Road Bicycle - Reality Check

[dd74]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I so don't get this. It looks like any other 10 speed to me...

Would you take $50.00 for it?

Knowing the racing history of one of these bikes, plus the fact that it's custom made, I wouldn't doubt that the owner in exchange would take your $50, and your 928, and still have his hand out for more -- that is if he's an idiot to begin with to make such a trade.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by dd74

Knowing the racing history of one of these bikes, plus the fact that it's custom made, I wouldn't doubt that the owner in exchange would take your $50, and your 928, and still have his hand out for more -- that is if he's an idiot to begin with to make such a trade.

LOL, boy, I hear this crap too. I've listed one of my rare bikes, as I don't know when or if I will be able to use it... i've had people trying to trade me beach cruisers, when I tell them what it cost new, they make stupid coments...

I don't care about the "look at me" graphics - I'll just wrap it in tape and slap ona Huffy sticker...

I have done this in the past, why people who don't own the bikes or could keep up, get pissed, always makes me laugh...

[Jim Bremner]

as for the "cheap carbon bike" you get what you pay for.

The bike is mail ordered, comes with ZERO service! Bikes need to be built by someone who knows what they're doing plus, will need to be tuned several times in the first year.

I would spend a few hundred more on a bike if the mechanics build the bike vs. assembler's.

Carbon is a great thing if the stuff is top-notch!

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

as for the "cheap carbon bike" you get what you pay for.

The bike is mail ordered, comes with ZERO service! Bikes need to be built by someone who knows what they're doing plus, will need to be tuned several times in the first year.

I would spend a few hundred more on a bike if the mechanics build the bike vs. assembler's.

Carbon is a great thing if the stuff is top-notch!

I think Randy can probably pull apart and then assemble a bike as well as anyone whether for adjustments or repairs. All he needs to know with this bike is his height, and the rest can be adjusted via the seat post, stem height and length, and the crank arm length. Anything more, and he's probably looking at a custom frame which will cost multiple times more.

As to the quality of the Motobecane itself, Bicycling Magazine rated it a 4.5 out of 5; 5 being the highest score.

http://www.bicycling.com/gear/detail/0,7989,s1-16-155-2504-0,00.html

In short, what separates this bike from the top-tier Trek, Specialized, Giant, Look, Time, Colnago, Pinarello, etc., etc., is a barely-noticeable weight difference and some road feel, two aspects that probably no one will notice unless they spend eight hours a day on a bike six or seven times a week.

To me, the Motobecane demonstrates the above-mentioned top-tier brands as exactly what my LBS says they are - rigs priced for their names. There's no reason a $1,400 bike with a Taiwan-made c/f frame can't whip ass on a $6,000 bike with a Taiwan-made c/f frame, then hold together in the long run.

Taiwan-made carbon frames are some of the best in the world (I think Giant produces the Motobecane), and Ultegra components are race-level parts.

Prices have dropped to stupid low, too. I'd jump on this deal in a heartbeat; may in fact do so, as I'm carbon-less at the moment.

[RWebb]

thx for the Motobecane info.

Byron, as you prob. know, the tape wrappiing is something bike messengers do to prevent theft of a nice bike - or they used to do it, way back when.

I have a nice Huffy sticker on my Kona Mtn. Bike for theft protection - scraped off the Kona ID. Bike theft is huge in this college town with the major W. Coast fwy running thru it...

[dd74]

Kona makes a very nice lugged steel-frame bike with outstanding components. Even as it's a bit pricey, the usual Italian suspects still can't hold a candle to the price.

Which is, IIRC, about $2,500.

[Schumi]

Possible mint Specialized Allez in the pipe for me from a friend whos moved on to a much more expensive machine. I'll hopefully get it for a steal...

Same as this configuration, but with a new Shimano Pro carbon fork.

[dd74]

Sorry, my mistake. The Haole is TIG welded, not lugged. I think the Kapu is lugged.

[JavaBrewer]

That Kona is ~ the same price as the used Litespeed i posted. Both look like great bikes but sadly they are off the charts for me $$ wise. I would be interested in the Motobecane but I'm not buying anything I can't demo first.

[greglepore]

The Motobecanes are a great deal-I know a couple of folks that have them, and their experience has been uniformly positive.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

That Kona is ~ the same price as the used Litespeed i posted. Both look like great bikes but sadly they are off the charts for me $$ wise. I would be interested in the Motobecane but I'm not buying anything I can't demo first.

Keep your eye on the Roadbike Review website and the internet in general. The Motobecane has been seen around town for $900--$1,000, and the Kona for about $1,700.

End of season is nearing, and the new models are coming in. Now's the time to get a deal.

[dd74]

Another fantastic steel frame is the Gunnar, which is handbuilt in the U.S. and goes for about $1K. Gunnar is a division of Waterford, so you know it's a good frame.

[landrover88]

Originally Posted by landrover88

I would love to sell this bike if anyone has interest

[landrover88]

Hello

Just posted this bike on ebay.

Getting alot of emails.

Hope it sells so i can get some 944 goodies.