eucalyptus wrote: ↑Wed Aug 17, 2022 8:32 am
What I do not understand is the +5000 Euro/USD price tags on carbon frames. Sure, they are made of high modulus carbon jada jada jada. But still.
The high modulus thing is one of the biggest scams put on by the cycling industry. For example, the difference between the Specialized SL7 ($3300 frame) and the S-Works version ($5500) is tiny. Even Specialized now says that they ride exactly the same.
Ruckus, the carbon repair expert was on the Cyclingtips podcast a while back. He basically said that amount of high mod carbon material in an S-Works frame is miniscule. My guess is that they probably leave more resin in the lower end frame in order to differentiate the models. Or maybe they add a few lead pellets?
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f ... 0474359104
Personally, I'm not falling for it. And I do have the money for a $12K+ bike if I truly wanted it.
I'd like another Colnago but this $7,100 full MSRP on the C68 is ludicrous. I had finally capitulated in my mind that maybe I'd treat myself to a C64 someday since they were usually discounted for around $4.5k. With the price increase of the C68, people now think they are getting great deals at $5500 having to directly import the frame themselves from Italy or the UK.
Now, I'm just riding my C59 for longer. Maybe I'll throw a fancy paint job on it.
For new bikes, I'm pondering a Specialized SL7 Tarmac or a Emonda SL7. On the Tarmac I'd get the $5500 etap model and add my own Farsports wheels for a whole bike under $6500. For the Emonda I'd get the $6000 model that comes with 12speed ultegra di2 and carbon wheels (probably the better deal over the Tarmac). Both would be absolutely fine modern aero bikes with electronic shifting.
I just won't pay $7k for an Italian frameset or $5k for a Campagnolo EPS groupset even though I'd been a Campy rider forever. I have literally had one bike with Shimano in 40 years. My other idea is the $3300 Tarmac frameset plus a Chorus or Record groupset and some wheels.
I know I sound like a grumpy old man but I just refuse to participate on $7,000 frames with short hard to collect on warranties. And I refuse to participate on $5000 groupsets just on principle.