SRam XX drivetrain ...
 

[Closed] SRam XX drivetrain kit 2010. What the fug?!!! Pricing

 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

In the new mbr- c£1,500 for the new XX kit (or 2k if you throw in the brakes.

No offence but is this where we are going now? The future? Pricing people out of a hobby?

The $ is changing against the £ now so why the pricing for next year?

Am I missing something?!


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 6:12 pm
Posts: 10629
Full Member
 

It's not aimed at thee and me, it's for racing folks and of course the middle classes 🙂


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 6:18 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

yes, its a "race only" aparently, its only the same price as sram red on the road, its a fair price for what you get. its far to good for anyone unless they are elite quality anyway, its a hobby, we spend money on it, im sure you throw ridiculous amounts of money at ridiculous kit, if people want to blow £1500 nicker on a groupset, let them.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 6:20 pm
Posts: 299
Free Member
 

I saw that in MBR, the pricing is special to say the least but if you squeeze a couple second on a trail that could be the difference between winning and loosing for me though more than happy with SLX 🙂


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 6:31 pm
 jonb
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Some people have money and they like to spend it. There are plenty of more expensive sports than mountain biking, just look at the prices of luxury/sports cars. Bikes are peanuts by comparison.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 6:45 pm
 Dave
Posts: 1026
Free Member
 

[i]No offence but is this where we are going now? The future? Pricing people out of a hobby? [/i]

Other groupsets are available.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 7:17 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

"Other groupsets are available" nothing else needed to be said. move along.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 7:31 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Pretty much any hobby has some ridiculous high end kit, and so do many if not most sports. As has been mentioned, possibly not for the likes of "us" unless we want it.
That said, couple of grand on a frame, couple of grand on bits, complete bikes retail for more don't they?


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 7:35 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

[i]No offence but is this where we are going now? The future? Pricing people out of a hobby?[/i]

Its not carbon, nor is it especially ground-breaking or ultra ultra light over whats available now. Its USP is 'you can do away with a third ring' WOW!.. I think its an exercise to see how much amateur riders will spend. How you can price your goods in the future when compared to demand for such goods TBH.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 7:37 pm
Posts: 3573
Free Member
 

why bother ? i run 2x9 on xtr / xt mix and i'm a tart. it's good enough for my torque ridden legs.... who needs more at that price ?


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 7:41 pm
Posts: 1204
Free Member
 

Its not carbon, nor is it especially ground-breaking or ultra ultra light over whats available now. Its USP is 'you can do away with a third ring' WOW!..

Shows how much you know Hora.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 8:37 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

You know a better benefit apart from profit margin?


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 8:45 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I agree Hora.

Just look at how many of us are happy to pay £50 for a XT cassette, thinking it is now a "bargin"!


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 8:47 pm
Posts: 3057
Full Member
 

I see the bugatti Veyron is £839,28. Scandalous they should be pricing folk like me off the road. 🙂


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 8:53 pm
Posts: 6745
Free Member
 

yeah but you could get a Caterham csr260 for 34k and it'd beat it round a track.


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 9:10 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

[i]Just look at how many of us are happy to pay £50 for a XT cassette, thinking it is now a "bargin"! [/i] of course 2010 will bring a price drop for kit in general?... (£.v.$) 🙁


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 9:10 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Hora, who cares, your going to buy it anyway, complain, then flog it on here in a blaze of glory.........isn't that what you normally do ;0)


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 9:15 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Dunno, I bought a M960 XTR rear mech from CRC two weeks ago. My last mech has lasted me the last 10years and is still in one piece. I might swap frames/forks out every 5mins...but other stuff not really- King headsets/wheels (6yrs/7yrs each so far) 😉

Theres a lad on here, seems to be buy a new frame and groupset, build it up- ride it, take a pic on his balcony then flog it all and start again?!!


 
Posted : 05/07/2009 9:21 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Re $/£ price shift and 2010 pricing....

