Used bikes...older/better or newer?

[boyse7en]

I've been casually looking for a road bike to replace my old CX bike. Looking second hand as budget isn't massive.

Am i better off getting an older bike with better spec, or as tech improves over time, is a lower-spec but newer steed likely to be lighter/stiffer/more comfy?

So, for example, would a 2010 Specialised Tarmac with Ultegra be a better bet then, say, a 2018 Allez with 105? Or has the trickle-down of technology and improvements in design mean the newer bikes have caught up?

[JayRidesBikes]

A newer bike with 105 will 90% of the time be a superior bike to a 10 year old bike running Ultegra - however bare in mind what version of whichever group set might be on the bike, as older bikes are often upgraded over time. I have a 2015 tarmac frame but has been upgraded to Ultegra R8000, it was a mix of 105 5800 and praxis works stuff when I bought it.

[Drezza]

I think like for like with a set budget, second hand is the way to go, you'll get much more for your money.

[boyse7en]

Have frame designs improved at the same rate as groupsets? So is a 2010 Carbon frame rubbish in comparison to a 2020, even at a lower price-point new? (eg, a £3k bike in 2010 vs a £2k bike in 2020)

Definitely looking fo secondhand, as new is out of budget and also nearly always out of stock!

[JayRidesBikes]

I think with an older frame you need to consider how many miles will have been put through it, has it been looked after, has it been dropped, scuffed, crashed? My 2015 frame has certainly seen better days, with paint chips and marks all over it, it all really depends on your budget but you can find some pretty decent spec, relatively new bikes for around a grand.

Edit: A friend of mine has a Pinarello Dogma (one of the early ones, expensive bike when it was new) it's coming up to 10 years old now and has been been replaced by a brand new Canyon Ultimate (around £3500 with ultegra Di2.) He says the ride quality is phenomenal on his new Canyon compared to his old Dogma, he can't believe how much more comfortable and smoother it feels. I'm not sure if that's down to how far carbon bikes have come along in 10 years, or not but just an example from what I've been told.

Edited by JayRidesBikes on Monday 11th October 17:24

[boyse7en]

JayRidesBikes said:

I think with an older frame you need to consider how many miles will have been put through it, has it been looked after, has it been dropped, scuffed, crashed? My 2015 frame has certainly seen better days, with paint chips and marks all over it, it all really depends on your budget but you can find some pretty decent spec, relatively new bikes for around a grand.

Edit: A friend of mine has a Pinarello Dogma (one of the early ones, expensive bike when it was new) it's coming up to 10 years old now and has been been replaced by a brand new Canyon Ultimate (around £3500 with ultegra Di2.) He says the ride quality is phenomenal on his new Canyon compared to his old Dogma, he can't believe how much more comfortable and smoother it feels. I'm not sure if that's down to how far carbon bikes have come along in 10 years, or not but just an example from what I've been told.

Edited by JayRidesBikes on Monday 11th October 17:24

I'm prepared to put up with some scuffs and scratches - i realise I'm at the end of the market where bikes will be well used. As I will mostly be out over Exmoor on my own, it's not like anyone will be judging my bike on its kerb appeal anyway.

Your Dogma/Canyon example is exactly what I was thinking. Mind you, £3500 for a bike is still expensive in my book!

I just wish you were right about the "decent bike for a grand". Everything seems to be either really old or well over that price (and sometimes both.

[Goldeeno]

A bike that's running right and is looked after is better than one that isn't. This i'm 100% sure of.

Sure technology has improved, lighter and stiffer and made with fancy materials. I brought my Bianchi ViaNirone Aluminum frame and owned it for 10 years and cost me £800 brand new and i ran that for 2 years. I've done some upgrades (Latest 105/ultegra mix and decent wheels) and love it just as much as my 3K+ carbon road bike with dura-ace.

Edited by Goldeeno on Tuesday 12th October 09:13

[lufbramatt]

Road bikes are not nearly as bad as mountain bikes for going out of date but some things have moved on- through axles, disc brakes, clearance for bigger tyres (which could be useful if you're out on Exmoor lanes), compatibility with Di2 etc. Older frames especially higher end stuff tended to have very tight clearances around the seat and chainstays and you end up being limited to 25mm tyres whereas 28mm+ is becoming the norm.

