|   Bike Buying Considerations: Financial constraints! | Jaybo
Mar 11, 2003 9:09 AM | | With the dotcom crash, I am not making the dough I once made. Can you say income divided in half? I thought you could. Oh, the glory years of money for nothing and bikes almost for free. At least if felt that way.
Today, I have a cozy, yet less then mega paying job. It is still a nice paying job, but I can't spend money like I once did. Plus, retimrement dollars are more important today then before. Do you spend less today then you did a few years ago? I have a friend who makes like $12 an hour who rides the new XTR with a Merlin that is probably worth 4k. He just says, "Hey, you only live once." I believe there is a balance point between this thinking and more conservative buying practices. What do you think? |
| re: Bike Buying Considerations: Financial constraints! | Andyman_1970
Mar 11, 2003 9:46 AM | | The you only live once attitude should be taken with a grain of salt I believe. Granted we all like to have fun, but there is such thing as fiscal responsibility.
Personally in my case I don't have a problem with my $3500 Ti hardtail, and my road bike. That said, I don't play golf, or have an expensive car, a $20K+ bass boat, or a 4 wheeler(s), like some of my friends do / have. So relativly, my bikes and the expenses they incur are pretty resonable.
I certainly wouldn't by a bike on a credit card or with borrowed $, IMO. |
| I am with Andy with this one | Anonymous Gerbil
Mar 11, 2003 3:18 PM | | My Ti softtail has been my only reckless splurge and I waited and saved for more than three years so that I could pay it all off sans interest once I decided to take the plunge.
Did not have the luxury of easy money that Dot-Comers had, I earned my money the hard way - slowly and steadily. Don't have a fancy car or boator a gas-guzzling SUV, HATE golf.
The good thing about bikes is that if you have the discipline, you do not have to spend big beyound the initial investment in order to enjoy the sport. Of course, if you buy a new bike every year or so, then you should not be buying $3000 bikes in the first place - unless you can afford it. |
| re: Bike Buying Considerations: | Chas
Mar 11, 2003 5:21 PM | | You should spend enough on a bike that it is worthy of, over time, upgrading as parts break or you want to take advantage of new technology (disc brakes are a good example). This way , after a couple of years, your good bike can become a truly great bike.
A cheep piece of junk will still be a piece of junk with upgrades, or something you will have to completely replace in a few years.
Chas |
| re: Bike Buying Considerations: Financial constraints! | true_grit
Mar 12, 2003 6:17 AM | | I am middle income, married, 2 kids (1 in college) and usually conservative. Mountain biking is my only vice *wink*. In 1997 I paid $3200 for a Yeti ARC-XTR. No regrets - I got my moneys worth. I'm ready to buy an Ellsworth Truth, '02 XTR - $3000 at Colorado Cyclist. I expect to get several years from this ride as well. When you spend that kind of money, do your homework and plan on keeping it for a while. Cheers! |
| Never .... | jtown
Mar 12, 2003 11:59 AM | | buy on credit if you don't have the cash in the bank to pay off the card right away. This is the easiest and worst way to get into debt. Spend what you have, but know your limits. I agree with the "you only live once" mentality, but there is a line you have to draw. |
| think about it as a monthly cost... | norcalrider
Mar 14, 2003 3:34 AM | | Say you spend $2000 on a bike. If you keep the bike for 4 years
you can think of it as paying $40/month for those 4 years.
At the end of that time say you can sell it for $500.
That would drop your cost to $30/month.
Most folks can afford $30 or $40 per month for a hobby, especially
if you are into it and ride a lot.
good luck. |
| | norcalrider
Mar 14, 2003 3:35 AM | | |
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