There is no difference between brands

886014 said:

[font=Times New Roman]Nothing like a controversial headline to get attention! 😄 [/font]

[font=Times New Roman]I’m new to the sport and not surprisingly want to change my old clunker for a new bike. As this is an international forum it’s pointless mentioning prices, but have been looking at bikes with 105 or Ultegra group set, carbon forks/seat post/stays and so on. The Felt F60 or Trek 1500 (US version has 105, international version Ultegra) are examples.[/font]

[font=Times New Roman]Having looked around it seems to me that there is a remarkable consistency between brands with regards geometry, frame construction, and obviously components, at each price point. Sure, brand X may be $200 cheaper than brand Y, but on closer inspection it’s obvious that brand X has skimped on some of the less obvious parts, had they been the same parts as brand Y the price would have been very similar.[/font]

[font=Times New Roman]All this has made me wonder if there really is much difference between brands. Asking an owner of a Felt what they think of their model and not surprisingly they will say it’s fantastic (unless they bought a lemon), a Trek or Cannondale owner will doubtless insist theirs are in fact better. That’s just human nature.[/font]

[font=Times New Roman]With exactly the same components and similar frame construction on 2 different models is there really a difference between the two brands or does it just come down which paint scheme you prefer?[/font]

[font=Times New Roman]Looking forward to opinions.[/font]

some brands have different geometry and warranty will vary. Buy the one that fits best and matches your eye color.

Maybe a better headline would be "Mass produced, factory-made-in-Taiwan Aluminum Frames are about the same regrdless of paint and decals".

I ride with a good friend who recently spent $99 on an Aluminum Nashbar frame which he built up with Campy Daytona and Scirocco wheeels as his rain-bike. It is defintely as nice or nicer a ride than would be a comparable Binchi, Giant, Trek, Lemond etc. If you really think about it, when you are talking about entry level frames, the bulk of them are probably made by Giant anyway considering that they are the largest manufacturer out there.

Fit and personal preference are thhe most important thing to consider in a bike at this price range I would think.

Before anyone jumps down my throat about this please understand that I am not knocking these bikes at all, in fact I ride one every day; a Specialized, and it's great for what it is. I just can't believe that there is any super-secret proprietary hocus-pocus going on in the manufacture of frames costing the manufacturer about $50 to make.

YMMV,

NW

Amongst Al frames with a similar price point, you might find more variation within one builder's models (i.e. specialized roubiax vs. allez) intended for different niches (fitness/recreational vs entry-level racing in that example) than between manufactures w/in one niche (specialized allez vs. giant TCR al). Take it to mean that, for a particular geometry, things have been done for decades and the geometries/configuations that work settle out, and materials are pretty much the same...doing something crazy/different w/geometry just doesn't lead to a frame that works. If it comes down to the LBS with the best policies and staff for fitting you as the differentiator that makes you purchase decision that might be a good thing.

Well I suggest you test ride a few different frames and I'm sure you will notice a difference. It is not necessarily about price but rather different frames suit different riding styles and body shapes. As you move up in price you generally get a lighter bike and often (but not always) a better ride with better quality wheels, seats, forks etc as well as the frame.

As far as getting the best deal, wait till there is sale on. You are probably right in that the RRP for a particular quality level doesen't vary much between brands when all components are equal, but you will likely get the same thing much cheaper at a sale.

Kudo's for the catchy headline and welcome to the sport. You won't get a treatise...just a couple of oversimplifications: Two big things: Frame material and groupset. The rest is more or less paint jobs. How is that?...hehe.
Further, if you aren't a racer, before you buy an aluminum bike, ride a couple of good steel bikes...what I like. If you have a lot of cabbage to spend, consider a carbon bike...they are hard to beat. Most go for minimally Shimano 105 but there are some that like the inexpensive Sora components. I like Campy myself but nothing against Shimano.
Have fun picking out a new bike.
George

Thanks George, yes just rode my first carbon bike today and amazed at how much smoother the ride was, BUT it sure was a lot more expensive. Maybe instead of handing over the extra cash for carbon I could buy an alu frame and stuff the notes I'd save down my bike shorts for padding 😄

886014 said:

Thanks George, yes just rode my first carbon bike today and amazed at how much smoother the ride was, BUT it sure was a lot more expensive. Maybe instead of handing over the extra cash for carbon I could buy an alu frame and stuff the notes I'd save down my bike shorts for padding 😄

Nah - do it right. Hop on ebay and find a clean used Trek 5200, about as foolproof as a carbon frame gets. I bought a different carbon Trek frameset a couple of years ago - the long since discontinued Y-Foil - and it rides like a dream, and handles tight, too.

Look at it this way - the more comfortable it is, the more time you will spend on it. You're making an investment in your health. How much is that worth to you?

If nothing else, it's a good rationalization...

Nooooooo!! John you're not helping at all 😄

Unfortunately that's exactly the way I think, do it right the first time and I don't have to lose money 12 months later when I've long forgotten how much money I "saved" initially.

Says to self "Repeat after me, no carbon, no carbon, carbon bad, carbon ... umm, burns yeah that's it. There could be a fire and the carbon frame would burn. Therefore that's an excellent reason not to buy a carbon bike" 🙁

Convincing???

Actually, try to ride whatever you are interested in to develop your own opionion as to ride feel. For myself I don't like the way the the OCLV 110/120 frames feel. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with them; just personal preference. There are some other carbon frames that I liked much better but finally settled on Ti as the favorite for my latest addition. You'll find as much difference between different makes and geometries of frames as you will between the primary materials of construction.