Called Mr Jones yesterday!

[surlycelt]

I called Jeff Jones yesterday about purchasing my dream ride. Been working my ass of since Iwas 16. Now that I'm 34 I'm gonna throw down and buy a Jeff Jones space frame!! I have been planning a second ride of the continental divide trail. Last time was on my full bouncer Foes FXR. This time...29" wheels, rigid frame (sorta). I'm so excited. Its gonna be a hell of a ride. Super chill guy to chat with. It'll be really interesting to see how the bike performs.

[2dumb4gears]

1. I'm almost furious with jealousy.

2. What's the turn-around time right now? Are you doing one of the Merlin-built stock gigs, or the full-custom Jones built?

[surlycelt]

It's gonna be a merlin made frame...my wife's undersanding goes only so far. Looks like I'll be flying to Seattle to pick it up though. It works out cheaper than the $672.00 for shipping and the 21% import duty I'd have to pay. I'll just throw some dirt on it and say I was on a cycling holiday...

[73pbass]

Seattle? I thought Merlin was in Tennessee?
If you want to ship it to me first, I'll get it dirty for you.;)

[2dumb4gears]

Jones is down in Oregon or NorCal somewhere, right?

[surlycelt]

yeah he's in Medford oregon. Seattle is by far the cheapest place for me to fly into. Jeff is going to ship the bike to a bike shop in downtown seattle. I fly in pick it up and fly out:D Its a pity I cant get down to medford and meet Jeff in person though. Oh and I thought it over and decided to have the bike shipped to you first so you can try it out...would a month be long enough?

Hey WOW a pig just flew right outta my ass:rolleyes:

[surlycelt]

Been thinking about this a lot. This bike is a LOT of money. And I'm just a lowly tattoo artist with a credit union account. Gonna have to sell some of my other bikes too...(that one's a wife condition though). Here's the big question though, am I mental spending this much on a bicycle? Its not that I dont think its worth it, also I retired the car six months ago so it will be my primary transport, and it will be taking me down the Continental Divide. I'd be interested to hear what you guys think. If you had the cash right now but still had all the usual bullshit pressures and bills and a little common sense would you spend $7'000 on a biycle....the last bike you'd ever own? Not that I'm going to change my mind, I couldn't sleep last night thinking about flogging that bike down the Continental Divide. I do feel bad for my Surly Cross Check though, god I love that bike!

[mscotch]

to answer your question from my point of view, ya notice the stock market lately and the threat of recession/depression and job losses?
Maybe you're not affected......?

[surlycelt]

Yeah the current climate there is BRUTAL. I only left Montana and moved back to my home country 10 months ago..just in time I think. Of course there will be a knock on effect to European markets but not to the degree you might think. The government here have already shored up the banks. Folks with two cars, a summer home or who like a couple of ski holidays a year will be hit, but your average joe (me) with relatively low overheads and cost of living wont really be effected. I loved living in the U.S, but things really have gotten crazy there. I still listen to NPR every day, scary stuff. Still buying my bike tho.:p

[BMAC]

Investing in precious metals is always a good idea.I've been thinking about a Jones frame,it would be my last bike and thinking about it that way the cost doesn't seem that bad.

[surlycelt]

Investing in precious metals is always a good idea.I've been thinking about a Jones frame,it would be my last bike and thinking about it that way the cost doesn't seem that bad.

Its funny isnt it, people dont think twice about a $30'000 car, but a bike for anything over a thousand and you're off your head. Still I think the only way I would be able to consider a bike like this is for it to be THE ONE. A lot of people simply couldn't commit to a single do it all bike.

[unclefuzzy]

If I read right, and you're using it as a daily rider. To work & back. Erands. Coffee runs. b-ee-rr-uns. I'd have to keep a lesser profile rig around. Just no way that bike(the Jones) would be left unattended. Evan locked up. I say by all means get the Jones, but don't dump ALL your bikes to get it either.

And last bike? that's just silly talk. Of course you'll be getting another bike. It just won't measure up though.

[surlycelt]

I'll definately be keeping the Cross Check but I have six other bikes and a couple of frames, couldn't let the CROSS CHECK go.... but I cycle to work everyday so The Jone's will definately be getting some serious commuter miles. Not to mention some lovely wooded singletrack and the epic mentioned above. As for the "last bike" comment, seriously ............divorce!:(

[mscotch]

If I read right, and you're using it as a daily rider. To work & back. Erands. Coffee runs. b-ee-rr-uns. I'd have to keep a lesser profile rig around. Just no way that bike(the Jones) would be left unattended. Evan locked up. I say by all means get the Jones, but don't dump ALL your bikes to get it either.

