General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Upgrading components on a new bike... Rss Feed  
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2008-09-14 8:36 AM

New user
17

Subject: Upgrading components on a new bike...

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member here and I have a question about buying a new bike.  I am thinking about buying a Devinci Lemans I bike (canadian bike).  The shifters are Shimano Sora.  The rear derailleur is Shimano 105, and the front is Sora.  The bike is $999.  I would upgrade the shifters to at least Tiagra.  The list price for Tiagra shifters is $275.  My first question is:  When I upgrade the shifters, do I get to keep the original Sora shifters (perhaps to sell privately), or does the LBS keep them, or do they give me value towards them?

My next question is:  Should I / do I need to upgrade the front derailleurs (current: Sora)? How important is the front derailleur?  Is the rear derailleur more important?

Thanks for your help.  I'm really excited about the bike, but I want to make the right decisions.



2008-09-14 9:31 AM
in reply to: #1672939

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Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...
If you are getting a new bike instead of upgrading put the additional money into a better bike to start with as you'll get a better bike at better value. You should be able to get a bike with all 105 better parts for the same money and overall have a better bike.
2008-09-14 9:39 AM
in reply to: #1672939

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Elite
3595
20001000500252525
Quebec, Canada
Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...

I don't know much about DeVinci bikes. But I own a opus, canadian bike too, and I just love it.

I just check my LBS web site and they have the Opus Triton which come with a Ultegra rear derailleur and the rest is 105 all the way. They sell it for 1055$ right now on sale. 

I guess the LBS close to you also have sales right now on the 2008 models. Just check around, lots of good deal right now

2008-09-14 9:46 AM
in reply to: #1672978

New user
17

Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...

Thanks for the feeback ... please, keep it coming.  I'm learning a lot.

Opus?  I haven't heard of opus bikes ... do you have a link for me?  Thanks so much.

2008-09-14 9:48 AM
in reply to: #1672986

New user
17

Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...

I found the link:www.opusbike.com

Thanks ... another bike to look at and consider.

2008-09-14 10:38 AM
in reply to: #1672968

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Pro
6767
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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...

KathyG - 2008-09-14 10:31 AM If you are getting a new bike instead of upgrading put the additional money into a better bike to start with as you'll get a better bike at better value. You should be able to get a bike with all 105 better parts for the same money and overall have a better bike.

x2.  You might be able with a new bike off the floor to get the shop to discount the newer components, in exchange for the originals, but why not just spend the money for a bike built up the way you want it?  What you are looking for is basically the next model or so up.



2008-09-14 10:43 AM
in reply to: #1672939

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Champion
16151
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Checkin' out the podium girls
Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...
As to your original question; it could work either way you and the shop choose.

1.) You "swap" any components you don't like for ones you do like. The shop will give you store credit and you're buying that upgrade and applying credit. They keep the part they took off b/c they've now paid you for it.

I REALLY doubt any shop would do this in reverse to lessen the price of a bike though. (Remove Ultegra and add Sora and you get the $$$ in return)

2.) You outright buy the new component and ask them to physically remove the old and assemble the new. You get that removed part because it was part of the bike you paid for. You can keep it as spare, eBay or give to a friend; it's yours. It technically is new for eBay purposes. This seems to be typical with whole groupsets.

I prefer 1. A certain shop in my area doesn't do this and I've realy tried to buy from him. I'm a big guy and there are limitations to wheels for me. He's lost 2 bike sales from me b/c he's not been willing to take stock wheels and apply store credit for handbuilt replacements. Dumb; every one of his competition does this.
2008-09-14 12:46 PM
in reply to: #1673015

Master
1728
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portland, or
Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...
pitt83 - 2008-09-14 7:43 AM

As to your original question; it could work either way you and the shop choose.

1.) You "swap" any components you don't like for ones you do like. The shop will give you store credit and you're buying that upgrade and applying credit. They keep the part they took off b/c they've now paid you for it.

I REALLY doubt any shop would do this in reverse to lessen the price of a bike though. (Remove Ultegra and add Sora and you get the $$$ in return)

2.) You outright buy the new component and ask them to physically remove the old and assemble the new. You get that removed part because it was part of the bike you paid for. You can keep it as spare, eBay or give to a friend; it's yours. It technically is new for eBay purposes. This seems to be typical with whole groupsets.

