Originally Posted by
mvnsnd
Not in the business, but my guess would be manufacturers get a discount on components and have found that is better to sell a complete bike than a frame. Customers can ride the bike and it looks better on a showroom floor than just a frame. Also requires very little labor from the retailer to put together and the manufacturer takes most of the risk.
Think about how many people here talk about test riding bikes before buying. The average person just wants a bike they can ride. They are not too picky about components.