Any experience of Leopard bikes

willrubin

Hi,

I've got the opportunity to get hold of a Leopard bicycle (like this: http://www.leopardcycles.com/proddetail ... rd-2010-M1) with really good components for what appears to be a very good price. The only problem is, I'm not sure how to determine whether it actually is a really good price or not! (And, given the bike is in west-coast USA and I'm in London, there's no easy way to find out.)

So, does anyone have any experience of them, or does it look like a decent bike?

(by the way, just before any confusion arises, it is completely unrelated to the Leopard Trek team!)

Thanks for your help.

nochekmate

Never heard of them but having used the link and filled in spec requesting Ultegra 6700 and Fulcrum 3 wheels (neither of which are top spec) the price is up to around $4800, which I have to say is far from a bargain in my eyes - similar spec on a Cube for example would be under £2K even in rip-off Britain!

Not worth the hassle

willrubin

nochekmate wrote:

Never heard of them but having used the link and filled in spec requesting Ultegra 6700 and Fulcrum 3 wheels (neither of which are top spec) the price is up to around $4800, which I have to say is far from a bargain in my eyes

How about if I could get it with Dura-Ace or SRAM Red (and Fulcrum 5 wheels, but I'm not bothered about them as I already have some wheels) for around £2,000. Is that a good deal? (or with Ultegra for around £1,750?)

nochekmate

Aah I think I understand now - are you buying secondhand then?

A bike for £2K with full SRAM Red or DA is a fair deal assuming all is in good condition but if it's not a new bike, again you could pick up something similar in the UK without the potential hassle of a transatlantic deal.

Given that the groupsets mentioned are around £1K NEW and Fulcrum 5 wheels are available at around £150 NEW then that leaves you paying about £850 for frame & finishing kit. If it is secondhand, then £850 secondhand buys a top frame and then you can spec it how you wish.

Don't really know enough about the deal but it wouldn't get £2K of my money for the above reasons.

arlowood

Hi there

Have you factored in shipping costs and any import duty? Not sure if the latter applies to second hand bikes (if that's what it is).

But as the previous poster said there are plenty of good bikes out there in the £2K price bracket that you can go and ride to ensure the best fit and comfort assessment.

I would agree that the temptation of a "bargain" may cloud the judgement.

willrubin

It is a new bike, but I've only half-heartedly accounted for shipping and import duties, so it would probably be slightly more.

arlowood wrote:

I would agree that the temptation of a "bargain" may cloud the judgement.

This is what I'm concerned about. The prospect of shiny new things sometimes gets in the way of rational thought!

navrig

Looks expensive.

Look Keo Classics +$100.

£49.99 out of CRC
or
£45 if added to a Ribble Special Edition.