Is it me or is everything MTB becoming ridiculously expensive!!!

[Denpot29]

Slight rant, Mountain biking has always been expensive especially if you want the good stuff, I get it but now it’s just ridiculous, obviously it’s all about supply/demand but can these latest prices continue for bikes and all the components.

chains, cassettes, tyres etc are mad prices.

I absolutely love my turbo Levo E-bike but even riding it now scares me, thank god for that 4 year motor warranty.....

Anyone else think it’s mad or is it just me?

 

[Gary]

chains, cassettes, tyres etc are mad prices.

I guess That depends whether you're looking for high end 12 speed drivetrain parts and super grippy compound tyres or more affordable parts.
UK Retail prices have increased slighty due to a number of current "issues" but what you're probably noticing is less heavily discounted prices online and in shops due to lower stock across the board

"stop buying so much stuff and stock give shops and suppliers a chance to replenish stock"... pass it on

Oh... and there's no point ranting about it

 

[Crazee horse]

Not the same thing but I'm also into scale rc cars, and the 1/10 Accessories are dearer than the full size.
I've always said mtbs are expensive, but they shouldn't be costing more than our vehicles.

 

[Gary]

I've always said mtbs cars are expensive, but they shouldn't be costing more than an entire street of houses in the Midlands...

Buy a cheaper bike.

 

[CjP]

We should post a thread about all the people who come onto a mtb forum to complain about mtb.
We could get into the psychology side of it and perhaps help a few.

 

[smtkelly]

Things are priced to what the market will bare. A cayman costs the same to make as 911 but the prices are set to give an impression of difference to what the market will bare. I knew a salesman who'd base estimates purely off of where the customer lived nothing to do with costs. Happens all the time its just happening now at a rate you've noticed it.

I know there's no name and shame of the forum but... I'm still smarting over a packet of Foxes biscuits I bought they used the same plastic tray but stacked the biscuits 2 high instead of 3 high and that was before brexit and Covid.. bar-stewards!

 

[Landy Andy]

At the moment everything is expensive, and topped off with bad service.

 

[nobbyq]

8-12 k for a push bike is madness pre covid and now , anyone who doesn't think so is under the scene thumb !

 

[R120]

MTB has always been an expensive sport - I stepped away from it for about four years in the early noughties as it had got to the stage when I pretty much broke something every time I went out on my bike I had had enough of forking out for it.

One of the big differences between MTB and other forms of cycling, which is only multiplied by EMTB's is the rate of wear on components, especially if you ride though a British winter.

What is different these days is that even fairly basic decent MTB's are great bikes with good quality components - in the old days components either worked or they didn't, where now cheaper components just dont work quite as well as the more expensive one, and in many cases are just as good.

Take a RS 35 Gold fork - you see plenty of complaints about it on here, but at the same time its perfectly capable fork that allow you to ride well and on any terrain this side of a full on DH track.

MTB is still fundamentally a sport/passtime where rider skill is the predominant factor, and the equipment the icing on the cake.

 

[Zimmerframe]

8-12 k for a push bike is madness pre covid and now , anyone who doesn't think so is under the scene thumb !

It is madness.

But is is also a choice.

You can buy a cheap EMTB for less than £1000, or you can pay more for something more interesting. Or if it's your thing, you can spend even more. They wouldn't make them if there wasn't demand for them.

Like @Gary has thrown in with his Lamborghini Veneno. It's madness. But it's a choice. At least we can buy cheaper versions too.

This is the same with anything, houses, cars, boats, planes, handbags, shoes (must keep the ladies of the forum happy).

Take cars again. A UK company and their new base model starts at £2.36m or the track version £3.1m (before taxes). (GMA T.50). Madness. You can buy 400 Dacia Sandero's for the same price as the base model (with taxes).

 

[Gary]

We really do need a forum section for whining about the prices of ALL the things we don't actually need and to share conspiracy theories about who is brainwashing us into making them rich.
Industry and bike shop bashing from folk who haven't the faintest idea about either really is getting old.

 

[Hamina]

Industry and bike shop bashing from folk who haven't the faintest idea about either really is getting old.

You still have consider that most of us don't work in the bike industry so therefore it's quite natural to explain exceptional things in exceptional manners. You have though widened many aspects on the current situation for us and I think that's good.

 

[Denpot29]

Gary, that sounds like a great idea with the forum section, you can join and start the whining!! Brilliant. ?

 

[Nicho]

I know there's no name and shame of the forum but... I'm still smarting over a packet of Foxes biscuits I bought they used the same plastic tray but stacked the biscuits 2 high instead of 3 high and that was before brexit and Covid.. bar-stewards!

