£350 in 1991 = £750 now

[Splatter Paint]

I’ve been tinkering recently with a modern GT Avalanche Comp with an RRP of £750

https://uk.gtbicycles.com/products/avalanche-comp?variant=47538723488041

Two things struck me, how cheap the fork was (grease-lubed Suntour) and how bloody heavy it was. Then I wondered what BITD I could get for the same money. According to the Bank of England calculator, in 1991 the equivalent value would be £350. So that’d be a Kona Fire Mountain, DB Topanga, Raleigh Apex, Marin Muirwoods etc.

So I think overall you get more for your money, 6061 frame, hydraulic disc brakes, and a suspension fork, for the same outlay for a rigid steel bike BITD. However, upgrading is more difficult as the GT comes with a QR front wheel and straight fork steerer. That rules out a lot of better modern suspension options.

Currently the GT is discounted to £490:

https://www.cycleking.co.uk/bikes/m...MI37Wu842HjAMV5qJQBh1jVAW2EAQYBCABEgJcSvD_BwE

Which would have equated to £220 BITD, which puts you into really base model MTBs. I think perhaps I was wearing rose tinted glasses when I thought it was a bit crap for the money and actually it is really quite well specc’d.

SP

 

[CTK]

I've seen quite a few nearly new Zaskars for £500ish.
As for value, I kind of agree but also think bikes from the 90s will last longer than the current equivalent.
Hydro brakes and suspension forks- great but when they give up the ghost the bike will be in landfill.

 

[CTK]

BTW I think modern GT bikes look great.

 

[Splatter Paint]

I've seen quite a few nearly new Zaskars for £500ish.
As for value, I kind of agree but also think bikes from the 90s will last longer than the current equivalent.
Hydro brakes and suspension forks- great but when they give up the ghost the bike will be in landfill.

True.
The bike I was working on, the Tektro hydraulics were already oozing oil past the seals and needed to be binned. Luckily I had some early noughties Shimano jobbies in my spares box.

 

[Markybeau]

I’ve been tinkering recently with a modern GT Avalanche Comp with an RRP of £750

https://uk.gtbicycles.com/products/avalanche-comp?variant=47538723488041

Two things struck me, how cheap the fork was (grease-lubed Suntour) and how bloody heavy it was. Then I wondered what BITD I could get for the same money. According to the Bank of England calculator, in 1991 the equivalent value would be £350. So that’d be a Kona Fire Mountain, DB Topanga, Raleigh Apex, Marin Muirwoods etc.

So I think overall you get more for your money, 6061 frame, hydraulic disc brakes, and a suspension fork, for the same outlay for a rigid steel bike BITD. However, upgrading is more difficult as the GT comes with a QR front wheel and straight fork steerer. That rules out a lot of better modern suspension options.

Currently the GT is discounted to £490:

https://www.cycleking.co.uk/bikes/m...MI37Wu842HjAMV5qJQBh1jVAW2EAQYBCABEgJcSvD_BwE

Which would have equated to £220 BITD, which puts you into really base model MTBs. I think perhaps I was wearing rose tinted glasses when I thought it was a bit crap for the money and actually it is really quite well specc’d.

SP

I'm not up on modern bikes. Are we getting into 90's British Eagle / Carrera territory? Where it makes senses to buy the bike as a donor, or are we not quite at that level?

 

[legrandefromage]

My first proper bike for upgrading was reduced from £499 to £349. It was upgraded almost immediately with MAG20 air/oil forks and xt 732/5 it's taking the price back up to £700+ or so in 1991

£1578 minimum in today's money

So, a 531magnum equivalent and decent forks for £1600? That would be a good bike today with some shopping around

But please remember, it's nothing rose tinted, we rode to what was available at the time, terrain, equipment and skilz.