If You had $15,000 to Spend on a Bike...

[Jeff Higgins]

Which one would you buy?

Pinarello Dogma F bicycle:



Or Ducati 950 Super Sport motorcycle (NOS 2024 model year):



Granted, dealer prices, local prices, etc. may vary, but any way you slice it, these two "bikes" are shockingly close to one another in price. The latter, I believe to be more or less in keeping with its real "value". The former - NFW. I just can't see it. Maybe one of you can help me...

[rwest]

Here’s my take with not knowing very much about motorcycles: is that there are a lot less motorcycle brands, then bicycle brands, so there are less R&D departments, testing, etc. in the motorcycle world, so costs can be brought down per unit.

It’s a very interesting cost comparison as they are similar products and levels of tech, but motorcycles have leaps and bounds more material and parts on them.

[Racerbvd]

[911boost]

Ducati no questions asked!

[herr_oberst]

The old joke is that the only people who need a bike as good as the F don't have to pay for it because the race team supplies them for free. Dentists don't want to hear this and line up with wallets open.

I bought a new bike last summer which, even before the deep discount offered, cost a fraction of the price of the Pinarello and fits my needs so much better; it's a Specialized Crux, ostensibly a gravel bike, but with an additional set of lightweight wheels mounted with road tires, is a perfect bike for 95% of the riding I do. I've spent full days on dirt roads and full days on asphalt and it amazes me how well it works on both.

The cycling industry is in crisis right now and the mental gymnastics being used to try and justify the cost of the top tier offerings is embarrassing. All one has to do is make the comparison that the OP made in his post - and this is the comparison used most often. There is absolutely no reason for this disparity.

[zakthor]

How aboot something nice instead of that plastic thing?

https://www.victoire-cycles.com/velo/le-cento-nacre-de-nicolas/



I heard those pinarello doesnt even have a very good warranty.

I knew a guy whose 90k suv was ready to be picked up. Was pissed because he had to rearrange his day to go to the dealer. 20 minutes later the bike shop called and his $6k mtb was ready… said suddenly his feet couldnt reach the ground he was so excited. Blew off the suv, got the bike and went riding.

If you love riding them then bikes are a great deal. Massive value for the money.

[Shuie]

Yes

[JavaBrewer]

No to both the bicycle and Ducati. The bicycle looks great but I can have a 99% experience for 1/3 cost with something great quality and used. Used to race bicycles in a past life, 30 years ago, so I have some experience and do greatly appreciate the high end stuff.

I have never been a fan of Ducati even though I really did like, for a year or so, my Hypermotard. They are top priced machines in the domain but don’t really bring along actual justification for the price other than the brand Ducati. True for most consumer brands I guess. There are loads of used motorcycles under $15k that I would swing a leg over than that Ducati. Yes I am an outlier and there is a butt for every seat and now get off my lawn…if you know what I mean 😉

[Bill Douglas]

Yeah, I'd buy a Honda and spend the change at the pub.

[look 171]

I wouldn't buy a Pinarello but love me a new Colnago. Any pro level bikes are more then 10k easily.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by look 171

I wouldn't buy a Pinarello but love me a new Colnago. Any pro level bikes are more then 10k easily.

A friend of mine has the new Colnago Steelnovo. One of 70 produced for Colnago's 70th. $17,000. Yes, not an extra zero. To his credit, he rides it frequently, road salt be damned.

As to Jeff's comment, its often discussed on cycling forums. Bike prices are insane. In fairness, there's a ton of hand labor in laying up a high end carbon frame, but its almost always at asian labor rates. No real explaination other than what the market will bear.
A new Specialized Tarmac SL8 is 8k for the standard model and over 10 for the high zoot Sworks. I can pretty much verify that their cost for the standard model frame is "well" under 1k ( the bike industry lobbied for a tariff exemption for carbon bicycle frames $600 and under when the tariffs were enacted during Trump 1 which tells you something). Add in a 2k groupset at retail (they're not paying retail) and a wheelset etc that's maybe 1.5k at their cost, and there's room for profit.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

The old joke is that the only people who need a bike as good as the F don't have to pay for it because the race team supplies them for free. Dentists don't want to hear this and line up with wallets open.