And last bike? that's just silly talk. Of course you'll be getting another bike. It just won't measure up though.

not speaking as a shop owner, are ya?;)

[surlycelt]

not speaking as a shop owner, are ya?;)

Aaaahhhh.... the plot thickens:rolleyes:

[unclefuzzy]

heyheyhey....now I own a shop...yes. But I officially can't sell mail order. Can't even ship anything to Mr. Scotch here, much less anything over the deep blue there....so I hold no stakes in this as a shop owner.


Unless he wants to fly over here and purchase direct!:D

[surlycelt]

Sure, I'll stop off in my private jet on the way to seattle.

[mscotch]

Aaaahhhh.... the plot thickens:rolleyes:

ooooops, figured you knew this.

[RacerK]

That bike seems like one you could do everything with, and be comfortable doing it, not merely compromising. Jeff totally intends for his frames to be used any and every way possible. (He's even curious about how a Spaceframe would do in 'cross racing.)

The only caveat is what Unclefuzzy says – the threat of theft! Just be careful, yo.

But replacing a car with that bike? Not crazy at all. In fact I wonder how much Jeff would charge for a matching trailer? That would be sweeeet. :D

[robcycle]

You said you were purchasing Jones made by Merlin. That means steel, right? Are you going to get the truss fork to accomidate a 3.7" Endomorph? That would be SWEET! :cool:

As for having it be my ONLY bike, HELL NO. Of course that is just me, but if I could only have one bike it would be much more like a Cross Check than a Jones. There's no way in hell I would take a $6k bike to work. Also, grinding to work everyday might get old. Nope, I'd have to have something monstercross, steel, and fixed. Oh, wait, I already have that. :p

Now if I were looking for a second* bike, I would love a Jones. :cool:

-Rob.

*sixth

[riderx]

Here's the big question though, am I mental spending this much on a bicycle? Its not that I dont think its worth it, also I retired the car six months ago so it will be my primary transport, and it will be taking me down the Continental Divide. I'd be interested to hear what you guys think. If you had the cash right now but still had all the usual bullshit pressures and bills and a little common sense would you spend $xxxx on a biycle
I will probably write a lot more about this at some later date, but I recently went through this. I organized a demo day with Jeff at our local shop earlier this summer. Played hooky and went riding with him for several hours before we had the official demo and was really impressed with his bikes. The wife had long ago told me I should buy one of his bikes, I just couldn't mentally write the check. I've always owned bikes that fall into the Surly budget range. Various reasons: value, I break a lot of bike parts, "it's just a bike" , etc. Just how I think I suppose. Anyway, there was more I was going to type, but I've got to get back to work. So instead I leave you with a picture, which they say is worth a 1000 words...

Note: I still own my Crosscheck and it would be my first choice for commuting. No way I'd lock this up for any real length of time.

[jhl99]

My grandfather used to say "If you have to ask how much it is, then you can't afford it". I would never spend $7K on a bike. I don't believe you get 7X the value out of $7K bike over $1,000 bike. For 7K you can buy 2 very nice bikes, or maybe 3 and have money left over for wear components and accessories.

A $7,000 bike is definite what I would call a luxury item, even if using it for primary transportation. Luxury buys prestige and only incremental value. You can buy a Honda, or a Bentley, they both do the same thing.

I would get some insurance on that thing, crashes happen. A good crash or accident and that $7K could convert to a couple of hundred dollars of scrap. Of course, if my opening sentence applies, then no worries.

[K-Man]

Enjoy it brother.

Riding a unique bike or two in a lifetime is a lot better than saving enough to afford the upgraded coffin.

I look forward to future reports. Let us know how it works out.

[ironspoke]

to answer your question from my point of view, ya notice the stock market lately and the threat of recession/depression and job losses?
Maybe you're not affected......?

What is a Jones frame worth 2 years after you buy it or even 10 years for that matter? Go for it!

I think back to a conversation I had with my dad about 10 years ago. He had invested wisely and aggressivly in the stock market. We had said conversation outside of a summer home he had contemplated buying. He would need to sell a lot of stock in companies such as WorldCom, Lucent, Dell and Nortel to raise the capital for the summer home. This summer home would be enjoyed by his grandkids for years to come.

He passed on the house. His stock plummeted in value. Now he has neither.

Buy the bike. With the way the market is going you might as well enjoy it while you can.

