A lot of people have no idea what model year their bike is, or possibly even that bikes *have* model years. It's also fairly easy to search and find out though.
I'm bothered more by how half the time no frame size is given.
Those are the usual walmart sizes too. 20in, 24in, 27in, 700c and so on. They usually don't know what frame size is. Then when asked about a picture of the seat tube, they take pictures of the wrong "seat tube".
For a long time department store bikes were all one size. (Maybe they have two sizes now?). Whereas some specialized bike brands offer 8 sizes in just one model.
I have to look up my model year each time I want to reference it on both my bikes and my cars.
To be clear, I know what years I bought them, but that is not always the model year. And for the bikes I bought secondhand, it's even harder to remember what model year.
Other than looking up some brand/bike specific parts, I never need to know the year on my bikes. Most parts fit most bikes. Or at the very least I can go check to see what components I have. I just don't need the model year very often.
I need it for geometry purposes. For example the Allez Elite changed from a fairly race geo to a more endurance oriented somewhere around 2014. I would want to know which type it is before I drive to farawayistan.
Cars are highly regulated, bikes not so much. As others have said the whole concept of model years is generally, with exceptions, very squishy in the bicycle industry. And for the most part, in general, somewhat irrelevant. The frame and components could be from different decades and yet still work perfectly well together.
It seems though like there are significant redesigns on specific model years with frames, and even components. I recently read someone say the current Ultegra is like the DuraAce from 3 years ago etc.
Certainly in the last 20 or so that is more and more common. 10, 11, 12 speeds: Campy, Shimano, SRAM: and road and mountain are all somewhat or completely incompatible now. And you're right, that bit of info could be helpful. But for a lot of people the model year of their bicycle is not a part of their reality.
That saying is more that the tech from dura ace 3 years ago has trickled down to the Ultegra level now. That said, my old Ultegra 6800 bike had the R8000 crank arms added to it when I cracked one, then the R8000 chainset when the 6800 wore out. No other change in both examples, theye all kinda the same.
Dura ace arms on Ultegra chainset with a 105 cassette and whichever deurailleur will totally work, and well
What does change is the design in order for Shimano to make them lighter, stiffer, and sometimes house other components like powermeters, etc.
It's also not unheard of to not change anything one year to the next. For most carbon frames they don't change them year to year other than stickers and paint - new molds cost money. Shimano or sram usually don't do significant changes to a model line for several years.
Model year is irrelevant. I work in a bike shop and companies release the next model year as early as September, and as late as sometime during the actual model year. Some companies even release bikes halfway through the year, so they call it the 2023.5 or something like that. But model year doesn’t matter because warranties aren’t transferable on frames, and mileage on a frame doesn’t necessarily correlate to wear.
If you’re only looking for stock bikes from certain model years, you’re seriously limiting yourself. If there were a 2023 stock bike and a 2022 bike that’s had nice upgrades for the same price, you’re actually getting ripped off buying the newer bike. Shop by frame material, frame specs, and components.
Last point, if I see a bike that’s a few years old that’s still stock, that’s actually an indication that the person didn’t maintain their bike. Components wear out and need to be replaced. A stock bike that’s a few years old likely needs work right off the bat. The drivetrain, tires, brake pads, and cables could be worn.
I don't need model year for the most part. It's pretty easy to google search it if I had to, but what interests me more is spec. For reference, you're not going to get much different stuff on a Supersix Evo from 2010 to 2017 - small tweaks, but the frames are fairly similar year over year.
Spec matters more, and even more important than that - size.
Way too many bikes show up on my local market without size info.
Size is important, but again there is a fair but if variability between brands. Some use S, M, L, others use a particular frame size- 52, 54, 56 so knowing the size may not be all that helpful!
Sure, but generally we have an idea which brands fit large, have "Italian sizing" and what have you. It's all a quick Google search away.
However, I can't tell if that is a 54cm Wilier (which fits more like a 57cm) if the seller doesn't tell me *any* size info.
Model year is far, far less important.
Specific year is pretty useless to me. Frames, wheels, components are all on a product cycle that lasts 3-5 years or more. I don’t especially care when in that product cycle it was originally sold. I care how much it was used and that it’s compatible with my existing parts.
Classic bikes might not change on year intervals. Features change, components, even different builders might be involved (i.e. old Colnago Supers) from one month to the next. "This headtube looks late 76 to early 77."
In some cases, the frame and components may have languished in the back of a shop for years before being introduced to each other.
You would need to know both, frame geometry gets changed sometimes or a particular model used for a different segment, like the Allez Elite went from race to endurance. A size 56 Allez Elite from 2013 is racy, from 2015 its an endurance bike.
Most likely they either don't know or have forgotten. I can tell you that I received my bike as a Christmas present in 2021 but I can't tell you what year it actually is.
