Throwback Thursday: How Much Have Mountain Bike Prices Changed in the Past 10 Years?

Jun 3, 2021
by James Smurthwaite  
After last week's dive into the changes in bike geometry over the past 10 years, we took some inspiration from pb user @grononosse who suggested we should look at how much prices have changed in the same time period too.

We've always believed that you get more value for money in 2021 than you did in 2011 but we couldn't be sure until we put it to the test. Of course, it's never going to be possible to compare apples to apples here and a lot has changed in the past ten years, including the number of chainrings, the sizes of wheels, and the components on the frames. Despite this, we've tried to compare bikes that are as similar as possible in intentions and build.

The buying power of a dollar has also changed. Because of this, we've given each bike 2 prices - its original price in 2011 and how much that amount of money would be worth in 2021. To do this we used the CPI Inflation Calculator (thanks @ohbmxer) that can be found here.





Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Expert


photo
photo

2011

Model: Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert EVO - aluminum frame
Fork: Fox F150 RL
Shock: Fox RP23-S with Boost Valve
Drivetrain: SRAM X0 / SRAM X7 / SRAM X9
Brakes: Avid Elixir CR SL
Wheels: Roval Traverse AL
2011 Price: $4,100
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $4,971.88
More info
2021

Model: Stumpjumper EVO Expert - carbon frame
Fork: Fox Float 36 Performance Elite
Shock: Fox Float X Performance Elite
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
Brakes: SRAM Code RS
Wheels: Roval Traverse 29


Price: $6,000
More info





Yeti Sb66


photo
photo

2011

Model: Yeti SB66 Pro XTR - aluminum frame
Fork: Float 32 RLC
Shock: Fox RP23-S
Drivetrain: Shimano XTR
Brakes: Shimano XTR
Wheels: Mavic Crossmax ST
2011 Price: $6,150
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $7,457.81
More info
2021

Model: Yeti SB 150 T1 (Turq carbon frame)
Fork: Fox Float 38 Factory
Shock: Fox X2 Factory
Drivetrain: Shimano XT
Brakes: Shimano XT
Wheels: DT Swiss EX1700

Price: $7,000
More info




Trek Session


Trek Session 9.9 Photo by Sterling Lorence
photo

2011

Model: Trek Session 9.9 - carbon frame
Fork: Fox Factory Series 40 Fit RC2
Shock: Fox DHX RC4
Drivetrain: SRAM X0 DH
Brakes: Avid Elixir X0
Wheels: DT Swiss 240
2011 Price: $8929.99
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $10,828.98
More info
2021

Model: Trek Session 9.9 29 - carbon frame
Fork: RockShox Boxxer Ultimate
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 DH
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
Wheels: Bontrager Line DH 30

Price: $7,999.99
More info



Giant Reign


photo
photo

2011

Model: Giant Reign 0 - aluminum frame
Fork: Fox 32 Talas FIT
Shock: Fox Float RP23
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT
Brakes: Avid Elixir CR
Wheels: DT Swiss Tricon
2011 Price: $4,850
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $5,881.37
More info
2021

Model: Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29 1 - carbon frame
Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite
Shock: Fox Float X2 Performance
Drivetrain: SRAM GX
Brakes: Shimano SLX
Wheels: Giant TR-1 29 alloy
Price: $5,750
More info




Intense Tracer


side shot
photo

2011

Model: Intense Tracer 2 - aluminum frame
Fork: Fox Talas 36 FIT RLC
Shock: Fox RP23
Drivetrain: SRAM X9
Brakes: Avid Elixir 9
Wheels: Sunn Charger Expert
2011 Price: $4,495
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $5,450.87
More info
2021

Model: Intense Tracer Pro - carbon frame
Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite
Shock: Fox Float DHX2 Performance Elite
Drivetrain: Shimano XT
Brakes: Shimano XT
Wheels: Ethirteen LG1 Enduro Race

Price: $5,899
More info



Santa Cruz V10


photo
photo

2011

Model: Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon
Fork: RockShox Boxxer World Cup
Shock: RockShox Vivid Air
Drivetrain: SRAM XO
Brakes: Avid Elixir CR Mag
Wheels: DT FR FR600 w/ DT 440 hubs
2011 Price: $6,972
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $8,454.61
More info
2021

Model: DH X01 / Carbon CC / MX
Fork: Fox 40 Factory
Shock: Fox DHX2 Factory Coil
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 DH
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
Wheels: RaceFace ARC HD 30 w/ DT Swiss 350 ISO
Price: $8,799
More info



Cannondale Scalpel


photo
photo

2011

Model: Cannondale Scalpel Ultimate
Fork: Lefty Speed Carbon
Shock: Rockshox Monarch RT3
Drivetrain: SRAM XX
Brakes: SRAM XX
Wheels: DT Swiss XCR 1.2 carbon
2011 Price: $9,599
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $11,640.25
More info
2021

Model: Cannondale Scalpel Hi-MOD Ultimate
Fork: Lefty Ocho Carbon
Shock: Fox Float DPS
Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 Eagle
Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate
Wheels: ENVE M525 Carbon / DT Swiss hubs

Price: $13,000
More info



Shimano Deore XT


photo
Shimano XT

2011

Derailleur: RD-M780 Shadow
2011 Price $109.99
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $133.38


Cassette: CS-M771 10 speed 11-36T
2011 Price: $99.99
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $121.25


Crankset: FC-M780 (double ring)
2011 Price: $319.99
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $388.04


Brakes: Servo-Wave Deore XT
2011 Price $159.99 (one full brake set)
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $194.01


More info
2021

Derailleur: RD-M8100 - SGS Shadow

Price $114.99


Cassette: 12 speed 10-51

Price $159.99


Crankset: FC M8100-1 (single ring)

Price $219.98


Brakes: BL-M8100 + BR-M8120

Price $209.99 (one full brake set)


More info



Fox 34


photo
photo

2011

Model: 34 Talas 29 Factory
Travel110-140mm (adjustable)
Damper Fit]
2011 Price $1030
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $1,249.03

More info
2021

Model: Fox 34 Factory
Travel110-140mm (adjustable)
Damper Fit4

Price: $969

More info



Bonus: What do you get for $3,000?


$3,000 is a good benchmark for intermediate-level mountain bikes and it's the cut-off point we used for our recent Value Bike Field Trip. Less expensive bikes are where we believe the biggest gains have been made in terms of value for money so we wanted to select a handful of models at this price bracket to check those differences. We used the Ibis Ripley AF from the most recent Field Trip as the modern benchmark bike as it was Levy and Sarah's favorite and compared it from 3 models with around the same price tag in 2011.


