with prices getting more exp every year. i was wondering if shops are offering fianancing now? anybody know

with prices getting more exp every year. i was wondering if shops are offering fianancing now? anybody know

That a used bike normally does not retain value well. A (mountain) bike in excellent shape with one year's worth of riding MAY cost 1/2 of what it was bought for. Just check E-Bay's completed auctions.

Also consider that designs trickle down the line. True for suspensions, parts. The frame on some of Specialized's Rockhoppers is very similar to what was on the Stumpjumpers in the recent past. The design in just a generation behind the latest.

The K2 XC bike is much the same way. Design has shifted slightly over the past few years, but the bike has come down the price point ladder.

It is MUCH easier to get a decent dually at $1000 now, than it was 5 years ago. You won't get the latest and greatest parts, but the bike should be a decent trailbike at that price.

Then consider that the bike prices are not really moving anywhere on the high end. A frame only for a good boutique frame is still in the same ballpark, and a good mass produced dually frame has actually dropped. Getting a Turner Frame for $1300, or a Jamis Dually frame for $600 are not terrible deals.

I'm not even going to get into the whole should or shouldn't you finance the bike. It's up to the individual. They know their own situation and tolerance for debt far better than I.

JmZ

That's an excellent post by JimZ. Everything he said is right on the money.

Some shops do offer financing these days... one I worked at tried offering financing through a 3rd-party company.... I remember that this company was very picky, almost nobody qualified, and we became reluctant to even suggest it to the customers. That experience may not be representative. We did commonly do layaways, though.

I wanted to chime in and agree about the used bike idea. The frame I've been happily riding for the past 5 years is a WTB Ti Phoenix. I've never actually checked into the retail, but I've heard it was in the 1,000s of dollars. I bought it for $800 from a shop mechanic who had ridden 1 summer on it (he was buying an Ibis Bow Ti, remember those?). I just cannibalized the bike I had for most of the parts, and later sold that frame (a Slingshot). Some people are constantly moving to the next big thing, and you can definitely benefit from that in the used market.

The K2 XC bike is much the same way. Design has shifted slightly over the past few years, but the bike has come down the price point ladder.

It is MUCH easier to get a decent dually at $1000 now, than it was 5 years ago. You won't get the latest and greatest parts, but the bike should be a decent trailbike at that price.

JmZ

I've watched the price slide too, but if you look close you will see there has been a component slide as well. Many of the, under $1000, bikes have base Deore or even Alivio components...which is how they were able to lower or hold their price. In the past, the midrange bikes would at least be componented with Shimano LX. $400 dollar bikes are starting to arrive with disc brakes...you can imagine the quality of the mechanical discs on them, and what else they skimp on to get there.

As always, buying a closeout, last years model or a gently used bike is always the best deal. I imagine you could finance a bike but it would be depressing to be owing so much more than something was worth (no different than your average car payment, however.)

with prices getting more exp every year. i was wondering if shops are offering fianancing now? anybody know
Some of the larger shops will do 90 days same as cash OAC..
But if its not paid off by the then, the interest kicks in at 18% or more..

their value. I bought my Trek 8000 at the LBS who was partnered with a "bank" offering a 12 months same as cash. Worked great for me but I don't know how common that is. Of course, if you don't pay in time you lose the deal and begin paying out at about 20% interest.
So just pay ON TIME.

I've watched the price slide too, but if you look close you will see there has been a component slide as well. Many of the, under $1000, bikes have base Deore or even Alivio components...which is how they were able to lower or hold their price. In the past, the midrange bikes would at least be componented with Shimano LX. $400 dollar bikes are starting to arrive with disc brakes...you can imagine the quality of the mechanical discs on them, and what else they skimp on to get there.


Yeah, I kinda figured that in. Deore and even Alivio parts are not flashy, but for most people they still work. XTR's features from last year are in XT this year, probably be in LX in another year, two tops. It does move down the line. Plus just upgrade 'em as they wear out.

Buy for the frame and not the parts. I just bought this fall a new Rocky Mountain. I got the Fanatik because I wanted the frame. The frame is the same until I hit the Element TSC, the Scandium frame. The bike cost me just over a grand. The parts were not flashy, but very servicable. I would put the Deore and Alivio parts on the bike on level with the LX I've ridden several years back.

If it is a MUST to have the good parts, just swap 'em out too. On the above mentioned bike, I stripped it down to the frame. Only stock parts left are the front mech, the headset, and the seatpost clamp. Took all the other parts from my old frame. It cost me less to buy that bike whole than it did to buy a Rocky as a frame only, and much less than a higher priced, better equipped (but closer to what I wanted to ride) Rocky.

As always look closely at what you want to buy. You have nailed it that there are going to be compromises, just check and see if you can deal with the compromise that they did on the bike you are looking at. Then you can decide if you can 1) Deal, 2) Upgrade, or 3) Just choose a different bike. Sometimes it does work out much cheaper to buy the bike that seems more expensive at first because you know what parts you MUST have on it.

JmZ