I prefer 1. A certain shop in my area doesn't do this and I've realy tried to buy from him. I'm a big guy and there are limitations to wheels for me. He's lost 2 bike sales from me b/c he's not been willing to take stock wheels and apply store credit for handbuilt replacements. Dumb; every one of his competition does this.


I agree with what you've posted, but wanted to state that some shops will "downgrade" a bike to lower the cost. We do it, although not to the point of putting sora or tiagra on a bike. For example we'll swap out DA for Ultegra or 105 to lower the price point for a customer. Same with wheels, stems, handlebars/aerobars, etc.

It gets the customer a bike they may not have been able to afford otherwise, and for us we can end up with a high-end gruppo that we'll sell as parts, or use to upgrade a different bike.

As a smaller "boutique" shop it's a practice that works well for us. I know other small high-end shops in Portland that do the same, but larger shops will resist doing this.

scott
2008-09-14 1:02 PM
in reply to: #1673109

New user
17

Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...

A major problem I'm running into right now is I can't find my size in any bike store.  Trek, of course, can order me my size, but the price-point is high ($1500 + 15% tax).  This is why I am thinking about the Devinci (in my size), but upgrading the Sora shifters.  I really don't want to spend close to $2,000.  I'd rather stay around $1,000, so if I could get them to lower the price of the bike from $1,000 - $850 or so, and then upgrade the shifters (including the trade-in value of the sora shifters), then I'd stay in my price range. 

I know if I spent an additional $500 I could get a better bike with the components, but the $500 is near and dear to me right now !!

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

2008-09-14 6:31 PM
in reply to: #1673109

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Upgrading components on a new bike...
yaqui - 2008-09-14 1:46 PM

pitt83 - 2008-09-14 7:43 AM

As to your original question; it could work either way you and the shop choose.

1.) You "swap" any components you don't like for ones you do like. The shop will give you store credit and you're buying that upgrade and applying credit. They keep the part they took off b/c they've now paid you for it.

I REALLY doubt any shop would do this in reverse to lessen the price of a bike though. (Remove Ultegra and add Sora and you get the $$$ in return)

2.) You outright buy the new component and ask them to physically remove the old and assemble the new. You get that removed part because it was part of the bike you paid for. You can keep it as spare, eBay or give to a friend; it's yours. It technically is new for eBay purposes. This seems to be typical with whole groupsets.

I prefer 1. A certain shop in my area doesn't do this and I've realy tried to buy from him. I'm a big guy and there are limitations to wheels for me. He's lost 2 bike sales from me b/c he's not been willing to take stock wheels and apply store credit for handbuilt replacements. Dumb; every one of his competition does this.


I agree with what you've posted, but wanted to state that some shops will "downgrade" a bike to lower the cost. We do it, although not to the point of putting sora or tiagra on a bike. For example we'll swap out DA for Ultegra or 105 to lower the price point for a customer. Same with wheels, stems, handlebars/aerobars, etc.

It gets the customer a bike they may not have been able to afford otherwise, and for us we can end up with a high-end gruppo that we'll sell as parts, or use to upgrade a different bike.

As a smaller "boutique" shop it's a practice that works well for us. I know other small high-end shops in Portland that do the same, but larger shops will resist doing this.

scott


That's a colloquial difference I guess. Most manufacturers will offer a bike in any group; say the Giant TCR for example. You can order it kitted in the 3 groups at 3 different prices. I've seen built frames being grouped w/ coponents to hit a price, but not a wholesale swap out. As for wheels, contacts, and especially saddle; yeah; they'll do those swaps all the time. Also a MTB upgrade from V-brakes to discs; you'll get $50 or so for the V-brake stuff if you upgrade when new.

Whole frame builds; sure: You get whatever group you pick out. I've just not seen it on a whole bike downgrade or swap. If you all are that customer friendly, I'm coming to Portland to shop for my next bike!
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Upgrading components on a new bike... Rss Feed