2021 - Ibis Ripley AF


Value Bikes Field Trip 2021


Model: Ibis Ripley AF
Fork: Fox Float 34 Performance
Shock: Fox Performance Series Float DPS with EVOL
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
Brakes: Shimano Deore
Wheels: Ibis S35 Aluminum
Price: $2,999 as tested in the Field Trip (now $3,199)
More info




2011


photo
Kona Entourage
photo

GT Force

Model: GT Force 2.0
Fork: Rock Shox Sektor TK
Shock: Fox Float RL
Drivetrain: SRAM X7 10 speed
Brakes: Avid Elixir 5
Wheels: Alex TD24 w/ GT All-Terra

2011 Price: $2,649
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $3,212.32
More info
Kona Entourage

Model: Kona Entourage
Fork: RockShox Domain R
Shock: Fox Van R
Drivetrain: SRAM X7
Brakes: Avid Code R
Wheels: SunRingle MTX 33 w/ Formula hubs

2011 Price: $2,799
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $3,394.21
More info
Norco Range

Model: Norco Range 3
Fork: Rock Shox Lyrik 115-160 mm U-Turn
Shock: Rockshox Monarch R
Drivetrain: SRAM X7
Brakes: Avid Elixir 3
Wheels: Alex SX 44 w/ Formula & Shimano hubs
2011 Price: $2,415
Price Adjusted for Inflation: $2,928.56
More info



Author Info:
jamessmurthwaite avatar

Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

269 Comments
  • 610 2
 I wish my salary increased as much as inflation does
  • 206 0
 don't you just love doing the same or more work each year for the LESS.
  • 165 5
 Change jobs often. Only way this day and age. Unless you just really pressure your boss and you are in the right position.
  • 9 0
 bingo
  • 135 1
 if you're not getting annual raises then you're pretty much taking pay cuts every year
  • 14 0
 @HB208: that’s been the most successful method I’ve found
  • 97 1
 @HB208:

Pro-tip: When you change jobs, do not let them strong-arm you into telling you how much you make at your current position. They only use that information to figure out how much they can low-ball the salary offer.

When asked, just say that you've looked at what the current market value is for that job at your level of experience, and you'll be happy to talk more about compensation when the hiring process gets to that point.
  • 5 1
 Ah... If I had a dollar for every time I thought that, or heard someone else say it. Smile
  • 4 0
 Exactly. That balances out any "decrease" in relative price for many people.
  • 16 0
 @TrailFeatures: I don't. I literally just negotiate on what I think is fair. I recently took a job that I think my salary is a bit under market for a similar position, but I also have three years of experience in the field vs the 7-8 they were looking for (which I think is a reasonable timeframe). I went from a senior to a manager and got a 40% raise anyways, so it was worth moving. I'll prove myself this year and then talk about a comp adjustment closer to market.

To be fair, I usually just ask salary in the first call. I took a lot of calls last time I switched jobs (I am a CPA and get a lot of headhunters reaching out) and it is not worth me considering a company if they don't pay properly.
  • 25 0
 @TrailFeatures: In California, it's illegal for an employer to ask your current salary. For exactly the reasons you cite.
  • 6 5
 Looks like around 20% inflation in 10 years. Really not much. Perhaps you should move south? I'm not tooting my own horn and I could lose my job tomorrow *knocks on wood*. But I've been at the same company for 16 years and just checked, my salary has gone up 46% since 2011. I could see from year-to-year maybe not keeping up with inflation on a bad year. But in 10 years? I dunno, maybe time to start looking elsewhere.
  • 79 22
 @Marquis: Everything is against some law in California
  • 117 7
 @DERPOWaterpig: According to Cal., your comment may cause cancer
  • 8 0
 @HB208: make yourself important and then put the screws to them.
  • 2 0
 @reverend27: That's the plan.
  • 3 2
 @SATN-XC: at the very least it might hurt someone's feelings.
  • 8 0
 I wish your salary increased as much as inflation does
  • 25 0
 Yeah it's my favorite when cost of living increases 5 plus percent and they say.... hey your review was awesome you qualify for a top level raise. 2%.


To me that looks like I'm losing money for working hard...
  • 8 1
 I work for quasi state government, I'm doing ok but my raises are garbage. I get so much paid time off that every time I see an inflation chart I just shrug and think 'worth it'
  • 24 1
 @onemanarmy: salary raises have a price

Time away from work to ride bikes is priceless
  • 12 21
flag deco1 FL (Jun 3, 2021 at 14:43) (Below Threshold)
 Can Pinkbike be any bigger industry shills in they tried, prices have almost doubled for parts in the last year and there making out like that’s not the case.
  • 6 1
 @deco1: I have not seen MSRP change that much on parts. I've seen some hikes, but nothing even close to doubling. However I have seen some internet retailers on ebay and amazon charge a lot more. Can you say what kind of parts you've seen double?
  • 7 4
 @yupstate: But then @kilo11 would be over 8X more likely to be killed by a gun if he moved to the US.
  • 13 0
 @deco1: I guess when accurately reporting MSRP is shilling for industry the situation is pretty good isn’t it? Sorry reality doesn’t match your emotions.

Of course the last year has been a bit crazy. But prices have only doubled if you bought all your stuff on close out from online retailers. Of course that won’t happen if everything is selling. They’re still selling stuff FAR below market value based on inventory. If you blame the bike industry for what’s going on I don’t know what to tell you.
  • 8 0
 @HB208: Sadly, you are correct. Changing jobs is the only way to get significant pay increases.

It wasn't always this way though. My dad worked for the same company from 1969 until he retired a few years ago. He has a nice pension in addition to his retirement savings, which has made travel and a shiny new car possible. Pensions like that don't exist anymore for most jobs, so there's zero reason to stick with one employer. With so many people moving around, employers know they could replace you with someone cheaper, so there's no need to really give you a raise. It's a vicious cycle, and everyone loses in the end.
  • 3 0
 @pixelguru: I think you still can if you are in a hard to fill position. It can make more sense to just pay an employee a bit more than have to go through a 3 month search for a position. It depends though. Certainly what you said is true for most workers.
  • 7 1
 @HB208: Hopefully your employer you are hoping to get a raise from doesn't see how much you post on PB...
  • 3 1
 @n8dawg82: I just post when I have downtime. I actually got a lot done today.
  • 3 0
 @HB208: This unfortunately is the truth. Job hopping is the common way to advance financially in today’s world.
  • 4 5
 @ICKYBOD: Used to be able to buy Zee derailleurs from literally the GBB at Whistler for around $50, might have been $45 a couple of years ago no your paying minimum $120 for one online.
This is for a product that hasn’t changed one bit mind you.
  • 6 0
 @ICKYBOD: same here. time off is priceless. I dont feel bad either for people chained to their work making killer bonuses larger than my salary and bragging about their portfolio. I have friends like that. Enjoy your money you can't enjoy suckers!
  • 8 0
 @dirtyalpine: if I can survive Afghanistan I can survive the US
  • 3 0
 @dirtyalpine: If he/she uses a gun to commit suicide I suppose, if not; then probably 3-4x more likely. But all that just sounds like he/she is more likely to either slit his/her own wrists or have someone kill him less efficiently in Canada.
  • 12 0
 exactly!

