Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Moulton Sticker Shock

I've been interested in Moulton bikes [top and bottom pics] for a while and my recent experiences aboard my dual 406 Dahon have reinforced how much fun small wheeled bikes can be. I knew Moultons were expensive, but I was blown away to find out that they cost between $10,000.00 - $14,000.00CDN - yikes! That's more than my truck is worth.

A little more investigating led me to the Pashley TSR30 [middle pic] which is a Moulton design built under license by Pashley. This is the affordable Moulton. I was still shocked to find out that a complete bike [w/o fenders, racks, etc...] would cost $3600.00CDN. That's some serious cash for a licensed copy of a bicycle.

The good news coming out of all this sticker shock is I won't have to find room in my way too crowded apartment for a Moulton or Pashley. They are some pretty cool looking bikes though!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Vik

Congratulations on the Dahon. Folders are so handy. I have read about Moultons VeloVision and was shocked by the price as well. If you are considering others I have an Airnimal Chameleon (got it from Calhoun's), flown with it a few times. I used it for a couple of brevets and for group rides in the city, really it has the same components and handles just like a regular road bike, plus I can put tubus front a rear racks on if I want. I picked up the Brompton case for it this summer http://www.calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=138&idproduct=1252 and it is a snug fit but it works.

Dean

Vik said...

Hey Dean,

Thanks for the tip. Those Airnimals look very nice. I'm really enjoying the portability of the Dahon folder and I think I'll keep looking in that direction. My friends just became Brompton dealers unfortunately I don't really like them - at least from looking at them. I guess I'll have to take one out for a test ride.

runawayscreaming said...

Two days ago I was loitering in Vancouver (BC) and a guy pulled up on a Bridgestone Moulton seperable. He had purchased it in England. It was set up for touring and he said he had been doing a lot of touring with it. He was looking at my cheap and rough Swedish army surplus bike and we compared prices. If I recall, I think he said he paid 1600 (pounds) for it.

The Bridgestone Moulton is a pretty hot looking bike and he said he had no problems with the suspension. It does take a proprietary size tire so you must carry spares. If it took 406 or 451 tires I think I might get a Bridgestone Moulton myself. The separating feature would be nice for travelling.

D.Cambon

Vik said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vik said...

The Pashley licensed Moultons take 406 tires and can be had in a separable version. for an extra 100 pounds.

runawayscreaming said...

Beauty, of course, is in the eye of the beholder but I think the Bridgestone Moulton is more beautiful. I am not saying the Pashley Moulton is the most homely bike I have ever seen. There could possibly be a less-pretty bike I suppose.

If I were to get a Pashley I would get the Pashley Classic Roadster. If I were a woman I would get a Pashley Princess and ride around like I owned the place, smoking cigars and throwing empty beer cans on the road, without a care in the world.

Sarah said...

I love the look of these bikes...but just why are they sooo expensive?!

runawayscreaming said...

Only Alex Moulton's hairdresser knows for sure but Moulton's are expensive to make. They have a lot of unique parts that are machined in short (therefore expensive per unit) production runs and the frames take a long time to build. From what I have seen of the Pashley and Bridgestone Moulton's the quality was pretty good and it costs more to make a quality bike. I would feel confident taking a Moulton on a world tour (if I were to take a Moulton touring).

Dahon frames, for instance, are a simple design that is not labour-intensive and they are built by low-paid production workers in China, in massive production runs (hence the low price).

Moultoneer Tony Hadland says that the Moulton is also a fashion statement that singlehandedly "arrested an almost terminal decline in interest in bicycling" in England. Perhaps the fashion aspect could explain why people are willing to pay a premium for a Moulton.

Group51 said...

"Perhaps the fashion aspect could explain why people are willing to pay a premium for a Moulton."

Ride one first. Nothing to do with fashion, all to do with pleasure.