Looks like those price hikes for the higher end models pulled em back in line with the Euro price conversion. Previously it made no sence that a bike cost more in Euro compared to USD.
New bike pricing has become ridiculous. I was going to pull the trigger on the Spark, but I wanted the HMX frame and the price of those bikes seems to have increased by $1,000 from already high pricing. Iām out. Might as well wait for Shimano to come up with a response to Sramās AXS.
Shimano is a jokeā¦youāll be waiting 5 years for Shimano. How many years before the new Dura Ace is available to buy? How many competitive years do you have left?
You assume that I had competitive years to start with.
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Its only 160g (0.35 lbs) difference for the 2022 model. I want the lightest bike as well, but if I was chasing grams a 120/120mm bike wouldnāt be on my list to begin with. I wouldnāt let those 160g affect your buying choice. With the money saved forgoing the HMX you can easily make up the grams with components, wheels, etc.
- HMX - 1990g
- HMF - 2150g
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Shimano has to have a serious issue since they couldnāt release dura ace during the TDF. I wouldnāt get my hopes up for di2 XTR. If it was close to market we probably would of seen some prototypes on pro bikes.
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Everyone has a serious issue right nowā¦.SRAM, Shimano, Campag, FSAā¦.hell, you canāt even find Rotor stuff.
āWould haveā or āwouldāveā. There is no such phrase as āwould ofā.
( sorry, pet peeve. 
)
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That is a good point. I also wanted XO1 AXS which the World Cup version has (and HMX frame). I guess I can get a similar result with the Pro XTR version and change rear derailleur to XO1 AXS. Just not sure about the complexity of replacing the shifter with Scottās cockpitā¦
Iām getting the Pro and swapping all Shimano for XX1 AXS and Sram brakes. I already have the Sram stuff all on my current bike, 2018 Spark RC 900 WC, so Iāll just put all the Shimano gear on my 2018 and sell it. AXS is really easy to set up.
There is a half kilo difference in weight between the World Cup and the Pro. There must be something other than the HMX/HMF frame weight differential that contributes to the difference. Is the Pro wheelset carbon or alloy? I donāt know Syncros wheels and their website doesnāt seem to show this particular wheelset.
Are you keeping the dropper that will come with the Pro or switching to AXS?
Iām keeping the dropper that comes with it. I have my own wheel set so Iām not using what comes on the Pro. Not only is the AXS dropper too heavy but it doesnāt work well with a TwinLock at the handlebars.
Pro wheels are alloy so thatās probably a large part of the weight difference.
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Just dropped by my local dealer (Netherands) where I ordered my Spark. Was hoping theyād have an update. Some extra info, but no delivery date yet:
- Update on delivery date expected in roughly 2 weeks
- They expect to take delivery of sold bikes first, before a demo bike arrives
- Sold bikes take precedence over bikes that are ordered, but not sold yet. This means that if dealer A has ordered a bike that is not yet sold but dealer B has actually sold the bike, the bike will be shipped to dealer B instead of A. As a result it will be very unlikely weāll see any physically available bikes at dealers for a looong time.
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I understand why, but what a tough time to buy a bike. It sucks to have to buy something youāve never ridden. I just bought a new bike sight unseen because thatās what I was told Iād have to do if I wanted it. Luckily itās awesome.
Ha, I have bought more bikes without a test ride than I have with a ride. 5 road/gravel bikes, 5 MTBās, and every BMX & trials bike (6+) over the 25+ years riding. Iāve only test ridden a handful of bikes (roughly 5) before purchase. Various reasons but largely limited availability as the core reason.
Iāve only gotten burned with a āsurpriseā one time and am still hammering on that bike to dial it in. Generally speaking, good geometry research in light of past experience, and potentially testing similar but different bikes can help narrow down a selection. But I get the hesitation as I have dealt with it a ton from my OCD and worried ways 
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Itās funny, now that you mention it most of my bikes have been purchased sight unseen. Having worked at a bike shop I would just EP a new bike every few years and never rode them beforehand.
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Heads up. My bike shop sent email that a limited number of Sparks in on way and will be taking ordersā¦
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Where?
Hey if anyone gets a bike and pulls off the new twinloc lever with the newly designed dropper lever Iāll buy it.
lol. I donāt think Iāve ever test ridden a bike Iāve bought. With perhaps my steel frame single that replaced the same frame that I broke. But thatās only because I had the frame before.
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