people are acting like showing the inflation price of the old bikes means bike prices didn't really go up much.... BUT it's the opposite. Not only did the EVO go from just over 4 grand to 7 grand BUT your dollars are worth LESS which means bikes cost even MORE then we thought... Smile
  • 1 0
 @Marquis: Yup, same in NY
  • 1 0
 @dirtyalpine: he is 8x more likely to kill himself with a gun you mean....
  • 2 0
 My financial advisor is big mad about me trying to get rad on a new bike.
  • 4 0
 @ReeferSouthrland: a.k.a. The wife.
  • 5 0
 @stiingya: man, that’s some serious broconomics right there. You’re not even wrong.
  • 1 1
 Which basket of inflation, well cuz i could offshore you or demote or just let you go and replace....just saying. Or you could be someone worth building business around and well then its a moon shot for you. Point is choose your basket and invest in yourself and use your disposable income wisely. Leverage vs debt.
  • 8 6
 Oh, it's a Pinkbike job advice article thread and everybody's an expert.
  • 2 2
 It is ok everyone, the owners of the online and offline shopping giants are ok. Dont worry... they will keep working hard for your benefit and keep those prices low.
  • 2 0
 Didn't y'all merican's get stimulus checks this past 12 months?
  • 1 1
 that's why it's insideous and you should be angry at your politicians for taxing you via the printing press.
  • 1 0
 @SATN-XC: This!!!
  • 1 0
 I came to say exactly that
  • 4 1
 @DERPOWaterpig: employee protections are for suckers! Free market, grumble grumble bootstraps!
  • 1 0
 I wish my salary would be in Bitcoin.
  • 2 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: you're not wrong
  • 2 0
 @HB208: Better still, become self employed. I'll never work for someone else's company again. It's just never worth it.
  • 4 0
 @RunsWithScissors: Then who will you complain to when it turns out your boss is an a$$hole?
  • 2 2
 @dsut4392: I don't think of myself that way, nor do my customers or peers. I'm successfully self employed in the bike business and choose the terms of my employment. Life is composed of the choices you make. Some are good, some not so much. Your satisfaction with life says a lot about the wisdom of the choices you made.
  • 3 0
 @RunsWithScissors: Whoosh! Thanks for taking a light-hearted joke way too seriously.

I hope you have as many more years of successful self employment as you desire, or at least long enough to work off the giant chip on your shoulder about working for someone else before it ever becomes a necessity.
  • 3 0
 @dsut4392: I know right, RunsWithScissors sounds like a terrible boss ironically haha
  • 3 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: yeah because you know all about being employed as a full-time sock puppet.
  • 2 0
 @DERPOWaterpig: that may be, but in this case its 100% a good thing
  • 2 0
 @pixelguru: well the employees lose. The employees always lose, at least in the US. If employers were losing, they wouldnt be doing it that way.
  • 2 0
 @pixelguru: The money for the pensions went the people at the top like everything else.
  • 1 0
 @sonuvagun: that's a first for him
  • 1 0
 @Blackhat: As of this thread I now consider myself to have a PHD in Broconomics...

Pretty much Hopeless Dude... Smile
  • 1 0
 @HB208: Making yourself indispensable is also a double-edged sword. In some occupations, if you're too good at your job, you'll never get promoted or offered any other opportunities. You become the person who does this one niche thing that nobody else can do, and that's your job... then that niche thing goes away and you're laid off.

My wife worked in a professional photo lab that was filled with people who had highly specialized skills with darkroom equipment and film processes. They were wizards at their craft, then they were kicked to the curb.
  • 1 0
 @pixelguru: Fair enough, but my position would be easy to ask for a promotion to after a bit. I am conscious about not owning processes that I cannot teach.
  • 193 5
 Don't knock my preconceived notions with data, Pinkbike.
  • 52 0
 Yeah, well, y'know, that's just, like uhh, your opinion man.
  • 21 6
 Yea exactly. Reason being people think about the $3000 aluminum bike they bought in 2011 and compare that to the $16,000 e-bike they see reviewed on here. Or a blinged out XC race bike for $11k. Start comparing apples to apples and it's a different story.
  • 59 3
 It's almost as if the good ol' days weren't really that good
  • 8 1
 @BillT999: The good old days just means to use what you got at a moment in time.
I would take a 2011 hardtail $200 bike over no bike.
  • 4 11
flag rtclark FL (Jun 3, 2021 at 14:50) (Below Threshold)
 @yupstate: There are no Ebikes from 2011.
  • 5 0
 @rtclark: Sounds like a non apples to apples comparison then. As I said.
  • 2 2
 @yupstate: Ok, I'll take your suggestion. What apple should I start with?
  • 4 0
 @BillT999: Reminiscing sure ain't what it used to be....
  • 3 1
 They did avoid direct to consumer brands though. I think the reality is that all these shop bikes have had to slowly come down in price in the last 5-6 years to stay competitive with the DTC brands.
  • 4 1
 Data is flawed. Looks like they intentionally spared the price hike for direct to consumer brands which were the reason the big names lowered their prices over the last decade for some models. 5-10 years ago you could get a clapped out tues or Capra for under 5k or even und 3
  • 7 0
 One thing this article failed to mention is how easy it was to find deeply discounted quality bikes and parts 10 years ago. Finding a good deal is getting much harder. For example Jenson USA used to have pages of bikes to scroll through with discounts over 30% now they have a couple for around 10%.
  • 6 0
 @Altron5000 @KalkhoffKiller great idea, we'll take a look at tracking some DTC prices over the past few years in a future piece. For this specific article though there weren't nearly as many established DTC brands in 2011 that we could get good benchmarking data for.
  • 2 0
 @rtclark: The ones the article gave. :-)
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Take a look at yt, radon, canyon, propain, rose bikes. They weren't available worldwide back then but provided best value in europe. And most of them are older than 10 years.

And they did influence price of other brands. I remember that at the time of the unlimited ltd models of yt you could also buy a morewood makalu with top of the line bos components for below 3k:

www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/dh-world-cup-bikes-fuer-unter-3000-euro-mag41-und-yt-industries-machen-es-moeglich.552543

www.mtb-news.de/news/yt-industries_tues_2-0_dh_ltd_wc

www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/mountain-bikes/rose-beefcake-fr-sl8-review

www.dirty-pages.de/yt-tues-2-0-limited-wc

www.mtb-news.de/news/da-fuer-einen-tag-yt-industries-ltd-edition-fuer-2999-e-am-11-12-13

enduro-mtb.com/endlich-verfugbar-das-tyee-enduro-2013-von-propain-bikes

www.radon-bikes.de/uploads/2016/dce_downloads/radon_specheft_2015_DE.pdf
  • 4 0
 @yupstate: its not quite.. comparing a reign 0 with a reign 1.. and the quality of the gear on the current model is no where near what came on the older bike.

Sure things like GX may be better than what most stuff was 20 years ago but is not an XO to XO comparison. Thats how they are saving money. The cassette comparison was terrible too, the good 12 speed cassettes are 500 bucks, the old ones were 250 odd in the 10 spd days.

almost everything there has been skewed to support the narrative that they are trying to sell.

However I wont argue that the base level bikes these days are up there with top of the line bikes from 10 years ago but thats not really a proper comparison.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: I’d also be curious to see what the margin analysis is for bike shops over the course of 10 years. I know they might not be keen to share that information, but it would be interesting to see how much net $ and net margin have changed, as I’m assuming margin has been squeezed with cost of manufacturing/shipping/warehousing going up.
  • 153 1
 Complaining about how much bikes cost?

