Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH announces 2006 bike collection
Even if you can't afford the new S-class, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle just might fit your budget after all. Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH has announced its 2006 bicycle lineup just in time for a summer filled with lakeside cruises with a loved one and intense cardiovascular workouts alike.
The S-class of the brand's bike offerings is the carbon fiber road bike created in cooperation with Shimano Dura Ace components, coming in at a price of 2990 EUR ($3,669 USD). From there MB moves down to a more leisurely vehicle, complete with automatic "transmission" (aka automatic shifting system) and sensor-controlled lighting system. Pricing for this'un range from 1690 to 1890 EUR ($2,073 to $2,319 USD).
Finally, fitness versions of the brand's offerings come in road bikes and mountain bikes for prices ranging from 1290 to 1790 EUR ($1,583 to $2,196 USD). Happy riding!
[Source: eMercedesBenz]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
T. 6:28PM (4/06/2006)
*snarf* 8.3kg? That's 18.26lbs, a freakin' pig in the bike world. I'll give it that the road bike has clean lines, though, unlike that disaster of a Y-frame. Trek stopped using that design years ago, I can't believe that whoever is building these for MB (or selling them under license) actually had the, ummmm, intenstinal fortitude to bring that POS back. Its pretty funny, though, looks like no-name chinese stuff with high-end shimano draped on it. Not exactly something that I would've expected from MB. (At least Ferrari put some thought and engineering into their mountain bike.)
None of these bikes will actually be ridden, though, that's the funny part. They'll be bought as accessories to drive around with on the roof of their new CL, and that'll be that.
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Noah 6:30PM (4/06/2006)
Hey, why not? Porsche makes some very non-automotive products.
--Noah
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Ted K 6:58PM (4/06/2006)
wow, this page says I submitted a comment to this article.. too bad I didn't.
Why is autoblog such a buggy piece of crap?
Oh, and the bikes do look nice but expensive; I'll stick to the full-time brands. Also, I think "autoshift" bikes are a serious waste of time. Cars are one thing, but when you're providing the power you really ought to be in full control.
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matt 9:11PM (4/06/2006)
I'll wait for the ultimate bicycling machine. But seriously thats damn expensive.
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Ted K 9:41PM (4/06/2006)
"That's 18.26lbs, a freakin' pig in the bike world."
Weight is the most obnoxiously overrated figure in the world of cycling. The sport is about strength, endurance, and perseverance, not shaving grams. My bike checks in at 21.0lbs, and dollars to dimes says I'd whoop you at the venue of your choice.
My buddies and I take a special kind of pride in stomping on fatties pudging along on their overpriced 15-whatever-pound carbon fiber triumphs of wallet-lightening technology, belly brushing on the top tube as they hold a tuck with some comp-aero bar trying to look cool during their recreational sunday ride.
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tr 10:44PM (4/06/2006)
"2. Hey, why not? Porsche makes some very non-automotive products."
correction:
Porsche makes automotive products.
http://www.porsche.com/
Porsche Design Group makes some very non-automotive products.
http://www.porsche-design.com/live/deutsch_en.PorscheDesign?ActiveID=40032&lang=en
it's sort of like how there's BMW, and then there's Designworks, which is part of BMW Group.
as for #1, the Y-frame introduced by Trek was revolutionary in the mountain bike world, and copied by many manufacturers. to this day, it (or some variation) is the standard for dual suspension setups. also if you knew your bikes, you would know that the MB mountain bike is NOT the trek Y-series. first, they don't look alike or have the same features, and the MB bike is aluminum, not CF. even later model Trek Y's in aluminum don't look like the MB. as for the Ferrari mountain bike you mention, again, if you knew your bikes, you'd know that it was just a Ferrari-badged bike engineered and built by Colnago. In fact, Ferrari had no input whatsoever; the bike was only dedicated to Ferrari by Ernesto Colnago, and that's why it has a Ferrari badge.
but back to the MB road bike: for those not into cycling, it sure looks like it's pricey. but a full Shimano Dura-Ace 10 speed group, which this bike has, will set you back about $1800, or half of the bike price. so that frame is priced in line with mid to high range carbon fiber road frames. but yeah, i wouldn't buy it. but for those MB cycling enthusiasts with money to blow, it's probably something they just gotta have, which is fine by me.
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VW-Guy 8:43AM (4/07/2006)
"Why is autoblog such a buggy piece of crap?"
Because it's American! And I recall an a poster or two here have even admitted being from Michigan. Do the math. :P
"Weight is the most obnoxiously overrated figure in the world of cycling."
Very much agree. The secret is making the lightest weight bike possible WHILE PRESERVING strength and durability. You can't argue against a bike that is lighter but equal - or better - in the other categories will make you faster. Low weight for the sake of low weight will always fail. And that's why the strong and durable 15-16lb'ers cost so damned much. But hey, if you've got it, spend it! I'll be bombing around on my cro mo steelie because we all know steel is real baby! And I don't needlessly worry about dents, scuffs, scratches. Witness someone drop their carbon frame and you can feel their sphinkter (sp?) clench tight from 50 feet away.
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T. 10:02AM (4/07/2006)
Hey Ted, you're on, event is US Open of Downhill Mountain Biking, and the venue is www.diablofreeridepark.com.
