Porsche bikes - Triathlon - Runner's World

FerrousFerret

13/01/2012 at 13:29

As I was wandering back from Evans I saw one of these in the window of the local Porsche dealership. First time I can recollect seeing a non-chain drive mechanism.

The price tag said £2999, so I didn't bother stepping inside for a test ride.

A brief google suggests that the 'sportier version' http://www.porsche-bike.com/porsche-bike-rs/ has a £5000 asking price. Ouch.

stutyr

13/01/2012 at 13:35

I don't think they quite understand bicycles, if you look at the descriptions.

The XTR transmission has been proved on the track!?!

And the tyre are described as "slightly rolling"

Sadly some people will buy them to match their 911

fat buddha

13/01/2012 at 13:40

overpriced for what they are - but you're paying for the brand name, not technology

belt drives have been around for a while, just never really hit the mainstream. for urban, non heavy load use, they're as good as, if not easier to look after, as a chain drive. Trek have had models for a while. the Gates carbon belts seem to be good

fat buddha

13/01/2012 at 13:41

"The XTR transmission has been proved on the track!?!"

if they'd said "mountain bike track" they'd be right - but that's marketing for you!!

Darkness

pirate

13/01/2012 at 14:21

edit: double post

Edited: 13/01/2012 at 14:23

Darkness

pirate

13/01/2012 at 14:22

Porsche are mere amateurs compared to Ferrari's tie up with Colnago:

http://www.slanecycles.com/colnago-cf8-ferrari-traditional-bike-dura-ace-di2-2012-p-19458.html?language=en&currency=GBP

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

13/01/2012 at 14:41

Thirteen Thousand Pounds !!!

FerrousFerret

13/01/2012 at 14:52

Don't worry Barlist it's cheaper if you buy from Ferrari direct.

http://store.ferrari.com/en/product/show/65426

fat buddha

13/01/2012 at 15:16

now if that Colnago had come with a Campag EPS electronic group - which it should being Italian - I'd go rob a bank and buy one......lush

but it would probably last about 2 weeks on the UK's shitty roads and my weight atop it...LOL!

Darkness

pirate

13/01/2012 at 15:24

When my wife and I gave up motorbikes I decided I would plough the money into a road bike and I have a 50th Anniversary Colnago and to be fair it has been bulletproof. I know I should have gone Campag being Italian but it is Shimano as every part of the groupset has a special 50th stamp on it. Mind you it was nowhere near (much less than half) the price of the Ferrari jobbie!

fat buddha

13/01/2012 at 16:00

whilst on the motorbike subject, I did some googling on belt drives and bikes and there seems to be some anti from the chain squad (reliability, cost etc) on various fora.

but quite a few people quote that Harleys and some BMWs are still belt drives and they work pretty well for those guys, so why shouldn't they work on bikes??

any comment on this Darkness??

the biggest -ve on belt drives seems to be that setup isn't necessarily easy and fitting can be a 'mare of you don't have a split chainstay and special hanger. otherwise, lots of positives for urban use. quite a few setups with Alfine or Rohloff hub gears.

Darkness

pirate

13/01/2012 at 16:11

I had a belt drive GPZ305 in the early days and it was spot on, the belt never needed adjusting. As you say FB, Harley are belt driven and the torque those things spit out shows how reliable belt drives are. More expensive to replace as no "joining link" as you say, so removing the rear axle to do so involves more labour.

Very clean and quiet solution.

For bikes I guess would be fine if running hub gears (and the ability to wear casual clothes without getting covered in oil) but that is still a limited market.

Doner Kebab pirate

pirate

13/01/2012 at 19:57

i dont know anything, and cant be bothered to google, but can you get hub gears with 30 speed as changing the big ring on a belt drive may prove problematic, also a cassette might be easier to change than a hub

Half_Pint

14/01/2012 at 08:47

Due to its equipment, the Porsche Bike RS is not approved for use on public streets. The required fixtures have to be installed prior to using it on public streets. When doing so, please observe the applicable regulations.

Er what? You pay 5k for a bike you can only ride in your garden? Mentalist

Doner Kebab pirate

pirate

14/01/2012 at 09:23

Reflectors I would say

Half_Pint

14/01/2012 at 09:24

ah, that makes sense. And a bell

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