First Look: Specialized Epic 8

[Shebeen]

37 minutes ago, LazyTrailRider said:

Every year, this gets rehashed. Every single year.

A top-of-the-range bike has always (even when I started checking when I was in varsity in 1998) cost roughly the same as an entry-level Polo. Now it's slightly more than an entry-level Polo, but only because of the very expensive electronic tech which has been tacked on.

I honestly don't think this is excessive. The reality is simply that the South African economy has regressed in buying power against large parts of the "first world", so it seems crazy to us.

In my industry (software dev and SaaS) the gap in cost between local skills and US skills as an example, has grown significantly the last 15 years. If everyone has yet realised it yet, and I don't know how this is possible, the average South African is getting poorer in real terms. This is structurally expected unfortunately, but it still makes people go WTF. Sorry folks, things are expensive because we're povvos, not because they're overpriced 🤷‍♂️

I think you're talking crap, BUT only because I'm going on gut feel. If you really have been following then you'd have the data. Also we're talking outliers, the XT level price would probably be a better "burger index" but it's the marquee that gets the headlines.

 

let's fact check that one:

2024

1.4 polo vivo trendline = R262k here

spez epic 8 = R295k

 

2010

polo entry level R101500 here

Sworks epic world cup R65 000 ($8800 @ R7.4/$)  here

 

I stand by my statement that you are talking crap, but I do get your point that while there is more tech in both the polo and mtb these days, the mtb has progressed much more.

if you can find the new price of a polo in 1999 then here's what this ballpark cost was!

 

 

 

 

[peepeekaitjie]

2 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

how predictable the merry dance

still waiting for that one guy to comment SpAzCiAlIZeD

[Meezo]

there's a few 2023 sworks epics in the classifieds for sale #justsaying

[Ruben101]

Expensive bikes (top end bikes for athletes) has been a thing for a long time.

If these bikes are targeted at pro cycling teams, why are they advertised to the general consumers. Seems like if they mention the prices of these bikes, lots of comments gets made. Why not just exclude some of the details. 

That's just my opinion 

[LazyTrailRider]

22 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Sworks epic world cup R65 000 ($8800 @ R7.4/$)  here

There's the (albeit extremely simplified) crux. Granted, the exchange rate has fluctuated wildly and has actually been better in some years than would expect given the long-term trajectory, but the bottom line is that at the current exchange rate (meaning, if we were as proportionately poor back then as we are now) an SW Epic would have cost R167k in 2010.

From that to R295k in 14 years is really not the "OMG, inflation multiplied by gazillion eleventy, this is getting insane!" thing people like to throw around. In fact, R167k in 2010 is R332k inflation-adjusted.

Yes, I know this is an oversimplification, but I wouldn't be surprised if the data roughly aligns.

[BigDL]

3 hours ago, splat said:

I know that I am not the target market, but I look at these bikes the same way I look at a Super Car. Its just a thing of unattainable beauty and frightening cost. I would like to touch it, but don't think I would want to own it (unless I won several Lotto's).

I feel a bit sad knowing that each year and each new model (of any brand) puts me further and further away from owning a new bike. But I do think about the trickle-down tech in future years.

I also wonder what it does to the 2nd hand market.

I still look at my 2014 Anthem with love, even after looking at these bikes 😂 

[BigDL]

1 hour ago, LazyTrailRider said:

Every year, this gets rehashed. Every single year.

A top-of-the-range bike has always (even when I started checking when I was in varsity in 1998) cost roughly the same as an entry-level Polo. Now it's slightly more than an entry-level Polo, but only because of the very expensive electronic tech which has been tacked on.

I honestly don't think this is excessive. The reality is simply that the South African economy has regressed in buying power against large parts of the "first world", so it seems crazy to us.

In my industry (software dev and SaaS) the gap in cost between local skills and US skills as an example, has grown significantly the last 15 years. For those who haven't realised it yet (I don't know how this is possible) the average South African is getting poorer in real terms. This is structurally expected unfortunately, but it still makes people go WTF. Sorry folks, things are expensive because we're povvos, not because they're overpriced 🤷‍♂️

Looked at this bike online in the UK yesterday. 12k in pounds is still a brutal amount for a bicycle. 

[DJuice]

3 hours ago, NotSoBigBen said:

Thank heavens I'm just a hacker cyclist .... when people ask I say I own an Sworks Epic, don't have to mention which one do I?

Have a Gen1 S-works epic, 26 nogal.

[WaldoZ]

"It's not about the bike"

[splat]

32 minutes ago, BigDL said:

Looked at this bike online in the UK yesterday. 12k in pounds is still a brutal amount for a bicycle. 

Yep, I'm sure the comments are the same in all corners of the market place.

But the bikes keep selling, while everyone else keeps complaining!

[DieselnDust]

8 hours ago, hansolo said:

New Evo looks amazing and very similar to the Top Fuel I bought last year with a 130mm fork at a "reasonable" price. 

Nice to see bike companies put in solid Engineering in newer bikes and how each generation gets better.

Assume the positions everyone 

we’ve caught a live one…!!😂

[Irvin85]

3 hours ago, Danger Dassie said:

Even as hot takes go, that's pretty wild.

Not really, if you are not a factory team you might be able to get the bikes at "cost" to the retailers. So you are still in for a pretty penny to get a team on the best bikes. times that by 4. 

The fact of the matter is there is really no reason for a Sworks Epic to cost 300k, the tech and electrical components in it is not nearly close to that. but us cyclist pay it with a smile. so we are feeding the machine. There is not many companies in SA that can fund a MTB team with the best equipment, salaries etc. all adding up to a minimum of 4/5bar and have that as a non deductible tax expense. Hence why I am saying that we are killing pro Mtbing in SA. A few years back we had at least 7 pro mtb teams. how many is left? 

[bespokes]

Sorry, I missed that. The please confirm the price. 

[IceCreamMan]

56 minutes ago, BigDL said:

Looked at this bike online in the UK yesterday. 12k in pounds is still a brutal amount for a bicycle. 

Saved me a google, was just about to do that. 
 

crazy pricing. 

[leon_pro]

Is this a Sub 3 CTCT(argus) bike?

 

Edited March 13, 2024 by leon_pro

[IceCreamMan]

23 minutes ago, splat said:

Yep, I'm sure the comments are the same in all corners of the market place.

But the bikes keep selling, while everyone else keeps complaining!

Therein the truth. 
 

while some lament the state of the bike industry others happily pay 300k for a fiets.