Priceless
  • 85 4
 So in short, not as much as everybody whines about.
  • 29 0
 I refuse to stop complaining about these supposedly crazy prices! You can't make me.
  • 18 0
 Wellllllll, that depends. In Canada (and I believe, the USA), the CPI does not include the purchase of a house, only the services to keep it maintained. A house is seen as an investment.
So yeah, the price of a bike may not have increased much when compared to the CPI, but your ability to have the spare income to purchase it has as housing costs increase it has.
  • 15 0
 @woofer2609:
Bingo! Factoring in the increased cost of a house purchase or rent is critical to any annual inflation discussion. Also, consider the cost of a garage for N+1.
  • 5 0
 @woofer2609: CPI excludes food and energy. Include these and you have higher CPI numbers. Though the price of commodities (material costs) has decreased since 2005 to hit 15 year lows, yet we have higher prices of goods. It's scary to think what real inflation would like.
  • 7 0
 @woofer2609: It’s an interesting aside about affordability at a macro level, but remember: including rising real estate prices in the CPI would only make today’s bikes look better by inflating the 2011 dollars even more.

And it’s a little confusing how complaining about flat bike prices is a response to increasing housing prices. Seems like people having trouble buying bikes because housing is more expensive could do a lot better complaining about housing. It’s even weirder to imagine that it is somehow a bike company’s responsibility to offset the impact of housing prices in consumers budgets.

I know some of these musings border on putting words into your mouth, but it’s hard to see the relevance of your observation without going beyond what you directly wrote.
  • 7 1
 @rtclark: It's important in these moments to remember that "inflation" news articles rarely use an accurate measure of inflation, especially if they're citing the CPI, which is a blatant political tool: premiertrustadvisors.com/the-consumer-price-index-and-the-truth-about-inflation
  • 3 2
 @TEAM-ROBOT: and it’s important to remember in these conversations that political inflation measures like the CPI would UNDER estimate inflation. Which means the new bikes price is even better relative to the past.
  • 2 7
flag DoubleCrownAddict (Jun 3, 2021 at 20:01) (Below Threshold)
 E bike prices have gone up more in 3 years than the old timey slow bike prices have in 10 years.
  • 6 2
 @Blackhat: Wrong. The majority of new bikes used in the example have risen at a higher rate than the inflation adjusted model. Whether you agree or disagree with the inputs used to calculate CPI, it simply is the standard measuring stick that is being used and is used by companies to price their products. And if wages aren't keeping up with inflation, it certainly isn't a better price.
  • 1 1
 @rtclark: I don’t think you’re reading this thread very carefully. I’m not the one arguing whether or not CPI is the appropriate measure. I’m just pointing out what direction inflation influences the numbers, and in that I was correct.

Has someone posted wage data here that I missed? Cause that’s a pretty huge “if” to toss out there.
  • 1 0
 You were 6 years old in 2011! No one whines about factory Dad supplying their bikes. Haha Calling out your son on pinkbike - priceless. Man I feel old.
  • 3 1
 Dude stfu about ebikes. @DoubleCrownAddict:
  • 4 0
 @woofer2609: This. CPI is a government manipulated formula that over the years has changed and conveniently leaves out data to make things look better than they really are. Housing is almost always the biggest expense for an individual or family but let’s go ahead and leave that out of the equation.
  • 2 0
 @Blackhat: I'm simply stating that the cpi is a problematic metric to use, because it doesn't take into account by far the largest portion of take home pay expenditure. Sure, bikes may be a better bang for a cpi adjusted dollars, but if more of your take home pay is going to service the mortgage for the roof above your head compared to 2011 ( or 2001, really), then you are left with fewer dollars with which to purchase bikes, tools, soap on a rope, whatever. Am I blaming bike companies? Not at all. Poor monetary policies and a fiat currency are far more likely suspects. Regardless, it's you and I who have less expendable income at the end of the day, unless we borrow it.
  • 2 1
 @woofer2609: Fair enough, nothing you said was incorrect. I'm just afraid that within the context of bikes it muddies the waters.

Specifically, there are a lot of people who clearly think it's the bike companies job to magically make a top of the line bike fit their budget. And when that doesn't happen - for whatever reason - they assume the industry is executing a conspiracy to defraud them.

So if we're going to talk about these external factors on a thread like this I think we need to be really clear about who is responsible for the current situation, and who should be expected to address it. Because I think those people hear "bikes should be cheaper since people have less money to spend" and have neither the knowledge or motivation to connect the dots to monetary policy and politicians re-election campaigns.
  • 1 0
 @Blackhat: But the companies absolutely _do_ magically make their top of the line bikes fit our budget.

The mistake people make is thinking that this implies making the bikes cheaper, whereas in reality what they do in a free market is set the highest price the market will bear.

If bikes are getting more expensive, yet still selling out, we're obviously content enough with the prices being charged.

Prices aren't coming down until the number of bikes that have to be sold at screaming end-of-season markdowns is high enough that it eats into net profit.
  • 1 0
 @dsut4392: No they don’t. Top of the line only fits in a select few budgets. They make lower build specs for the rest of us. Can’t believe I had to type that.

Of course they sell bikes for what the market will bear, but the market is absolutely flooded with competition. There are plenty of checks keeping prices reasonably honest unless someone just wants to get fleeced by Yeti or something.

Buying fewer bikes is not the answer. Higher volume supports more competition, economy of scale, and lets companies profit off volume instead of relying so heavily on margins. Booms like we have now don’t help though.

Why would you cut prices on 100% of your sales to avoid selling 10% at a loss instead of cutting production by 10%?

Bikes aren’t getting more expensive in general. Didn’t you read the article?
  • 1 0
 @Blackhat: You're misunderstanding me, and misunderstanding the economics of discretionary spending for starters.

The top of the line bike may not fit every individual's budget (sounds like not yours), but they are selling plenty of them. Some bike companies only pitch to particular price brackets (Yeti for instance), others cover a bigger spread, but make no mistake, every bike sold to the enthusiast market is priced to the market, not according to actual cost of production. Perceived exclusivity from higher cost actually drives increased sales of luxury goods like Yetis and S-Works E-Bikes.

Back to the article, I did indeed read it, and aside from the Session, most of the bikes have got more expensive, as well as stepping down a component tier. And that's despite the US$ being at a historical low in 2011, and relatively strong in 2021 - most of the cost of those bikes is ex-Taiwan, Japan or China.

As for why you would cut prices to make more money, it's simple.

In a more normal market where there is competition for market share, there are more bikes than shoppers.

You would cut prices on 100% of your product by 5% if that meant you could sell all of it at full price (undercutting a competitor), vs maintaining your price and selling 60% at full price, 20% at 10% discount and 20% at 50% discount.

If you cut production instead of cutting price, unless you are a monopoly supplier or have rusted-on brand loyalty, you would still have competition, so you would still be discounting some of your stock. And If you cut your production by 10% you only decrease your marginal cost of production, but fixed costs (real estate, machinery, marketing, permanent employees etc etc) are a significant proportion, so cost per unit sold goes UP.

Modelling the above, take the theoretical retail of a bike at $100, cost at $50. Sell 10 bikes at $100 = $1000 gross, $500 margin. That's the current market, where demand is high, and every bike is getting sold at list, much of it on pre-order, but it's far from normal.

Cutting your price by 5% to make sure you sell all of your bikes at full price (at the expense of your competitor having to run close-out discounts), 10 bikes at $95 = $950 gross, $450 margin. If you had maintained your price at $100, you would have sold 6 bikes at $100, 2 at $90 and 2 at $50 for a total of $880 gross, $380 margin (43% margin). Cutting your production by 10%, say 50% of your cost is fixed and 50 marginal. Lets be generous and say you have one less bike remaindered, 6 at full price, 2 at 10% discount, one at half price. Your gross take is now $830, net is now only $355.

