Best road bike under $2k?

[gingoninja]

Hey everyone,

Noob here, looking to buy a new road bike. Budget is max $2k.

Was looking into groupsets. What are peoples opinions on this;

- would you buy a lesser known brand bike with a better groupset eg.. polygon strattos S5 disc with 105 groupset for $1799
or - would you buy a known brand with a worse groupset - giant contend AR 2 with tiagra groupset for $1899

Or does anyone have any recommendations on other good bikes for this price?
Thanks!

[Retrobyte]

I'd go the 105 groupset, or buy used, which gives you good bang for buck

[AndrewCowley]

Groupset beats brand of bike.

[foo on patrol]

You can get a very good specced 2nd hand bike for those $$$$$$$. All of my bikes since I got back into riding and racing have been 2nd hand.

Foo

[gingoninja]

You can get a very good specced 2nd hand bike for those $$$$$$$. All of my bikes since I got back into riding and racing have been 2nd hand.

Foo

I've been looking for secondhand ones today. What models or brands would you recommend that I should keep an eye out for?

[foo on patrol]

Brands are a very subjective thing but Scott, Giant, Avanti, Merida and Cannondale are my favorites. I'm not a fan of Cervelo, that's why I say brands are a subjective thing.

Not knowing what size you're looking for, these are two examples for an idea of what you can get.

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listi ... attachment

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listi ... attachment

Foo

[gingoninja]

Brands are a very subjective thing but Scott, Giant, Avanti, Merida and Cannondale are my favorites. I'm not a fan of Cervelo, that's why I say brands are a subjective thing.

Not knowing what size you're looking for, these are two examples for an idea of what you can get.

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listi ... attachment

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listi ... attachment

Foo

Thanks Foo, appreciate your help!

[baabaa]

- would you buy a lesser known brand bike with a better groupset eg.. polygon strattos S5 disc with 105 groupset for $1799
or - would you buy a known brand with a worse groupset - giant contend AR 2 with tiagra groupset for $1899
Thanks!

Size & fit then - purpose- geometry - brand of frame maker - brand & maker hubs/ headset/ bottom bracket/ brakes - maker of seat post, stem & bars - maker of rims - type of brakes - colour of value caps - groupset

[briztoon]

Hey everyone,

Noob here, looking to buy a new road bike. Budget is max $2k.

Was looking into groupsets. What are peoples opinions on this;

- would you buy a lesser known brand bike with a better groupset eg.. polygon strattos S5 disc with 105 groupset for $1799
or - would you buy a known brand with a worse groupset - giant contend AR 2 with tiagra groupset for $1899

Or does anyone have any recommendations on other good bikes for this price?
Thanks!

What city are you in?

[gingoninja]

Hey everyone,

Noob here, looking to buy a new road bike. Budget is max $2k.

Was looking into groupsets. What are peoples opinions on this;

- would you buy a lesser known brand bike with a better groupset eg.. polygon strattos S5 disc with 105 groupset for $1799
or - would you buy a known brand with a worse groupset - giant contend AR 2 with tiagra groupset for $1899

Or does anyone have any recommendations on other good bikes for this price?
Thanks!

What city are you in?

Melbourne!

[FranchiseJuan]

Another vote for groupset over brand. Also Highly recommend you look second hand as you get a much better deal, but the issue will be if you know what you are looking at and if you can spot any potential issues.

[Prydey]

Buy from a decent manufacturer. The frame is the most important part. Groupsets can be upgraded and regularly are.

I'd be impressed if someone could pick the difference between 2021 versions of 105 and tiagra too.

[g-boaf]

Good frame first, the groupset you can change later.

[10speedsemiracer]

Hey everyone,

Noob here, looking to buy a new road bike. Budget is max $2k.

Was looking into groupsets. What are peoples opinions on this;

- would you buy a lesser known brand bike with a better groupset eg.. polygon strattos S5 disc with 105 groupset for $1799
or - would you buy a known brand with a worse groupset - giant contend AR 2 with tiagra groupset for $1899

Or does anyone have any recommendations on other good bikes for this price?
Thanks!

In this particular comparison, i.e. those two bikes, I'd grab the Contend.

The Strattos has a horribly cheap semi-hydraulic system which looks like it came out of an agricultural supplies shed, and will likely perform the same way. Granted, the Contend makes do with mech discs however on the AR2 these are dual-cam calipers so work a bit better than el cheapo single-cam units.
Tiagra 10sp is a very nice groupset for the $s. It works well.
The slightly sad thing is that there is such a thing as a Tiagra hydraulic caliper and matching lever and I wonder how well an AR2 with Tiagra 10sp and hydraulics would have sold at maybe $2k or thereabouts.

If you could manage another $300-ish, the Contend AR1 solves all of these issues. 105 with Shimano hydraulic discs.

But in overall terms, frame beats groupset.

[Arbuckle23]

I'd be impressed if someone could pick the difference between 2021 versions of 105 and tiagra too.

10 vs 11 speed, easy

[cyclingnolycra]

If you don't mind rim brakes then https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida21-scu ... black-grey

That's full 105 and a big manufacturer too like Giant.