... don't forget that this year's price rises are in spite of a VAT drop. Next year VAT goes back up


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:23 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

So it should equal out back at 2008 prices then? I cant see any manufacturer explaining a rise or 2009 levels of pricing again. The Yens fallen back as well.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:36 am
Posts: 71
Free Member
 

Prices for 2010 on everything are going to make 2009 prices look like a bargain! Expect to see 25% increases on bikes across the board.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:40 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

njee20, why??


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:44 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Yep - I heard they were going up 10 - 15% on shimano again

Sram Red/Campag Super Record/Shimano Dura-ace are all mega money so something this price isn't out of the ordinary. As a side note, its MUCH easier to spend massive amounts of money on road bikes rather than MTB's. Has sir visited the Poshbikes website? Storck scenario anyone?

Maybe this'll kickstart the british manufac. industry again? I've just got a set of brand spanking middleburns for less than the price of a set of XT cranks. huzzah


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:52 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

[i]Yep - I heard they were going up 10 - 15% on shimano again[/i]

How are they justifying it?!!


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:56 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Not sure - can't remember how they justified this years to be honest.

I do know that they now have a surplus of XT/XTR that they're selling cheap to the shops because no one is buying it. And still they hike the price.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:00 am
Posts: 71
Free Member
 

Price of raw materials is the commonly cited reason at the moment, plus the cost of parts to the OEM manufacturers. Shimano prices increasing during 2009 affects they're buying for 2010 bikes.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:03 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I still think its the 'what can we get away with' pricing strategy. Chasing bigger margins. i.e. Like with gas bills, once you've seen what your customers will put up with you dont have to shrink your pricing back when the currency fluctuation has fallen back..


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:06 am
Posts: 41786
Free Member
 

probably because they didnt pass on the full increace this year? (im guessing)

I dont think people are spending any more than they were last year, just look at the number of people extoling the virtues of SLX. LX was always the stronger/cheeper/heavier cousin to XT, yet the advice was always "XT is all you need".

If prices creep up again, I'd be very supprised if theres not people on here declaring their love for Deore as "cheeper and stronger than SLX for only a slight weight penalty".


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:08 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I've just put a new groupset on the road bike - I wanted at least Chorus but instead got Veloce. Its obviously not as nice, but the massive difference in price is


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:13 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Agree. the more rises the more of an opportunity for a new Uk manufacturer...

To see the money that can be made and offer the same pricing as Shinamo etc with better profit margins for themselves....cough uk manufacturers already do this 😉


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:28 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Price of raw materials is the commonly cited reason at the moment

That might have been true 12 months ago, but as the recession has reduced demand on commodities, prices have collapsed. Probably more a case that sales volume has fallen off dramatically so pricing has had to increase to maintain at least some revenue.

I too have recently fitted a Middleburn crankset at what now appears to be good comparative value... Always wanted RS8s on my Ti hardtail, but when I first built it up in 2004 the differential between Middleburn and XT was huge.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:37 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

We buy lots of [non biking]kit in from the US, Europe & Far East

Pretty much everything is down in price or - at least - no increase from last year


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:41 am
Posts: 71
Free Member
 

No I think it's just that prices have been held low for a long time, and now they're going up in one massive go.

In 1999 an XTR chainset and bottom bracket cost £325. In 2008 it cost £260. Not that many other things have decreased in price over the same period. Agree it's harder to swallow than 5% year on year increases, but it's not that surprising!


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:45 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

njee, I hear where you are coming from. The cited reason for the increase was the Yen to the £. Nothing to do with a shot-gun style pricing strategy!!


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:47 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

bedroom economics isnt like the real world...

Just remember most distributors will fix their currency for 6-18 months ahead, so you will be paying for a pood £ for months to come.

Also aluminium suppliers will still be selling on their expensive stock, there is a long lag for things to catch up. Give it 18 months or so!


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 11:50 am
 Dave
Posts: 1026
Free Member
 

[i]Its not carbon, nor is it especially ground-breaking or ultra ultra light over whats available now. Its USP is 'you can do away with a third ring' WOW!..[/i]

Eh? The groupset I rode had plenty of carbon and magnesium parts to drop weight. Do some research before posting.