Yes, I have managed a retail store before, including inventory planning. While I'm no longer in the business of 'selling' anything for profit, a big part of my day job now is demand, capacity and cost modelling to achieve maximum throughput for a State health programme, and many of the same principles apply.
  • 71 3
 What you can't put a price on is how much better today's bikes handle with current frame geometry. Sometimes I see good deals on older bikes and consider picking one up for friends to ride. But then I remember the short reach, 68 degree head angle, qr rear axle and 3 by drivetrain and I think " who the heck wants to ride that thing ".
And yes I know I am spoiled. I love my 2018 Altitude...
  • 9 22
flag flattire (Jun 3, 2021 at 12:20) (Below Threshold)
 75% of bikes in the pinkbike buy and sell are junk b/c of dated geo!
  • 15 0
 short reach? depends on which year you talking baout. Specialized pitch 2011+- had great reach (L 475, XL 495), Years after bike industry started shorting it... geometrygeeks.bike/bike/specialized-pitch-pro-2011 pitch was working great as AM/ Trail, unbeliavable chassis.
  • 5 0
 @flattire: I just recently sold my 2009 Intense Slopestyle. Yeah, it's a 26" wheeled bike. But it was really designed to be a shorter travel park bike. So the geometry was pretty progressive for it's time. Otherwise, I would've either just kept it for nostalgia. Or end up just giving it away to some deserving who was in need of a starter bike. But, all that being said. I absolutely love my Devinci Spartan 29! No regrets there! Beast of a bike!! Smile
  • 2 0
 @S851: Wow thats amazing. Cool bike! I wonder why that style didn't dominate after that?
  • 3 0
 I've got a 2005 Iron Horse Warrior hardtail 2X 9 speed with a 90-130mm TALAS. I bought the frame used on PB for $20 and drilled a hole at the base of the seat tube to install an internally routed 6" dropper post. I also have a Process 153, and ride them equally as often. I enjoy how spritely the Iron Horse feels.
The dropper probably has a lot to do with it.
  • 2 0
 @S851: that was my bike! Way too underforked, but a very good bike with a nice price tag
  • 3 1
 lol that's your bike, you didn't have a clue back in 2011. My Scott Voltage is still on pair with modern bikes till this day, and it has 26" master class wheels. Coolest paintjob, 1by, 180/180, 64%hta
Stuns bikers wherever I go.
  • 2 0
 @S851: totally agree, one of the bikes on my search list for my growing boys.
  • 8 0
 @8088yl0n: I don't know how but you managed to combine a 12 year old's taunt with a Facebook marketplace ad written by a 40 year old selling a stolen bike, but you pulled it off with flair!
  • 35 0
 My 2021 Status cost $2599 - Specialized please make more of these bikes. Two of my friends bought them as well. Can’t go wrong with Fox 36 Rhythm, DPX2 performance, SRAM NX and Code R brakes for this price point. It’s less than cost of almost all Carbon frames. Still patiently waiting on @Pinkbike to write a review.
  • 19 1
 They actually did write a review. But then the quickly took it down.
  • 5 0
 Price has gone up to 3k
  • 3 0
 @Kamiizoo: Do you know when? I'd love to read it
  • 3 0
 @skaqqs: I know they put it up for like 30 minutes quite a while ago. Forget when. Then they took it down. From what I remember they said it was a great bike.
  • 2 0
 Crazy to me that there are actually people out there riding that bike ! Specialized has been treating it like their bastard son from the beginning, not acknowledging it in public despite it doing a good job. Even bruni rides one yet you can't find em anywhere online ... makes no sense to me
  • 1 1
 @asapyohanes: I’m not sure but it’s probably something stock related. They’re probably just wasn’t enough around to be able to produce loads of them
  • 2 0
 @JamesKROZ: I think they are looking for a non traditional customer with status. Either someone who can’t afford or wouldn’t ride a stumpy. My guess is they don’t intend to sell a ton of volume with status to not cut into their own customer base.
  • 2 0
 Is this bike even real at this point? It's no where to be found anywhere. Super weird for specialized to make a sweet bike but then totally back pedal on selling it.
  • 1 1
 @bulletbassman: it would make sense that they don’t want to outsell their more expensive bikes with a cheaper one
  • 2 0
 Specialized are deliberately not talking about or marketing it so it becomes an underground cult bike. Even shops aren't allowed to post on social media or advertise them.
  • 1 0
 @mnguyen1224: I bought one in Brevard, NC. Very real Smile
  • 28 0
 People are about to learn that their employers have been screwing them for the last decade (more accurately since 2008 ).
  • 30 3
 OK now do 2001 vs 2021.
  • 28 3
 did the math on my 1999 S-Works hardtail....$2,499 USD new in 1999....that would be $4,061.00 today. By comparison a Specialized S-Works Epic hardtail today is $10,000.00. Oof.


...though the 1999 bike would snap in half if you pushed it to do what the 2021 hardtail can do. I don't even take mine on the trails, its been demoted to pulling the Burley trailer
  • 16 1
 @SATN-XC: That also seems like an apples to oranges comparison; you could build a hell of an alu hardtail for $4k.
  • 3 0
 @theextremist04: completely agree....article was comparing models so that's where I was going with that. Personally, I don't think you need to be paying anywhere over $4-5k for a hardtail unless you are racing. Like you said, $4k can get you a really nice hardtail (full XT, fox factory, carbon rims, etc...).
  • 2 0
 Or 2019...
  • 3 0
 Not better. My Rocky Ti-Bolt from 1992 would have cost over 10K in todays money. For a hardtail. Gulp.
  • 1 0
 I did 1988 to 2021 below.
  • 2 0
 Actually you can really see that bikes have recently become more expensive if you compare 2015-16 prices to 2021 prices.
By 2016 carbon frames were no longer just on the most expensive bikes and although bikes evolve each year a 2016 trail bike will be comparable to a 2021 bike. Mid to high-end trail bikes from 2016 & 2021 will have a carbon frame, 1x gearing set up, forks will probably be a Pike of 34/36, tubeless tyres, etc, etc.
  • 24 0
 2011 tacoma, 4dr trd offroad- $26,145
2021 tacoma, 4dr trd offroad - $39,500

