SS bikes, what are we paying for ?

[barry2017]

It is easy for most of us to make a singlespeed, but if you didn't know about bike repair and didn't want to learn, it's good to know you could just go into a shop, put your money down and buy one.
At least it gets people out of doors, even if it's only a few times.

 

[velomaniac]

I just object to the price versus what you get. The Charge Plug for instance is not particularly light weight :?

 

[barry2017]

I just object to the price versus what you get. The Charge Plug for instance is not particularly light weight :?

I take your point.

It's mass production, I suppose, and the fact that people who are in the market for a singlespeed are more likely to be keen and will pay more. The beginner by default will want more gears, and shops will make more on servicing with derralieur gear bikes too.

Cynical? Me?

 

[kaiser]

I just object to the price versus what you get. The Charge Plug for instance is not particularly light weight :?

:? I don't think light weight was high up on the Plugs design brief. The Plug/Pista/Langster will let you walk in to shop and pick up a bike du jour for under £500. You don't need to worry about putting it together, coordinating parts that look good and work together.You don't need to know what size of tyres/wheels/bottom bracket/seatpost/stem/chain/gearing you need.

 

[hamster]

Yes, it saves you loads of time wasted on bike forums discussing chainline...

 

[legrandefromage]

...fuel for the bandwagon.

 

[beagle]

I just object to the price versus what you get. The Charge Plug for instance is not particularly light weight :?

:? I don't think light weight was high up on the Plugs design brief. The Plug/Pista/Langster will let you walk in to shop and pick up a bike du jour for under £500. You don't need to worry about putting it together, coordinating parts that look good and work together.You don't need to know what size of tyres/wheels/bottom bracket/seatpost/stem/chain/gearing you need.

Was there a design brief as such for the Plug? Isn't the same catalog frame as the Fuji Track, SE Lager and however many others with the same generic parts hanging off it?

 

[Neil G]

I just object to the price versus what you get. The Charge Plug for instance is not particularly light weight :?

:? I don't think light weight was high up on the Plugs design brief. The Plug/Pista/Langster will let you walk in to shop and pick up a bike du jour for under £500. You don't need to worry about putting it together, coordinating parts that look good and work together.You don't need to know what size of tyres/wheels/bottom bracket/seatpost/stem/chain/gearing you need.

Was there a design brief as such for the Plug? Isn't the same catalog frame as the Fuji Track, SE Lager and however many others with the same generic parts hanging off it?

Pretty much!

Definately paying for 'coolness'...bulls**t if you ask me

 

[16simon]

I want to like the boardman singlespeed but can't see where the money is . For £500 I can spec each part I want individually within reason .

I have to take you up on this: there is no way that you can build similarly specced bike from new parts at that price.

Can you prove otherwise, with an itemised build list?

 

[MikeD]

I was going to post what 16simon said. Try speccing yourself a bike with all-new parts and an SS-specific frame and see how close to £500 you can get...