For the average rider, is it possible to own the bike you've lusted after on the world cup circuit without sponsors? If you also like food and clothes like me, that could be tricky... Despite brands like YT and Canyon trying to narrow the gap between reliability, top spec and cost, for most people the thousands you'd expect to spend on a brand new bike just aren't justifiable for the level of riding they do.
However, waiting and buying a good used bike can be the solution to this. Somebody has already taken the brunt of the depreciation (expect a bike to be worth less than 2/3 of what you paid brand new within a year) yet the bike is still shiny enough to impress your mates and new enough to not have pesky mechanical issues. Also, for the majority of us, there's little need to have the absolute top specification for the level of riding we do - one or two years old will certainly suffice, particularly if you're upgrading from a much older bike. By no means am I criticising those who go out and buy new - if you can afford it and it puts a massive smile on your face, go for it! I'm merely giving hope to those of us who religiously read the articles knowing full well that we'll never afford it.
I, for instance, have wanted to own a Santa Cruz V10 since I first got into bikes - from the old all-metal models to the current carbon monsters racing world cups. However, the high prices meant I couldn't even consider a new (or used) one, despite me watching Ratboy and Minaar enviously most weekends. There was something about it that seemed to me to be the pinnacle of downhill mountain bikes; I'm sure we all picture a different bike we've lusted after at this point, but the reality is the same - it's a dream because it's too damn expensive to be a reality! However, with used bikes a couple of years old coming up for reasonable money, it got me thinking... Could I own my dream bike if I'm willing to own a 26" wheeled, used model?
With that in mind, I took the plunge and bought a 2014 Santa Cruz V10 at well under one quarter of the price a similar spec current model would cost. As with most bikes over two years old, it's a shape behind and 26" in a world of 650b dominance. However, I justified the purchase on two assumptions; that 26" is fast enough for me and great fun on the local tracks (I'm not chasing 0.10 of a second every weekend at the BDS), and also that 26" wheel sets and tyres are gradually becoming cheaper with the rise of 650b dh bikes. The newer frame might be shinier and lighter, but I don't think it'd be the difference between 1st and 15th place at a weekend meet for me - I'd much rather have some money left for actually riding the bike on uplift days than blow everything on a sweet bike I can't use. Warranty is the biggest selling point on a new frame; Santa Cruz offer lifetime warranty on their frames to their original owner, and myself (as the third owner) would not be entitled to anything if the frame fails. However, at the price I bought this bike I could feasibly (were I ever to have had the money for a brand new v10) bought a brand new frame as a replacement if this breaks - and still have change left over. And, like most big brands, the UK distributer of Santa Cruz stock a large array of spares which means (unless we're talking a snap on the front or rear triangle) there're a backlog of parts to keep you rolling. I'm using Santa Cruz as an example, but with pretty much any brand I can think of this rule applies - there will be a big distributer within the country stocking frame spares. Interested in what saving I was making, a bit of research showed me that I could buy two current model v10's (used) and still have change compared to the RRP of a brand new one - suggesting that even if there was a failure within the frame (scour google, they're pretty rare on bikes nowadays, especially reputable brands like Santa Cruz!) a whole other replacement bike is still cheaper than buying new.
The negatives I could find applied to all used bikes - there're always a token few marks and battle scars. I was willing to look on these as adding a bit of personality to the frame, and they also mean there's no disappointment when you look the bike over after that first inevitable crash - that scuff was there when you bought it, wasn't it?! Luckily, the previous owner had serviced the forks and shock, but this is a potentially expensive pursuit if they haven't had one for a while / have had an abusive life before your kind hands (and is always worth pricing up when looking at a bike with no service history).
The main positive is money, and what this opens up for you as a rider. Yes, you can use it to enter local races and uplift days (or something entirely unrelated to mtb). It also means you can update certain parts of the bike to components which are either personal preference, or upgrades. Mine got m820 brakes, derailleur and shifter for a ridiculously low price, plus new grips and pedals which made it feel like a new bike. The previous owner had got the suspension dialled in (and I was very fortunate that they were almost exactly my weight) and it was ready to ride from purchase. The upgrades I made were choice, I rode the bike as standard and upgraded from the xt brakes due to wanting more power, and while the zee gearing worked admirably, it was simply a matter of buying the saint brakes and gearing at a reduced price as a bundle. I could've got an even cheaper bike if I wanted to go older / lower spec, but I wanted this to be an upgrade and a 'dream build' on a budget, if such a thing exists. I'd argue with anyone over a drink that this can be a reality, if you're willing to be patient and shrewd when you buy used parts.
Has it made me faster? Arguably - I haven't had enough time yet to see whether it's leapt my riding forwards. It won't transform me into a different rider, and I won't be grabbing world cup podiums just because I'm riding a bike I like. It has massively increased my confidence though, and I'd argue that this will translate into speed later on. Would having the top spec current model made a more measurable improvement? I, like most casual riders, know I'm not at the level where the yearly progressions in technology are necessary for me to have a good time riding, so probably not. The milliseconds snatched here and there with bigger wheels and slightly more intelligent frame design are soon lost on an over-braking and under-talented amateur like myself. Does it make me happy? Definitely! I enjoy riding it, I enjoy maintaining it, and I enjoy owning it. It's the bike I've always wanted and, like meeting any great partner, I willingly overlook any minor flaws because I find it so damn gorgeous.