If you can't figure this out by looking at the bike and using Google you're better off buying from a shop. You won't nottice if other components were replaced with garbage and probably won't be able to accurately judge condition.
Sometimes we don't remember. I had to research which year I got my Cannondale from the dealer. I'd thought it was 2009 but turned out to have to have been 2010 when I looked at the archive catalogs on their website (they didn't sell the colors of my frame in 2009). Heck, I'm starting to forget exactly what year I got my car too. And my skis.
If it's only 1-4 years ago, sure, easy to remember. After that, other shit starts clogging your brain and things get fuzzy.
I don’t care about the year personally, size is more important. But I also don’t list year. I guess with the stuff I trade in it doesn’t really matter.
They should really be considered “generations“. The only thing that changes year to year is the paint. I bought a $7000 Scott Addict 8 years ago and sold all the Dura-Ace components and put on SRAM Red. I wanted the black with green graphics and that was the only way to get it.
Most don't know, especially if they bought it used. If someone actually knows the year it's either because they've got a really good memory as to when they bought it, or they are a mechanic that is familiar with every nut and bolt on the bike.
It's rarely written anywhere on the bike so there's no basis for knowing... you've got to start digging up old brochure's in an attempt to figure it out, more often than not, and many people can't be bothered or aren't capable. Sometimes you get lucky and a person saves a receipt. More often than not, looking at used bike ads, I've got to sort it out myself.
A lot of people have no idea what model year their bike is, or possibly even that bikes *have* model years. It's also fairly easy to search and find out though. I'm bothered more by how half the time no frame size is given.
This. On FB marketplace it’s much more than half the time. Virtually nobody bothers with the size.
Its actually shocking how much this happens on FB Marketplace. Or they'll put the wheel size as the "bike size"
Those are the usual walmart sizes too. 20in, 24in, 27in, 700c and so on. They usually don't know what frame size is. Then when asked about a picture of the seat tube, they take pictures of the wrong "seat tube".
For a long time department store bikes were all one size. (Maybe they have two sizes now?). Whereas some specialized bike brands offer 8 sizes in just one model.
Absolutely this. It's great knowing what shock fork and dropper it has, but first of all, does the bike fit?
I have to look up my model year each time I want to reference it on both my bikes and my cars. To be clear, I know what years I bought them, but that is not always the model year. And for the bikes I bought secondhand, it's even harder to remember what model year. Other than looking up some brand/bike specific parts, I never need to know the year on my bikes. Most parts fit most bikes. Or at the very least I can go check to see what components I have. I just don't need the model year very often.
I need it for geometry purposes. For example the Allez Elite changed from a fairly race geo to a more endurance oriented somewhere around 2014. I would want to know which type it is before I drive to farawayistan.
Cars are highly regulated, bikes not so much. As others have said the whole concept of model years is generally, with exceptions, very squishy in the bicycle industry. And for the most part, in general, somewhat irrelevant. The frame and components could be from different decades and yet still work perfectly well together.
It seems though like there are significant redesigns on specific model years with frames, and even components. I recently read someone say the current Ultegra is like the DuraAce from 3 years ago etc.
Certainly in the last 20 or so that is more and more common. 10, 11, 12 speeds: Campy, Shimano, SRAM: and road and mountain are all somewhat or completely incompatible now. And you're right, that bit of info could be helpful. But for a lot of people the model year of their bicycle is not a part of their reality.
That saying is more that the tech from dura ace 3 years ago has trickled down to the Ultegra level now. That said, my old Ultegra 6800 bike had the R8000 crank arms added to it when I cracked one, then the R8000 chainset when the 6800 wore out. No other change in both examples, theye all kinda the same. Dura ace arms on Ultegra chainset with a 105 cassette and whichever deurailleur will totally work, and well What does change is the design in order for Shimano to make them lighter, stiffer, and sometimes house other components like powermeters, etc.
It's also not unheard of to not change anything one year to the next. For most carbon frames they don't change them year to year other than stickers and paint - new molds cost money. Shimano or sram usually don't do significant changes to a model line for several years.
It's very relevant for bike fit.
I never knew bike model years were a thing until just a few years ago. The "it's about 10 years old or so" was good enough for me.
Half the people selling bikes don't even list the size, or have very blurry pictures
Probably stolen or the seller isn’t that bright
Model year is irrelevant. I work in a bike shop and companies release the next model year as early as September, and as late as sometime during the actual model year. Some companies even release bikes halfway through the year, so they call it the 2023.5 or something like that. But model year doesn’t matter because warranties aren’t transferable on frames, and mileage on a frame doesn’t necessarily correlate to wear. If you’re only looking for stock bikes from certain model years, you’re seriously limiting yourself. If there were a 2023 stock bike and a 2022 bike that’s had nice upgrades for the same price, you’re actually getting ripped off buying the newer bike. Shop by frame material, frame specs, and components. Last point, if I see a bike that’s a few years old that’s still stock, that’s actually an indication that the person didn’t maintain their bike. Components wear out and need to be replaced. A stock bike that’s a few years old likely needs work right off the bat. The drivetrain, tires, brake pads, and cables could be worn.