Wouldn't go anywhere near anything with 10 speed gears as replacement bits are getting very hard to find and to upgrade to 11 speed is annoyingly expensive due to the price of the shifters.

[Barchettaman]

lufbramatt said:

Wouldn't go anywhere near anything with 10 speed gears as replacement bits are getting very hard to find…..

This is incorrect.

[lufbramatt]

If you could point me on the direction of a 105 or ultegra 10 speed front or rear mechs that are not silly money I’m all ears!

10 speed Tiagra isn’t compatible with old 10 speed.

Chains and cassettes are ok but mechs and shifters are hard to find, I bent the cage on my front mech ages ago but can’t find a replacement.

[upsidedownmark]

I've definitely got a used 105 rear (short cage) sitting in my spares box. Maybe a front. TBH the differences between 10/11 speed front, I'm 99% sure you'd be fine on an 11 speed front.

Drop me a line if you like. Happy to sell for somewhat sensible money.

[Barchettaman]

lufbramatt said:

If you could point me on the direction of a 105 or ultegra 10 speed front or rear mechs that are not silly money I’m all ears!

10 speed Tiagra isn’t compatible with old 10 speed.

Chains and cassettes are ok but mechs and shifters are hard to find, I bent the cage on my front mech ages ago but can’t find a replacement.

Sora 9-Speed (as well as Claris 8-speed and tourney 7-speed) will all play nicely with your RH shifter.

A Sora front mech (latest 9-speed) will work just fine too. No worries there.

Older Tiagra STi shifters (with the previous cable pull ratio) are available online NOS.

Newer 10-speed cassettes are still backwards compatible.

I predict that Sora will go 10-speed in the very near future; it would be sensible if they retain the current cable pull ratio, which would make it backwards compatible, but no idea if they will.

Top tip: use an 11-speed chain on your 10-speed drivetrain, it shifts sweeter. This is the set up I have on my folder and it’s just bloody marvelous. I could/should go 1x but it just works so well.

[okgo]

boyse7en said:

I've been casually looking for a road bike to replace my old CX bike. Looking second hand as budget isn't massive.

Am i better off getting an older bike with better spec, or as tech improves over time, is a lower-spec but newer steed likely to be lighter/stiffer/more comfy?

So, for example, would a 2010 Specialised Tarmac with Ultegra be a better bet then, say, a 2018 Allez with 105? Or has the trickle-down of technology and improvements in design mean the newer bikes have caught up?

The thing is, fairly often the 'this years model' bike isn't, it's just new colours etc, so actually in say 5 years you might find that it isn't mega drastic. I have an S-Works Tarmac SL4 (just on the turbo these days) and it rides very nicely, I must admit I don't have any brand new bike to compare it to, but I'd be amazed if I could tell the difference to the Sl7 if all the same finishing kit off my bike was stuck on the new frame.

I think really where the big differences come are in groupset, and I would imagine the new 105 is certainly better than 6700 mechanical Ultegra etc. You also have to factor in things like clearance. Every bike these days is built to take wide rims, even the SL4 cannot house Zipp 303 Firecrest type rims as they're too wide, as I found out, and had to buy Enve to make them fit. Obviously then you have disc brakes etc etc.

As with most bikes, if you spend money on the contacts points, and the bits that 'do stuff' you won't go far wrong, tyres being probably the biggest aspect of that!

[tertius]

Well I followed this thread with interest and in the end voted with my wallet … well under a grand for a 12 year old full carbon Storck with 6800 Ultegra throughout; brand new Vittoria tyres; etc.. In amazing condition - a few small marks and scratches but nothing significant.

First outing today … bear in mind I’m coming from a Boardman Comp hybrid but I’m pretty pleased with it!

[okgo]

Sounds a decent buy. Even just in today’s hiked prices the same bike would cost near on double what it did new in 2009 I’d imagine.