You're not paying for the craftsmanship either, a mil or two is a borderline tolerance when building a barn - it's certainly not precise enough for a vehicle (if you're counting a bicycle as a vehicle). So they're overgrown hippies who're selling crappy, crude steel tubing to ignorant hipster-lifeforms. At the end, you're eventually paying truly physical and valuable aspects of this "product" - such as makers soul, passion and dedication...
Reynolds tubing is a premium material. Brooks saddle... Tubus racks... all top-end stuff. Of course hand-built is going to cost more than machine-built. It's also going to be to your exact specifications.
$4550 for an English made bicycle with Reynolds Steel tubing is not that bad. Considering that it will last probably your whole lifetime, it’s custom fitted, and and it is handmade with only you in mind. Have you seen the prices of carbon fiber mountain and road bikes ($3000-$6500)? Most are made in Taiwan and there are thousands of the same model roaming around the road. Too bad these kind of bikes are a target for low-life bike thieves. Clearly most of the commenters on here have only owned department store bicycles their whole life.
carolyn mmitchell Steel has proven its longevity, dependability, and its ability to last generations. The bike is not made in Taiwan. The bike is not made with performance in mind, it is about comfort and owning something you can be proud of because there is only one like it. It is made with old techniques and every process is done by hand. It is someone’s art which is designed by you. Obviously, if you wanted performance, you can get the lightest carbon fiber, aerodynamic bicycles with the best components available.
for mountain biking steel is actually preferred over aluminum when it comes to hard tails. The weight works in your advantage and steel can bend in different ways than aluminum can.
Jane Leelavathi come to my country and I will show you machine made bicycles that are over decades old and still functional. This bicycle is just one of those crazy items rich people buy so they can show it off.
My most expensive bike is probably worth $2000. If you commute on a bicycle and want one well made that's going to last for a long time $5000 isn't a stretch at all. You can easily spend $750,000 on a car with no radio, air conditioning or cup holders.
for $8000, I can get a carbon tubed bicycle, with automatic gearbox, or a Kawasaki z800, or a small hatchback, or a small house, or even a gaming PC. Even if i resale the bike i would not get even a tenth of the original value. Jewish and their capitalism
Bikes can get really expensive when not custom made. Wheelsets alone can easily cost 2-3k USD. They are overselling part of the "last a life time" bit because the drive train needs to be replaced, spokes will break, and eventually the wheels might need to be replaced.
Considering the skill and material that goes in to it, $4000 isn't that bad... Considering some bikes that are made by machines that can go upwards in to $8000 and wont last nearly as long.
the fact that carbon is light and stiff is very true, but the myth that it is uncomfortable has stuck around 20 years later... carbon is the "wonder material" for bikes. When well engineered and applied, parts of the frame can be super stiff, other parts really compliant. (and virtually all carbon frames are handmade...) Im not going to say anything negative about this guys handmade steel frames- they do look really nice, but virtually ALL carbon bikes in this price range come with much nicer components, and yes will be lighter. Plus, if someone wants to spend that kind of money or more on a bike that will "last a lifetime" BUY A TITANIUM BICYCLE. (oh and btw-this is coming from a guy that owns 3 steel bikes, and has owned aluminum, carbon and ti bikes as well and has worked in the industry close to 10 years.)
I would only pay that much if it was titanium or carbon, just because there is so much skill that goes into making this bike doesn't mean that it would be worth the purchase. I understand why it is so expensive however as the production is so small and they put together the wheels and the frame which seems reasonable for the price
I own few expensive bikes. I know prices and reason behind 2-3k and 10k bikes. I also know how much am overpaying for my bikes. Bike you show here for 4500 is in the best case scenario worth 500 in real world retail shop. Blabla hand made but at the end of the day it is outdated steel bike. Same one I had 35 years ago as a child and it was hand made as well but cost about $25 at that time.
Do you have any idea how much custom paint alone costs? Or the costs associated with creating bespoke geometry for each customer? When you're building on an assembly line things get much cheaper. A set of handbuilt custom wheels generally start at about $500. Please stop assuming you know how these things work.
