How is it a favor when the brick and mortar can order a frame? I wanted a SC TB3 frame, walked into my local LBS and ordered it.They actually sell frame only Switchblades in EU for 3.500 EUR (incl. tax).
It may be another market/customer/target group and their connection to Germany (their website comes in English and German only and the e-bike was initially only intended for the EU market I understand), but I hardly know anyone in Germany who has a stock bike. Pretty much all my friends run heavy duty customized (given street prices for certain aftermarket parts are realistically ~60% off MSRP vs. U.S. domestic online shops advertise 20% off at Black Friday as the next slice of bread) or entire custom builds.
Also more generally speaking, I have the impression the average bike in EU is cheaper (AL selected over carbon etc.) and with similar specs a >6000 EUR basic built bike in the home turfs of YT, Canyon, Propain, Radon... may have a more challenging market position.
From what I've read here Pivot is just doing brick and mortar stores a favor. Nothing to be said against that.
However, IMO at that price point of bikes (generally speaking) complete builds should be offered in a VERY basic spec. - in other words full on frame, fork, shock - all the personalization and/or wear & tear and sooner-or-later replacement-items just making the bike a bike over a bunch of parts; ie. I couldn't care less about a >$100 carbon fiber handlebar that I'd replace anyways.
On this note, it is easier to sneak a monthly $200 spend by your s/o vs. one $10K break-the-bank event. *muharhar*
can't really see that ppl 5'4" cant ride this bike in a small. shortish toptube, shortish seattube, low standover shortish reach... should be perfect. The woman i live with rides a bike with similar geo, but with higher standover and longer seat tube. She is 5'6" and says she whould have gotten a size larger if she bought the same bike again. But for her the seat tube length was the limiting factor. A person 5'8" should probably choose the medium. What I can't understand is why they are holding on to the slack seat tube angle and still fairly long seat tube for the given size. But this bike is probably not made for me, but for someone else.Looks like a nice bike but the small is really a medium, us short people need to move along. I'd rather a company just state they are not going to make a small instead of listing a small that won't fit.
Further up someone was talking about margins of complete builds vs frames (assuming that most folks finish shopping online) #metooHow is it a favor when the brick and mortar can order a frame? I wanted a SC TB3 frame, walked into my local LBS and ordered it.
With a 594 ETT that is really stretched out for someone 5'6" while seated. While standing it's a lot of bike to control unless you like to just smash into things. Someone who is 5'6" that likes a bike like this (I'm 5'6") would choose a medium anyway since 5'6" is typically the tweener size of between small and medium.can't really see that ppl 5'4" cant ride this bike in a small. shortish toptube, shortish seattube, low standover shortish reach... should be perfect. The woman i live with rides a bike with similar geo, but with higher standover and longer seat tube. She is 5'6" and says she whould have gotten a size larger if she bought the same bike again. But for her the seat tube length was the limiting factor. A person 5'8" should probably choose the medium. What I can't understand is why they are holding on to the slack seat tube angle and still fairly long seat tube for the given size. But this bike is probably not made for me, but for someone else.
It's not a LBS vs online. It's does noting to help a lost sale. Maybe more people throw money around than I think, but if I'm shopping and have a bunch of high end parts I want to hang on a frame, I'm not buying a complete just to replace 95% of it.Further up someone was talking about margins of complete builds vs frames (assuming that most folks finish shopping online) #metoo
With about a 30% profit on a 10K bike that is quite a bit more than on your 3K frame only. I am totally guilty on buying the big/warranty relevant stuff at LBS and the throwaway-don't-wanna-hazzle-with-warranties crap parts online too and would be interested in a test ride and possible frame swap if a frame only option for this one was available.
Btw., did not intend to start an OT LBS/online topic, but the different marketing approaches in different regions I find interesting.
The problem is the parts are such crap on these completes you'd probably only get $1000 back. Not to mention the cranks and rear hub are only compatible with like 1% of bikes.It's easy to get frame only if you have a dope bike shop. My LBS orders the bike you want, sells you the frame and then just sells the parts off the frame. Boom...frame only option.
Exactly I have parts I'd prefer to use. And wouldn't get 3k back from selling off everything. Nor do I want to take the time.The problem is the parts are such crap on these completes you'd probably only get $1000 back. Not to mention the cranks and rear hub are only compatible with like 1% of bikes.
I still want one of these really bad! I haven't ridden it, but I know it will climb well and just let you beast mode through the gnar. I had a lot of time on the fb27, loved it! But ultimately the wreckoning won out.Exactly I have parts I'd prefer to use. And wouldn't get 3k back from selling off everything. Nor do I want to take the time.
Fortunately for everyone who won't be purchasing a 2018 membership in Club Pivot, there are plenty of other excellent frames available, though not so many compatible with your existing wheels.Coming from a Lenz Lunchbox I would have loved to put one of the 3 157mm rear wheels into the FB29 but there is no frame only option. I called Pivot and the Customer Service confirmed that they will not sell frame only anytime soon and they prob won't ever. Their reasoning is that someone may put the wrong size hub into it and damage the frame etc, this is total BS if you ask me. They just want to increase their margins with complete builds.
I had mentioned to Pivot CS that my build is nicer than their high-end build and I just needed to swap over the parts. I had tried to explain to them that a lot of people like to buy a frame and build it up or change over existing parts and they will lose some business. Apparently Pivot is so hot right now that they don't care about the small percentage of FB29, Switchblades, and 429 Trails that they won't sell in frame only option.
Weak Pivot, very weak..
-Nolan
Knolly would be happy to sell just the frame to fit his wheel set. At the moment they only have a short and mid travel option.Fortunately for everyone who won't be purchasing a 2018 membership in Club Pivot, there are plenty of other excellent frames available, though not so many compatible with your existing wheels.
=sParty
Yeah I've been told that about the hubs.. There isnt any way to mess up the frame of someone were to put a standard 157 hub in the frame. Which I think should have been standard a long time ago. Now with carbon and hydroforming. The chainstays can be shaped with a decent Q factor.The more I think about it the more pissed I am at Pivot. I heard the same thing about the super boost hub confusion when I called last week. If they are so worried about people not understanding their hub standard then use a more common standard! I have generally liked the pivots I have ridden and owned. But they are constantly doing the lame **** we hate about the industry and not helping customers. Not selling frame only just to force people into bikes shops for crap builds is disingenuous and not helping customers in 2018.
Another example is when they released a new Mach 6 in 2016 with the boost rear spacing so they could sell more bikes and parts, but they left the reach ridiculously short and proclaimed long reach is a fad, that a large with 414mm reach is ideal Enduro geometry. Then they proceeded to release bike after bike with modern reach. Even the small switchblade (also a 2016 bike) has a longer reach than the large '16 m6. All of those frame are so out of date they're unsellable, 2 years later!
Another thing is their awful sticker jobs with the brands name written 50 times on a single frame... makes me think Cocalis has a tiny wiener and a big ego.
There are a lot more things to hate about Pivot. Like flexy rear ends and overpriced builds.
Apparently Devinci buyers must tend to be smarter than Pivot buyers. Frame only Troy 29er with Super Boost DEVINCIKnolly would be happy to sell just the frame to fit his wheel set. At the moment they only have a short and mid travel option.