Is it strange to own multiple versions of the same bike?

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by coloneljlloyd

any purchase related to this hobby can -- and will -- be justified.

fify.

[dana_e]

it is always a good thing to have a back up

[Dave]

I've owned two Colnago C-40 and C-RS, LOOK 585, Cinelli Superstar and Yoeleo R12 bikes. I always want one spare. I now have four bikes and two have to go, either whole or in pieces.

[jamesdak]

I'd say it's not strange at all since I've done.

I have this mind 90's Giordana XL that I got NOS from the Gita factory about 10 years ago and built up simply with an 11 speed Athena groupset. Every since getting it on the road it's been my most favorite bike for how it feels on the road under me. Totally subjective but real to me. Even today with a lot of really nice steel rides I enjoy this Giordana is my favorite.



For those unaware Dario Pegoretti helped the owner of Gita design these frames. Anyway I loved this one so much I decided to get another one but in this case try and build it up with better and lighter parts to see if I could duplicate or improve in the magical feel of the first one. So I found another frameset and built it up with a mix of Record/Super Record parts and other light weight parts. I got a another great bike for sure but it just did not feel quite as good out on the road as the first one. I tried different wheel/tires on this one and just never got it there So last spring I sold it and flipped the cash right over into a Colnago C40 MKIV bike.



The second one did wind up a full 2 lbs lighter than the original bike. Another big difference was the quality of paint. The first one has a much deeper shine as well as a smoother over all finish to the base paint. Additionally it had the tubing info painted on it vs a decal. Don't know if any of this really means anything.



So, I say just go for it!

[ZaddyWatts]

I currently have both an Allez Sprint rim brake and disc brake. What’s even worse is that the disc brake bike is a 52 and the rim brake frame is a 49. I initially bought the rim brake frame years ago and it’s built up 1x with decent components weight around 15 lbs even. I just got the 52 Sprint disc thinking that I’d replace the 49 but I didn’t read the ad correctly. The seat tube measures 48-49cm and I stupidly bought it thinking that it was a 49. I didn’t realize that it was an 52 until I got the actual bike. I decided to test ride the bikes to see which fit better but the two bikes ride so differently from one another that it made sense to keep both. The 49 rim is much more aggressive and stiff. The 52 is less aggressive but rides like a big aero bike. I can also run 32’s on it. With the slightly higher stack, I’m able to hold my aero position considerably longer.

So long story short, you do you.

[JedB]

Originally Posted by ridethecliche

Yeah, but was it an SV650?

Nope, Aprilia Mille (both were 2003s)

I had an SV-650 after.

[Tim Porter]

I like to think my three bikes by Dave Kirk differ quite a lot from each other, but I know that's delusional. BUT, curiosity got the better of me after my first Kirk, so I bought a variant of that bike two more times!

First came a bike bought from Dave that he built on spec; he put a post out here, iirc, with dimensions that were beyond perfect for me. It was a frame that won the best fillet brazed prize at NAHBS about 10 years ago. Looks like this:



Soon after, Dave announced his new X model with larger diameter tubing, so I wondered "Hmmm, how will that differ from the skinny tubed other bike?" That one looks like this:



This one has lugged construction and the larger tubes--same dimensions.

While I was down in the rabbit hole, Dave announced his Tenth Anniversary model, which is lugged construction but with his Terraplane seat stays. Again, I wondered how that would differ. That one looks like this:



So while these are not 3 identical bikes, they're pretty dang close. The riding dynamics are extremely similar, surprise surprise, with some subtle differences on the orange bike and the "champagne" bike (Terraplane stays do work with the road ups and downs noticeably, and the larger diameter tubes make going over RR tracks a bit more solid). For me at this point in my life, curiosity is enough to justify having these very similar bikes. I rode the orange one today and it's sooo stellar and smooth.

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by ZaddyWatts

I currently have both an Allez Sprint rim brake and disc brake. What’s even worse is that the disc brake bike is a 52 and the rim brake frame is a 49. I initially bought the rim brake frame years ago and it’s built up 1x with decent components weight around 15 lbs even. I just got the 52 Sprint disc thinking that I’d replace the 49 but I didn’t read the ad correctly. The seat tube measures 48-49cm and I stupidly bought it thinking that it was a 49. I didn’t realize that it was an 52 until I got the actual bike. I decided to test ride the bikes to see which fit better but the two bikes ride so differently from one another that it made sense to keep both. The 49 rim is much more aggressive and stiff. The 52 is less aggressive but rides like a big aero bike. I can also run 32’s on it. With the slightly higher stack, I’m able to hold my aero position considerably longer.

So long story short, you do you.

Wait which allez sprint disc do you have that clears 32s? I looked at one and seller said it didn't!

