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Vintage vs Electric Road Bikes — The Ugly Truth Nobody Wants to Accept

CycleWorth

5,752 views

How to save $8,991 on your next bike
And $2,920 every year after 👉🏼
https://cycleworth.shop/

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, you support the channel at no additional cost to you.

Resources & Links

Bosch eBike Compact Charger 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N34RL38?...

Progold Steel Frame Protector Spray 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VQ9N6C?...

Park Tool DCW-Set Double End Cone Wrench Set 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RXDOGQ?...

Park Tool PT-03 Double Ended Cone Wrench 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016JD8GM?...

Park Tool PCS-10.3 Deluxe Home Mechanic Repair Stand 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097DZ9XRG?...

Park Tool TS Professional Wheel Truing Stand 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2F7QNQ4?...

Park Tool Bicycle Spoke Wrench 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C15EMG?...

Kool Stop Brake Pads with X Pad (Dura-Ace/Ultegra) 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014BRW6E?...

Brooks England B17 Leather Saddle 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CZ715Q?...

Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR Tubeless Road Tire 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HS48S1T?...

Continental Race 28 700x25-32c Inner Tubes 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M4BX2HR?...

Lizard Skins DSP V2 Handlebar Tape 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X5YJ2T7?...

Silca Terra Bike Floor Pump 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMQSN9G4?...

Muc-Off Dry Chain Lube 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028RWS5S?...

Garmin Edge 540 GPS Cycling Computer 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BT36VBGM?...

Giro Syntax MIPS Helmet 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GXRQHRF?...

MKS All Ways Pedals, Made in Japan 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FFPLDKQ?...

Colnago Master Steel Frameset 🛒 eBay (Best Deals): https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...

📌 SOURCES (linked)
Specialized official support, Turbo SL batteries, 75% capacity after 300 charge cycles: https://support.specialized.com/turbo...
Sierra Bicycle Supply, Specialized Turbo SL 320Wh replacement battery, $719.99: https://shopbikesupply.com/products/s...
R+E Cycles, steel frame repair price list, $360 tube replacement: https://www.rodbikes.com/articles/fra...
BikeRadar, Porsche closes Fazua ebike motor brand, 8 May 2026: https://www.bikeradar.com/news/porsch...
Bike Europe, E-bike sales in Europe see further cooling down, unit and value data: https://onlinemagazine.bike-eu.com/en...

📌 FURTHER SOURCES
BikeRadar, "The new Domane+ SLR is Trek's lightest electric road bike" — Domane+ SLR pricing $8,999 to $12,999, claimed weights 11.75kg to 12.60kg, TQ HPR50 and 360Wh specs
BikeRadar, "Trek Domane+ SLR 6 review" — $9,000 price, 12.56kg measured weight, 100km real world range
Colnago official product page, "Master steel bike" — still built entirely in Italy, from $3,213, Colnago DT15V tubing
Wheelworks, Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Comp product page — $6,999.99 list, $5,599.99 current, SL 1.2 motor, SL1-320 320Wh
eBike24, Mahle iX2 (formerly iX250) 242Wh battery for X20/X30 — €599.95 list, €519 sale, €134.95 charger
eBay completed listing, "COLNAGO SUPER vintage italian steel road frameset Campagnolo Record"

You can write me at: cycleworth@proton.me

CycleWorth is run by a cycling enthusiast and is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, specifications, prices, values, and historical information may change or contain errors.
All trademarks, brand names, and product names belong to their respective owners. Always do your own research before buying, modifying, repairing, or using any bicycle or cycling-related product.

20 Comments

@cycleworth Creator 1 month ago Pinned

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@NicholasAngelidis1 1 month ago

needs tighter editing -- 2minutes in, i have no idea what you are trying to argue

@FloydD.Barber 1 month ago

I have a gravel bike and an EMTB.
I use the EMTB on hilly trails or when it is windy, snowy or when the gravel road conditions are bad.

@CactusJackSlade 1 month ago

Your very first statement put me off. One is not "better" than the other, they are completely different animals. I have eBikes and "analog" bikes and I ride them according to what I want that particular ride/day.

