Specialized SWAT kit price

[Shepherd]

Sorry, not to high jack here but along the same lines...

 

Why are bikes soooooo expensive?

 

You can get a top end racing KTM for 110k, then an SWorks for 108k???

 

Surely KTM (also a premium brand) spends the same on R&D to be competitive in the market and still make great margin, and have to use much more materials to make the components, whom are also light for its duties, and then still have to add an engine???

 

I am sure I am missing something to the equation here but on layman's terms MTB's don't add up when you compare the two?

[LazyTrailRider]

I got quoted on an Audi Q5 a while back, wanted to charge me R100k in extras that I belive should come standard on a half million rand car. (leather seats being one of them can you believe it) so it simply was not worth my while and bought something else. We are allowed to do that......

 

I went through a speccing exercise on a 2014 Range Rover Sport a while ago, the full option list available comes to R310k!

[LazyTrailRider]

Sorry, not to high jack here but along the same lines...

 

Why are bikes soooooo expensive?

 

You can get a top end racing KTM for 110k, then an SWorks for 108k???

 

Surely KTM (also a premium brand) spends the same on R&D to be competitive in the market and still make great margin, and have to use much more materials to make the components, whom are also light for its duties, and then still have to add an engine???

 

I am sure I am missing something to the equation here but on layman's terms MTB's don't add up when you compare the two?

 

Apples and pears. No motorbike (or car, save for maybe a Veyron) is engineered to such fine tolerances as a high-end MTB. The amount of energy loss from source to rubber on the trail is infinitely less on a mountain bike. That's what you're paying for.

[Patchelicious]

I went through a speccing exercise on a 2014 Range Rover Sport a while ago, the full option list available comes to R310k!

 

But see this is exactly what I mean. You could buy a car for that options list, just like you can say "i can but a bike for the cost of that tool kit", but its not the same, its not a Range Rover and therefore not an SWorks. On my Audi quote, the towbar was R10k... Now by the logic of some people here, I could simply have gone to some random auto shop and bought one for R2k, but it would not be the factory fitted one, and not as "lekker" and you pay a premium for that.

[W1Z@RD]

If you gonna buy top end stuff.... expect to pay top prices for accessories.... SIMPLE

 

Otherwise its optional and you can go buy a saddle bag that does the exact same thing - just doesnt go with the bike and you have to live with it.... So glad my expert came with one... haha

[Jocklaw]

As far as I know if you buy the epic marathon you get everything included.The s works they see as a race bike.

Complete bikes come with the SWAT kit. I built up a frame.

[Paulst12]

The kit as quoted offshore cost $150... just import if you feel hard-done-by

[Lone_Ranger]

The kit as quoted offshore cost $150... just import if you feel hard-done-by

 

If you consider the current exchange rate and cost of importing (shipping, customs, VAT), the R2 500 does not seem so bad anymore.

[Jocklaw]

If you consider the current exchange rate and cost of importing (shipping, customs, VAT), the R2 500 does not seem so bad anymore.

This thread is for whingeing. Reasonable replies not welcome.

[Lone_Ranger]

This thread is for whingeing. Reasonable replies not welcome.

 

My bad. I'll go write out "I will try to whinge more" 50 times on the blackboard.

[Wuzzie]

I got the complete bike and SWAT with it. Didn't really sway my decision when I bought the bike.

Now after riding it for a month I see the light and actually how cool it actually is.

Firstly the chain breaker is super light( made of magnesium i think) and hides in the headset I tested it and it works flawlessly better than anything Ive used before.

The multi tool also as light as one could get a tool with no added unwanted stuff, clips in on frame so u can forget about it and you will never have to think about it until its needed.

The cages are carbon and both fit big bottles and would probably cost about R1000 aftermarket

The box is actually the surprise winner, yes doesn't look great but its v light, lighter than a saddle bag, but it attaches to the frame and bottle cages so no rattling and ts watertight and completely out the way. no broken zips or ripped bags.Perfect for putt stuff in and forgetting.

Fits everything that's needed and space for a few other things if you stage racing.

So when I ride all I have to remember is my phone and remote.

When you want to have a short hard ride with no stuff you can take it all off and leave 1 bottle cage in 5 mins.

 

So basically there has been allot of design thought go into it and if you like that sort of stuff take advantage that your bike fits the SWAT system and def spend the 2.5K. If you do Epics or Pioneers its a great alternative to a camel back

.

If you like the way you do things now and don't care about having a new system then def buy other aftermarket parts prob half the price.