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by Tim Porter

I like to think my three bikes by Dave Kirk differ quite a lot from each other, but I know that's delusional. BUT, curiosity got the better of me after my first Kirk, so I bought a variant of that bike two more times!

First came a bike bought from Dave that he built on spec; he put a post out here, iirc, with dimensions that were beyond perfect for me. It was a frame that won the best fillet brazed prize at NAHBS about 10 years ago. Looks like this:



Soon after, Dave announced his new X model with larger diameter tubing, so I wondered "Hmmm, how will that differ from the skinny tubed other bike?" That one looks like this:



This one has lugged construction and the larger tubes--same dimensions.

While I was down in the rabbit hole, Dave announced his Tenth Anniversary model, which is lugged construction but with his Terraplane seat stays. Again, I wondered how that would differ. That one looks like this:



So while these are not 3 identical bikes, they're pretty dang close. The riding dynamics are extremely similar, surprise surprise, with some subtle differences on the orange bike and the "champagne" bike (Terraplane stays do work with the road ups and downs noticeably, and the larger diameter tubes make going over RR tracks a bit more solid). For me at this point in my life, curiosity is enough to justify having these very similar bikes. I rode the orange one today and it's sooo stellar and smooth.

This is a fine experiment
How much do the different wheelsets matter?

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

I'd say it's not strange at all since I've done.

I have this mind 90's Giordana XL that I got NOS from the Gita factory about 10 years ago and built up simply with an 11 speed Athena groupset. Every since getting it on the road it's been my most favorite bike for how it feels on the road under me. Totally subjective but real to me. Even today with a lot of really nice steel rides I enjoy this Giordana is my favorite.



For those unaware Dario Pegoretti helped the owner of Gita design these frames. Anyway I loved this one so much I decided to get another one but in this case try and build it up with better and lighter parts to see if I could duplicate or improve in the magical feel of the first one. So I found another frameset and built it up with a mix of Record/Super Record parts and other light weight parts. I got a another great bike for sure but it just did not feel quite as good out on the road as the first one. I tried different wheel/tires on this one and just never got it there So last spring I sold it and flipped the cash right over into a Colnago C40 MKIV bike.



The second one did wind up a full 2 lbs lighter than the original bike. Another big difference was the quality of paint. The first one has a much deeper shine as well as a smoother over all finish to the base paint. Additionally it had the tubing info painted on it vs a decal. Don't know if any of this really means anything.



So, I say just go for it!

How much do you think the different bars and hood position affected your sense of the second bike?

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by JedB

Nope, Aprilia Mille (both were 2003s)

I had an SV-650 after.

First and only motorcycle I've ever owned. What a great bike. I had a pointy in naked bike trim.

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by NHAero

How much do you think the different bars and hood position affected your sense of the second bike?

That's a good question and one I cannot answer. For years the Giro's on the first bike were my go to bars. Now I never use them and prefer bars that give me a flat transition to the hoods with more compact drops. Yet when I get on that yellow and red one it's still like great sex on the road.

I tried several changes over the years with the 2nd one to get it "dialed in". Even two sets of bars, adjusting height, angle, etc. Several saddle changes with minute changes to the angle, different seatposts, etc.

It's hard to explain why the one appeals so much. I mean come on, I've got a lot of bikes which most would consider should be superior to the Giordana. I even hate the lizardskin bar tape on the first one yet despite things that would bug me on other bikes this one is just perfect feeling on each ride. Something about it is just exciting.

I am curious to see how the Duede I recently got my hands on feels like when it's finished.

Anyway, my rambling thoughts that probably make no sense.

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by Tim Porter

I like to think my three bikes by Dave Kirk differ quite a lot from each other, but I know that's delusional.

Dang enabling post....

I've got the Fishlips bike David made



and then a Terraplane also



and yet am still tempted to sell off several of my bikes to have David build my dream bike. You make this idea seem not all that crazy after all. I love both bikes for sure and am very impressed with thier ride but I've never thought they really felt the same under me. Maybe I should so some back to back comparision rides.

[old fat man]

As a teenager working in the LBS, we had a customer with two matching (other than paint schemes) Colnagos. He had two because he didn't know how to change a flat tire. He'd drop one off to have the flat repaired and potentially a new tire and rim since he'd often ride it home flat. While we repaired the bike, he'd ride the other one. Rinse and repeat, probably 5-6 times a season.

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by Tim Porter

I like to think my three bikes by Dave Kirk differ quite a lot from each other, but I know that's delusional. BUT, curiosity got the better of me after my first Kirk, so I bought a variant of that bike two more times!...

Dang, them thar is pretty bike porn pics! Kinda makes my bottom bracket stiffen up!

...What???....