If you had the money to buy a new bike would you?
- Thread starter JohnnyD
- Start date
I could buy a new bike but don't have much desire to, mainly because there is always cool used stuff available. If I did it would be a custom frameset. A stainless steel frame from David Kirk, a Crumpton, a steel Weigle or Kvale.
I have several Dave Kirk built steel Serottas, and the dual suspension titanium road and mountain bikes that he helped design but probably didn't weld. Also have one of his Terraplane road bikes with the super curvy seat stays. His workmanship is superb and he is great to deal with. Sent him a Coors Light team frame with a cracked tube and he replaced it for a great price. Here are the Ti road, the Terraplane, and the Coors Light frame he repaired for me. Guess I should be wanting one of his MTB frames at this point.
I don't know if Weigle is still taking orders, and Chris Kvale may be out of business since his shop was vandalized during the George Floyd protests.
I don't know if Weigle is still taking orders, and Chris Kvale may be out of business since his shop was vandalized during the George Floyd protests.
Extremeengineer
Member
I may be the outlier, but I would not buy another older bike. My sentimental attachment to the 2 old Cannondale's I have is the only thing that keeps them in storage. I am looking for a new "daily driver", looking at a Pivot Mach 4 SL,
Looks like a nice bike but I would find it hard to spend $8000 for any bike. Any idea what it weighs?
Extremeengineer
Member
So I need an XL, they say that build I am looking at would be a little over 22 lb. their team build is 20.9 lb.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
Pivot's website says it weighs "Frame weight starting at 1845 grams (4.0 lb.) and 20.9 lb. (9.4kg) complete - (size medium with XTR World Cup Build)"
So 21 lbs isn't too bad. But is it worth $8400.00....
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
You beat me too it..
Extremeengineer
Member
Is it worth it, probably no if I’m being objective, but the other bikes I’m considering all start around $5K, so it’s not that much of a stretch.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
As long as it is a bike you will enjoy riding, who cares! That's how really I feel about it. I get a ton of flack from friends and family because I have five bikes. I don't care because I love riding each of them and will the sixth one when I purchase it.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
I know of a few nice frames that just need someone to show them some love. This Raven is one of them..Problem is. I have this bad little habit of never being satisfied with restoring it to original. On a bike like a Raven, I'd want to go a bit crazy and put a Lefty Carbon on it for certain. Then there would be a much more modern drivetrain, brakes, etc... Not sure I want to spend that much in a few months when I've paid down some bills and will really look for another bike.
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I actually would do both - buy a new bike that I've had my eye on. I own a hardtail but would like a gravel bike more suited to road riding. I also would like to build a bike but haven't looked into anything yet. A question for folks - do you find building/restoring a bike to be more costly (using like-for-like components) than buying new?
I never spend anywhere close to what a comparable new bike would cost when buying or building a used bike. By comparable I mean performance not necessarily specific components. I doubt my $1000 CAAD6 R4000 with Chorus 10 gives up anything in performance to a current CAAD13 with Ultegra ($3125).
Touring and CX bikes make great gravel bikes. Older touring bikes with down tube shifters would benefit from a change to bar mounted shifters but won't require much else. CX bikes will generally need lower gearing for hilly gravel roads. Hybrids need little to be competent gravel bikes if you don't mind flat bars.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, I wonder what new bike you've got your eye on???Is it still yellow perhaps? LOL.
I couldn't have said it better when it comes to buying new vs. upgraded used bike.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
I definitely think that that bike is worth the wait. Especially since it is designed to the type of riding you are thinking of doing.
Ok, so this is the bike I've had my eye on...
https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/bikes/road/gravel/topstone-carbon/topstone-carbon-2-lefty - Laguna Yellow.
https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/bikes/road/gravel/topstone-carbon/topstone-carbon-2-lefty - Laguna Yellow.