Specialized SWAT kit price

[Live5]

I agree, its relative. Its like saying I bought a Bugatti, but a tyre at R25k is ridiculous.

 

Yes, they have a captive market, but again, we bought into it.

Last week, I changed seats on my Epic, and had to buy a new bracket that could take the carbon rails. R500!! But, I didnt moan, as that is what happens when you want to ride a premium bike.

 

There are of course cheaper options, there always will be, but the RD that has gone into integrating this tool kit is not as simple as them slapping a saddle bag on. The entire frame was reworked to accommodate the two bottle cages and tool kit in such a way that it is safe, clean and has minimal effect on the bikes balance.

 

You cannot have the best and not pay for it.

 

Veyron tyres are $50000 a set .... R25k each is a bargain there is a point everything is relative - is it worth it probably not - does that make a difference probably not - logic and reason rarely make comfortable bedfellows for the borderline equipment fetish most of us suffer from...

 

[Lone_Ranger]

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.

 

Give this man a bells!!!

 

My opinion is that the only people who should really be riding the S Works and Cannondale Factory Racing type bikes (>R100k) are sponsored pros. Their is really no good reason (besides ego) for dropping that kind of cash on a bike.

[PhilipV]

it doesn't surprise me at all that spaz asks this much for something like that. They overprice everything for their top end ranges.

The entire first shipment of sworks bikes last year was sold out before it landed in SA. The spaz riders have created a monster, and they must live with it.

[Wuzzie]

They are great bikes though. The quality is flawless and the desighn is a season ahead. They also lay it on thick with branding and clever marketing. There costs are high thats reflected in the price.

[Wuzzie]

They are great bikes though. The quality is flawless and the desighn is a season ahead. They also lay it on thick with branding and clever marketing. There costs are high thats reflected in the price.

[Wuzzie]

They are great bikes though. The quality is flawless and the desighn is a season ahead. They also lay it on thick with branding and clever marketing. There costs are high thats reflected in the price.

[CAAD4]

They are great bikes though. The quality is flawless and the desighn is a season ahead. They also lay it on thick with branding and clever marketing. There costs are high thats reflected in the price.

 

Got it the third time Wuzzie..

[Spez247]

R2500 is a big pill... As to the brand being overpriced, I did a very un-scientific exercise when I was deciding on which bike to take to my first 3 day stage race (B&B). I did an identical loop on three bikes, on back to back days, in similar weather. The loop turned out to be a few hundred meters shy of 46km's, and all I had to really on was average heart rate on a Garmin 810. Drew sticks, and the order turned out to be: Day 1 - Niner EMD Hardtail / Day 2 - Epic S-Works 2011 / Day 3 - Ellsworth Evolve. All of them are 29rs, on XO groupsets; 100mm Forks, Mavic wheels; same tyres throughout, and in excellent mechanical condition, and all had been set up the same (ie bikefitting). At the end, based on heart rate output (1 beat off either way), the Ellsworth took one minute 2 secs (1:02) off the Niner, and the Epic took 6 minutes 50secs (6:50) off the Ellsworth. I didn't review results until all three bikes had been ridden other than the heart rate average, and I honestly thought the Niner was fastest, but I guess being bumped around on the ride has that effect. The Ellsworth was the most fun, in that I felt great riding it, and felt less fatigue at the end. But 7 minutes in 50km's can't be overlooked. So in my opinion, saying a top level bike should only be used by pros, doesn't make sense. I need more help than the pros, and any % of efficiency gain makes a much bigger difference to me than it does to a pro. The average speed on the Epic was 20.76km/h & on the Evolve it was 19.78km/h.

Like I said, nothing scientific here that I could take to NASA, but if anybody has a power meter, I'd be happy to repeat the exercise. Now if I could loose 3kg before Sani, that would make a difference, regardless of bike used... A topic for another day.

[Hairy]

R2500 is a big pill... As to the brand being overpriced, I did a very un-scientific exercise when I was deciding on which bike to take to my first 3 day stage race (B&B). I did an identical loop on three bikes, on back to back days, in similar weather. The loop turned out to be a few hundred meters shy of 46km's, and all I had to really on was average heart rate on a Garmin 810. Drew sticks, and the order turned out to be: Day 1 - Niner EMD Hardtail / Day 2 - Epic S-Works 2011 / Day 3 - Ellsworth Evolve. All of them are 29rs, on XO groupsets; 100mm Forks, Mavic wheels; same tyres throughout, and in excellent mechanical condition, and all had been set up the same (ie bikefitting). At the end, based on heart rate output (1 beat off either way), the Ellsworth took one minute 2 secs (1:02) off the Niner, and the Epic took 6 minutes 50secs (6:50) off the Ellsworth. I didn't review results until all three bikes had been ridden other than the heart rate average, and I honestly thought the Niner was fastest, but I guess being bumped around on the ride has that effect. The Ellsworth was the most fun, in that I felt great riding it, and felt less fatigue at the end. But 7 minutes in 50km's can't be overlooked. So in my opinion, saying a top level bike should only be used by pros, doesn't make sense. I need more help than the pros, and any % of efficiency gain makes a much bigger difference to me than it does to a pro. The average speed on the Epic was 20.76km/h & on the Evolve it was 19.78km/h.

Like I said, nothing scientific here that I could take to NASA, but if anybody has a power meter, I'd be happy to repeat the exercise. Now if I could loose 3kg before Sani, that would make a difference, regardless of bike used... A topic for another day.

why would it make such a huge difference to you as a non pro rider?

 

Would the evolve not be the better bike then if it was the most fun and felt like the bike that beat you up the least on your test loop.

 

Those 3kgs are the best upgrade you could make.

[Wuzzie]

 

 

Got it the third time Wuzzie..

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

I bought a new Specialized Epic frame, which does not come with the SWAT kit. It has to be bought separately.You get tyre levers, bombs, two cages, a tube and inflator, multi-tool and chain breaker.

 

I have been quoted R 2500 for the kit.

 

I think this price is absolutely ridiculous ?

 

Opinions?

 

The carbon bottle cages are about R590 each , the multi tool that fits above the rear shock is about R499. The rest of the amount is split between the chain breaker and that black box that contains a bomb, tyre lever and tube.

 

The quality is excellent, zee cage is a good design, try it you will like it

[Brian Fantana]

I saw many Specialized Epics today at Attakwas. Quite a few of them had the SWAT kit. It is a very neat system.

 

I also see that many of them (without SWAT)placed a spare tube inside the triangle where the top tube and seat tube meet, clever idea if you opt not to get the SWAT kit. With your tube there and with bottle cage bomb mounts you only need to find space for your multi tool, bomb adaptor and tubeless plug kit.

 

 

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

 

 

Give this man a bells!!!

 

My opinion is that the only people who should really be riding the S Works and Cannondale Factory Racing type bikes (>R100k) are sponsored pros. Their is really no good reason (besides ego) for dropping that kind of cash on a bike.

 

Sorry mate but the s-works bikes just in a class of their own. Enough said.

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

Remember it's not just about the price, one must look at what goes into making this brand one of the best in the world. Brain shocks, zee cages, zerts inserts. They're market leaders , for sure.

 

Ride a s-works and you will see

[Baaisikilist]

I'll take a Tallboy with Full XT plus a Highball with the same, both with high spec cockpits and forks and great wheels for the same price or less than 1 Epic. Different strokes for different folks. U got the tin and wanna blow it on an S-Works, go right ahead. Personally I think one could do far better.

[arendoog]

Bling -works i say !I like the shoes thou .Myself and chuck ride solid tyres ,so we don,t need no swat stuff !