Custom geometry suitable to the owner is more relevant then the accessories, riding someone else's bike can give you a severe back ache and an expensive lesson.
Well, it's probably one of the few things I do prefer a human does rather than a machine. Yes, you can go with a machine up to a certain point, but then you have to go one step further, to ensure all the spokes are at the correct tension, to counter small imperfections of the rim and still make sure the wheel is 100 % true. Especially with alloy rims, this does make a big difference...
the joke here is that all machine built wheels need looking over by an experienced wheel builder/tuner to get them perfect. Most department store bikes skip this step.
Hand made equals low precision and imperfections. Or low quality. I ride a 4k bike made from steel and I'm pleased to say nobody made it based on their feel for it with 2mm tolerance
@@DoggoWillink yes because only the Chinese mass manufacture. While all Western made bikes are made by hipsters with primitive tools for half a million dollars. Right?
Nothing is bad with craftsmanship but everything has to have common sense, especially the pricing. We now see a generation of businesses claiming they are unique and charging super premiums but are they ?
I own a $2k bike, ride it to work every day of the year. If I was spending more on a bike for something truly custom designed for my body, I'd want more than decades of experience - I'd want science and technology to help give me the most comfortable and efficient ride possible, and I'd want materials and components that are virtually bulletproof (i.e., titanium frames that don't rust, belts or shafts that don't stretch or require lubrication, leather substitutes that don't deform due to water exposure). If I'm looking for craftsmanship, I'd much prefer to get an old bike restored by someone and treat it like a hobby purchase
I love custom bikes. I have several off the shelf bikes, because I can't afford custom. I have a friend who bought a custom built Titanium bike. Thanks.
And what significant advantage does it have by building the cycles with hands rather than machines? None I guess, utter nonsense And people give the bs reason it's all about 'passion and care and what not' well the hand made stuff only applies in some areas, where you can feel it example woodcraft or you can taste it example food Again marketing strategies at it's best
biggest benefit is that you can get the sizing just right. For many people, the geometry of standard sizes doesn't work well for them. I have for instance rather short arms and long legs have difficulty with reach on a standard road bike. I can swap out the stem for a shorter one, but that isn't 100 % perfect. A custom bike would allow me to get the handlebars closer and be more comfortable on a road bike. If I ever get rich somehow, I'll definitely buy a custom frame that fits my body like a tailor made suit.
Building a bike by machine means you have a set geometry. Although you can mass produce quite fast, you are stuck with that geometry. Even large companies build by hand for research and development.
Devonte Adams for RnD it sure makes sense, a fucking Bugatti Veyron also koneigsegg is built by hand but those cars/machines are of a completely different league Unlike these guys who are building cycles by hand and charging a premium for that just because they are built by hand I mean for 8grand you can get a cycle a million times better than they are providing
If you're going to spend $5,000 on a bike, why not do it with a smaller company? I'd rather have something a little more unique than a bike from a huge corporation.
"It will last a lifetime" is such a bullshit argument when it comes to bikes, any bike can last a lifetime if it doesn't get stolen or you crash it. I got my daily rider from a dumpster and it has lasted me 10 years so far, I've only changed the tyres a couple of times, and since it looks like garbage no-one will steal it, unlike these overpriced thief magnets.
Really great video, I'm enjoying these Bloomberg series. Surprisingly it's some of the best content I've come across on RU-vid, genuine, well put together, good music choices.
You could spend the same with dozens of other companies--receive the same hand built craftsmanship--but with much better materials...race proven...years of R&D...top of the line components. But I suppose hipsters will be hipsters. I also enjoy wasting money on marketing.
The last video I saw was a $40,000 rug. Totally worth it. A work of art and beauty. These bikes are nice, but $5,000! My bike cost $200 and it works fine. I'm just mad because I want that bike! ...I better start learning how to weave rugs too cuz that ain't happening either.🤯
I understand can $7000-$10000 for a top road racing bike or a decked out mtb. But $8000 for for a vintage looking bike, I can assure you wouldn't get anywhere near that if you parted a bike like that out. Those components are roughly $1000, a steel frame and fork for $7000 is a dupe even if it's handmade. $8000 is a crazy markup for a bike that is at best worth $4000.
