Restore the bike, or buy a new one?

[tegwin]

I bought my specialized enduro in 2004....Since then I estimate that it has done around 2,500 miles....So its deffinately given me value for money...

However its starting to get tired....The forks are floppy and the damping doesnt work (it never did properly)...The drivetrain is totaly shot including the derailiures...

I have replaced some of the bearings in the frame and had the shock serviced, so that bits ok...

But its going to need...

New forks
New Crankset
New Sprockets and chain rings
New derailuures
New cables
New hubs
(And in an ideal world a new rear brake)...

All that lot is going to cost me about £500ish....or more depending on what spec I get to return the bike to an "as new" condition...

The bike is good to ride, but I know for a fact there are newer designs that handle better..The giant Maistro platform for one...

But is a new bike really worth £1.7k when I can rebuild mine for say £600...hmm....

[P-Jay]

tegwin said:

I bought my specialized enduro in 2004....Since then I estimate that it has done around 2,500 miles....So its deffinately given me value for money...

However its starting to get tired....The forks are floppy and the damping doesnt work (it never did properly)...The drivetrain is totaly shot including the derailiures...

I have replaced some of the bearings in the frame and had the shock serviced, so that bits ok...

But its going to need...

New forks
New Crankset
New Sprockets and chain rings
New derailuures
New cables
New hubs
(And in an ideal world a new rear brake)...

All that lot is going to cost me about £500ish....or more depending on what spec I get to return the bike to an "as new" condition...

The bike is good to ride, but I know for a fact there are newer designs that handle better..The giant Maistro platform for one...

But is a new bike really worth £1.7k when I can rebuild mine for say £600...hmm....

Hmmm indeed. Tough choice, are you sure the forks are dead? Are they Fox? Mojo can work absolute wonders and rebuild / service them to a "as new" condition.

Your local LBS might be able to service most of that?:

New BB and Chainrings is usually enough to get it pedeling like new, although 3 rings and a BB is almost the cost of a new Chainset most of the time, so might be worth just having an XT Chainset fitted

Hub barings are replaceable.

New jockey wheels for the rear derailer and cables will freshen up shifting.

Most Hydralic stoppers can be striped and serviced.

Saying all that, if you do indeed need to replace all of the above, I'd pull the pin and go for a new bike. Mmmmm new bike day! Love that feeling.

[tegwin]

The bike was only a basic spec one when I bought it so the forks are....cheap...marzochi EXR supras..... Servicing them with new seals and stantions would be around £200...a new set of pike U-Turns is about £300....so that makes more sence...

Urgh.....new bike would be soo nice....sooooooo nice infact...but its a heluva lot of money..plus it means I actually have to decide what I want to buy!

[mk1fan]

Sounds more like it needs a service than restoration. If you haven't serviced the forks and shock in four years then they may well be ruined but without sripping them down it cannot be said for sure - a standard service for the pair should be around £140.

IIRC the 04 Enduro is a cracking bike so it would be worth keeping it and getting it serviced and then perhaps doing some regular maintenance?

New cassette, chain, chainset and bb can be had for £180 - decent items such as XT. You can renew the suspension pivot bushes / bearings too.

If the brakes haven't been serviced for four years they'll spongier than Bob Squarepants. Flush and a bleed they'll be spot on.

So £380-odd and you're in business.

[mk1fan]

oppps, been chatting to long whilst compiling my post.

Pikes would suit the Enduro well. Royles seem to have good deals on them regularily.

[P-Jay]

tegwin said:

Urgh.....new bike would be soo nice....sooooooo nice infact...but its a heluva lot of money..plus it means I actually have to decide what I want to buy!

'09's will be hitting the shelves at the end of summer. Might be able to pick up a '08 bargain.

I love the feel of a new bike though....... My '06 Endruo Expert has had it's last spring overhaul (Bushes, fork and shock service at Mojo, wheel barings and a drivetrain) come March '09 it's time for a replacement! At the moment I'm torn between the new, as yet unnamed, Intense 6" allmountain frame or the '09 6" Cove Hustler to match my Shocker. I love new bike day so much I plan at least a year ahead of time

[tegwin]

The current intense 6.6 is an amazing bike...I test rode one in anger a fortnight ago on some quite gnarly stuff...

However the price tag is not so good!

[mat205125]

Are you saying that the bike still has it's original cranks cassette and derailiers?

[tegwin]

The bike does indeed have its origional cranks and derailiures....Its had one new cassette, one new set of chain rings and one new chain in the time I have owned it...

I have taken quite good care of it!

Edited by tegwin on Tuesday 1st July 22:44