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4733
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Ontario
CA
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1751st
Edited Date/Time
11/1/2018 7:53pm
So I clicked on an ad to the right of the screen for the Specialized Turbo Levo, unreal bike and technology but it still is just a bicycle. They cost anywhere from $7,000-$14,000 USD listed on their website depending on the model. Even their regular high-end bikes cost in that range.
MX bikes are around $7,000-$10,500 USD these days for a e-start EFI 450.
There seems to be so many more parts and engineering in a motocross bike that the price comparison seems crazy. Are the MTB companies making a gigantic profit margin or what?
MX bikes are around $7,000-$10,500 USD these days for a e-start EFI 450.
There seems to be so many more parts and engineering in a motocross bike that the price comparison seems crazy. Are the MTB companies making a gigantic profit margin or what?
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/full-eplus-3-2018
The Shop
Some brands offer lower spec builds, some don't.
You don't "need" race level components if you just ride casually, and aren't hitting 10 foot drops or gnarly rock gardens.
The extreme high end bike build isn't the same as buying a Factory Edition KTM. It would be closer to actually purchasing Musquin's 450.
In cycling, especially mtb, buyers can select a product that matches their budget while still maintaining a level of competitiveness. The dealer I worked in sold Trek and Cannondale in addition to some boutique brands. We stocked Trek's recreation line (budget), aluminum xc (mid-tier) and carbon xc (top of the line), and that's just the cross country models. Each tier had varying levels, so you could really get the most bang for your buck.
I thought for awhile that mx would expand its market if OEMs adopted a version of this model. I'm not sure though that our customer base is large enough to support such a segmented market. Maybe it is. People often suggest that an OEM like Suzuki could bring back the RM125 and hit that demographic of rider looking to ride competitively while sticking to a budget. I'm not so sure..
I think the pricing of MTBs is insane - I've always made this comparison and can't help it. And this isn't even in reference to eMTBs - they are ALL priced crazy. My carbon FRAME was $3500. For a frame (but I bought it at 45% off, so I felt marginally better).
I was super into the mtb for a few years and now I'm getting bored with it and trying to focus back on moto most of the time. The pricing just keeps turning me off as well.
And they creak and make a ton of noises and are somewhat fragile as it is (I'm on my second warrantied frame).
Whilst there are enough idiots to be parted from their money thinking the few thousand dollar bike will turn them into a great road/mtb rider then the bicycle industry will keep churning out these over priced bikes. Carbon frames manufactured in China and brake and suspension systems which are just scaled down versions from the motorbike sector and sold to the cycle community as new fangled inventions.
A push bike is only as good as the legs that are pushing it.
My YZ250 was $7,500. It costs a bundle to ride, factoring in gasoline to the local track, track fees, lubes, tires, ect.
The initial cost for a mountain bike may seem high, but after that they are nearly free to hammer on and enjoy. Ride a 450 as much as a mountain bike and holy cow will the bills add up. Not to mention the depreciation when it is time to sell.
One can get a middle of the road MTB and have a lot of fun for not a lot of money. Perhaps that sport is on the rise because it passes the cost/benefit analysis and is within reach of median earners.
Not everyone needs the latest and greatest mountain bike or an e-bike. Get what you can afford and enjoy it.
Pit Row
Can't say the same about my dirt bike and it's even a 2-stroke.
I do think there is some truth to the arguement comparing high-end MTB's to a factory 450, but it's slightly comparies apples to oranges. While the high-end suspension comonenets are really nice, they are still mass produced unlike factory components.
All the mountain bikes look awesome including the guy who has the Kona Process 134, it’s sweet.
I’m glad a 450 isn’t 20 grand to be in proportion with a MTB.
Most recent trip out west from this spring. Bonus points to those that can name the trail!
I found this interesting during my recent research for a potential e bike purchase: Ducati and Yamaha already offer an e bike.
Yamaha E Bike
Imagine going online and ordering a leftover ktm450 discounted at 15-20% and then ordering it with conevalves and the wheels, tires, bars etc. you want and having everything shipped to your door so you can put it together in your living room and not having to deal with a dealer that has no idea about dirtbikes.
As for the topic, comparing the cost of any high-end MTB (electric-powered or otherwise) against MX bikes is an exercise in crazy-making. How can a mountain bike cost as much as an MX bike? There's no engine. In fact, you are the engine. Personally, I think it has as much to do with how they're constructed (and what they're constructed from) as anything else. Spec an MTB, and you're going catalog shopping from a variety of vendors (Shimano, Sram, Fox, Rock Shox, etc.), and there's probably less of the actual construction being done by the companies themselves...even if they're bringing their own chassis design.
For MTBs, you definitely pay a premium for light weight, whether it's a carbon chassis, lightweight wheels, or other components. You're also not going to huck something as big as you would on an MX bike (unless you're maybe a world-class downhiller). I think things like wheels also get a bit more attention during the build phase. Most of the spokes on MTBs I've owned had never required much in the way of post-purchase attention. And someday I'd love to see wheels on an MX bike that didn't have as much brake and chain drag as you get on an MX bike.
On the other hand, if I had a mountain bike that featured some of the welds I've seen on MX bikes, I'd be pretty bummed. Sometimes they look good. Other times? Not so much.
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