How much would you pay & would you?

Merlydog

Hi guys, looking for a little direction. Been riding for four years on my forme finesse and looking to upgrade, I'm smitten with the cervelo road bikes and with a 40th birthday imminent am looking to treat myself

Question is do I go lower spec new or higher spec second hand?

I've found a lovely cervelo R3 with the following goodies;

Cervélo R3

Size 48

Dura-ace gearing-with triple ring on front

Ksyrium SL Superlight Premium wheels

Double Wireless Cateye Strada

Specialised Bodygeometry Riva Seat

Keo Look pedals

Profile Design TD Plus DL Tri-bars

Two specialised drinks cages

Altura saddle bag

My concern is that it's probably around four years old now, but... It's in very good condition and I'm assured it's only ever been a best bike and used for one iron man. It's ideal for me at a 48cm frame and I do like the look and ride of the R3, other options are new and something like a specialized roubaix or similar. The second hand Cervelo I think I could get it for about £1450, good/bad? Thoughts pls

golfergmc

Lower spec new as no lifetime warranty with second hand and you can always upgrade wheels and components at a later date.

peteone

As above, I'd go with new for the warranty.

rokt

I'd buy new and get the warranty, upgrade as you go

rjh299

The warranty wouldn't overly swing me either way. Most people with that standard of bike look after them well so you would hope it's all ok. I'd be very tempted to go for the Cervelo and within a few rides you'll forget it's second hand and just be 'your new bike'.

Merlydog

Good to get a mix of views. I'm not overly fussed by the warrenty tbh, it's more about value for money and getting the best bike for the money I have. Been perusing ribble but to get that close to the spec this cervelo offers its serious coin!

nochekmate

Your mind is set on the Cervelo so get that. Arguably the worst case scenario is that the frame could suffer a failure and if this happens somebody will still pay decent money to get it repaired ( if you decide not to) and you can then put the money towards the search for another frame. Likelihood is that it will have been well looked after and you'll get a fine bike with some decent wheels unlike the new offerings at £1500 with a £100 set of wheels on.

Secondhand for value every time for me!

Ribble v Cervelo - no comparison!

Merlydog

But a new ribble vs a four year old cervelo, still no comparison?

doinggolary

good info,. Likelihood is that it will have been well looked after and you'll get a fine bike with some decent wheels unlike the new offerings at £1500 with a £100 set of wheels on.

DeVlaeminck

Some Cervelos have a reputation for cracking - so for me I'd go new with warranty unless I knew that model and year didn't have that reputation.

on-yer-bike

Check for cracks round the BB. Cervelo with a triple? Doesnt really go.

Merlydog

Even if your a girl? :-D

maryka

Dura-Ace throughout? The cranks will be an aftermarket deal, but nothing wrong with a triple and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

£1400 isn't too bad, I paid £1200 for a Cervelo SLC-SL 2008 model bought in 2011 with Dura-Ace everything but had no wheels or pedals. At 48cm you're sort of in a good and a bad place at the same time buying secondhand: bikes that size don't have a whole lot of buyers so you can get a decent deal; on the other hand they are rarer so if you're set on that particular model you probably won't find another for a year or so.

As anyone who knows me knows, I swear by 48cm Cervelos, they handle better than any other 700c bike I've owned. If this R3 is one of the older black and red ones, all the better. Just make sure you're buying from someone reputable, it's not stolen (!!) and it's in good condition. Test-ride if you can to sort out any issues first.

Personally I like used bikes over new as I tend to be hard on bikes and I would rather buy something that's very good quality for a low price and not feel bad about putting it through the works than buy something new and agonise over winter weather, stone chips, crashes, etc. You can buy 2 used bikes for the cost of one new....

That said, the new R3 Dark (apparently a rebadged R5) with 105 is only £2000 so it's up to you -- I might try to get yours down to £1300 or so.

Merlydog

Yes throughout.. It's driving me crazy surfing the net ha! Your right about the frame size, feels as though I'm in a good place as you say. There's a nice look bike on offer £1500 and kuota £1600, the kuota I like the look of but fear it's a aggressive ride. I need a comfy(ish) option as my LEJOG starts in aug 14 which is what the upgrades for really.
I love the cervelos at heart and your right, if they won't budge perhaps the new option is a good idea?

jibberjim

Merlydog wrote:

if they won't budge perhaps the new option is a good idea?

Just don't tell maryka who's selling it - we don't have enough room for any more!

Merlydog

jibberjim wrote:

Merlydog wrote:

if they won't budge perhaps the new option is a good idea?

Just don't tell maryka who's selling it - we don't have enough room for any more!

Ok I'm confused? Ah... On reflection I'm with you now.. Ha!! It's not possible to have too many!

I like the range triples offer, some days when your not firing on all cylinders it's great to be able to fall back to lazy mode IMO..

maryka

I ride 48cm Cervelos myself but no I don't need an R3! (yet)

Velonutter

Just my penniworth, Cervelo are renown for fractures, probably the most replaced frame of any manufacturer (judging by hearsay and reports in a lot of forums), I wouldn't buy a second-hand Cervelo now if it was the last one on earth, I'm talking from experience having owned a Ally Soloist, 2010 Carbon R3 SL, Carbon 2012 R5 VWD, Carbon 2013 R5, Carbon 2009 P2C.

