Build a Bike?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Caher
Hi all,
The other day a friend came over with his brand new mountain bike and I could not get over how little it weighed compared to mine. When I bought mine nearly eight years ago it cost a bomb and had some of the best componentry around at the time.
I now think it’s finally time to replace it but with changed priorities a large initial outlay might not be feasible, so I thought about building my own bike over a period.
Has anyone got any experience of this – is it cheaper?

Many thanks
Sam

OEM pricing for components can make the do-it-yourself proposition more expensive. If you are keeping the frame, wheels, cranks, etc. you may be able to keep your budget under control. However, tools and time are factors you need to decide how you want to look at,,,... investment or expense.
You might also find someone who just can't stand not having the latest and greatest... and help him or her unload that year old stuff.

Generally speaking the answer to that question is no. Swapping out componentry and buying new off-the-shelf replacement is expensive and you can usually do much better by just buying a complete bike with the componentry you are after. That said, it IS possible to get what you want and for less than a new bike would cost IF you are willing to be patient and do the legwork so to speak. I spent countless hours over 6 months searching online classifieds and ebay to finally get all the as-new components I required to build up a second bike on a new Giant ATX 890 frame. The fun experience not only gave me a bike equipped just the way I wanted it and the satisfaction of building it myself but also forced me to learn my bike backwards and forwards so to speak.

Bottom line.. deals and even steals are out there to make it happen but it will take time and a lot of patience. 🙂

i work as a mechanic in a bike shop and 95% of the time it is cheaper to just get the new bike, because the components usually cost less when it comes on the new bike. when you buy a gruppo of components, especially the higher level stuff, the pricing jumps way too much, but if it comes on a bike, that cost drops a certain level. that said, it is possible to find an incredible deal, but really hard to find. but, it is possible, given a LOT of time and a LOT of patience...

~the turtle

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Caher
...I thought about building my own bike over a period.
Has anyone got any experience of this – is it cheaper?

I did that last summer, and I agree with the other posters. It IS possible to do it and get it cheaper that way, but ONLY if you're able to find good deals on components, don't have to pay for tools or any of the assembly work and don't mind if it'll take you months to succeed.

'Course, being able to hang on to certain parts like cranks also helps.

It's quite fun though, and it'll give you a head start whenever something needs fixing further on.

Also keep in mind that to create a noticeable weight reduction on a bike pretty much everything needs to be picked with weight in mind. Trying to build up a new and lighter bike on an existing (assumed heavy) frame just won't do you much good regardless of how much light-weight components you use when equipping the bike.

I also agree. You've just gotta look at the prices of (for example) the Giant road bikes, then price the individual components. The price of the cheapest carbon Giant with Shimano Ultegra is amazing for a carbon bike.

I've been building bikes bit-by-bit for a few years, mainly out of neccessity. Being a part-time student, I rarely have a few thousand dollars lying around to spend on a bike.🙂 So, whenever I can scrape up a few hundred, I'll replace whatever needs updating.

Luckily, in my area we have a 2nd hand bike shop, so I've been able to scrounge around for a few bargains. This requires some effort and patience, but it's also been kinda fun.

I built up my first road bike a few months ago and it was worth it to me because there is no stock bike that came with the components I wanted, and I built it around a lugged steel frame (not many "stock" bikes these days with lugged steel). It took about 3 months to get all the parts I needed as a I waited for sales/coupons and close-out deals (there seem to be a lot more deals to be found during the winter as opposed to "in season"😉.

The hands-on education of building up a bike was worth it to me, and now I can do 100% of the maintenance myself and have all the tools necessary to do it.

If you want the best value and just want to ride, then buy a new stock bike. Just make sure you get what you want up front or you might get a case of "upgrade" fever and end up spending even more than if you'd built the bike up yourself to begin with.