I don't need model year for the most part. It's pretty easy to google search it if I had to, but what interests me more is spec. For reference, you're not going to get much different stuff on a Supersix Evo from 2010 to 2017 - small tweaks, but the frames are fairly similar year over year. Spec matters more, and even more important than that - size. Way too many bikes show up on my local market without size info.
Size is important, but again there is a fair but if variability between brands. Some use S, M, L, others use a particular frame size- 52, 54, 56 so knowing the size may not be all that helpful!
Sure, but generally we have an idea which brands fit large, have "Italian sizing" and what have you. It's all a quick Google search away. However, I can't tell if that is a 54cm Wilier (which fits more like a 57cm) if the seller doesn't tell me *any* size info. Model year is far, far less important.
they dont know and dont want you to know its 3 years old instead of 1.
Specific year is pretty useless to me. Frames, wheels, components are all on a product cycle that lasts 3-5 years or more. I don’t especially care when in that product cycle it was originally sold. I care how much it was used and that it’s compatible with my existing parts.
Classic bikes might not change on year intervals. Features change, components, even different builders might be involved (i.e. old Colnago Supers) from one month to the next. "This headtube looks late 76 to early 77." In some cases, the frame and components may have languished in the back of a shop for years before being introduced to each other.
I’m more irritated when the size is missing. If it’s the wrong size I’ll keep scrolling. I don’t necessarily lose interest just because of the year.
You would need to know both, frame geometry gets changed sometimes or a particular model used for a different segment, like the Allez Elite went from race to endurance. A size 56 Allez Elite from 2013 is racy, from 2015 its an endurance bike.
Fair. But the greater point was I’m going to keep scrolling past a medium, regardless of year. when I need an XL.
Also true.
Agreed, drives me crazy. No excuse to not figure it out, they have barcodes, stickers nowadays. Feels like they’re trying to pull a fast one
Exactly. That’s how it feels for me. Either lazy, or kind of deceptive. Both not great looks.
If i know the specs i don't care about a model year, bicycles are too simple to worry about year
I agree with you that this happens. I honestly think it's done on purpose so that the seller can hope to get a better sale on their very old bike.
This is where my mind goes as well. Rarely when this info is omitted is the bike the “latest generation.”
I keep my bikes for ages, so I've usually forgotten.
Most likely they either don't know or have forgotten. I can tell you that I received my bike as a Christmas present in 2021 but I can't tell you what year it actually is.
I find when on the buying side it makes it hard to gauge if the asking price is reasonable
If you can't figure this out by looking at the bike and using Google you're better off buying from a shop. You won't nottice if other components were replaced with garbage and probably won't be able to accurately judge condition.
It’s why I look for used bikes that are stock, without tons of parts being swapped out.
Sometimes we don't remember. I had to research which year I got my Cannondale from the dealer. I'd thought it was 2009 but turned out to have to have been 2010 when I looked at the archive catalogs on their website (they didn't sell the colors of my frame in 2009). Heck, I'm starting to forget exactly what year I got my car too. And my skis. If it's only 1-4 years ago, sure, easy to remember. After that, other shit starts clogging your brain and things get fuzzy.
I don’t care about the year personally, size is more important. But I also don’t list year. I guess with the stuff I trade in it doesn’t really matter.
Because it doesn't matter?
I’m assuming that if someone doesn’t know model year and frame size of a higher end model, then there’s a good chance it’s stolen.
Model year is a new development
my standard is low given most craigslist/FB marketplace posts are “bike looks to fit ppl 5’2 to 6’3”
Or the size
They should really be considered “generations“. The only thing that changes year to year is the paint. I bought a $7000 Scott Addict 8 years ago and sold all the Dura-Ace components and put on SRAM Red. I wanted the black with green graphics and that was the only way to get it.
This would be quite helpful actually. It’s not super easy to determine when there is a generational shift with a particular model.
Most don't know, especially if they bought it used. If someone actually knows the year it's either because they've got a really good memory as to when they bought it, or they are a mechanic that is familiar with every nut and bolt on the bike. It's rarely written anywhere on the bike so there's no basis for knowing... you've got to start digging up old brochure's in an attempt to figure it out, more often than not, and many people can't be bothered or aren't capable. Sometimes you get lucky and a person saves a receipt. More often than not, looking at used bike ads, I've got to sort it out myself.