Enigma Etape or Echo ? - Any advice welcome please

Bamford

The Mad Rapper wrote:

This is by no means a pop at you, but I wouldn't let the lack of a new web site put me off a purchase.

It's more the fact that they announced on their Facebook page back in October that the launch of their new website was imminent, which of course raises everyone's expectations and then, just like the two roadshows that they promised, it didn't materialise.

The Mad Rapper wrote:

why haven't you gone down there to see them in Brighton?

I don't want to repeat what I've already said earlier in the thread regarding this subject, but essentially I simply don't have the time to make the 400+ mile round trip to go down to see them.

I've almost certainly decided to go for something more mainstream now with proper dealer support where I can have a test ride without incurring a 400+ mile round trip and save myself a paket into the bargain.

giant_man

I know with experience if you went to see them you would buy a bike from them, simple as. You would then ask yourself why you waited so long.

Seriously dude, they are a good British company with excellent traditional framebuilding skills and unparalled customer service.

wicked

Was a purchase ever in danger of actually happening?
If the small matter of the website not being updated fast enough for you puts you off buying one maybe you should just stick to a specialized or trek? The 2011 models would probably not have been much if any different anyway, enigma are not the type of company to change their line up for the sake of it.

I don't wish to have a pop at you but I get the impression that deep down you were never going to buy one.

clx1

Bamford, are you some sort of Enigma fantasist?

You have been posting on this and other forums for months about buying an Enigma, in spite of all of the people who have taken time to answer your questions or relay their positive experiences with their bikes you continue to find the most ridiculous excuses not to buy one.
I could list them all but life's too short!
For Gods sake either buy a bloody Enigma or stop whining about it.

clx1

Bamford, are you some sort of Enigma fantasist?

You have been posting on this and other forums for months about buying an Enigma, in spite of all of the people who have taken time to answer your questions or relay their positive experiences with their bikes you continue to find the most ridiculous excuses not to buy one.
I could list them all but life's too short!
For Gods sake either buy a bloody Enigma or stop whining about it.

Bamford

Errm, it wasn't me that resurrected this very old thread. :?

AndyF16

No, t'was me! I've been in touch with Mark and just waiting for his initial design/suggestions. I have to concur with others though - you do seem to have the flimsiest of reasons not to progress any further with Enigma?!

TMR

giant mancp wrote:

I know with experience if you went to see them you would buy a bike from them, simple as. You would then ask yourself why you waited so long.

Seriously dude, they are a good British company with excellent traditional framebuilding skills and unparalled customer service.

This TBH.

I wanted to order an Echo the day I took one out, but when I telephoned my wife from their car park to discuss it, she nearly died of shock. I'd showed her the web site, but she had thought the frame price was the cost for the bike and I didn't realise I hadn't made it clear it was going to be the same again once built. Bless her, she was 7 months pregnant and it was a lot to spend (£3K +), so I told her I'd wait until my bonus next month.

Since then of course my head has been turned by various carbon beauties, but I'd still like one.

One day!

giant_man

That's not the kind of shock a pregnant woman needs The Mad Rapper, poor woman!! lol

TMR

giant mancp wrote:

That's not the kind of shock a pregnant woman needs The Mad Rapper, poor woman!! lol

I know! I was worried it may induce early labour, but he decided to stay an extra two weeks, and in the end we had to pop him out through the sun roof!

Still, all's well that ends well

Road Red

Seems like too much information being shared there Mad Rapper.

My indoors believes the frame price was the full price!

AndyF16

Road Red wrote:

My indoors believes the frame price was the full price!

yeah that's going to be my spin - show her it in the CyclingPlus buyers guide at £1199 and hope she's not awake/interested enough to notice that's F&F only

bondurant

There's loads of people (well, two or three) on the Enigma forum getting all upset that the website hasn't been updated as promised. Even though the 2011 range is basically going to be exactly the same and all they are 'missing out' on is extra Javascript and some whizzy new pics.