[i]I think its an exercise to see how much amateur riders will spend. How you can price your goods in the future when compared to demand for such goods TBH. [/i]

It's not aimed at amateur riders though, it's a top level groupset.

The cassette takes nine hours to machine, it's not going to be cheap is it.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 12:05 pm
 mrmo
Posts: 10719
Free Member
 

just to throw into the mix, commodities are rising again, so don't expect prices to come down much from that score. There may be some movement on currencies but that'll be about it.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 12:10 pm
Posts: 414
Free Member
 

These price hikes only shaft the LBS who has to buy stuff through official channels.

At the beginning of the year you couldn't buy a 20mm U-Turn Rev for less than £600 (I think the RRP is £699), I know as I tried to get hold of one. It appears that they couldn't sell them at those stupid prices and they are now being offered to the internet big boys at a massive discount.

An LBS who buys their stock of Rock Shox through Fishers will have to pay at least £420 for a Rev with a RRP of £699.

You can buy them online for £450.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 12:11 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

jim the saint, ah. I see exactly what you mean. That isnt good news at all 🙁

Dave, do you think with the carbon-content it offers value for money? Or the additional semi-exotic material helps justify the planned price point?


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 12:17 pm
 Dave
Posts: 1026
Free Member
 

Hora,

are you on drugs?


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 1:39 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

If only it were that simple, Dave.

Hora, it's a groupset designed for the best performance that they reckon they can get with little consideration for cost (eg the 9hrs machining for the cassette).

If it's successful, no doubt similar setups will become available at X9 and lower levels to avoid pricing you specifically out of the market. Or are you suggesting that they should only market to a level that you specifically can reasonably afford to pay?

Numpty 🙄


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 1:51 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

9hrs machining for the cassette

Pre-production, maybe. I honestly don't believe production would run that slow. Where do they source their manufacturing/capital goods from, the 18th century?


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:19 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

You'd be surprised. I work at a company that does some complex machinining and fine stuff like that with lots of different cuts necessary (angles, tools, etc)takes ages...

But of course, Hora, you're probably an expert on industrial machining and can tell SRAM how long it should really take... 🙄


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:22 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I could understood if it was hewn out of a solid block of aluminum.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:27 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

You are taking the p!ss now, aren't you...

With X-Dome, eight of the cogs are CNC-machined together out of a single block of billet steel

[url] http://www.sram.com/en/XX/products/cassette.php [/url]

You know what they say about arguing with idiots...


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:28 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Hora, your spending FAR to much effort on this, your argument fails, end of. go and ride your bike.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:29 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Ah! That wasnt on the bikeradar review 😕


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:36 pm
 mt
Posts: 48
Free Member
 

they are priced for what the market will stand (in their view), if it does not sell it will come down. From the sellers point of view if SRAM can keep the price and it is seen as must cudos item, selling less will make more money. Like the idea of 2x9 must get on to middleburn.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:37 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Ah! That wasnt on the bikeradar review

So you made a damning statement involving 18th century manufacturing techniques about something (eg it shouldn't take 9 hrs to machine) that you know nothing about. I guess that I shouldn't be surprised really, should I... 😈


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:42 pm
Posts: 0
 

Just to upset everyone even more re prices, the complete group with Sid XX's is only £2900ish 😯 😀


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:45 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

clubber, are you making me back-pedal by any chance? 8)


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:46 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Bargin 🙂

I'm going to give it a go with 2x9 - 24/36 chainset and 11-34.

I'll be interested to see how well the 2:3 ratio works on the chainrings (I know that it won't have XX's double shift gates) and how well it works in real life since I currently use the middle ring for most stuff with occassional forays into the middle and granny rings. I guess that I'd now be using the granny ring more for climbing.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:48 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I'm not making you do anything Hora. You're making yourself look like an idiot all by yourself.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 3:55 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Someone will buy it...


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:04 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Idiot? Make an assumption based on the information to hand?
The Bikeradar article alludes to replaceable rings:
[i]Those with worries about the durability of an aluminium rear cog will be relieved to hear it can be replaced individually.[/i]

Someone will buy it...
They wont be top end racers either. There'll be a fair round trail centres..