I texted my doctor brother a link to this bike just now. Does he respond with "OMG, that's insane", nope. All he responded with was "6.6kg".

He has some $$ in bikes but I think $6-7k for one bike is the max.

[Tobra]

I am too old to start riding motorcycles

I kind of like the old CroMoly Italian road bikes, Aluminum seems sort of harsh to me. I rode a titanium frame bike a few times, very not bad. Never tried carbon fiber, but it is probably like aluminum turned up to 11

[Chocaholic]

Apples and oranges comparison. Nonsensical.

Like asking a classical violinist if he would prefer a $15k violin or a $15k piano.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

For $15K I'm staying vintage Ducati, '94 916 SP Verase

The great thing about expensive bicycles is they depreciate immensely making it easy to get a gently used Felt F2 for 20 cents on a dollar.

[gacook]

I spent $700 on my bike (and I was a little pissed about THAT prcie), seems to do exactly what I need it to do...

I couldn't imagine spending $15k on a bicycle. And the idiots around me keep me from riding a motorcycle.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by look 171

I wouldn't buy a Pinarello but love me a new Colnago. Any pro level bikes are more then 10k easily.

You have champagne taste! A fully spec'd Y1Rs is over 17k. (I'd love to try one, but no way could I attack my retirement fund to justify the cost!)

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

He has some $$ in bikes but I think $6-7k for one bike is the max.

Unfortunately, 5-6k is pretty much the lower end of the sweet spot for value/performance of a new expert level bike. Fortunately, there is a dramatic depreciation for used superbikes.

Originally Posted by Tobra

I kind of like the old CroMoly Italian road bikes, Aluminum seems sort of harsh to me. I rode a titanium frame bike a few times, very not bad. Never tried carbon fiber, but it is probably like aluminum turned up to 11

You'd be surprised at how well compliance and damping can be engineered into a C/F bike frame. (Check out the McLaren F1 car flexi-wing!)

As to the Italian steel, well, I own a beautiful race bike from the '80's and never ride it. Technology marches on, and riding it is like using a rotary phone after the pushbutton phone was invented.

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

The great thing about expensive bicycles is they depreciate immensely making it easy to get a gently used Felt F2 for 20 cents on a dollar.

I put together my S-Works Tarmac (SL4) for around 3500 bucks including a decent wheelset by buying a used frameset and a brand new discontinued model groupset and wheels. Even though the frame was designed 10 years ago, it's still more bike than I'll ever realistically justify.

(Unfortunately, it doesn't get ridden much anymore since I bought the Crux! )

[Rot 911]

For me, neither. A $15,000 bicycle will not make me any better rider than my $500 bicycle. I just don’t have those kind of athletic skills. As for the motorcycle, for me, my upper limit for any motorcycle is $10,000. An extra $5000 on top won’t make me any happier or enjoy the motorcycle more.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I put together my S-Works Tarmac (SL4) for around 3500 bucks including a decent wheelset by buying a used frameset and a brand new discontinued model groupset and wheels. Even though the frame was designed 10 years ago, it's still more bike than I'll ever realistically justify.

I disagree, you are to road bikes as Jeff is to motorcycles.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by zakthor

How aboot something nice instead of that plastic thing?

https://www.victoire-cycles.com/velo/le-cento-nacre-de-nicolas/



I heard those pinarello doesnt even have a very good warranty.

I knew a guy whose 90k suv was ready to be picked up. Was pissed because he had to rearrange his day to go to the dealer. 20 minutes later the bike shop called and his $6k mtb was ready… said suddenly his feet couldnt reach the ground he was so excited. Blew off the suv, got the bike and went riding.

If you love riding them then bikes are a great deal. Massive value for the money.

The older I get the more I think I could use a bike like zakthor shows. A self balancing bike will be helpful in a few more years I'm almost sure of it.