WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The latest import figures show the U.S. imported 8.54 million bikes last year, 21% fewer than in 2024 and the lowest number in at least a decade. The imposition of import tariffs, combined with years of over supply following the COVID sales boom, caused the industry to curtail imports sharply.
Adult bicycle sales are down to just 1/3 of what they were before the covid boom, and new bike sales are still declining.
I would normally agree with you. We live in a prime mountain biking area though, and I want to get them started young as I want them to start accompanying me on trail rides, and I want my eldest to start racing in U8. I don’t think I need to spend 4k on them to succeed like some people are, don’t get me wrong, but I want them to have decent enough equipment to have a good start.
No disrespect to rubbish bikes though. I rode lots of rubbish bikes as a kid. They still will too I’m sure.
Nope. The two I’m looking at are in the $1300-$1400 range. I’ve been seeing some that are $3-4,000. Which is ridiculous. It’s arguably ridiculous for an adults bicycle. Just marketing, inflation and greed.
$1300 is a very basic intro level bike. 3-4K is a entry level bike if you want carbon, or a mid level bike if you want an alloy frame. A race level off the shelf bike is easily going to be 6-8K.
Between inflation and tariffs, that same bike 7 years ago was half that the cost. Bike companies had nothing to do with massive price increase in raw materials, shipping, and other inflationary factors. Let alone tariffs.
Call it greed all you want, but bike companies aren’t going to sell you bikes at cost. You are demanding at cost pricing. I have worked in bike shops. The wholesale cost of a $1300 retail bike is about 1000 bucks to the shop.
Anyway, you should just buy a used bike. Tons of people buy a 6K bike and then never ride it and sell it 2-3 years later for less than half cost. I bought my nephew a 5K bike for 1500 bucks last year.
I’m aware. I have a $10k emtb and a $7k road bike, both carbon.
The prices were just as ridiculous a decade ago. Thats just gotten more highlighted as they inflated alongside tarrifs and external inflationary pressures.
Also my kid is 7. I’m not buying him a $4k carbon bike. He still eats shit off the ground sometimes, come on.
I spent 10k on myself because I’ve been riding bikes for over 40 years, mountain bikes for about 30. I can ride at a bit higher level than the average person probably can, and can get the performance from the equipment. Spending 4k on a seven year old is peak dunce behaviour, this is why everyone’s broke. I still question if someone that size and of that experience needs much more than a department store bike.
Should he become a good rider in a few years, then I’m always happy to maximize my children’s opportunities, and I’d spend $4k in a minute if it was necessary.
And 10 years ago my bike was $5k, and was at a much higher level spec wise than the 10k bike is. True story.
I would normally agree with you. We live in a prime mountain biking area though, and I want to get them started young as I want them to start accompanying me on trail rides, and I want my eldest to start racing in U8. I don’t think I need to spend 4k on them to succeed like some people are, don’t get me wrong, but I want them to have decent enough equipment to have a good start.
No disrespect to rubbish bikes though. I rode lots of rubbish bikes as a kid. They still will too I’m sure.
What price is fair for you? You want a race quality bike for your kid that’s $300?
Nope. The two I’m looking at are in the $1300-$1400 range. I’ve been seeing some that are $3-4,000. Which is ridiculous. It’s arguably ridiculous for an adults bicycle. Just marketing, inflation and greed.
$1300 is a very basic intro level bike. 3-4K is a entry level bike if you want carbon, or a mid level bike if you want an alloy frame. A race level off the shelf bike is easily going to be 6-8K.
Between inflation and tariffs, that same bike 7 years ago was half that the cost. Bike companies had nothing to do with massive price increase in raw materials, shipping, and other inflationary factors. Let alone tariffs.
Call it greed all you want, but bike companies aren’t going to sell you bikes at cost. You are demanding at cost pricing. I have worked in bike shops. The wholesale cost of a $1300 retail bike is about 1000 bucks to the shop.
Anyway, you should just buy a used bike. Tons of people buy a 6K bike and then never ride it and sell it 2-3 years later for less than half cost. I bought my nephew a 5K bike for 1500 bucks last year.
I’m aware. I have a $10k emtb and a $7k road bike, both carbon.
The prices were just as ridiculous a decade ago. Thats just gotten more highlighted as they inflated alongside tarrifs and external inflationary pressures.
Also my kid is 7. I’m not buying him a $4k carbon bike. He still eats shit off the ground sometimes, come on.
I mean, if you can spend 10K on yourself, you can spend 4K on your kid. You just don’t want to, that’s fine.
I can’t afford any of that. My most expensive bike is like 3K. I simply buy bikes I can afford. 10 years ago my first MTB was 900 bucks.
I spent 10k on myself because I’ve been riding bikes for over 40 years, mountain bikes for about 30. I can ride at a bit higher level than the average person probably can, and can get the performance from the equipment. Spending 4k on a seven year old is peak dunce behaviour, this is why everyone’s broke. I still question if someone that size and of that experience needs much more than a department store bike.
Should he become a good rider in a few years, then I’m always happy to maximize my children’s opportunities, and I’d spend $4k in a minute if it was necessary.
And 10 years ago my bike was $5k, and was at a much higher level spec wise than the 10k bike is. True story.
and the engineering and materials and electronics that go into your 10K bike 10 years ago would have made it cost 30K.