I just finally got the T-class to try out for a ride. It’s about $3100, and I’ve shown it to a few people who are “in the business” and can’t quite figure out how this aluminum bike is valued at this price. Can anyone shed some light???
aluminum is cheap…
Yes, so what I don’t understand is why it isn’t around $2200???
that is the exact reason why I am on a guru
elites seem overpriced for what they are.
K
I’m very sympathetic to your question, because as an Elite dealer I get this question a lot. It’s fair to wonder how the price is arrived at.
I’m curious who your friends “in the business” are. If they are “in the business”" of manufacturing anything in the USA they might understand how a 7000-series aluminum bike frame could cost $2000. One thing to note is that that price includes the paint color of your choice. How many paint options does the Cervelo P3C give you, for example?
One interesting point that Phil White of Cervelo fame made in a presentation a few weeks ago at a dealer event made me think of something that Ben Serotta has been preaching for going on 20 years. As different materials come into and out of fashion, good engineers and frame builders know that it is the manipulation, and not the material, that matters most. In other words, I’d take an aluminum Elite T-Class over a poorly thought-out, questionably-manufactured carbon frame any day of the week. That being said, there are some things that carbon can do that aluminum never will. Just don’t drop a bike from your consideration solely due to frame material.
Only if it is fabbed in China on a 6 month lead time.
I agree. I have an Elite Razor and its the best bike I have owned b/c it fits. People say aluminum is a rough ride but that is just not true if the bike fits. My sample of one example: I got a bad back and I did a 155 ride earlier this year on the bike with no issues at all (except my legs got tired).
Another reason to go with Elite is the insanely responsive customer service. Paint options are unmatched, too. My 2 cents are that if you are going to shell out for an Elite I’d go for the Razor if custom geometry would of use to you (depends on person) as its not much more and its cool to have a bike built just for you.
Oh how true. To me it is so sad that bikes made by some, like Klein just are no longer around. My klein is one of the best bikes I have ever had, but now that is aluminium, it is a dead horse. I can not tell the difference in comfort between that alum bike and a carbon…But hey marketing…and a few grams. Kenney
I have an Elite Joule with Ultegra Brand new but no wheels. Will sell for $1000 size 56cm
Decided I want a new tribike instead of an older tribike and a new road bike.
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You need to consider many things…there have already been some great posts on this thread. If your ORDER an Elite it will be YOUR bike and made to you. There is no price really you can put on a custom - my custom Litespeed can attest to that. Then there is David Greenfield…as was said - you will never ever get better customer service, nor will you get a better fitting bike.
On the same note…why does a Mercedes S55 cost more than a Ford Focus…they both have four wheels and a steering wheel right?
You can probably - quiet easily - bargon a Guru Trilite down to 3100.
http://www.gurubikes.com/store/index.php/cPath/58_62
The Elite guys are pretty nice. They are at many of the east coast races I’ve been too.
When I was looking at bikes, I tested the T-class. It was a pretty decent bike (even though the one I tested was not fitted to me specifically.) I’d put it in the same catagory as the Kouta Kalibur and the Felt bike I had tested - probably along with the Airfoil Pro, too.
In the end, I tried the Guru and was blown away by the Chrono.
Just went through the process of getting and Elite Razor. WOW is the only way to describe it. I have very few choices, as I don’t fit on many bikes (long torso). I think I only have 3 frame sets to choose from, 1 was close to the size I needed, the other two were custom. I went with the Elite. Actually took my maiden voyage today.
I only have two criteria going in to purchasing a new frame:fit and flex. My previous bike was a Felt S32 (alum), and I flexed the crap out of it. It was about 2 sizes to small for me as well, and I had the seat post maxed out, which my have contributed to it. My new bike, doesn’t flex at all. Its much larger then my old frame, and lighter. Oh, and it fits like a glove!
So, was the Elite Razor Aluminum frame worth the price…I have a bike that doesn’t flex, it fits perfectly, and I got to pick my own colors…yeah, it was well worth it. Could I have saved some money going with something else…sure. I could have kept my old bike that did fit, and spent the money on a killer set of wheels. I’ll take the fit any day.
Would the Elite T-Class be worth the price…if the finish and customer service is as good as with the Razor…which I’m sure it will be, then absolutely! I would have not problem recommending Elite (or Colorado Multisport!) to any one.
Plus, no one has a bike like it!
-bcreager
Sweet Razor. I love my now 2.5 year old Razor. I just love how so little seatpost shows despite the fact that I’m 6’3" of legs.
This bike rides so smooth and comfortable and handles like a sports car.