For some reason this broken promise - this betrayal of the customer - didn't stop me buying one of their frames. Echo due in the next week or so!

enigmajim

Some people do seem to be getting very upset about the lateness of our new website and I think it's time we responded.

Yes the new updated site is late, I'm sorry and somewhat embarrassed by its lateness. Up to now we have always created our site in-house but for 2011, because of a big increase in frame building work, we decided to use an outside IT company to do all the technical work for us. There is no need to go into the details but the bottom line is that we have been let down very badly and it's probably my fault because of my ignorance in such matters. Although I like to think that I have certain skills, computers and IT stuff is certainly not one of them. In fact I am totally green when it comes to anything other than emails and simple stuff like forum posts. I believed the information and completion dates given to me and this was past on via our own forum in good faith. However we have ended up with egg on our face, but hey ho, it 'aint really that bad is it??

Our latest deadline and promise of website completion (21st Jan) has now also come and gone, but I do understand (and believe) that we are only days away from going live with the new site, honestly! The bikes however will be largely unchanged with new finish options available, so I don't really know what some people are expecting. There is a new XCR stainless steel version of the Etape, which is stunning, but not too much else new as I don't believe in change for its own sake.

Enigma has enjoyed a huge upsurge in sales over the last 12 months and we have almost doubled our business. We are building and shipping frames and bikes all over the world, doing our little bit to reduce the balance of payments deficit. We are training new staff in the art of frame building and we are creating British craftsman built products to compete with the best from the rest of the world.

The website thing is disappointing but I hope it will not deter people like Bamford and others from seriously considering and buying an Enigma.

Jim Walker

jphil

Last year after pondering for a few months :? I decided that life is too short , I love getting out on a bike it gives me more pleasure than the car, so would rather spend my money on a decent bike! I arranged a trip down to Enigma with Jim, to try out the Etape and Effusion just for a contrast! Although the ride on the Effusion was great very responsive, I had to put my sensible head on and went for the Etape, which would have more varied uses and I just love to get out on when the weekend comes around.Never mind the pictures on a website, when you see a polished Enigma in the flesh and you've been out for a good ride on one your mind is made up!! The boys at Enigma are very busy and thats a good thing don't worry about pictures on a website it's all about the bike!

DubaiNeil

enigmajim wrote:

We are building and shipping frames and bikes all over the world

Oooh Oooh I'm one of the "all over the world" ones!

Love my Echo to bits, and did try to guide Bamford towards the light, but hey ho - only work hours got wasted I was a touch bemused that someone could spend so many hours on here, but not have time to go to Eastbourne... Luckily I was not so fussed, and ordered mine at a distance of 3,500 miles!

I do admit I am thinking of returning the frame however...


...as I really, really want the bead blasted logos (with maybe some mirrored bands as well) as the stickers struggle with the combination of heat, sun, baby wipes & WD40...

Neil

bondurant

Neil - I just picked up my frame this week. Bead blasted frame, mirror-polished logos. It looks fantastic.

My apologies if that's tipped the balance to you biting the bullet!

dbb

i got my effussion about the same time as dubaineil got his echo.
i couldn't (be bothered) get to brighton to see and test ride all of the frames in person.

but when i phoned to oreder the bike they told me that i could return it if i wasn't totally happy.

needless to say it is still in my garage and i love riding it

bigpikle

Looks like the new site is coming this weekend...

I hope to add my 2nd Enigma later this year all being well

giant_man

New site online now, interesting .......

TMR

I don't like the look of their new carbon frame in that photo, which is strange because I've seen it in the flesh when I visited and it looked amazing.

giant_man

I never saw the carbon one last time I was there, complete surprise to me.

bigpikle

I'm sure its a good enough frame, although I have to agree it doesnt look very special in the pics, but mass produced carbon frames are not what I go to Enigma for... Its about custom made, classic steel or beautiful looking titanium isnt it?

I cant blame them for wanting to extend the brand and if it means more sales then why not, but not for me

giant_man

yes same here. ....