Last Updated 2022.03.31
Is it difficult to buy a road bike due to a significant increase in the price of Shimano components?
Shimano, which has the largest share of road bike components, will increase its price significantly from May 1, 2022. As you may already know if you have an information antenna for a road bike, the price increase will vary depending on the component grade and parts, but it will be about 15% to 20%.
The reason for this significant price increase is clearly stated in the news release even in the Shimano official. The reasons are soaring raw material costs due to the influence of the corona, soaring transportation costs, and recent fluctuations in foreign exchange.
Shimano price increase component
Shimano’s component parts, which will be raised in price in May, are diverse and it was a little difficult to cover all of them. Therefore, I would like to give you a rough overview of what I have investigated by focusing on the components for road bikes.
First of all, all grades are subject to price increases. Among them, the price increase of 105, Ultegra, and Dura-Ace parts is remarkable. And, as for the model of the parts that will be the price increase, the price of the model of R7000, R8000, R9100 system was increased by about 15% to 20%.
The price of the main parts for 11th gear has been raised significantly, and it was unclear when I searched online about the price increase of the new model. For more information, please contact your local pro shop. If you are considering rush custom or maintenance, you should bring it to the pro shop as soon as possible and ask for maintenance.
Concerns about price revisions for finished vehicles
Since Shimano is the top company in the market for road bikes, we believe that raising the price of Shimano parts will not be enough by raising the price alone. Road bike brand road bikes that release each finished vehicle that uses Shimano components are also expected to see a rush of price increases after May 2022. The reason for thinking so is that the giant, which has the highest sales of road bikes in the world, has made a major price increase revision.
Giant decided to raise prices in February 2022 due to soaring raw materials and transportation costs and exchange rate fluctuations. It is said that the UCI rules that set the rules for racing road bikes will be revised during the transition period, and the design of the road bike itself may be significantly revised. Those who currently have a road bike will continue to take good care of it, and those who are thinking of purchasing a road bike from now on will look at the road bike information after 2023 and the UCI rules have been revised. We think that the correct answer is to buy a new road bike that meets the rules.
Advice for those who want a road bike from now on
For those of you who have heard the story and still want to buy a road bike at this time of year, you should avoid top grade luxury bikes. The reason is that even if you buy a top grade luxury bike now, the UCI rules may be revised in a few years and a road bike with a completely different design may be on the market. If you are buying a road bike now, it is a good idea for mental health to buy a road bike that is on sale now, assuming that you will switch to a new UCI rule compliant road bike in a few years. Gear shifting is also in the transition period from 11th speed to 12th speed, so the previous model and the current model of 105 grade are 11th speed, but Ultegra and Dura Ace are complicated with Di2 12th speed specification. ..
Recently, I was collecting information on the BROMPTON area, but since various influencers were guiding me as a big topic about the price revision (price increase) of Shimano road bike, I decided to take it up on this site as well. I was wondering how to guide the users. Information on the price of each part is already available on the site where information is early, so should Shimano raise the price and buy a road bike now? I decided to talk from this perspective.
Probably, the price of finished cars of each road bike brand will be a rush from now on. It is very hard to think that Shimano, which has the largest share in the world, will raise the price by 20% and each road bike brand will keep the price as it is. Around 2018, the market price for entry models of road bikes was 200,000 to 250,000 yen, but in 2022, prices for entry models have risen significantly from 250,000 to 350,000 yen.
We do not recommend used cars when considering new purchases
When prices rise so much, I think that used cars will be candidates for those who are considering purchasing a new road bike. However, it is not recommended to buy a used car as the first one. The reason is that beginners can’t tell if a component or frame is good or bad. When it comes to buying a used road bike car, candidate used car dealers include Bichari, Cycle Paradise, and Crown Gears. These used car road bike shops do have good quality road bikes in stock that guarantee a certain level of quality, but even so, there are small scratches on the frame and customs that are different from new cars in detail. Even if it is a small used car, it is overwhelmingly less satisfying than a new car.
I said that I want to own a road bike, but I think that the desire to own a road bike is an important factor that also motivates me to continue. It is highly likely that a used car will not satisfy its ownership. I wonder if it’s okay to let go of the used car among the owners, but I want to own all of them, but what if I let go of them to fund the purchase of a new motorcycle? For that reason, I think that many car bodies were sold as used cars for some negative reason. What if a user who is enthusiastic about starting a new road bike buys a used car, even though the negative body is refreshed and sold? At first, I would be excited about my first road bike and cherish it, but as I become more familiar with the scratches on the frame and each part, my motivation drops to the negative elements that become visible, and if I am not good at it, I will become a road bike. You may not be able to ride it. This is my personal subjectivity because there are individual differences.
I think it’s a good idea to look for a used car in good condition, such as a vintage vintage bike, but it’s the first time to buy a used road bike with a carbon frame and Shimano components of the current design. Is not recommended on this site. If it’s about buying a used car, it’s better to save a little more and get to know the road bike while collecting information on the road bike and buy a new car together with the announcement of the 2023 model. It will take some time, but I think that you can start your road bike life with increased ownership and motivation.
At first glance, it seems that it has nothing to do with road bikes, but it is an important factor in continuing the hobby, although it is a desire to own and motivate. If you are a boy, you can understand this feeling. Women may be realist and difficult to understand. A creature called a man is a creature that is satisfied by spending a large amount of money on something that doesn’t matter and satisfying its desire for ownership. Please understand the man’s heart of such a boyfriend / husband for your wife or girlfriend. Men are vulnerable to romance, bonsai, ownership and luxury goods.
The last one deviated from the realistic story of road bikes and ended up talking about men’s hobbies and romance, but I am confident that the men of the world will understand. It was a story that ownership and motivation are important for road bikes. It wasn’t. If you buy a road bike now, consider replacing it with a middle grade bike. And if you can wait until the UCI rules are revised, it is recommended that you save money and collect various information on road bikes until then to learn more about road bikes. And congratulations to those who have purchased a new road bike. Welcome to the road bike swamp. There is also a second bike swamp called BROMPTON swamp, so I think it’s a good idea to immerse yourself in your shoulders.
