Proce for Mgx Dxr Blue Black Mountain Bike

We were chatting (remotely) amongst the team the other day and realised that we don't say nearly enough about the true cost of a Black Mountain. After scratching our heads, we realised the quickest and easiest way to demonstrate the point was in a blog post. (By the way, CycleSprog did their own price comparison in their review here and came to similar conclusions)

We've broken the post down in to a few parts. These are:

1. Price comparison
2. Longevity & lifetime value
3. Re-sale value
4. Conclusion

We've used our SKØG for comparison, but the same logic could be applied to any of the models in our range. We've also tried to be as objective as possible and given other brands the benefit of doubt wherever possible.

1. Price comparison

The first thing to say is, we realise we're at the top end of the market. £349 is not cheap for a child's bike and we understand that. In some cases we're four times as expensive as other bikes.

But, I think we need to be careful about what we're comparing ourselves with. At Black Mountain, we compare ourselves with bikes of quality, and by that we mean specific children's bike brands that use or design children-specific components, and maybe even belt-drive systems – because these are the types of parts we use. These are brands such as Islabikes, EarlyRider and possibly Frog Bikes. When compared to these brands we may be more expensive but if we are, it's not by much!

Let's say we're £40 more expensive than the other brands listed and we'll carry this forwards in to our calculation.

2. Longevity & lifetime value

Most children move from a balance bike on to a 14" or 16" wheel bike and, of course, our SKØG is both a balance bike and pedal bike combined. If we compare a balance bike of, again, comparable quality with brakes, you'd be looking at somewhere in the region of £130 to £180. So let's say, £150. We'll come back to this maths in the conclusion.

Black Mountain bikes are built around the wheel size, and then dialled down in small mode, so the frame is perfectly scaled for a smaller child, but allows access to a bigger-wheeled bike. The result is a bike that fits for at least a year longer than a typical bike (which does wonders for their confidence and skill development too!), and allows our customers to "skip" at least one typical bike. For example, our customers start on SKØG in balance mode, and then progress to our 20" HÜTTO.

However, for calculation's sake, we'll assume that in buying a SKØG you're only removing the additional balance bike purchase.

3. Re-sale value

An often-overlooked aspect of buying a child's bike is its re-sale value. Unless there's a younger sibling to pass the bike on to, the lifespan of a child's bike (even a Black Mountain) is much more limited than an adult's bike.

As a relatively new brand, until recently we weren't sure if there would be strong demand for second-hand models. But, as the occasional Black Mountain has made its way on to eBay or Gumtree, it turns out that our bikes do indeed hold their value, selling for 60% + of their original price (possibly helped by our transferable warranty, so that secondhand owners get the same cover as the original owner). This is as good as, or better, than long-established brands. But, for our assumptions, we'll assume that other comparative brands re-sell for 60% too.

The other consideration here is that typically, balance bikes don't hold their re-sale value, even lightweight and good quality models. Whereas some kids bikes command resale values of 60% or above, balance bikes often sell for as little as 30% of their new value. However, we'll assume ~50% in our calculations.

4. Conclusion

Pulling this together we come to the following conclusion. It's worth bearing in mind that we've tried to be conservative with our own figures and generous with the figures apportioned to other brands.

A quality balance bike from another brand will cost £150; you may get £70 back if / when it sells. It then costs approximately £310 for a comparable pedal bike, which may return £190 when it sells. So, total expenditure = £460. Total recouped = £260. Total cost of ownership = £200

For Black Mountain, it will cost you £349 upfront, and you may recoup £200 when you come to sell, having outlasted other brands and made the learning process seamless. Total cost of ownership = £149.

CycleSprog independently reviewed our PINTO and SKØG, and came to the same conclusion here.

And finally, to visually demonstrate…

tabermispond.blogspot.com

Source: https://blackmountain.bike/blogs/buyers-guide/cost-comparison-how-much-does-a-black-mountain-really-cost

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