trek from local bike shop vs motobecane online

[indysteel]

Suggest that he read reviews of the bike at www.roadbikereview.com. Motobecanes are typically reviewed, but it would be worthwhile to read reviews of the specific bike and retailer he's considering.

I generally like to support local shops, but I think he should get the bike that most excites him to ride. It is possible to build a relationship with a shop regardless of where you buy the bike. There are good and bad shops out there, so the mere fact that it's local doesn't necessarily sway me one way or another.

[Becky]

Has he factored in the cost to have the Motebecane assembled?

I'm not against buying bikes online. In fact, I've done it 3 times now. But it took me a long time to figure out what I liked fit-wise enough to be comfortable spending $1k+ based on the geometry charts. I also have the skills and tools to build a bike from scratch, so there's no additional cost there.

[Cataboo]

Ditto what Becky said - if you know what you're doing and either can assemble yourself or have a friend that can - you can get great prices for bikes online. If you don't know a lot about what geometry will fit you, then it can be an expensive mistake.

[SheFly]

We are lucky enough to also have the skills and knowledge to purchase bikes online and assemble/service ourselve (ok, not me, but DH ). I have purchased entire bikes from an LBS, and online.

That said, many LBS's get a bit indignant about servicing a bike not purchased at their shop (especially if it was purchased online). Your friend should take that into consideration unless he is planning on building/servicing the bike himself.

And Motobecanes are relatively good bikes, and have gotten better in the past couple of years. i have a friend who is riding their 'cross bike this season and she loves it. Another friend has just purchased their titanium commuter, which we are also considering. There is nothing wrong with the brand itself.

SheFly

[indysteel]

Frankly, I don't understand the indignation, especially in this economy. I think it's incredibly shortsighted. If an LBS strives to provide good service to everyone who walks in the door regardless of where they bought their bikesn then they stand to make more money and build a good reputation. The shops around here thankfully don't cop that attitude, and I would take my business elsewhere if they did.

[ny biker]

The guys at my LBS don't mind servicing bikes bought elsewhere, but they charge less if you bought from them.

Add me to the list of people who prefer to ride the bike before buying it to make sure it fits.

[Eden]

The same price? Really?

I don't see a $1,600 CF bike on the Motobecan site, which is what Trek says is the MSRP for a 2.3 (much less the price for one on sale)

but anyway, my comment about Motobecan. One of the ways they save money and make their bikes look better is to put one high end component on them - usually a rear derailleur and then call it an "Ultegra" or "Dura Ace" equipped bike. The rest of the stuff is lower grade - usually the shifters are at least a grade down, the cranks are FSA, cheap brakes etc.

When you look at the Trek and they say its a 105 bike - its all 105.

Do you pay a bit for the Trek name? Probably, but Motobecan isn't as generous as they seem either.

[Cataboo]

I see a couple carbon fiber motorbecane'sfor cheaper than the trek:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rtalpro_09.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...pro_carbon.htm

Op stated in the beginning that the motobecane is an ultegra/105 mix.


I think there are good bike shops and bad bike shops - and everyone's rosy picture where they buy a bike and have really good results and a happy relationship ever after doesn't always happen. IT didn't the one time i bought a bike at a local bike shop. But I've been lucky enough ever since to be able to do any work I needed or the BF can. So I've bought most of my bikes online ever since, and I'll unapologetically state that I've saved a ton of money. Op probably knows the bike shops around her and can recommend a good one to her friend.

I helped a friend last week - she just bought a new surly LHT from a LBS a couple weeks ago, and while being fit on it she told them that she didn't think she could use the brake levers, it was too long a reach - they said they thought it was fine, and she should ride it a while to try it out. She rode it a while, came back and told them it was too long a reach - they wanted to charge her $70 labor on top of the price of the new levers. So she bought the levers herself and I put them on for her. $70 to change brake levers on a bike that you've bought new from a shop is a bit much.

I will say that possibly local bike shops in the DC area can get away with things like that - because there are still a lot of people in the area who are making reasonable amounts of money and can afford bikes - and realize that they have to spend a lot of money on bikes and their upkeep.