3.4% a year


The Yeti only went up by 1.2% a year. Nearly 1/3 as much.
  • 5 1
 Yeah it’s nuts!
And it’ll keep going up by that much as long as consumers keep buying them. Prices wouldn’t increase that crazy fast if people wouldn’t buy the latest and greatest every other year.
We vote with our dollars daily.
  • 20 0
 @joedave: people dont see it as a $40,000 truck though, they see it as a $499 per month truck. Seems a lot cheaper when you put it that way. More people with a spare $500 per month than 40k burning a hole in their pocket. Different times.
  • 1 0
 @drfunsocks: very true.
  • 15 1
 Not to mention the 2011 Tacoma is far superior to the 2021 Tacoma.
  • 1 0
 And in Canada add 10K to that. Granted they hold their value if you have 50K to spend on a truck
  • 5 0
 @drfunsocks: $500 a month is still a lot. But yeah, people don't like having cash left over at the end of the month.
  • 1 0
 @HB208: of course it is. But over the 3 years most people lease cars for, its “only” $18,000. Still less than half of the $40k list price. Plus you dont have to save up which is unfortunately the way the world is going.
  • 3 0
 The price of new vehicles is crazy. That 2011 Taco's sell for $25-30k CAD here in Vancouver. It might even be an an appreciating asset. Inflation of everything in the last year has been exceptionally high though, which is no surprise with governments pumping trillions into economies around the world.
  • 2 0
 New cars are like jewellery, video games, sports equipment, musical instruments - you can find a used version that it almost, or just as good as new for a lot less money.
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: Yeah, but in a lot of areas new tacomas are the same price as used tacomas.
  • 1 0
 @HB208: That's what's happening with Landcruisers here, but only because of COVID.
  • 26 1
 The world famous dentist bike has gotten cheaper?!
  • 1 0
 Not only that but for $7k that SB150 is lookin pretty good...
  • 1 0
 As a ridiculous Yeti fanboy (and no, I'm not a dentist) I find this hilarious.
  • 21 0
 Do the same for the used bike prices on your Buy/Sell. 2019 vs 2021
  • 19 0
 Looks like a Session costs less now.
  • 2 0
 Looking at that old Session reminds me of when Gwin was destroying the entire DH world on that bike.
  • 17 2
 I knew that bikes didn't cost more! I will wait 10 years to buy a new Yeti and it will be $500 less than it is now. Yes!
  • 15 0
 Man it would be nice if wages kept up with inflation too.
  • 12 0
 The 2011 Yeti SB66 has XTR and 2021 Yeti SB66 has XT. That is not a same build comparison. The 2021 with XTR would be much more money.
  • 3 1
 True but this would be offset a bit by the 2021 bike being carbon.
  • 11 0
 Doesn‘t apply to german direct to consumer brands, they got a lot more expensive
  • 2 0
 Except Radon
  • 3 0
 Yep, was wondering why those were not included here. The last 3-4 years those prices have increased pretty significantly.
  • 7 0
 ...didnt read all the comments so i dont know if this has been mentioned....lets not forget the cost of manufacture has come way down since 2011 due to automation , outsourcing etc....if manufacturers passed on these savings to customers bikes should be cheaper now than 10 yrs ago
  • 3 0
 This. It's not like manufacturing technology stayed in 2011.
  • 9 0
 should do a pre-Covid vs current status...seems the last 18 months its been more that just "inflation"
  • 7 0
 2014 Trek fuel EX 8 29 = $2,999 AUD
2021 Trek fuel EX 8 29 = $5,299 AUD

Bike cost after 7 years is almost 1.8 times what it cost in 2014
Or an increase of 80% in 7 years
Or average price increase of approx 11% every year.
  • 1 0
 A significant proportion of price changes in Australia are due to currency fluctuations. If you look at the AUD-USD exchange rate in late 2013 when the "2014" model year prices were set, 1 AUD = 0.95 USD. Look at the same period in 2020 when our 2021 model year prices were set and 1AUD = 0.72 USD.

On those figures, the US $ equivalent prices were $2849 for 2014 vs $3815 for 2021. That's only a 34% total price increase, or a little under 4.3% compounding price increase.

2012-2014 was a great time to be an Australian buying anything contracted in USD prices.
  • 8 0
 My top spec 2014 YT Capra - £3300 (adjusted for inflation £3700)
The 2021 equivalent - £5000

My 2 cents
  • 1 0
 And what has the £ exchange rate done in that time?
  • 5 0
 This doesn't go back far enough. My 2004 Stumpy "expert" was $2,170.00 MSRP (I paid ~$1900). The inflation adjusted price would be $3,068. The actual MSRP is $5800. The price major ramp happened prior to 2011. See for example:

www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/are-mountain-bike-prices-going-through-the-roof-nope-more-like-the-basement

In fact it looks like 2011 was peak pricing (relatively speaking) so it's the worst year to compare to.
  • 6 1
 It's important in these moments to remember that "inflation" typically isn't an accurate measure of inflation: premiertrustadvisors.com/the-consumer-price-index-and-the-truth-about-inflation
  • 4 0
 In 1983 Tom Ritchey made me a hand made, custom frame to my spec's. The bare frame, no headset, nothing, cost $2300. That was with a pro deal (20% below wholesale) because I worked in a shop that sold his bikes. It cost over $5000 to put it together with top shelf parts. So I think it was always pretty darn expensive to put a top quality bicycle between your legs. The difference now is that buys you a lot higher tech machine, it's just not custom made to fit you perfectly. I think most people would find that to be an acceptable trade as it seems suspension performance is the yardstick that is valued now.
  • 8 1
 Should have adjusted for wage deflation
  • 3 0
 This data does not surprise me but what I think has changed is the level of discounting you used to be able to get. Go to a bike shop and get last years bike for 30+ even 50% off. I got a full XTR Intense at Super for like $1900 because they were not going to carry intense anymore (yes it was ages ago). You are lucky if you can get a bike now paying full price. Nothing is discounted. Full pop.
  • 3 0
 People in developed markets where currency fluctuations are minimal you're getting a way better bike for the same or less money. In countries like mine where the currency has lost 50% at least to the USD, and income has declined, bikes are now insanely expensive. Stop moaning and walk in an SA bkers shoes for a minute.
  • 8 4
 TALAS fork, get that sh*t out of here. lets make a 150mm fork with 32 sanctions and make it even crappier with some travel adjust that no one uses and ruins the suppleness.
  • 7 1
 TALAS was fantastic, like 2 bikes in one. 32 mm stancions weren't so great. Maybe it depends where you ride. For all up, all down gravity rides where the ups are technical, TALAS made those technical rides up possible.
  • 4 1
 I disagree. TALAS, at least through version 4, had so much friction that it ruined the fork in all modes. Much better was Marzocchi's ETA that used a hydraulic lock-down in the damper and left the spring side the hell alone.
  • 3 0
 @melanthius: Agreed, it wasn't perfect, but given the choice between a steady 100 mm travel Float, or a 90-130mm TALAS, I felt much more confident with the TALAS. ETA was great, but I only recall seeing it on the longer travel Z1's at the time, so it wasn't compatible for bikes designed around 80 or 100mm travel. The TALAS really allowed an XC bike to double down as a trail bike (before that category existed).
  • 3 0
 @woofer2609: I'm with you on that. I had a 2009 Talas RL 110-130-150 and it was great. Despite the 32mm stanchions, the change to through axle more than compensated for the extra flex of the longer travel (coming from a 2007 Float 130).
Made for a way more versatile bike, and the minor change in suppleness was no big deal to me.
  • 7 0
 Inflation is a bitch
  • 8 1
 Only if you are that guy who wants to buy a cannondale
  • 3 0
 give it a year
  • 2 0
 @stflood: so it will get worse?
  • 3 0
 @paulskibum: not for bikes, just in general. Especially as someone who is going to graduate high school in a couple years, and is going to buy a car soon and is wanting to buy a decent full suspension bike too. I am finding out that life is super expensive.
  • 5 0
 @imnotdanny: Life is expensive, but it beats the alternative. Go forth and Carpe the crap outta the diem. A lot of people would traded anything to get a few more years to do so, whatever it costs.
  • 3 0
 @woofer2609: I'm trying, but parents who want you to have good grades and not spend all your money on bike parts kind of limit that. Gotta savor what you have when you can have it. As @suspendedflesh commented recently:
the past is imperfect
the present is tense
the future is malign
and immortality lacks evidence
lay down and eat roses