Having seen the build quality of their latest frames, IMHO they need to go back to their drawing board and look at the quality standards.

If you are going to buy a Cervelo then buy new and check it very carefully on a regular basis.

Merlydog

I guess you could say such about any second hand carbon bike though surely? I would imagine (and I'm a mere beginner really here in the carbon market) that cervelos are purchased by high end cyclists, those who are going to ride the bike fairly hard?
Honestly, I couldn't afford a new cervelo bike, way over my budget. Still with this one if I take the chance and find in a few hundred miles the frame is compromised at least I have a nice set of other components to bolt onto another frame. At £1450 with full dura ace, ksyrium elites and a bunch of other goodies it's a bargain, or at least appears to me having been mulling over a carbon bike for months anyway.
I guess it's whether your willing to take the chance like anything. I think I am to be honest.

diamonddog

Lot of money to risk if heaven forbid the frames breaks IMO, new Canyon CF SL with 105 is £1400.

Merlydog

diamonddog wrote:

Lot of money to risk if heaven forbid the frames breaks IMO, new Canyon CF SL with 105 is £1400.

I guess so but it's 'if' the frame breaks.. Be right, if it does it does.. If it doesn't, happy days If it breaks I'll be sure to re post here, or indeed if it doesn't. Right now I'm chomping at the bit to get my mitts on my new ride.

Plus you said it yourself.. A canyon with 105 is £1400? No thanks.

See you in 6 months time. Hopefully :shock:

maryka

Never had a problem with any of my Cervelo frames cracking (alu or carbon) so there's another n=1 for you. I've owned more than Velonutter too.

Broken frames are ~£100 to fix, bit of a scaremongering there! Any frame can break, new or not, certainly not a reason not to buy a secondhand (otherwise mechanically sound) frame.

jibberjim

maryka wrote:

Broken frames are ~£100 to fix, bit of a scaremongering there! Any frame can break, new or not, certainly not a reason not to buy a secondhand (otherwise mechanically sound) frame.

So it's even more - the alu canyon frame is not repairable at all, a carbon frame is often repairable - almost certainly after a crash, less for sure after a the sort of fault that a warranty would cover depending on the type but probably. But even if the frame is a write off after a crash, in one of those situations you have some dura ace and good wheels to put on your 150quid ribble frame and can use the cervelo forks, or you have some 105, some cheap wheels and probably need some new forks or a more expensive frame 'cos of the less standard canyon forks...

Crashes are much more common than warranty frame failures, optimising for the second seems bonkers.

Mickyg88

Have you bought the Cervelo yet? For that money you should, ignore all the scaremongering in here, all based on 'hearsay', 'quality' experts etc., go your own way and get what you know is right for you, too many 'experts' in here who really haven't a clue regarding g carbon bikes, they read too much but don't have a clue in reality.

Merlydog

I got that impression myself but thank you for reiterating, I guess if nothing else it highlights the mixed opinions. I restored a vw camper and became very much involved in their forums. It's much the same there lol!

I pick it up tomorrow and cannot wait I tell you! It's loaded with goodies too.

Incidentally I went to my lbs this afternoon and even they agreed to go for the cervelo, they echoed it very rare there are issues and if there were it would cost no more than £100 to get it fixed by a trusted engineer. They did plug me with a card for the local repairer though lol!

Cannot wait. V exciting, I almost feel as though I'm robbing the seller at that tbh.

domgears

Good choice.

I bought a second hand 2010 Cervelo R3 SL last year, the guy had only ridden it a few times, had an accident on another bike and broke his hip so was sat for a year without being ridden, he had all the original receipt for the frame and components.

You can see the bike in my signiture, originally came with Zipp 303s (non firecrest) which I sold and changed to Fulcrums R Zeros, full DA 7900, Speedplay Zero TI pedals, Top end Ritchey finishing kit (Bars, stem etc.).

There were a couple of paint chips, as to be expected but it rides like a dream, weighs only 6.5kg and best of all, after haggling it was only $4000 SGD, which is 2000 GBP, when I totaled everything up the guy I bought it from had spent $13'000 SGD / 6'500 GBP.

Took it for a full service last month, just a few bearings and cables needed changing, including labor it was less than 100 GBP.

The moral of the story is, if you know what to look out for (faults etc) then you can get a really good deal second hand and I agree totally that if you buy a second hand high end bike then they are usually well cared for and in excellent condition.

Let us know how you get on and pics are a must.

Happy riding.

Merlydog

Yep I have it and its fantastic! I've never experienced expensive wheels like these before, amazing! I've booked it in for a full strip down service so It will be hanging on my wall except for dry days then it will be getting some hammer in the summer! I'll keep posting after the service to let you know what they say. It's off to dorking head for the hills Friday. Such nice guys

Merlydog

Bikes been in for a full service. All it required was a gear tune and new handlebar tape. Otherwise I'm informed in spiffing condition

domgears

Pics?

Merlydog

Loving it!

domgears

Nice,

Just 1 comment however, the amount of spacers below your bars looks a little precarious, if it is a carbon steerer, which I believe it is, that may be dangerous, I would suggest dropping it a couple of spacers just for peace of mind.

Aesthetically the amount of spacers to most will look just plain wrong lol, however, that part is up to you and don't care what others might say or comment, I am just concerned about the safety aspect.

Otherwise, excellent bike, ride and enjoy.