Now if you need to go into hock and reorganize your life for the Jones thats another matter. You are the one who has to sleep and I imagine 7k gets you a fair amount of buyers remorse.

[mscotch]

What is a Jones frame worth 2 years after you buy it or even 10 years for that matter? Go for it!

I think back to a conversation I had with my dad about 10 years ago. He had invested wisely and aggressivly in the stock market. We had said conversation outside of a summer home he had contemplated buying. He would need to sell a lot of stock in companies such as WorldCom, Lucent, Dell and Nortel to raise the capital for the summer home. This summer home would be enjoyed by his grandkids for years to come.

He passed on the house. His stock plummeted in value. Now he has neither.

Buy the bike. With the way the market is going you might as well enjoy it while you can.

Now if you need to go into hock and reorganize your life for the Jones thats another matter. You are the one who has to sleep and I imagine 7k gets you a fair amount of buyers remorse.

true enough. it really boils down to what a person's personal situation and desires are. Your argument on the cabin is what I use with my wife when I buy land. I can use the land investment (as can my kids) as it appreciates, but not the $$ we invest in the 401k. It's value/use will come later.
Diversification.....
For me personally, I look at $7k and think, "that's what my used ST1100 motorcycle cost me" so I diversified and have a MC and a mtn. bike and get the best of both worlds, for what I like to do.
I'd just hate someone to get something then regret it later. Like buying a house over one's ability to pay for it, eventually you come to hate the very thing you loved in the beginning. (unless your neighbor helps ya pay for it when a certain bill is passed):(

But, if it holds it's value, you can use it for a certain amount of time, enjoy the hell out of it, then if needed sell it later. If that's the case it's not a risk.

[surlycelt]

A lot of interesting points there, and yes it will be interesting to see what kind of value these bikes hold. Although I really wouldn't really term it as an investment as I don't plan on selling it to make a profit. Hopefully give it to my son one day (when they pry it from my cold dead hands). It isn,t lost on me the fact that one could buy several bikes for the cash either....the thing is you work hard every day, you're a good boy and pay your bills and feed the kids and pay your mortgage but there has to be more to life than going along and doing that stuff. If I buy this bike the kids will still get fed and the bills will still get paid. I love bikes, always have, I love the beauty of them and the function and simplicity. Most of all I love the freedom of a bike, The Jones to me symbolises that in the form of beauty and function and of course being a rigid being quite simple. Would you rather aspire to have that dream bike or just say screw it and go for it.
My wife brought her VW beetle to a mechanic yesterday. i had spoken with him at around lunchtime. When she showed up at 7pm he'd had a stoke and wasn't there. True story. This tells me two things, lifes too short to drive a car and I'd rather eat the cake and get indigestion than always wonder what it would have tasted like.....
I'll be doing a long term ride report on this bike if you guys want me to keep you posted here?

[mscotch]

oh yeah, keep us posted, this a bike forum....I think.;)

[Dosboy]

I did and I dont regret it, nor do I think I ever will.. There is no perfect time to buy a Jones, just like having a kid:)
I bought one about 4 months ago, I was a college student, my wife was 4 months pregnant, and we had just bought a new home.. I had to sell my entire stable to afford it, and I definitely was worried I was gonna regret it..The only thing is, I havent..Ive done a colorado trip consisting of 215 miles of dirt in 5 days, rode in gnarly jagged trails of southern utah and moab, all of which I thought i was gonna make me regret selling my FS bike...The Jones Is amazing..It cant be described...If you want to read about my owning and riding one, check out my blog at joemtbiker.blogspot.com

[surlycelt]

Thanks DOSBOY, real world reviews of this bike are a little hard to come by.....

[riderx]

Thanks DOSBOY, real world reviews of this bike are a little hard to come by.....Here's a good one (http://wrenchout.blogspot.com/2008/06/drinking-jeff-jones-koolaid.html) a friend of mine wrote after our demo ride.

[surlycelt]

Here's a good one (http://wrenchout.blogspot.com/2008/06/drinking-jeff-jones-koolaid.html) a friend of mine wrote after our demo ride.

Nice one!!!

[surlycelt]

aaaarrrgghh..... Well I'm lookin to buy this bike on the back of a house sale. it all looks done and dusted but as usual there's last minute drama.:eek:
I sent Jeff and email to tell him I wasn't sure I could go ahead and considering the time on the phone talking about the build over several calls he was super cool about it. Its lookin 99% good to go but I dont want to be messing anyone around....good people of the 29er forum, cross your fingers and toes for me, should know in the next couple of days.

[surlycelt]

Check's in the mail:D