[cmanco]

I'm going to get a 2010 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp 29er. My lbs has a new white one and the red test bike both. I can get the test bike for $1480 while the new one is $1750. The test bike comes with a full warranty and get standard maintaince at the lbs. I know people ride test bikes hard, so my question is, is it worth saving the $270 and going with the test bike?

 

[tmccrohon]

It depends. Is it a test bike they allow people to take on the streets near the shop and the parking lot or a bike you can take to the trails? If it's just a parking lot loaner i'd say go for it.

 

[Linnaeus]

If you buy the new one, it too will be used after one ride. Save the $270 and use it to get some good gear or tools.

 

[cmanco]

It was muddy when they showed it to me, but he said it's only been ridden 3 or 4 times and two of those were people that work there. And they'll give a full tune up and check everything, true wheels, adjust breaks, etc. I'm just a little worried bc I can guess how people treat test bikes, and I don't think its like they'd treat their own lol.

 

[2TurnersNotEnough]

Get the test bike. It has a full warranty, and should be tuned up before it comes home with you. Chances are, after a few rides the new bike would be in similar condition to the test bike. Also, it may not have more than a few rides on it anyway. We just sold our 2010 test bike (SJ FSR Expert [26" wheels]) and it only had a handful of rides on it.

 

[STT GUY]

It was muddy when they showed it to me, but he said it's only been ridden 3 or 4 times and two of those were people that work there. And they'll give a full tune up and check everything, true wheels, adjust breaks, etc. I'm just a little worried bc I can guess how people treat test bikes, and I don't think its like they'd treat their own lol.

Save the cash and get the demo bike. I treat my stuff WAY harder than demo stuff

 

[abp689]

I bought a demo and it worked out well. The front de did not shift well, otherwise - good buy. Although it seems they could knock a bit more off of the discount: maybe throw in some spare parts?

 

[ssm-gd3]

i think the red looks cool

 

[scrubbingbubbles]

Dont pay the extra benjamins just to have a bike that no one has sat their anus on.
Whats the new bike going to be by the time you get it home? A USED bike.
Its like buying a new car...dumb dumb dumb.

 

[Natedogz]

Get the test bike. It has a full warranty, and should be tuned up before it comes home with you. Chances are, after a few rides the new bike would be in similar condition to the test bike. Also, it may not have more than a few rides on it anyway. ....

Go for the demo bike unless you like the other color that much better.

 

[cruiserman]

Ask for a better deal.

 

[TheRealKTrain]

If you are concerned that a test bike has been beaten up, it sounds like you have no faith in Specialized. At the bike shop I worked at in Houston, ALL bikes could be "test ridden," so there was no guarantee your ass was first on it.

edit: Where is this shop? I wanna buy a test bike, I need to save the cash.

 

[Orkje]

I'd go for the test bike, too. No shop is going to let their customers trash a test bike before selling it. Also, the fact that they will tune everything up before selling it should solve any problems the bike might have.

 

[wollongongdave]

Get the tester. No such thing as "tuning" a bike before its sold. Its all about taught cables and making sure everything is lubed.
As long as there is no crash damage you'll be right.

 

[Gasp4Air]

Unless it was in a horrendous crash or ridden underwater, there's no likely reason not to buy it, esp given the warranty. Mountain bikes are meant to be ridden hard and get mud on them. The price difference will buy you some nice kit or an upgrade.

 

[Harry Zimmermann]

I would and I have bought demos. They usually have been gone over a few times by the shop mechanics because the demo ride is often what makes or breaks the sale, and no one wants to send one out that's not working perfectly. The warranty starts when you buy the bike, so there is no difference there. It's a good way to save some money.

 

[chowdownca]

Don't think of it as "used"..

Think of it more as broken in. Most of the components have the settling period. Cables stretch, brake pads need to be seated, etc. With a test bike, all of this has already been done. If you're worried about how hard the bike was ridden by previous "testers", then you should be looking at a different bike or a different company. These are mountain bikes and are designed to be used as such! Even crabon frames these days are strong enough to take shots from 5 pound sledgehammers and still keep rollin'. Having worked in a shop, I can verify that just about every bike on the floor has been tested by the guys that work there, customers, friends who drop by, etc. You should think of it more like the initial shakedown period is over, if something is very wrong it will rear it's head and you can get it dealt with under warranty sooner.

 

[Mr. Doom]

You guys bagging on demo bikes are crazy. I wish someone would break in my new bikes before I hit the trails, new cables stretch and bearings set in on the first few rides so having someone else do the dirty work will save a trip back to the LBS.

Used bikes are another story with no warranty and possibly worn out parts that are expensive to replace.

 

[jeffreyjhsu]

I had good luck riding my Specialized Enduro Demo for two years before getting my Stumpjumper 29r. I would not hesitate het another demo.

 

[PatrickK]

Check the fork, rear shock and the frame for any cracks. The rest is irrelevant.I bought a brand new Pitch (2008) model for $1100. It had few scratches etc.