Gear Shots #27

[stuart@nsmb.com]

RockShox Totem SoloAir Fork,
Fox Flux Helmet, and Avid MatchMaker - hot off the presses and ready for mass consumption.

Check it out (http://www.nsmb.com/gear/gear_shots27_12_06.php).

[thedude]

I know Avid won't make a match maker to mate up to a Hayes lever, but I wonder when someone in the aftermarket will? I really like the idea of this.

[Geologyboy]

Agreed^

That is a great idea. I am surprised some smaller compnay didn;t come up with it earlier. I am sure dangerboy or someone will sone be making these for all the various shifter/brake options.

[Couch_Surfer]

How did they attach that ugly rear spoiler on the Fox helmet?
I'll be buying a Xen or similar style helmet this year, and if that thing is easily removeable, then this will be in the testing line up.

[synchro]

How did they attach that ugly rear spoiler on the Fox helmet?
I'll be buying a Xen or similar style helmet this year, and if that thing is easily removeable, then this will be in the testing line up.

The Flux spoiler is a moto-inspired add-on that I could do without. To me, it looks like an afterthought. Luckily it can easily be removed or replaced - but do it carefully to avoid damaging the shell.


-1 for dumbassedness

[connor]

How did they attach that ugly rear spoiler on the Fox helmet?
I'll be buying a Xen or similar style helmet this year, and if that thing is easily removeable, then this will be in the testing line up.

yeah I want a xen or that Specialized helmet, Instinct I think it's called. I checked the JH site for a price, they say $239.99 for the Xen, bahahahah.. jenson has 07 Xens for $130US. and those $170 Saint cranks.. hmmm... The Spec. helmet is quite a bit cheaper, ~$90US.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

I've got the Specialized helmet, and like it. I've got a Bell head, and it works well for me. Lots of ventilation, the visor is functional and stays out of the way, and it's light. Price is also way better than the Xen.

Bell will also be coming out with its own AM / extended coverage helmet, called the Variant. Should be in CDN stores in February. Not sure about the pricing on that.

[connor]

http://www.bellbikehelmets.com/images/products/large2/VariantMatteSilver.gif

this one? Site says MSRP $100, i'm diggin the larger vents rather than lots of small ones on the spec and xen though..

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Yup, that's it. Price is Yankee dollars, though, and Bells tend to get marked up a fair bit when they cross the border. I'd guess about CDN$150...

[Couch_Surfer]

yeah I want a xen or that Specialized helmet, Instinct I think it's called. I checked the JH site for a price, they say $239.99 for the Xen, bahahahah.. jenson has 07 Xens for $130US. and those $170 Saint cranks.. hmmm... The Spec. helmet is quite a bit cheaper, ~$90US.

Yep - the price on those Xen's in Canada is absolutely ridiculous. I know some bike store zealot is going to hit me with "support your LBS" on this, but I think this is purely a case of it being the hot helmet and bike shops taking aim at your wallet.

I've got a business trip to the US come January - I'll be buying JensonUSA.

[dirty deeds]

I just don't see any rationale for the rock Shox price differential. We're getting gouged.

Pricing for the Totem Solo Air is US$1,060 / CDN$1,585, while the Totem Coil is US$995 / CDN$1,480 and the Totem 2-Step Air is US$1,150 / CDN$1,705.

[synchro]

I just don't see any rationale for the rock Shox price differential. We're getting gouged.

Pricing for the Totem Solo Air is US$1,060 / CDN$1,585, while the Totem Coil is US$995 / CDN$1,480 and the Totem 2-Step Air is US$1,150 / CDN$1,705.

who's the distributor?

[Hack On Wheels]

It was Cycles Lambert, but I believe it is Norco now, atleast that is who serviced my Boxxer.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

I just don't see any rationale for the rock Shox price differential. We're getting gouged.

Pricing for the Totem Solo Air is US$1,060 / CDN$1,585, while the Totem Coil is US$995 / CDN$1,480 and the Totem 2-Step Air is US$1,150 / CDN$1,705.

US$1,060 = CDN$1,228.13. Plus duty, plus handling charges, plus an extra level of distribution.

Yes, there is a price difference, but I think 'gouged' it a tad excessive. Pricing differences are so great in some cases that manufacturers don't like supplying both prices. That's gouging.

And it's hardly limited to SRAM product, either. Just about everything that starts in the States will be way more expensive when it crosses the border. US MSRP on a Camelbac Havoc is $100, but they sell for something like $190 here. Ditto with the Bell helmets - they're at least $50 more, in most cases.

Norco is distributing all SRAM product.

[dirty deeds]

US$1,060 = CDN$1,228.13. Plus duty, plus handling charges, plus an extra level of distribution.

It would be interesting to know if / & how much duty there is on a fork into Canada if it is made in the USA.

Given NAFTA and the fact that there is no Canadian fork industry to protect; I would expect duty to be very low. Should be nothing. But who knows with Governments.

As for the other stuff.. shipping, handling and distribution shouldn't be any more to Canada than it is to Florida.

[Chief]

damn too bad my juicy 7's arn't split clamp grrrrrr

[connor]

If you have some kind of proof of origin, should be 0 duty. also aren't most bike parts 0 duty. Also worth noting Protective clothing, helmets etc is 0 duty. When I bought my Turner from the States I paid 0 duty on it. I cleared customs myself at the airport and only paid GST $140, not bad for a bike I paid $2500US for and is worth about $6K CAD.

UPS, now that's gouging.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Given NAFTA and the fact that there is no Canadian fork industry to protect; I would expect duty to be very low. Should be nothing. But who knows with Governments.

As for the other stuff.. shipping, handling and distribution shouldn't be any more to Canada than it is to Florida.

I don't disagree with you on the protectionist angle, but I would suspect there is some duty / excise tax to bring them across the border. Government = tax.

What I was suggesting with the other stuff was that the more the product is handled, the greater the cost. In the US, the forks can go from RS through their own distribution channels to the retailers.

In Canada, they would have to go from RS to Norco, where they would have to be handled again, and then distributed to retailers.

If the forks went from RS to CDN retailers, I'd bet the two prices would be much closer.

At the end of the day, I'm not a distributor so I can't give you an exact answer to your question. It's all speculation fueled by a lack of coffee and sleep. :)

[Jerry-Rig]

good way to save a few bucks at the local bike shops:

http://www.nsmb.com/market_place/brocard/business_sort.php?sort=category#3

[biggles604]

Where did the gear shots article go from the front page?

[dirty deeds]

I just don't see any rationale for the rock Shox price differential. We're getting gouged.

Pricing for the Totem Solo Air is US$1,060 / CDN$1,585, while the Totem Coil is US$995 / CDN$1,480 and the Totem 2-Step Air is US$1,150 / CDN$1,705.


BSP has the Totem Coil for $C999. Now that's a helluva deal. No gouging there. I can put my eye back in.

[big_perm]

Stu, what forks are you going to be running on the Blur you have? Also is the component package a complete build from SC? Look forward to more updates on the Blur