Hope has announced its radical HB.T track bike, made in collaboration with Lotus for use by Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will cost an astonishing £15,550 for the ‘standard frameset’, which doesn’t include the 3D-printed handlebars or wheels.
If you include pursuit or drop handlebars, then the prices rise to a minimum of £17,100 or £18,200 respectively, making this one of the most expensive production bikes to ever be publicly released.
Pricing for the matching wheels designed specifically to complement this frameset has also been announced, with prices starting at £2,100 for a front disc, and rising to £2,450 for a rear disc wheel. Hope’s new trispoke front wheel will cost £2,250.
As per UCI rules, Hope has confirmed the HB.T and wheels will be available to purchase by any member of the public, but that a deposit of £5,000 is “required to secure your order”.
Hope HB.T pricing
- Standard frameset (frame, fork, seatpost and stem): £15,550
- Pursuit frameset (frame, fork, seatpost, integrated stem and pursuit handlebars): £17,100
- Upright (Omnium) frameset (frame, fork, seatpost, integrated stem and omnium handlebars): £18,200
- Sprint frameset (frame, fork, seatpost, integrated stem and sprint handlebars): £19,600
- Rear disc wheel: £2,450
- Front disc wheel: £2,100
- Trispoke wheel: £2,250
And in case anyone was thinking that those prices aren’t too bad, it’s worth noting that they are all exclusive of VAT.
That makes the most affordable frameset and wheel combination - the pursuit setup with front and rear discs - a princely £25,980 including 20 per cent VAT for UK readers.
Now we know the official pricing, is anyone out there thinking of ordering one? You can rule out delivery in time for Christmas, but you might be able to get one in time for the start of the 2020 race season if you order now…