Thanks! Handling was one of the biggest things I noticed on the maiden voyage…I could really rail the corners, handling is much better on a bike that actually fits…image that! :o)
-bcreager
“To me it is so sad that bikes made by some, like Klein just are no longer around”
Klein is no longer around (except as a neglected Trek subsidiary) because the company was run by a group of scumbags who thought that profits were more important than environmental responsibility, and that dumping hazardous waste in their back yard would never catch up with them.
Kharma is a bitch.
Sometimes the universe works the way it should, and A-holes get nailed with a heavy fine right when sales are slipping a little bit, and they have to sell out the big boys to pay their fines.
Now they’re gone.
Good F-ing riddance.
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(PCHB No. 92-174, if anyone is interested.)
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Oh…
And as the owner of an Elite Razor, I can honestly say that I have never ridden a better handling, more comfortable TT style bike. My Razor has won 6 State TT titles since I have owned it, and was worth every penny I spent on it and more. Probably my favorite of the 15 or so frames I currently own.
Sponsorship issues will have me on a different ride next season, and I will be sad to see it go.
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Dude I have always been interested in your posts due to your knowedge in biking is more than mine. This surprised me. Was Klein himself involved? When in Washington or after they moved. I know they have not moved much in design, but for fat tubed Alum I thought they were great bikes…Great paint too. Thanks Kenney…Still love mine…What was the enviremont dumping they or “He” was guilty of?
Basically, the story goes like this:
Klein Co. was dumping paint residue and assorted other noxious chemicals on site at their Centralia Wa. factory. The complaint lists “…illegally discharging wastewater and hazardous waste to the ground… also 15 hazardous waste violations including failure to properly designate and manage spent degreasers, solvents, cutting oil and paint thinner.”
Klein got nailed, warned, failed repeated follow up inspections, and eventually was hit with a huge fine ($200,000 +.) This was later negotiated to a significantly smaller figure as the result of a novel mitigation agreement.
The timing of this was really bad, and hit Klein at a time when they were cash poor, and caught in the midst of changing fashions in bike design. The company found itself juggling re-design of a suddenly out of fashion product, environmental mitigation, attendant legal battles, and flagging sales. Klein got hit with the initial penalties in 1992, struggled to stay afloat for a couple of years, and found themselves compelled to sell out to Trek in 1996.
Trek took over the company, ran it out of Centralia for a while, and eventually moved the operation when it became cost efficient to do so.
Moral of the story? If your bike looks like it was dipped in glowing toxic waste, it probably was.
Every time me and my riding buddies ride the sweet trails across the street from the old Klein factory, we symbolically flip them the bird.
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Wow! Halloween theme! I’d race with that wearing this suit if I owned it!
Hello Eljoanev
Sorry for the delayed reply to this post however I was in Madison Wisconsin for the weekend providing free pre race service for all Elite Bicycle owners competing in the Ironman event and neutral tech support for all competitors on race day.
The reason Elite T-Class has a slightly higher price tag compared to some other high end stock full aluminum tri frames is simply due to our commitment to providing the highest quality product possible in all aspects of production, as well as our nationalistic approach to business.
We are a “Made in the USA” manufactured product, we are very proud to produce our product in the United States, employing American workers and directly contributing to our nation’s economy. I personally searched the resources of our country to find the finest builder available, and employed him to build our frames. I am confident that every frame built by Elite Bicycles will be constructed to out perform the rider’s expectations. However there is a cost to this increased assurance of quality control and our patriotic (“made in the USA”) approach to manufacturing.
Our build costs in the United States are approximately 6 times (6X) higher than that of an overseas build house (Which may not employ the best of working conditions, environmental standards, and or an oppressed labor force)
Our tubing selection is of the highest quality 7005 aluminum available; it is manufactured by Easton (a US company) and is the only tubing that utilizes water-soluble chemicals during the drawing process, This processes in-turn allows the tube to be flushed clean therefore providing a much smoother ride and avoids the spit and spatter caused by the chemical filament during the welding process, thus providing a stronger bond. Therefore our raw tubing costs are also higher than most other manufacturers.
In keeping with our high manufacturing standards and our made in the USA philosophy. Elite bicycles, allows for each individual frame to be custom designed by the athlete and is painted using a custom wet paint finish meeting environmental protection standards.
In addition to all of our manufacturing standards of quality and care, coupled with our unmatched customer service, our slightly higher price is justified and necessary. Feel free to ask any Elite Bicycle owner how he/she feels about the product and the real life value it provides, and the response you will receive will support the statements I have made.
Thank You
DGG