Had my hands on one of these the other day . . . . .

It's the first one in the country, and yes, it is one sweet bike. Still not sure about ever paying $18,000 for a bike -- maybe hang it on a wall and call it art. The bike has been sold for months.

 

And that's the one pic you can post?!?

C'mon, give us more here!

 

as in malcom mclaren?

[youtube]9SgvJY9xxcA[/youtube]

 

lmao...great video took me way back....

 

It's complicated. Specialized wants to publicize it (big surprise) and doesn't want any pictures coming out until it is published in the magazine they prefer. Actually kind of a pain since the shop that has it probably won't get much benefit of the publicity.

It's spec'd as referenced on Specialized's web site. Zipp carbon bar/stem and 404 tubulars. Shimano Di2. The only thing, other than the frame, that stands out is the brakes. They are made by ee Cycleworks -- very narrow to fit within the width of the head tube, but not particularly aero. The multiple pivot action is pretty cool. It's a 56 and weighs 14.0 lbs without pedals.

Sure it's a novelty, but it's kind of like seeing a Bugatti Veryon -- "Wow, that's expensive! But kind of overkill"

The one critique I have is they spend millions on developing this with McLaren and don't find a place to stash the Di2 battery.

 

Surf City Cyclery in HB delivers first McLaren Venge in U.S.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/11/29/specialized-mclaren-venge-road-bike-shipping-eyes-on-weight/

 

$18,000... Thats retarded! Maybe if it came with the Manx Missle's legs it would be a buy, but $18,000 is a slap with a 2x4 to the biking community's face.

 

^^^ why? Advancements in design and construction that will trickle down to everyday bikes are a bad thing? Supply and demand is a bad thing? The entire line is already sold. Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head to buy one.

 

If I had the extra money, I'd buy one for sure. I love the way it looks, and I may get a Venge sometime in the future. I love bikes, and this one is cool.

 

this


VS
This + 4-5 grand and some sort of resell value..

 

RJ you say the whole line is sold out how many were produced ?
I could see a PRO racer shelling out this kind of money with some justification
but if some "Fred" poseur bought it..........so sad !

 

Im gona buy 3! Just need to to the a bank first

 

From a recent article on cyclingnews.com about $10,000+ bikes

"Specialized's top-end S-Works + McLaren Venge carries an enormous US$18,000 retail price - and yet the company says the entire stock is presold"

 

It would be fun to see a guy on an aluminum or steel bike pass one of the guys who bought this thing. Not that I'm against Specialized and others pushing the envelope, etc. But bike prices are seeming to get more ridiculous the last year or 2.

I think one of the reasons for the $10k bikes exists is so that the "average rider" doesn't feel so bad when they spend $2,000 - $4,000 for a bicycle, where probably much of the volume is. That was part of my rationale when I bought mine, right or wrong. Marketing...

Having said that, I got a look and feel at some of the new Specialized Stumpjumper and Epic carbon bikes the other day. They're pretty nice bikes.

 

The Merlin Newsboy was a sell-out hit also. I'm betting lots of collectors bought that bike and I'll bet lots of collectors will buy this bike. With 18,000 to blow, this is not the bike I'd get. Some folks just want the newest and coolest. In a few years it'll be old shit and they'll be looking at the next big thing.

 

It's fat and ugly and that flat paint job will show fingerprints from the first touch. Yuck. I'll keep my 18 grand.

- shud

 

Why?

Since I am not a roadie, I have to ask... what would this bike do - or allow me to do - that a $5000.00 bike won't do?

I see why mountain bikes are expensive - suspension, disk brakes, pivots, linkages - all built light enough to enjoy and tough enough to endure, but I don't get the road bike. Seems you need smooth shifting, powerful brakes, light weight, some vibration absorption, and a bit of aerodynamics. I imagine all of that is accessible at around $5k. From there, increases in performance have to be tiny compared to cost, no?

Of course, there are golfers who have to buy the latest Taylor Made driver every year from $400-$1000, when they could get last year's big thing for $150. Most of those people don't hit the ball straighter or farther, and don't enjoy the game more because of their new driver. They are still frustrated and angry when they slice it into the woods.

 

I dont get the hate unless people are just pissed they cant easily go and spend 18K on a bike and someone else could.

 

Rationalize spending $5,000 on a bike and think you got a steal.

 

The people that buy this bike are the ones who when they were young say I'm going to be rich. Those same people become rich and buy these bikes to show they are rich. Good for them.