@DaisyBudd-p8f 3 weeks ago

As a Precision Bicycle Mechanic, and Wire Spoke Wheelwright, in the Spring of 1986 -- I purchased a Two-Year Old, Steel-Frame, Huffy 3-Speed Bicycle for $35 U.S. Dollars. Upon learning the Bicycle had been kept in a Small All Metal Storage Shed -- exposed to the Temperature Extremes of Two Freezing Winters -- and exposed to Two Summers in that Metal Shed in Extreme Heat -- that was all I needed to know. i.e. I absolutely refused to trust my life on that bicycle for my 32-mile Daily Bicycle Commutes to Work until After I had personally done a complete Disassemly -- did a complete precision rebuild, restoration, and a Precision All Hand Assembly. With all the Bearings Cleaned and New Grease -- all New Brake Pads and the Rim Caliper Brakes Fine Tuned to Grip the Instant I would need to put the Bicycle into Full D**th Grip Emergency Braking during an authentic L*fe or D**th Emergency. NOTE: It was my precision rebuild of that bicycle that very literally saved my life during one of my
16-mile, morning Bicycle Commutes to Work when, at my normal extremely fit 22+ mph miles unlimited cruising speed, a Truck Turned Left Directly into My Path of Travel. With my hands already on the Brake Levers -- I instantly Grabbed the Brakes putting the Bicycle in Full D**th Grip Emergency Braking -- knowing that if that truck was still in my Path of Travel by time I got to it that I did NOT have enough Emergency Braking Distance to keep from cr*shing into the truck. With both the Truck still Rolling -- and with my Bicycle still in Full D**th Grip Emergency Braking -- the Rear Corner of the Truck -- and my Front Tire -- Just Barely Cleared By Less Than 1-inch. It still took about another 7-Feet of Full D**th Grip Emergency Braking to get the Bicycle to a Complete Stop!!!
.
Currently recovering from paralysis and by now have my own personal collection of Bicycles. Have requested my newest Step-Through-Frame to have the pedals removed to use it for Standing and Walking to rebuild my strength for standing and walking as I look forward to riding a 3-Speed at a normal Unlimited Miles Cruising Speed of 22+ mph. I have never gone by what the physical therapist's timeline was.
.
Note: I need to purchase a 3-Point Bicycle Chain Wear Indicator.

@davidliddle9033 1 month ago

Senior citizens with breathing, or knee/leg problems wouldn't be able to ride if it werent for e-bikes. I'm older, I live in the county out of town limits; there are 3 ways to my house, all of them bad.

@reinerfranke5436 1 month ago

EHLine with Bionx from 2015. Second battery, still hold about 70%. The first battery was deep discharged after 6 month at the dealer because of an engineering mistake. There was no deep sleep implemented. Btw in years 2014/2015 around 50% of all balancers fail after a low number of cycles because it was built discrete with very tiny charge bypass transistors. These where of the wrong thermal capability, either from the board placement in China or design, nobody knows. Finally Bionx never found a bicycle manufacture again and went bankrupt.
Cannondale Neo from 2019, still work perfect. Motors and battery used or new in huge quantity. I still use both bikes for commute and sport.

@daniel-vn4ql 1 month ago

Its not the battery that is the weakest part. its the controller.

@mrski4945 1 month ago

I'm getting older but in good health. Staying in the best possible shape is a priority for the rest of my life. So as long as I can, I will ride mechanical bikes. If in the future that becomes impossible I'll most likely look into a e-bike (?) however cost is a huge issue. Buying a bike for the price of a used car is not something I see myself doing. And I don't see prices of e-bikes going down. But for now, mechanical is the way I ride.

@davidliddle9033 1 month ago

E-bikes are like cars, you accept that parts are going to wear out & need to be replaced.

@LcFan96 1 month ago (edited)

a groupset lasting 15 years? nopt today anymore, dirvetrains if ridden hard need abouzt a chain every 2 years and a cassette every 4. and thats on non e bikes

@peterwillson1355 2 weeks ago

There's no guess-work in using friction downtube shifters. This guy obviously hasn't acquired the skill you need to use them. I use them for 10 speed cassettes with no guessing and no problems.

@jm19592011 1 month ago (edited)

For 80's steel bikes, it is not a case of 'what part can't be replaced'. There are enough 'consumables' on the market (atm) that replacing them is not problematic. The problem is replacing them with the consumable you - want -. I - want - new Suntour Perfect 14-32t freewheels. I can - get - second-hand 14-28t freewheels. So I nurse my 14-32t and use it for touring only, while using 14-28t for everyday use. The same as finding Michelin World Tour tyres in 27x1&3/4". I get what I can when I can, and store for future use. Thankfully the 'Hack' and Colnago Super run 700 tyres.

@MApostoloski 1 month ago (edited)

Olympic and official UCI rule says: Two wheels 28 inches and derrailleur period

@EugeneNicks 1 month ago

You can put modern tires brakes shifters and handlebars on an old bike. Or not. And the SADDLE. The saddle is the only serious improvement bikes have made in decades.

@daniel-vn4ql 1 month ago (edited)

unless you are climbing hills you do not need an ebike. or you are an older person. and i own 2 ebikes.

@larryt.atcycleitalia5786 1 month ago

Sorry, can't watch any video where the narrator can't even pronounce COLNAGO. It's kohl-nah-go. C'mon, it's not that hard.

@Thecat1962-h8p 1 month ago

E-bikes are lazy ridiculously overpriced e-bike won't last 10 years before it's scrap metal on the wall; the old bicycle will still be going in 30 years.