The MTB thread

My problem is the likes of me wouldn't benefit from a higher specced bike, my boardman is way more capable than I am, so 3 or 4 times that cost just wouldn't be worth it in my case, it certainly wouldn't make me a better rider or get me up the hills any quicker, so it would just be for show in my case.

I do regret not getting the full suspension boardman though, but I'm really happy with it overall.

[G]

The difference it makes is massively noticable, and the same difference between buying a chinese Hyosun 650 and a BMWS1000RR.

Ease of maintenance
Quality of parts
performance of the parts
parts to make life easier (reverb dropper post)
weight of parts
ease in which the bike will climb a hill, or drop down one
How long parts will last.

You can buy an £800 hardtail, and after 6 weeks of hard riding it can be completely knackered, I've been there :P and if you were to try running the new black route at cannock on a hardtail, you would probably brake your back or the bike dropping off 1m rocks onto another pointy rock.

[Drew Carey]

Originally Posted by specialone

it certainly wouldn't make me a better rider or get me up the hills any quicker.

This is where most people go wrong, the main reason a lot of people buy higher spec mountain bikes is not about climbing a hill, but about it being able to survive some craazy trails whilst going downhill.

Its the reason I do mountain biking, because I can pedal down an off road trail at 30+mph. Having a bike that absorbs everything and survives the ride is why most people have the expenseive full sussers......

Otherwise we would all be riding hardtails, because for uphills they are better.

Originally Posted by G

The difference it makes is massively noticable, and the same difference between buying a chinese Hyosun 650 and a BMWS1000RR.

Ease of maintenance
Quality of parts
performance of the parts
parts to make life easier (reverb dropper post)
weight of parts
ease in which the bike will climb a hill, or drop down one
How long parts will last.

You can buy an £800 hardtail, and after 6 weeks of hard riding it can be completely knackered, I've been there :P and if you were to try running the new black route at cannock on a hardtail, you would probably brake your back or the bike dropping off 1m rocks onto another pointy rock.

Totally agree with all above.

[Drew Carey]

Originally Posted by JamesMio

See, I kinda struggle with that (a lot!) too. I even spent my youth working part time in a local bike shop and STILL can't get my head around how/why (some) bikes with no engines cost more than (some) bikes WITH engines.

Much as I completely get 'why' spending more on a mountain bike will get you better / lighter parts etc - I still struggle with the fact that I paid about £1200 for a 5 year old Husky dirt bike, which is just as well sprung etc as a good mountain bike, but yet also comes with an engine in it.

Maaaa'd!

One thing you are forgetting, is we don't have to buy fuel, parts are cheaper, we don't pay tax, don't have insurance etc.......

With the benefit of getting fitter, still going at crazy speeds and the enjoyment of being able to go anywhere. A lot of the technology in high end bikes is taken straight from motorbikes (in forks) and from car chassis etc for the frames.

I think costs wise, a high end mountain bike would cost an insignificant amount over say 5 years when compared to a Motorbike etc.

For me, I have been able to replace the buzz from a motorbike with that of pedal power - thus negating the need for me to buy a motorbike.

But its all personal preference anyway!

Your both missing my point, if you do them trails regulary then fair enough it's your money, I don't and probably never will, so a grands worth of full suspension boardman is more than enough for me, which incidentally are regarded as being well specced for the money.

Motorcycling will always be my first priority so won't ever justify £4k of mtb cos it will in case be bling and won't get used to it's potential.


Not a very good analogy G btw, you can't compare a boardman range of bikes to a chinese motorcycle.
I get the differences in spec, but I wouldn't buy a cheap Chinese motorbike ever but we've all had sv's which are cheap compared to a RR BMW.

Horses for courses I guess, I won't be trading in my bikes anytime soon.

[G]

I didn't compare a boardman to a chinese bike, infact I didn't even specify MTB brands at all.

I specified bottom end, and top end of the motorbike range, then there's everything in between. They all perform differently, and use different quality parts... and it's the same for MTBing, that's the point I was getting across.

[G]

Anyway...

Originally Posted by G

DMC and I are planning to go to Llandelga on Saturday if anyone fancies it.

http://www.coedllandegla.com/

Aiming to be there as 09:00 when the gates open, potentially aiming to get around the red with black additions twice, but may end up doing the full loop once with a bit of practice time on the skills area afterwards. We'll play it by ear.

Any takers? Everybody is more than welcome, it's not particularly difficult just fast and flowing and no one will be left behind.

Who's coming?

[JamesMio]

Oh, don't get me wrong - I completely 'get' the whole cycling thing - I've been on & off self-powered 2 wheels from about the age I could walk, and love it completely. I don't begrudge it, I don't say it's wrong, I just can't get my wee head around the cost of some of them, that's all.

If money were no object, I'd have a feather-lite road bike, and a top-spec full suss mtb at the drop of a hat.

It's just, well... HOW can something like this (just 1 example plucked very quickly):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-edict-ltd-2012/

Under any way, shape, form or circumstance, cost £600 more than something like this:

http://www.ktm.com/gb/mx/250-sx.html

I get why it costs more than lesser spec mountain bikes, it's just that they just seem to have gone absolutely mental in the last few years!

[Drew Carey]

Originally Posted by JamesMio

Oh, don't get me wrong - I completely 'get' the whole cycling thing - I've been on & off self-powered 2 wheels from about the age I could walk, and love it completely. I don't begrudge it, I don't say it's wrong, I just can't get my wee head around the cost of some of them, that's all.

If money were no object, I'd have a feather-lite road bike, and a top-spec full suss mtb at the drop of a hat.

It's just, well... HOW can something like this (just 1 example plucked very quickly):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-edict-ltd-2012/

Under any way, shape, form or circumstance, cost £600 more than something like this:

http://www.ktm.com/gb/mx/250-sx.html

I get why it costs more than lesser spec mountain bikes, it's just that they just seem to have gone absolutely mental in the last few years!

From my understanding, it comes down to manufacturing costs, materials and costs etc......bikes at that level are a very niche market - unlike motorbikes etc which are more mass produced and most manufacturers are tied into larger companies. I would guess, that seeing as most MTB manufacturers are creating for a small niche market, that the costs are higher.

The only way to make cheap bicylces.....is mass production as with anything - hence why all the mass produced appollo etc are actually the best selling bikes on the market - becasue mostly kids use them.

I do agree though, I understand why specialist bikes are more, but like you I balk at the thought that they can go up to frankly ridiculous amounts.

Still, they seem to be able to still sell them (although it has been in decline recently).

[Drew Carey]

On this note, there was an interesting article recently in my MTB magazine with the owners of Hope. They stated that with the exception of setup costs, you could create a bike with decent profit margins at about 2k which would be of a spec with those retailing at 5k. They stated it was mainly down to shipping costs and suppliers increasing prices in the far east that increases prices.

However, the setup costs to compete with far eastern manufacturing would be asronomical and would devalue their core business - ie parts.