How often do we change our Bikes?

tbeat

Hello all,
im still doing my biking on a 2001 spesh rockhopper pro, and it is still going strong, however i am thinking that over 7 years, would i notice a big change if i purchased a (new) similar priced model today?
mmmm disc brakes would be nice
Trev

jimh_123

Well I've just bought myself a new Spesh Hardrock Comp Disc version as my old bike was from 1995!!!!
I cant believe the difference in my new bike compared to the old one. Obvious difference are suspension and disc brakes (which i highly recommend) But the main difference is speed! I'm flying both down and up hills. I've read in forums that my bike isn't the lightest and its hard to climb - you guys should have tried my old bike!

Dont get me wrong I'm still gona use my old bike. It can tackle everything I'm doing on my new bike. The reason I changed was that parts were getting worn out and finding replacement parts was getting kind of hard.

Dont know if you would notice much difference from a 2001 bike to a 2008 model. What about upgrading your old bike a sticking on a set of disc brakes? I heard the rockhopper pro was a well sound bike.

RichMTB

Here is one way of looking at it a 2008 Rockhopper uses the same frame material (M4 alloy) as my 2004 Stumpjumper does.

The amount of bike you get for your money gets better each year seven years will make a big difference.

£500 gets you an decent alloy frame, 27 speeds, hydraulic discs and a fork that works, a bike weight of about 30lbs
£750 gets you this plus spds pedals a decent well damped fork and some lighter components, bike weight of about 27lbs

Rich Hcp

I've just bought an Orange G3 after about 15 years of riding a Univega rigid with XT/LX groupset.

There is a massive difference, the components are better, it has disc brakes and front suspension, it's a little heavier, but much easier to ride off road. Although on road to the trail is hard work, probably the tyre's rolling resistance

As mentioned above, one of the reasons i chhanged was spares avaliability and cost of repair over the value of the old bike..

Also I was fed up at getting rattled to death on the trails, so I love the front suspension!

My opinion is that you shouldn't change when the 'next thing' comes out, year on year improvements are small for similiar cost bikes.

Leave it for some time and you can really feel the improvements.

Personally, I buy a bike for longevity, not over the top spec, but decent, an one that should last 10+ before the cost of maintenance is over the value of the biike.

A mate of mine has a Hardrock rigid that is about 8-9 years old, he paid out for new transmission last year, when to me he'd be better off getting a new bike, now he wants a Rockhopper (non disc), he'd have been better off getting it this year, instead of repairing his old one

I was lucky that work do the cycle to work scheme, though 8) which enabled me to get somthing better than I would have and I hope it lasts for years

Anonymous

Spares availability? you're talking cack. What components can you not get for your old bike that you can for a new one? :roll:

FSR_XC

Bought a Cannondale Delta V900 (first of Headshok) in 1991, sold it last year & bought my Spesh FSR XC Comp.

This year bought an Allez too. First road bike since 1988.

Can't say it'll be that long before I change a bike again, but I reckon I'll have the MTB for at least 2 more years before changing.

Rich Hcp

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Spares availability? you're talking cack. What components can you not get for your old bike that you can for a new one? :roll:

Nope, couldn't get new seatpost, had to stick with battered one

It gets to the point where changing components exceeds the value of the bike.

toby_g

well before my new purchase at the weekend (Cube AMS Pro 100), I had been using the bike I bought in 1996 (Giant ATX 840), ok been upgraded a lot since then to the extent that only the frame, seatpost, shifters and front derailleur remain from the original bike. the forks have gone through many changes: Rockshox Quadra 21R's, Judys, Marzocchi MX/Pros/Airs/Comps etc.

Anonymous

Rich Hcp wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Spares availability? you're talking cack. What components can you not get for your old bike that you can for a new one? :roll:

Nope, couldn't get new seatpost, had to stick with battered one

It gets to the point where changing components exceeds the value of the bike.

Bullcrap. What size is the seatpost?

Larok

Between 5 and 10 years would seem reasonable. Maybe less if your maddd...

Amos

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Rich Hcp wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Spares availability? you're talking cack. What components can you not get for your old bike that you can for a new one? :roll:

Nope, couldn't get new seatpost, had to stick with battered one

It gets to the point where changing components exceeds the value of the bike.

Bullcrap. What size is the seatpost?

Older seat posts can be hard to come by. Im currently looking for a 22.2mm seat post for an old road bike and they seem few and far between.

Rich Hcp

Exactly, can't remember which size it was , but couldn't find one at the time

Rich Hcp

Larok wrote:

Between 5 and 10 years would seem reasonable. Maybe less if your maddd...

Sounds about right

Anonymous

22.2 mm? that's a toothpick not a seatpost.
I've never seen a bike with a post that small.