How Much Should A Bikepacking Bike Cost? Tips For Bargains!

We live in a world where everything seems to be becoming increasingly expensive. In modern times, you need to be fairly savvy with your finances. A question I often get asked here at the Bikepackist is “How much should a bikepacking bike cost?”

In this article, we will discuss just that. How much should you spend on a bike, and some great ways to save money on costs. Let’s go!

What Is A Bikepacking Bike?

A bikepacking bike can be anything in reality. It could be a classic touring bike, a mountain bike, or even a road racing bike. The key to making it a bikepacking bike is having some bags to carry luggage, and low gearing is advised more than anything.

If you want to learn more, you can read some of my other articles, such as What Makes A Bikepacking Bike and….

How Much Should I Spend On A Bikepacking Bike?

If you were to walk into a bike shop and ask how much you should spend on a bikepacking bike they would probably give a very different answer compared to what I’m going to say here. The right answer is whatever you can afford to spare or want to spend.

The difference between spending a lot and a little isn’t as crazy as you might think. High-end bikepacking setups can offer more than cheaper bikepacking setups, but with some sensible choices, you can get away with spending a small amount.

What You Get For Spending More Money On A Bikepacking Bike

If you decide to spend a lot of money on a bikepacking bike, then you are going to have something lighter, faster, and with the ability to stop a lot faster than a cheaper setup. You will likely experience greater reliability and a better riding experience.

What You Get When Spending Less Money On A Bikepacking Bike

If you opt for a cheaper bike, you will typically find outdated parts and technology, the setup may have a slightly heavier feel, and the parts may be less reliable.

Will A Cheap Bike Be Fine?

Yes, provided it has some good components from a company such as Shimano or SRAM, a solid frame, and you give it a few shakedown rides, then a bike as cheap as $400 would be ideal.

A good example is the blue bike in these pictures. I plan to do some long, epic rides with it, and compared to my other bikes, it’s about 7th of the cost new. I trust it will do me well and spend the money I saved buying a more expensive bike to put towards the trip.

You can make some good upgrades to a cheap bike to ensure it works well, such as better wheels or a groupset with lower ratios. It doesn’t have to be brand-new parts, just good branded stuff.

Top Tips For Finding Cheap Bikepacking Bikes

Ok, so if you were to ask me what to keep the bikepacking bike cost down, here’s what I would recommend.

Buy Preowned

Bikes lose a significant amount of value when you first purchase them. Grab a bargain and opt for a used bike that has been previously owned. I often buy second-hand bikes to sell on and the deals are incredible.

Older Models Are Much Better Value

When it comes to bikepacking bike cost, there’s nothing wrong with going for a model from a previous season or even a few years old. Providing it still has the technology you want such as disc brakes or larger tires it will be fine.

Choose Comfort Over Speed

No matter how cool the bike might look, it’s vital that it’s comfortable. Ensure it is the right size, a good relaxed geometry, and it has a low range of gears so you can keep your cadence high.

Start With Cheap Gear And Upgrade

When it comes to bikepacking bags and camping kit, I would recommend starting cheap and then upgrading over time. There’s value in high-end goods, but they don’t all need to be silly money. See what works and see what doesn’t.