Carbon Bikes - new or second hand

Fian

i am planning to upgrade my bike soonish, probably early in the new year. I will probably go for a carbon ultegra level bike.

The question I am pondering is whether I should go new or second hand. there seems to be real value in the second hand market, but I guess you are taking a risk in terms of carbon frames as regards cracks etc. that may not be apparent on a quick test ride/inspection.

What do people think - is buying a new bike as inherently foolish as buying a new car? I never have and expect never will buy a car new. Or is it worth buying new?

I want hydraullic disc brakes so this may all be academic, I won't get a second hand hydraullic disc+Di2 bike any time soon. But I could just get a carbon endurance frame + ultegra gearing second hand with a view to upgrading to another Di" + hydraullic discs bike in a few years time. I keep coming back to the thought that I would definitely do that if I were buying a car.

SOR2010

If it was me I'd buy new, at least you know it's new and hasn't been crashed,
I fell off mine recently and while there was only cosmetic scraps you just don't know how bad it could be till it fails! (I'm not selling mine but if I was I'd advise anyone interested I'd come off it, but that's me)

eoz

Check out the 2015 giant models. Some lovely looking bikes with all that you are looking for.

Tibulus

Im in the market for similiar bike, have a few bike shops to be on the lookout for a few discounted 2014 bikes when the new 2015 range is released.

You just dont know with a second hand bike. I have my aluminium frame 105 bike a few years and this year the rear cassette, chain and rear derailler had to be replaced. Nothing wrong with that just general wear and tear but if that was Ultegra the cost would be consideriable and thats the risk with second had that you just dont know what the bike has done. If I kept it would need to replace the wheels next year.

Unsure about the disc breaks, is it something that could let you down in a race or long cycle. See alot of the Giant 2015 range have them. Are they really necessary?

SOR2010

Fian whats your budget?

Fian

SOR2010 wrote: »

Fian whats your budget?

Don't really have a specific budget. I could probably stretch to

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/defy.advanced.1/18732/76105/#features

or even

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/defy.advanced.pro.0/18731/76103/#features

or:

http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/bikes/road/endurance-road/synapse-carbon/synapse-carbon-ultegra-di2-disc

or (with thru axles but mechanical ultegra):

http://www.trekbikes.com/ie/en/bikes/road/endurance_race/domane/domane_4_5_disc_compact/#

BUT:

Purpose of this thread is not to choose which new bike I would buy but rather to look for opinions on whether I should buy new or get a second hand carbon bike instead. If I went second hand i would probably go for a mechanical ultegra carbon bike without disc brakes and then consider upgrading to a second hand di2/hydraullic disk brake bike in a few years time.

It's no so much that I can't afford to buy one new, but I could probably afford to buy a new car too, doesn't mean I ever will. It is more that i am trying to figure out if it is extravagant to splash out on a new one given the value available second hand or whether going second hand in bike terms is a false economy and risky.

I know someone could say "well if you buy second hand you will end up paying more in the long run when you upgrade". I don't buy that argument tbh - I assume that like cars I will eventually upgrade the next bike whether I buy new or second hand, although I guess a new one might defer the next upgrade by a year or 2 longer.

I have no intention of category racing, nor probably even much in the way of sportives, but i enjoy heading out for 80-100k spins most weekends and I did that for most of the winter last year as well as summer. I just figure I would enjoy it more with a nicer bike than my current aluminium + 9 speed tiagra bike.

Muahahaha

Well from that point of view I think there is much less risk in buying a bike second hand than there is a car. Bikes have far fewer parts and they are all easily inspected by the eye. Of course you will have to accept that you'll never truly know the history of the bike but purely from a risk perspective something truly amiss is a lot more likely on a car than a bike.

All that said if I was looking to spend a significant amount second hand I'd likely ask the seller if they minded it being given the once over by a bike mechanic. Their reaction to that one question alone should tell you a lot, if they're confident in the bike then they shouldn't have a problem.

fat bloke

If you like spending 6000 euro on 6000 euro bikes, then buy new.

If on the other hand, you like paying less than 2000 euro, and maybe even 1000 euro for 6000 euro bikes then, with a pinch of caveat emptor, buy second hand.

Fian

Muahahaha wrote: »

All that said if I was looking to spend a significant amount second hand I'd likely ask the seller if they minded it being given the once over by a bike mechanic. Their reaction to that one question alone should tell you a lot, if they're confident in the bike then they shouldn't have a problem.

Good tip, ty for that.

SOR2010

the only issue with that is as I found out myself after a crash, Without X-Raying a carbon bike you can't tell if it has any internal damage to the structure or has been compromised, And most bike shops will tell you the same thing, to the eye it can look fine,

If it was me and I was going to spend a good lot of cash on it I'd buy new,
But you could also buy an ex Pro Tour bike a lot of the teams sell them on their websites and rate them out of 10 on condition, so high spec at a reduced rate...