I take "eating roses" to mean enjoy what you've got when you have it.
  • 3 0
 @imnotdanny: That's a good attitude. If you get a job, you can spend your own money on bike parts. Learning how to fix everything you own will allow you to own nicer things, as labour costs seem to be a huge portion of any mechanical repair.
I made the mistake of buying 10 $500 cars and trying to make up for someone elses lack of maintenance, instead of buying one good $5000 car.
As for poetry, well, the present has a lot to do with perception and "The future's uncertain and the end is always near" J.M.
  • 5 0
 @woofer2609: yep, I turn 16 in a few months and where I live that is the age that you can work at most places (retail and restaurants mostly) and I'm hoping to make $50 dollars a month doing work on the weekend.
It will still take a while to save up for a car and bike, but if anything that helps teach budgeting and stuff. (also car insurance for a teenage boy is very expensive).
Ideally I could get a job at my LBS, that might be hopes and dreams though.
  • 2 0
 @imnotdanny: keep it up, young dude. Work some, and go ride!
  • 2 0
 @imnotdanny: not knocking you for working hard, but do you have any idea how privileged you are to be a 16 year old kid and even have a remote chance of being able to buy a car, and a full suspension bike, and go to school?
I'm an affluent westerner like you, and the amount of disposable income westerners have now compared to when I was your age is insane. At the same time, relative prices of things like cars and bikes at the 'utility' end of the scale have changed far, far less than wages. I'm in Australia, but I'm pretty sure the same holds more or less true in the US.

Price changes we are looking on Pinkbike aren't really inflation, they are repositioning of a small section of the market in response to demand and perceived value. The bikes we're looking at here are valued as 'aspirational' (extending to 'luxury') items, not utility. The road bike I bought for $600 with low-end Shimano components in 1989 would cost pretty much the same in 2021, yet the minimum casual hourly rate in retail has quadrupled in that time. A new small car in 1989 cost 2/3 of the average adult yearly earnings, now it's 1/3 of average weekly earnings, and the car is bigger and better in every way.

The reason bikes we like have got more expensive, is that more people are demonstrating that they are prepared to pay more money for them. That's supply and demand capitalism at play, not inflation.
  • 2 0
 @dsut4392: You make a really good point, and I agree with you. You did say that "A new small car in 1989 cost 2/3 of the average adult yearly earnings, now it's 1/3 of average weekly earnings" people earn $15k in a week? Maybe that's different in Australia, but I think the cheapest new car in the US in about $15k.
I do understand that we have a lot more privilege and access to better stuff, my dad won't let me forget about that ever, and I guess that's why the amount of money people are willing to spend of fancy cars and bikes has risen so much.
I'm not talking about buying really nice bikes or cars either, I think my maximum budget for a car is $3500 and the bike is less than that, if I ever do end up buying it. I was a little bit too optimistic in the previous post, more likely my money will go to insurance and savings. That still does sound very privileged as I am typing it, lol.
  • 2 0
 @imnotdanny:Classy response, props. Yes that was a typo, I did mean 1/3 of current annual (not weekly) earnings Smile
  • 5 1
 My transition patrol frame cost £1500 (2015) new one is for sale at £2299. That is an increase of 53.3%. That is significantly more expensive.
  • 2 0
 In Canada (and I believe, the USA), the CPI does not include the purchase of a house ( a house is seen as an investment), only the services to keep it maintained.
So yeah, the price of a bike may not have increased much when compared to the CPI, but your spare income to purchase it has after spending a MAJOR chunk of your paycheque to service your mortgage.
  • 5 1
 And now you know why these companies are raising prices across the board. Too bad our pay checks haven't risen with the rate of inflation...
  • 2 0
 I am shocked by the data....I had convinced myself that the bike industry was ripping me off but it appears in fact that they have just tricked me into thinking I need to buy more bike then I need. Who had carbon frame, carbon wheels a dropper and max travel shock and fork in 2011? Am I happier on my current ride ( Cannondale Bad Habit converted to 29er from 27.5+, short travel 29er, now considered under biked) with all those compared to my previous bike (Turner Sultan) ahead of its time) short travel 29er with none of those things? The 3000$ Ripley AF is likely as good or better then my near top of the line 2011 turner sultan yet I turn my nose up at it due to its complete lack of today's top notch components....Well done bike industry, well done.
  • 2 0
 Totally agree. If my bike got stolen tomorrow I'd go buy a Ripley AF or one of the lower end Trances and be pretty thrilled with it (assuming I could find one in stock). Deore has an amazing price/performance ratio and today's low end suspension isn't really bad at all. Combine that with modern geometry... pretty much the only downside is weight. If I can save a couple grand I'll happily take the extra couple pounds. If you ride hard you'll eventually break stuff and have the chance to upgrade it anyway.
  • 3 0
 Yea, different results to what can directly compare to bikes I've bought vs now.

2012 stumpjumper carbon comp - $4100 AUD (add inflation) vs same bike now $7100 AUD
2016 enuduro expert $7000 aud vs now $11000.
  • 1 0
 Simple explanation for that - like almost every import, bikes are traded in US$.

Exchange rates:
2011-2012: 1AUD = 1.05USD ---AU$4100 = US$4305
2020-21: 1AUD = 0.72USD ---AU$7100 = $US5112

That's only a 19% price increase over 9 years.
  • 2 0
 Consumers expect that with economies of scale, prices will come down. I think the industry has that at present.

Maybe this is why industry reps don't comment on high prices, because it may come across as per Chris Cocalis of Pivot:

"Cocalis says that it’s not fair to compare cars and bicycles — or even motorcycles and bicycles — because the bike world innovates on a pace that’s a lot closer to that of iPhones than that of motorized transportation."
  • 6 0
 No fair! You changed the result by measuring it!
  • 2 0
 In 1988 I bought a brand new Kuwahara Sierra Grande MTB - Full Deore XT rigid frame for $1,050

$1,050 in today's (2021) dollars is $2,067. For $2K I could buy a Norco Torrent A2: 4 piston disk, dropper, 1x 11sp drivetrain and 150mm fork.

That's a significant improvement, and one we'd expect. As I mentioned earlier, mountain bikes SHOULD be seeing reduced prices from economies of scale, and further outsourcing to cheaper-labour countries. I couldn't find historical sales data but I suspect it's 10x what it was in 1990.
  • 2 0
 Bonus - what can you get for $3,000?

Drum roll...


