Upgrade parts or whole bike?

bazzer2
bazzer2 Posts: 189
edited September 2012 in Road buying advice
So, I have a 2009 Orbea Aqua Enol. It's a nice frame and I fit it well, it's very comfy. I always thought as I got in to cycling I would update the wheels, as they're 8 speed Kronos / Shimano 2200 and hence a little 'budget' for my liking. But now I'm faced with a dilemma. I really, really need some kind of gears a little lower to get me up the slopes. So I'm thinking of getting a compact groupo for it. Naturally, I'd upgrade rather than get something of a similar value to what's on there, so I'm thinking about a complete 105 compact groupset, and also a new set of wheels.
In my opinion the frame is of better class than the components attached to it, I just want other's opinion of whether it would be a clever idea to buy all the upgraded kit and fix it to the frame, or should I treat the bike as a whole and chop it in for something up the range a little?

Comments

  • bazzer2
    bazzer2 Posts: 189
    I'm surprised I've not been told what to do by now! Been looking online at deals, and £420 is the cheapest I've seen a Shimano 105 groupset for. Bearing in mind the bike only retailed at £650, it's a lot of effort to go to, even if I get money back on ebay for the kit on it at the moment. Which is mostly 2200 or Orbea branded.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    For that level of bike frame I would say not worth the expense.

    Get a new bike with what you want on it and keep the Orbea for a winter bike.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • bazzer2
    bazzer2 Posts: 189
    Interesting... I think I'd probably have to spend over £1000 on a new bike to get a full 105 groupset and some slightly-less-than-basic wheels.

    So my question is: Is the level of bike I'd be buying for a grand the same quality frameset as I already have? If so, it's a no brainer, I'll just buy a groupset.
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    What is the frame? I guess some basic alu alloy thing?

    So a new groupset is £420. You'll also need new cables (unless they are supplied) and new bar tape. A decent set of wheels is going to cost you £300 +

    So you're looking at about £750 spent.

    You could sell it as a whole and buy something new for £1000 like you say. Thats probably what I would do. Have a look about for some of this years bikes being sold off cheap now.

    Or there's a Kuota Kharma going for about a grand in the classifieds. Full Force groupset and Ksyriums. A decent leap up from your current bike.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/orbea/enol-2009

    So the whole bike has a rrp of £550 (above link) - does that answer your question?
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • bazzer2
    bazzer2 Posts: 189
    smidsy wrote:
    http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/orbea/enol-2009
    So the whole bike has a rrp of £550 (above link) - does that answer your question?
    Nope!
    New Orbea bikes that come with 105 are £1800 odd. Now, I guess the frameset is slightly higher up the range than the Aqua, but how much? I don't have £1800 to chuck at this project in one go, I think £400 then £300 is much more manageable, and hence a more desirable option.

    Nobody has convinced me yet that a £1800 bike has a better frame and fork than a £650 bike - my opinion is that the £650 bike has a similar frame to the £1800 bike, just with better bits screwed on.
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Nobody has convinced me yet that a £1800 bike has a better frame and fork than a £650 bike - my opinion is that the £650 bike has a similar frame to the £1800 bike, just with better bits screwed on.

    Well it really depends what you define as better. I'd say lighter/stiffer/comfier is better. You may say a nice paint job is better.

    Obviously an £1800 bike will have a ligher/stiffer/comfier frame than a £650 bike. It might not be painted as nicely though.
  • bazzer2
    bazzer2 Posts: 189
    Ok, point taken. (BTW I would expect a £1800 bike to have a tarty enough paint job to make that entirely negligible anyhow...)
    I have no idea what makes a bike more comfortable. I'm perfectly comfy on my bike as is (25% gradients notwithstanding). Is that due to geometry or frame materials - I don't know, I've not ridden a carbon frame before. I have ridden something with alloy forks and it was a boneshaker in comparison to mine, so I understand there will be some differences, I just haven't had them laid out for me.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Ok I'll try another approach (my last honest).

    Your bike has an aluminium frame (as does mine) but yours is a £550 bike. That means the manufacturer has to buy a load of other bits, fit them and ship the bike AND still make profit. This has to mean the frame is at best £200 worth.

    The £1800 bike (you have not stated which so I am assuming here) will no doubt be full carbon. Carbon fibre is accepted as providng a plusher ride than aluminium and is also supposed to be able to be stiffer at the same time. It is often (but not exclusively) lighter too.

    Stiffness is everything in a frame as it allows the power to be transferred to going forwards rather than being wasted in flex. This is especially appreciated when climbing.

    So the 'better' frame is comfier, stiffer and maybe even lighter which is (rightly or wrongly) why they cost more.

    None of this means anything of course if you are perfectly happy with what you have - but you asked for opinions and I have given mine. What you choose to do next is of course entirely your right to decide.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    bazzer2 wrote:
    smidsy wrote:
    http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/orbea/enol-2009
    So the whole bike has a rrp of £550 (above link) - does that answer your question?
    Nope!
    New Orbea bikes that come with 105 are £1800 odd. Now, I guess the frameset is slightly higher up the range than the Aqua, but how much? I don't have £1800 to chuck at this project in one go, I think £400 then £300 is much more manageable, and hence a more desirable option.

    Nobody has convinced me yet that a £1800 bike has a better frame and fork than a £650 bike - my opinion is that the £650 bike has a similar frame to the £1800 bike, just with better bits screwed on.

    Orbea Aqua 105 is £1,149, thats £500 more than the T23 which is equivalent to to your current bike, for which you get a better groupset and brakes and a carbon seat post.

    Given you already have the 2009 bike and are happy with the frame, then yes buying a new 105 groupset will get you a bike pretty much the same as a £1150 bike (give or take a carbon post) and will be a cheaper option than selling your current bike and buying new. Note if you can find a lightly used second hand 105 groupset then even better.

    Whatever you saw at £1800 maybe the Orca Bronze no doubt has a carbon frame.

    http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/#road was using this for pricing - any offers on 2012 bikes might weigh in your favour
    Bianchi Infinito CV
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  • ..I've got a 2010 Aqua, cost £650...came with 9 speed Sora and similiar Kronos budget wheels. Really nice bike, very comfy especially after a bike fit and I'm still enjoying it.
    Over time, I've upgraded the wheels to Mavic Aksiums, (from Merlin £130 or so for the pair in a sale) and the shifters to Tiagra (again sale items, £115, I think)...I also swapped out the rear cassette and mech for a bigger climbing gear (11-30)....and that's as much as I'm doing to it.
    At the end of the day, its an alu frame with composite carbon forks - weighs in about 10k, so for me the next step will be to move up to an all-carbon bike in the region of £1500. this should get me a better ride, 10 speed group set and about 2k in weight less to push uphills....in the Orbea range, the logical step up would be the Onyx (comes with "my" Aksiums as standard!), though I'm not stuck on any one brand.
    For me , the upgrade path has been a way of maximising the life of the bike in line with my personal improvement (this was my first road bike), and I like a bit of a tinker, but nice as the Aqua is, I think its reached its limit. I think you have to keep the cost of your upgrades in perspective and personally wouldn't stretch to putting 105 on an Aqua.

    btw..If you only need an easier climbing gear, stick a MTB cassette on it, job done!