>>1061208Suspension frames might use more material and be more complicated in terms of construction. However suspension frames aren't engineered as far when in comes to weight and aero. And especially the aero part is what makes the R&D expensive on road frames. Also all carbon frames are done by hand to molds so that part is the same on both. Laying up the carbon slightly different doesn't really matter. The price of materials is negligible when we're talking strictly frames as using slightly more carbon doesn't make the frame more expensive because in the end of the day carbon itself is relatively cheap. It's the process of engineering it into a shape that is usable that's the expensive part in a frame, or any other carbon part.
All that said most of the high end road frames are massively marked up. Manufacturers like Giant and Canyon seem to be doing just fine selling world tour frames for slightly over 2k.
And all that said I still can understand the reason some people spend 5k on a road frame. I personally can't see myself paying more than double what I paid for my Ultimate CF SLX frame for a frame. But I understand why getting a certain frame can be important for some people.
Still most the people on those +5k road frames get them because they're the type of people who buy their way into every hobby they happen to get into and get the best money can get as money isn't a problem for them and they want to get the full experience. And for them the best money can get is something prestigious and expensive. ,