NOTHING - because it's in USD and even $3,000USD pretty much guarantees you a shit bike with shit components! Big Grin . So, by the time you upgrade your drivetrain, fork, shock, and wheels, it'll be another $2-4K worth of upgrades! That's if you can get the parts Wink
  • 6 2
 2010 bought iron horse top specificaion for 2000£ now top specification bike is 10000£. big difference !!!
  • 5 0
 Wait....what? A Cannondale that cost $13k? Woof...
  • 1 0
 That was the most shocking thing to me too.
  • 2 1
 Hell, I didn't know Cannondale still made bikes!!! I have not seen one on the trails in SO CAL in a couple years..
  • 1 0
 @Three6ty: I'm from PA where they used to make them. Still don't see them.
  • 2 0
 @Three6ty: here in Connecticut, see them all the time! Being in our local racing league gets you a discount though.
  • 3 3
 @learningcycles: What's even more shocking is that Lefty is still a thing. Did anyone actually like Lefty forks?
  • 1 0
 You don't even get axs drivetrain or dropper for that...
  • 2 0
 This example would be depressing in New Zealand. A 2014 Enduro Comp cost $4500NZD. A 2021 Enduro Comp is $8400NZD now. Sure alloy vs carbon but it can't be helped.
I'd hate to think what the 2011 version cost.
  • 1 0
 Rad. Interesting that trail bikes appear to be a better value across the board, but DH and XC bikes not so much. I know no one races anymore and trail bikes are faster than DH bikes on most trails, but surprised that showed up in this study.
  • 3 0
 Would've liked to have seen some direct sales brands in this comparison as well. Can't help but feel that those prices went up pretty spectacular the last few years.
  • 3 0
 You guys got caught shilling bad on this one. Nobody's wallet expands to meet inflation and you know that. Get owned libtards.
  • 4 0
 My top shelf, '97 FSR Enduro - cost $1,800. That was closeout too.
  • 2 0
 i think that what $500 could get you has changed rapidly. im an exception. I got 1x drivetrain and hydralic brakes for $500 (21 polygon relic evo 27.5
  • 5 1
 Brought to you by Backcountry.com, LLC
  • 5 1
 No Sram drivetrain pricing comparison?
  • 2 0
 Adjusted for growth in my dentist's profit sharing account, that 2011 $6150 Yeti is $21525, making today's Yeti an absolute steal.
  • 3 0
 Man, I almost forgot about how cool we thought travel adjust forks were in 2011.
  • 3 0
 They're still cool. Especially on hard tails.
  • 2 0
 @woofer2609: I thought the same thing. Have coil lyrics on my hard tail and use the adjustment.
  • 2 0
 @betsie @woofer2609 honest question, why is it especially nice on hard tails? just to get more over the front end climbing? I've heard that e-ews racers crank the fork down with toe-ties before the tech climb sections.
  • 1 0
 @eteyber: Fair question. For me, anyway, I find that there is a smaller margin of error in climbing technical trails, especially because of limited rear traction due to increased tire pressure to avoid flatting and no bump compliance from rear suspension. Having more weight over the front axle allows for more predictability in going over obstacles, as the rear axle is less likely to act as a fulcrum. Some engineer will come and destroy my theory, but this has been my experience.
  • 1 0
 @eteyber: it allows for more adjustment to suit what you are riding.
My hard tail is an old school 4x, dialled holeshot MK2. So short and steel head angle. Ride pump track, skate park, trails, jumps. I can fine tune the height of the front to suit what I am riding, the conditioned etc. Normally only a couple of clicks either way as adjusting it on a HT does change the effective bar sweep and the lyrik has a large adjustment range.
If I was to ride some gnarly stuff, which the bike can do, then raise it up and roll the bars a little to suit.
  • 2 0
 @eteyber: toe STRAPS
  • 4 0
 Better to compare prices between pre-Covid and now.
  • 2 0
 exactly
  • 1 0
 I have the full carbon version of that V10 which I got 2nd hand when the 275 one came out and still race it to this day. It's a bit battered but still goes. The air rear was terrible on that V10.
  • 1 0
 That SB66 on the Fox 32 next to the SB150 on a 38. That thing would snap in half as soon as it saw a rock! I'm so glad I wasn't a mountain biker ten years ago. I would have died immediately.
  • 1 0
 The perception of prices being high is probably more to do with fewer sales and clearance offers, MRSP is easy enough to compare but how many people actually paid that for a bike in 2011
  • 2 0
 Mountain biking is a freaking rip off! Don’t do it! Stay away! It’s a waste of time and money! Go buy a PlayStation! Too many punters with Fanny packs! Horses are cool!
  • 2 0
 Love it. Pinkbike, please subscribe me to the next iteration of this article. Beam it directly into my brain in 2031.
  • 3 0
 Should have included bike weight in the comparisons.
  • 2 0
 In 2011 didn't people start to understand how stupid the Lefty was? Guess not...
  • 1 0
 Man Avid Elixir dominated the market back then. Anyone have a comment on how they were? Got back into mtb in the last four years and brakes sure are great these days.
  • 2 0
 They were terrible but i put up with them because I couldn’t afford (justify) an upgrade.
  • 3 0
 They were great compared to the juicys, seems like elixir was the start of the big focus on modulation, juicys were really just on/off feel. I used my 2011 elixir CRs 2 years ago last, they still work great
  • 1 0
 You could hear them coming. Good reason to stay off the brakes though
  • 3 1
 They sucked lol. They're part of the reason why sram brakes have such a bad reputation
  • 3 1
 I got a shout-out! My life is complete. Time to hang-up the BMX bike and get an e-Bike.
  • 3 0
 Sh*t 2011 was 10 years ago
  • 2 0
 Yt Tues 2.0 Ltd 2011 for 2888€

Yues 2.0 frame
mz fork and DB shock
X0 brakes and shifting
Demaxx ultimate wheels
  • 2 2
 Wages and Salaries don't match inflation and the cost of living all over the world. So bikes and parts are shit loads more expensive, no way around it!
  • 1 0
 Price on Yeti's website is $7800 not $7000. 2011 XTR build is also closer to XX1 for $9500
  • 1 0
 Inflation is an excuse. Global interest rates are at an all time low. Interest drives inflation
  • 2 0
 Killer GEO with a Mullet…
  • 3 3
 Great article! I appreciate the research that went into it. The real takeaway should be how much better bikes have become in the past 10 years.
  • 9 0
 isnt that kind of irrelevant? if we compared bikes from 10 years ago with bikes from 20 years ago we'd be saying the same thing?
  • 2 0
 Well, at least it takes way less BTC to purchase a new bike
  • 5 4
 America: Where we champion free market capitalism, but secretly want communism.
  • 3 0
 Freedom isn't free...but it is available to the well-qualified buyer.
  • 2 1
 yes and us MTB riders are stupid enough to continue buying these high priced bikes. FML
  • 1 0
 So, you're saying, we've been unfair to dentists and just like to whine. damn.
  • 1 0
 This seems like a great excuse to buy a new bike? Some of the inflation prices are higher than nowadays prices...bargain
  • 1 0
 2018 way by far the best year for value of the bikes. SInce then prices are just going up.
  • 1 0
 High performance machines ain't cheap!
  • 1 0
 Don't give Fox any ideas now!!
  • 2 0
 The V10 almost unchanged
  • 1 0
 -- Wait, they cost the same this entire time?
-- They always had.
  • 1 0
 Main takeaway from this article: in 2011, Trek Session way over priced.
  • 1 0
 Not sure how I missed this one. Great article! Thanks PB. Smile
  • 1 0
 Buy Bitcoin.
  • 6 9
 2021 Session 9 is pictured, not 9.9. The 9 is the newer model, but is alloy. DH bikes have become better values as more and more mainstream brands have stopped using carbon frames, thus dropping prices.
  • 2 0
 Thanks, fixed now
  • 2 1
 Looks like a Session.
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