Somebody has to say it ......................................That really does take the biscuit!!!

 

[Tim1023]

MTB is still fundamentally a sport/passtime where rider skill is the predominant factor, and the equipment the icing on the cake.

Yup, that's why I rated myself as "All the gear and no idea" on that recent survey

 

[thebarber]

Well my prices are going up, I usually buy my haircuts by the skip load (back door) but the markets drying up hence the extra quid.
The awld fukerz are gonna twist, that's music to my ears ???

 

[ggx]

Brands surely do marketing studies before start developing and release produts. So they have information what consumers are lookin at and are willing to spend . Nevertless I agree some stuff have pornografic ☢ prices . Interesting is to put this thinks in perpective and see for ex what king of range of products some regions have in the highlights.

 

[Marley]

We put our money where are interests are, choose your interests wisely.

 

[Pigin]

Brands surely do marketing studies before start developing and release produts.

All I will say is COOKIES!!!!

Why do you think websites want to be able to track our activities for. Perhaps one of the best/worst are flights. They have got it so locked down that their prices can change by the minute depending on perceived demand. Do you honestly think ebb sellers will not be aware that there are big profits to be made at the moment. I can't wait for the bubble to burst and I'm going to get a fleet as big as (insert your own name here ).

 

[R120]

Thing is there is a market for ridiculously expensive kit - take FOX factory stuff, IMO the only reason to buy the top end stuff is because you think Kashima looks cool - performance wise no different to the Performance Elite, yet how many of us shell out the extra for the full factory stuff? I know I have - only reason I have a Factory dropper on one bike is it matches the forks, performance wise its no different to my Band X on another bike, in fact has had more issues.

Lots of parts are what marketers call aspirational products, we all lust after to some extent exotic parts and kit, and often the fact we think its cool takes priority in the pulling the trigger purchasing process over any rational logic.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Lots of parts are what marketers call aspirational products, we all lust after to some extent exotic parts and kit, and often the fact we think its cool takes priority in the pulling the trigger purchasing process over any rational logic.

As we can see ... R120 is generally immune to this phenomena ..

 

[Norange]

"Things are priced to what the market will bare. A cayman costs the same to make as 911 but the prices are set to give an impression of difference to what the market will bare "

I'd bet my house on a Cayman not costing the same as a 911 to make. I'd also bet my house on the GM% on both not being the same

Thing is, the maxim you quote is extremely common. IME the reality is a bit more complex than that - or rather, it's unbelievably difficult to calculate what the market will bear.

 

[thebarber]

As we can see ... R120 is generally immune to this phenomena ..


View attachment 54508

No tassles?

 

[R120]

On back order, covid playing havoc with my tassel game

 

[Yoak]

Trek just raised prices by 10% up here, so Yes I agree.

 

[thebarber]

Trek just raised prices by 10% up here, so Yes I agree.

Make yer own, get some different coloured ribbons and tie a knot in them.
Poke a hole in bar end and feed thru (that's the tricky bit)

 

[R120]

"Things are priced to what the market will bare. A cayman costs the same to make as 911 but the prices are set to give an impression of difference to what the market will bare "

I'd bet my house on a Cayman not costing the same as a 911 to make. I'd also bet my house on the GM% on both not being the same

Thing is, the maxim you quote is extremely common. IME the reality is a bit more complex than that - or rather, it's unbelievably difficult to calculate what the market will bear.

It’s an interesting one because the Cayman is the gateway to Porsche ownership, the first rung in the ladder so to speak - It’s the kind of car where a brand might have lower profits bs another in the range as it hooks people into the Porsche brand.

I have no idea what the manufacturing costs are, but it’s often surprising which cars make money and which are loss leaders to serve a wider purpose for the brand, and it’s not always the super cars.

 

[RustyMTB]

One of the advantages of being an older fart like me is the decreasing number of tosses you give what other people think. Hence I ride a Decathlon Stilus, clad head to to in cycling kit from Aldi. Bet I'm having the same fun out on the trails too.

You pays your money & takes your choice. I did have an actual Cayman though, fuck me, that thing burnt a hole in my wallet

 

[R120]

That’s my attitude to cars now, I love cars but these days if it’s got heated seats, and armrest, and a decent cup holder I’m sold.

 

[Jimbo Vills]

It’s an interesting one because the Cayman is the gateway to Porsche ownership, the first rung in the ladder so to speak - It’s the kind of car where a brand might have lower profits bs another in the range as it hooks people into the Porsche brand.

I have no idea what the manufacturing costs are, but it’s often surprising which cars make money and which are loss leaders to serve a wider purpose for the brand, and it’s not always the super cars.

isnt the boxster the entry level?
I know I’d rather have a cayman either way...