Most bycicles are hand assembled, no matter the price, so really ur paying 4k for a bike thats the same as every other bike. Its as rediculous as modern art, easy and cheap to make by hand but costs a lot. Buy a carbon fiber bike with hydraulic disc brakes not this
really I don't get the all "made by hand" thing. The guy use the sandpaper by hand but uses the electric saw? Why not using the hand saw? Or even better, smash the tube against the floor until it breaks, hopefully the way you wanted it to. Nonsense to me.
Now a Chinese made will sell not ten times but 100 times cheaper. Y the hell will buy this!? Last longer ?! I can buy one every month for the rest of my life and still save ton of money
U can buy a mountain bike for way cheaper that will perform better in close to every situation or even a cheaper road bike that’s carbon lighter and faster
For the price, their bikes should be made with aluminium. I assume they use steel because it is easier to weld but I don't know why anyone would pay that price for a bike that weighs as much as a 500USD bike.
Steel frame bikes can still be incredibly light. A gentleman I know also has a small shop building bikes he's able to build a fully dressed bike weighing in at 6.8kg - an important weight as it is the TDF minimum.
Yousha Ahmad, any $500USD bike is a crappy POS. A top quality steel frame will be lighter than any $500 aluminum bike. A decent aluminum bike ($1500+) will be lighter, but aluminum gives a very harsh ride compared to premium steel.
انا اسوي اباريج مرافق بأيدي.. من الطفولة وانا مامقتنع بالابريج التقليدي.. لذلك قررت اصنعه بكل فخر.. هسه انا ابيع الابريج ب 500 دولار ومع كل ابريج ابيعه احس بايع جزء من عندي لانه قطعه فنيه فاخره
they are probably just building teyre bikes out of steel because it is the easiest material to work with and build a bike out of it . and they probably arent using a wheel building machine becaus ethey cant affort one and machine build whelles are today mostly more precise than hand build ones.
Most of the people in the comments don't seep to want or care for quality craftsmanship. Because there is so much competition in cycling brands, you get what you pay for. I have spent thousands on my bikes over the years. There are lots of custom steel and Titanium bike makers out there so find a guy that makes the stuff you like. Thanks.
I'm not paying that much for a handmade bike if he isn't binding the carbon fiber himself. I can buy a far better ride for a tenth the price because the fact is that a bike isn't all that "emotional."
All that non stop yammering still doesn't justify the price 4550 USD. Please, give me break. He is just a stuck up salesman, and people buying them are stupid.
Jesus, all the negative comments from people who never had a custom bike. No one berates a Bugatti owner for that extravagance, but somehow spending 1/200th that much on a personalized bicycle is 'ridiculous'? Pfft.
failing business model bespoke precision engineered and robot-manufactured to micron tolerances, tailored to your height, and matched exactly to your weight just around the corner
not necessarily, I feel like there will always be a niche market for hand produced goods with minor flaws that give the product character or for people who might just appreciate the work that went into something like this, not everyone wants something perfect and robotic.
Dumpsterdude123 's home When you break your leg cuz your wheel went flying as it was offcentered by 0.1mm you are going to wish something perfect and robotic had built the bike.
Robots lack accuracy too, if you do more than one pass over an object machining there are micro inconsistencies within the mechanics will mean it is never spot on. Also does a robot have a discussion with you and help build your bike?
I understand that you're paying a premium for the craftsmanship and uniqueness of each bicycle, but why aren't you getting the most premium materials? Also, maybe it's because I'm not an English steel tube enthusiast, but what makes those steel tubes so special? Also it's pretty ridiculous how he can say they aren't making their bikes as precise as a machine could in one sentence, but then say that 30 years of human experience is better than any machine could ever do. Which is it? Is a machine more capable than a human, but lacks a human touch, or is the machine less capable than the human?
Theyre talking about wheels, if you buy wheels from a premium brand (like dt-swiss) theyre made by hand. This is because a hand built wheel is very precisely built. A hand buit wheel is much better than a machine built one.
For 4.500$ i can buy a sick downhill bike with a carbon frame, so this is clearly a ripoff! :) :) :) This bike is for rich people who like to show off.