[Jocklaw]

I got the complete bike and SWAT with it. Didn't really sway my decision when I bought the bike.

Now after riding it for a month I see the light and actually how cool it actually is.

Firstly the chain breaker is super light( made of magnesium i think) and hides in the headset I tested it and it works flawlessly better than anything Ive used before.

The multi tool also as light as one could get a tool with no added unwanted stuff, clips in on frame so u can forget about it and you will never have to think about it until its needed.

The cages are carbon and both fit big bottles and would probably cost about R1000 aftermarket

The box is actually the surprise winner, yes doesn't look great but its v light, lighter than a saddle bag, but it attaches to the frame and bottle cages so no rattling and ts watertight and completely out the way. no broken zips or ripped bags.Perfect for putt stuff in and forgetting.

Fits everything that's needed and space for a few other things if you stage racing.

So when I ride all I have to remember is my phone and remote.

When you want to have a short hard ride with no stuff you can take it all off and leave 1 bottle cage in 5 mins.

 

So basically there has been allot of design thought go into it and if you like that sort of stuff take advantage that your bike fits the SWAT system and def spend the 2.5K. If you do Epics or Pioneers its a great alternative to a camel back

.

If you like the way you do things now and don't care about having a new system then def buy other aftermarket parts prob half the price.

So after all this whingeing, you're telling me I have to buy it anyway........pass the Vaseline, please!!

[Hairy]

So a friend of mine did a ride yesterday and the ride controller asked all the race snakes to come to the front .... turns out every rider was a spesh rider .... also turns out they were not as fast as they thought they were.

[Raab]

Damn, that almost as most as I paid for my complete GT Peace

[Shepherd]

does that cost come along with the bottle cages you need?

 

Also about the not comparing apples to apples about my KTM comment and their tolerances.

 

KTM play on the fact they use such high tolerances as well in their products and they also have eliminate any energy losses etc...

 

I still just dont see the value in a 100K bicycle... no amount of R&D can add that up when you start comparing other products made with similar tolerances and efficiency.

 

Everything in the world today is being made to be efficient as possible.

 

A Veyron is made in small numbers and every part is custom.

 

Specialized is made in mass productions and achieve economies of scale, as are the mass produced components and accessories which are added onto the frame.

 

 

Again don't get me wrong here, I personally just bought myself a Specialized Stumpjumper HT Carbon Comp, a far cry from an SWorks but what I can afford without breaking the bank and I am absolutely in love with the bike...

 

Change the groupsets, wheels, and a few other things as well as the label on the side and its an SWorks...

 

If I had the money and didn't have to think twice about it I would own an Sworks in the a heartbeat but doesn't change my opinion that I dont think it costs even half of what they charge to manufacture this bike....

 

Just my 2 cents, so be kind in your replies

[LazyTrailRider]

Also about the not comparing apples to apples about my KTM comment and their tolerances.

 

KTM play on the fact they use such high tolerances as well in their products and they also have eliminate any energy losses etc...

 

Sure, but:

• The tolerance band in which they claim "high efficiency" is in a different league to that of an MTB. Have a look at the engine block on a motorcycle, then look at the machining on an XX1 chainring, or a Chris King headset, or Hope brake calliper, or Easton Haven hub body.
  
• A KTM racing machine weighs +-150kg. In this scenario, the machineweight/power/humanweight ratio means that saving 1kg on the machine makes almost no difference to performance. On a full-on racing MTB, saving 1kg has a very noticeable effect, due to the very limited power available from the human's legs, compared to the KTM's power plant.
  
• Taking the previous point into account, MTB engineers (not just frame engineers, all components as well) are faced with the challenge of retaining durability and getting resistance down to practically zero, without the luxury of being able to add a kilo or two of weight if it would help things along.
  

All the above having been said, I honestly believe that S-Works bikes are vastly overpriced. I've been riding MTBs (and other bikes) since the late 80s, and I'll always have a nice bike or two in the house, I can afford to buy an S-Works, but I simply cannot justify it in performance/value terms. Not even close. The stuff is just ridiculous when you really sit down and reasonably look at what you're getting. In my opinion, the big S are simply milking the ego factor. No one who's not an actual pro (I'm sure hubbers who are owners will hate me saying this) can actually make full use of the performance offered by an S-Works. If you're not a pro, there is no way you'll be faster on one than you would be on something like a VIPA or (insert other bikes here). Fooling yourself into thinking differently is just plain stupid.