew bent wheels if I landed wrong.

These bikes are for a niche market of people.
Lots of these bikes are just like cars. People want a fucking "super dope sweet" brand to show off. I rented some of the expensive, heavy duty soft tails and still enjoyed my hard tail more. All it did was make my wrists hurt a bit less at the end of the day.