why don't more bikes have kickstands?

[schwza]

when i was a kid all the bikes had kickstands, but now that i'm getting into biking again, none of them do. i'm guessing this is some kind of weird bike-snob thing? they're pretty convenient.

[cbloom]

They get loose and fall down. They're also heavy. You can easily buy one and attach it to any bike if you want it.

[kerowo]

Nothing says newb cyclist like a kickstand. Especially if you are riding a road bike or a mountain bike. If you are riding a cruiser or comfort bike go ahead and get one, anyone who is going to give you crap about it will have more reason than a kickstand.

Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.

[SNOWBALL]

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Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.


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why would anyone spend several thousand on a bicycle? I mean, you can get a car for that much. Can you try to describe me me what makes a very nice bike better than just an average bike?

[Brainwalter]

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Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.


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why would anyone spend several thousand on a bicycle? I mean, you can get a car for that much. Can you try to describe me me what makes a very nice bike better than just an average bike?

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Yeah, y'all are talking about bycicles right?

[guids]

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Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.


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why would anyone spend several thousand on a bicycle? I mean, you can get a car for that much. Can you try to describe me me what makes a very nice bike better than just an average bike?

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It should be fairly obvious that any product that is mechanical in nature has different degrees of how well it is made.

[schwza]

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Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.


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why would anyone spend several thousand on a bicycle? I mean, you can get a car for that much. Can you try to describe me me what makes a very nice bike better than just an average bike?

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It should be fairly obvious that any product that is mechanical in nature has different degrees of how well it is made.

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that's true but nobody's dropping 15k on a pair of scissors. i would be curious to test drive a really nice bike sometime though.

as for the original question, here are a couple times that a kickstand would have been handy.

- i am stopped at a light when i realized that i forgot to roll my jeans up on my right leg. there's really no graceful way to do this w/o a kickstand. i wound up crouching down to do it while my bike leaned against my back.

- a bunch of people leave their bikes in my garage. if we had kickstands they could stand up in free space, but as it is we have to lean some against the way and then lean a few more bikes on top of those bikes.

- in general i find it annoying to lock up my bike on any kind of incline because sometimes the front wheel starts turning and rolling.

[pergesu]

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Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.


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why would anyone spend several thousand on a bicycle? I mean, you can get a car for that much. Can you try to describe me me what makes a very nice bike better than just an average bike?

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lol @ getting a car for "several thousand"

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[pergesu]

But to somewhat answer the question of why people would spend that much money on a bike...

It's worth it to them.

As guids mentioned, there are obviously varying degrees of quality. Bike frames differ greatly, they're hardly all the same. Different materials provide weight and durability benefits. The construction plays a big part. The components (derailleurs, breaks, etc) again have different weight/durability/smoothness based on the material and construction.

Aerodynamics, speed, comfort, durability...

I doubt I'd ever spend more than a grand on a bike. I don't want/need to. But some people want what a more expensive bike gives them.

If you ask why people would spend several thousand on a bike, I think you have to ask why people would spend several thousand on a tv. TVs all do basically the same thing, right? And a bike is certainly a lot healthier for you [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

btw, I don't think I ever used a kick stand when I was a kid, either. I was definitely one of those kids that just let my bike fall to the ground as I jumped off it and started running.

[benza13]

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Another serious reason is that when you have a bike that costs several hundred to several thousand dollars you aren't likely to leave it in front of the grocery store while you go shopping so there is little need for one.


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why would anyone spend several thousand on a bicycle? I mean, you can get a car for that much. Can you try to describe me me what makes a very nice bike better than just an average bike?

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Since I have more experience with mountain bikes, I will say that spending less than $1000 you will likely be disappointed if you take the sport seriously at all. Going downhill at high speeds with only front suspension and [censored] brakes gets scary quickly, while full suspension and disc brakes make it a more enjoyable experience. As you add in better components, the price increases quickly.