:)
loser buys the beer at the end of the day?
(you didn't specify what kind of cycling event...)
And #6, although I'm probably wrong about Ferrari's imput into Colnago's design, I'd take that Ferrari/Colnago in a heartbeat over the no-name stuff that's here. This is pretty much an off-the-shelf Taiwan (china?) frame by someone who is paying a royalty to MB. Nothing really that exciting. And yes, the Y-Frame bit was a joke. This obviously isn't URT, but rather just a low single pivot with a monocoque front end. Wheeeeeee. They even took the stickers off the suspension so you can't seee what kind it is (think its a Spinner fork and ????? rear shock?)...
(and no, I wasn't a fan of the Y-frame, even back when it was "revolutionary")
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John B 12:29PM (4/07/2006)
TedK
While your bike may check in at 21 lbs., my guess is it didn't cost almost $3,700 U.S. That's serious coin for a bike and I would expect the best. As for me, I'm very pleased with my Cannondale road bike (aluminum).
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T. 3:26PM (4/07/2006)
John, I wouldn't expect the best unless I was dropping $15k for a ti/carbon Merlin decked out with Campy Carbon Record. And a hot podium girl to go along with it. :)
$3700, while not chump change, isn't really a whole lot when compared to the $5 and $6k bikes from Trek, Specialized and Cannondale, let alone the small custom guys. That's why if I were MB, I would've gone to someone like Merlin to do a beautiful carbon bike with Ti lugs, and really made it stand out. Compare the one here with something like: http://www.merlinbikes.com/bikes/2006/classic/cielo.aspx
Instead, this is just some marketing deal with a someone like Pacific to do no-name chinese stuff and pay MB some type of royalty for the name.
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John B 4:38PM (4/07/2006)
T:
A Merlin you say? Sigh - every time I used to enter a neighbourhood bike shop, I would run my hands over the Merlin they had on display.
I haven't seen the Merlin Cielo you linked to but it looks a bit like this Cannondale the local shop had on dispay last fall. The price was about $8,000 Cdn. if I remember correctly. FWIW - they also had David Zabriskie's time trial Cervelo on display - the one he crashed in the team time trial in the Tour de France. It even had the scratches.
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/model-6TC0D.html
Another couple of weeks and I'll be out on the road. BTW, I agree about the MB bike - nothing special at all about it. Why bother, I can't see any rider being impressed with a MB logo.
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Sandy Schoenstein 8:56PM (4/12/2006)
Having been a cyclist since 1943, I'm old fashoned. A good touring bike should weigh in at about 24 pounds, with a double butted diamond frame large enough to show only two to three inches of seat post. With a combined close ratio 3 speed Sturmey Archer and a 2 speed Derailleur with gear ratios of 33 to 124 I was able to climb to 9,000 feet twice on gravel roads in the Canadian Rockies without leaving the seat on my Dawes Courrier. That was back in 1956, still have and ride the bike. Sandy
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Roger Schumacher 10:10PM (4/12/2006)
I bought a Maserati MT-10 25 years ago. They had a line of about 6 bikes for a short while, but quit just about the time I bought mine. Still got it though.
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Joel Gunn 11:58PM (4/12/2006)
It's not your father's Mercedes.........While it might not be the best for the money, i would throughly enjoy having either the road bike or the mountain bike.
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BrianP 12:18AM (4/13/2006)
come on give me a break.why? just why?
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BrianP 12:20AM (4/13/2006)
low tech ,overweight and bland,why do they do it?
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Joel Gunn 12:55AM (4/13/2006)
The mercedes-benz bike is obviously not something not everyone would have and it would definitely be unique in your world and the woods, which is( despite the price) exactly where i would be bombing downhill with it.
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Julia 1:02AM (4/13/2006)
very cool... kind of reminds you of that old saying if it sounds too good to be true it is too good to be true..clever advertising ploy to say the least~~~ so where do I sign up???
'-)
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Joe White 1:07AM (4/13/2006)
The same joke is on the sportbike motorcycles. Check out all the carbon fiber goodies available. I used to sell them, most of the time, AFTER THE SALE, and the fat commission that went along with it, I would just casually tell the myopic dolt, 'hey pal, why dontcha try hittin the salad bar next time, and skipping the dessert, you'll save yourself a whole lotta money. And, while you're at it, try taking at least an MSF course if you aren't going to sing up for some track time....the tires on my Harley have more wear on the sidewalls than your sportbike!!!" Geesh, learn to turn the thing, or are you just trying to look cool doing wheelies in totally inappropriate areas. They'll spend over $600. for a helmet, cause they think helmets are good (yea, after you've screwed up) and ride with sneakers, shorts and a guinie (sp) T-shirt. At least mom will be able to have an open coffin, never mind their buttocks and feet are ground off.
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bluedolphin 1:16AM (4/13/2006)
you have got way to much money or not enough common sense if you spend this much money on a BIKE. Thats Crazy. BUT this is my opinion and im entitled to it LOL but I can think of way better things to spend that kind of money on.... I hope it rides better than most cars do and for that much money does it come with some one to peddle it for you? (only kidding)
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