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:06 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

"They wont be top end racers either. There'll be a fair round trail centres" so when are you placing your order then.......


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:15 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

lol


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:16 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Manchester Trev, I still own one of the first Saint cranksets when they came out years ago so you'd probably have quite a wait if I did..


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:16 pm
Posts: 71
Free Member
 

Well the 2009 S-Works Stumpy will come with it, so it's clearly not just pitched at racers.

You can guarantee it'll open the flood gates for companies like Ibis, Cannondale etc to realease crazy light 'trail' bikes using it.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:17 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The Bikeradar article alludes to replaceable rings:

No, it quite rightly aludes to the biggest sprocket which is made of alumninium being replaceable, not the whole lot.

From the article:

Like SRAM's road-going Red unit, XX consists of a nickel-plated CNC-machined 4130 chromoly 'dome' – reportedly requiring nine hours each just to mill – mated to a 7075-T6 aluminium backing plate.

Those with worries about the durability of an aluminium rear cog will be relieved to hear it can be replaced individually. In theory it should last longer than a conventional middle chainring since it is likely to be used less.

[url] http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/sram-unveil-new-xx-mountain-bike-groupset-21756?CPN=RSS&SOURCE=BRGENHOME [/url]


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Grrr.. must stop rising to the bait... 👿


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:19 pm
Posts: 41786
Free Member
 

given its already hideous price tag, why is the cassette not Ti?

the alu bit will be the two biggest sprockets i imagine, they wear pretty slowly normaly, but guess without a granny/middle ring they may see more use with people determined to keep it in the big ring.

On a side note, whats the biggest granny ring you can buy off the shelf?

i'd be tempted by a 28-38 setup and DMR make a big ring for it. Guess I could use a roadie tripple minus the big ring, works for Nico!


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:22 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

You can get 4 bolt 30t granny rings (and 5 bolt) for road touring (have a look at SJS cycles)

Only the largest sprocket is alumninium with the rest of the cassette (except the lockring/smallest sprocket) being a hollow steel cone with teeth on (sort of) making it very light (lighter than it could be made of conventional Ti sprockets apparently) but still as hard wearing as a normal cassette.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:27 pm
Posts: 6
Free Member
 

I can't be bothered to look but I am *almost* sure if you were able to search the (old) forum you would find more than one post from Hora arguing stuff (particularly secondhand) is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.

I can't be bothered to search though. But it would confirm the deep feeling of irony I have about this thread.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:35 pm
Posts: 6
Free Member
 

I am sure the point has been adequately dealt with, but in case it has not:

[b]Hora. You do not need this groupset. It will not improve your riding significantly. Some people's maybe a bit. You, not so much. [/b]

😀


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 4:35 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Cheeky Monkey, depends if Im selling its worth more than RRP naturally...if Im buying it needs to be cheaper than the seller is selling for.. 🙄

Bigdummy STOP SHOUTING. Even a 15hp engine strapped to my bike wouldnt improve my riding one jot.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 7:07 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED

anyone else?


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 8:20 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I love you Manchester Trev, proper manlove, like Dibnars piston/steam engines. None of this girlyman love.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 8:33 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

please don't ever say that again.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 9:16 pm
Posts: 8892
Free Member
 

"Yep - I heard they were going up 10 - 15% on shimano again"

Really? Where did you hear that? A bloke in the pub?


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 9:42 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Is it even that revolutionary?

Ten speed has been [s]bodged[/s] done on MTBs before.

The cranks plus BB is 694g, a little more than a Middleburn Duo plus Controltech Comp Carbon-Titanium BB.

A mid-range SunTour front mech from the early 90s weighed in at 114g vs 118g for the XX.

...etc.


 
Posted : 06/07/2009 10:57 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Ten speed has been bodged done on MTBs before.

Ritchey in 2000.

The cranks? Aluminum core with carbon wrap.


 
Posted : 07/07/2009 10:19 am