While the pricing and availability of the parts is currently great, my cynical side says that the price will go up and availability will drop over time.
Companies fail, products get changed, old proprietary replacement parts stop being produced (often because there’s no demand, mountain bikers overall seem to like buying something new over rebuilding old stuff), and at some point they’re going to want to get some money for manufacturing/sourcing the replacement parts. Those prices are great, but I doubt there’s much margin being made there and no company can keep that up unless it’s a very effective loss leader. End result? Your “lifetime” product is now a worn out mess just like all the other pedals.
IMO if you want a “lifetime” product, look for one that uses off the shelf consumables (bearings and pins in the case of pedals) and suuuuuuper durable proprietary parts. Preferably from a very well established company.
July 26, 2021, 9:51 p.m. - tashi
While the pricing and availability of the parts is currently great, my cynical side says that the price will go up and availability will drop over time. Companies fail, products get changed, old proprietary replacement parts stop being produced (often because there’s no demand, mountain bikers overall seem to like buying something new over rebuilding old stuff), and at some point they’re going to want to get some money for manufacturing/sourcing the replacement parts. Those prices are great, but I doubt there’s much margin being made there and no company can keep that up unless it’s a very effective loss leader. End result? Your “lifetime” product is now a worn out mess just like all the other pedals. IMO if you want a “lifetime” product, look for one that uses off the shelf consumables (bearings and pins in the case of pedals) and suuuuuuper durable proprietary parts. Preferably from a very well established company.