Why a $2000 frame?

I've been riding a long time (10 years now), and I 7 bikes in my garage (all production bikes: giant, specialized, dyno, gt).

I've seen many many high end frames (santa cruz, ellsworth, intense, turner, foes, and so on), but I never understood why one would consider these frames to be superior to my production bikes (with similar components) in anyways.

My seven bikes combine, can barely build me one complete bike of any of the mentioned bikes.

Someone enlighten me if not convinced why I need to pay $5000 for one bike versus 2 or 3 production bikes for $5000. Let's for example take the motobecane fly team bike - $1899 for a 24.5lb bike with RS Reba Team, XTR all around, Elixir CR, Ritchey WCS components, FSA Carbon crank, and so on... i can get two of those for a fancy Santa Cruz Superlight XTR...

 

Simple answer? You don't.

The fit & finish of the more expensive frame will, generally, be better however than a budget alternative.

When I say budget, we all know which companies I am talking about. Not Specialized, Giant, Trek, etc...

Edited for clarification.

 

it's an insatiable bike lust. drink the Kool-Aid and find out...

 

Its all perception my friend...if someone loves a certain bike company then its worth it to them to purchase said bike...and $5000 for a bike might seem like a lot of money to most but for some its not a lot of money...its all relative.

 

You tell me that the fit and finish is better, but it's a lexus and a rolls royce? so yeah motobecane - generic branded taiwanese (possibly worse) company, may not build a quality frame... but what about specialized, trek, cannondale, giant. Yeah, i know some of them have $5000+ bikes as well, but it just don't make sense. What's the diff between my race model versus the s-works? weight?

Don't get me started with bike lust... I have 7.

 

Aren't Specialized bikes $5+ grand nowadays?

 

I own a Honda Accord that is the bomb, it is almost 10 years old and rides a little rough, but I don't have a montly payment nor do I have high insurance payments. I enjoy it and if someone will not socialize with me or call me poor because I am not keeping up with the Jone's then screw them.

I own a Giant Reign 2006 and a KHS XC-604 2007 and both do me just fine, but on the same note I want a Nomad because of the frame design. So be happy with your choices and you can always sand blast the frame and powder coat it silver and buy some BMW stickers to put on it. Then you could have the only BMW prototype.

 

I liked my specialized a lot, but I like having something a little different then off the showroom floor bike. Its fun building it the way I wanted to also.

 

IMO there's always going to be something lighter, better, faster, etc

High end bike manufacturers have their place, just like luxury and sports cars do. There are people that are perfectly happy with a base model honda civic, and others spring for a BMW, when both really accomplish the same thing.

I'd say if I was looking to spend more for a bike/frame, the things that would be important to me are craftsmanship, technology, style, and the company's reputation. In some cases high end frame and bike makers surpass a generic brand in those categories, in some cases they don't.

 

I believe pricing goes with the technology. You get better parts depending on what you want: Strength, Weight, etc. If you are looking into racing than I'd suggest the higher priced items for the advantages. But it is all preference. In the end, even though you drive the lexus and like how it drives, everyone still wants the ROLLS!!!

 

simple...

the average user doesn't need a 19lbs HT (or for that matter a 20lbs FS) race bike, so of course it doesn't make sense to spend $5k (or more) on one.

buy and ride whatever bike you want. who cares how much you spend. just ride.

 

Why a $2000 frame? Because human nature dictates people to get stuff they think other people can't get and then they perceive it to be better. We are all guilty of it to some extent. In terms of build quality, I don't buy it that build quality is any better from a boutique brand.

I still want a Pivot and an Intense 951.

 

What might make a $2000 frame worth it for me, might not make it worth it for you. It could be any number of things, which are all subjective: looks, technology, brand, features, intended use, warranty, customer service, manufacturing practices, labor practices, green policy, country of origin, politics, etc.

Anything is only worth what you're willing to pay for it!

Edit: Also, consider that cost and value are independent of each other. Value of anything is something only the person purchasing can ascribe.

 

You can make a honda civic go as fast and handle as well as a M3 for half the cost. But in the end you're still driving a honda civic.
You know it and everyone will see it that way as well.
If that sort of thing matters to you.

 

Simply economics = Supply & demand

 

The differences boil down to ego, lust and ones priorities (or how filthy rich one is). There are only a hand full of suspension designs out there... many of the boutique brands buy the rights to use the designs of the mass produced bikes. Instead of a Lexus vs Rolls Royce it's more like a Toyota Landcruiser vs a Lexus LX 470. Same vehicle, except the Lexus costs $12,000 more than the Toyota. I'd rather have the Toyota and use that $12,000 for gas.

 

Because the guys with the boutique bikes get all the chicks.

In all seriousness, when I went from a Jamis xlt to a Turner 5spot, there was a perceptible difference. Same travel, yet the feel was totally different. Not that the Jamis was a bad bike, bad design, anything like that - it wasn't, and it allowed me to become comfortable with a lot more riding than i would have been able to on my first hardtail. When I first got on that turner though, the feel just blew me away - here was a bike i felt totally connected with. While I had never felt like i was fighting the jamis, with the turner i was working in sync; it made my riding more fluid. It, to an extent, let me forget about the bike and just ride, if that makes sense. It's also been completely bombproof, and i know if anything breaks on it, turner's got me covered. That, and i like the idea that dave turner regularly gets on mtbr to answer questions, etc. You'll find that with most of the 'botique' brands, not just turner - they're approachable, and you're not just some number like you would be with a larger corporation. I like that too.

 

Well first off by buying some of those brands you are giving your $ to an American Co that builds its bikes in the USA. Second you can build it the way you want no get what they give you which is important to a lot of people. If you look at say Giant or Specialized, you can purchase the frame from them but you could not build same bike from the frame up then you can buy the complete. the reason to buy complete is fact the OE parts are way cheaper the retail parts.

For a few of those companies it supporting local companies too.

 

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Why a $2000 production bike?

Why would you waste your money on a production bike?

People purchased things based on want. I beginner mountain biker probably thinks $500 is a sh*t load of money to drop on a full bike where others will drop $500 on a rear hub. After nearly 20 years of riding I have had my share of all ready built bikes. My first ride was a Raleigh Heat that I paid $300 for. I think I bent at least 3 forks on that thing. My last 3 bikes have been frame purchases and build ups because at this point I know what I want and how the ride should be for me. I guarantee most people buying a Specialized or Trek or whatever from a LBS are changing some component or two to meet their needs/wants.

Also, most high end frames are made in the good ole USA and that seems to come with a higher price these days. Maybe the post should be "How do we get the price of USA made goods to come down"?