Kokiafan

Hi all. This is kind of a cross-post but hoping someone here will be able to help.
I got a cheap China frame and built it up using Dura-ace 6800 components. I no longer have confidence in the frame (8 years old, and I am a big guy) and would like to just move all my components to a new frame.

If you, mechanics reading this thread, needed to buy a frame, what do you do? Where do you go?

I see some ads for older frames (2009 to 2016) sometimes, and they say "never used." Would YOU buy a 5 or 8 or 10 year old "new" frame for a build?

TIA!

Iride01 

If you are willing to spend the money, you can buy a new frame from most any bike manufacturer. Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Specialized and others all have a price posted for new and NOS stock they have in inventory. Some even tell you if one of their dealers (LBS's) have them in stock.

Definitely more trustworthy than any other used source. But I've bought from eBay, craigslists and others too. Just use a high amount of skepticism and satisfy those thoughts before opening your wallet.

Kokiafan

Liking some of the 2020 Giant frames, but nobody appears to have any in stock. My local LBS said they would be happy to take all the parts off of a new complete bike and put on my Ultegra. Uh, no.

Iride01 

Hopefully in late July to mid August a boat load of new bikes and frames will get here.

thehammerdog

yes.
dude u just said that ur bike was 8 years old and a knock off.
plenty of Name brand frame deals to be had.
but why Dura Ace for a crap frame?

RowdyTI

"Cheap" "Chinese" frame doesn't mean much. You're going to get a lot more for your money if you carefully buy a frame directly from China. That cheap Chinese frame may actually be quite good. The American bike manufacturers are very brand-name and profit-driven, and most importantly have big overhead, so they really mark things up, which is further amplified if you buy through a bike shop. Are you sure your concern about frame integrity is warranted? 8 years and no issues so far?

TiHabanero

In 2001 I was unimpressed with frame offerings by the big 4 so I built my own frame and have built 4 more since then. Build your own and get exactly what you want and need. Oh, the cost is way less, too.

70sSanO

I think the first step is to decide what you want. Not just “a” frame but a frame from the short list. I’ve bought bikes and frames off of eBay and they have all worked out. You need to do research on what frames you might really like, even those 7/8 years old. Read reviews, find out what people think, check geometry, compare to what you have now, what is better about the new frame, etc.

What I have now works well for me, but I have always wanted a titanium bike. I have not put in the effort to research the ideal titanium frame for me, which is good for now; as I might get a wild hair to get one.

The most fun in building a bike is finding the right one, not just a generic one.

John

mitchmellow62

All-City, Salsa, Rivendell, Waterford are all alternatives to the big brands. I'm sure there are more.

zacster

Colnago, DeRosa, Pinarello. Italian names even if manufactured in Taiwan. There are tons of choices. If you can find a NOS frame even better as the price will be cheaper. But decide in advance if you want disc brakes and through axle wheels as that is a different frame. And also you need to know which bottom bracket. And seatpost size. These things have changed some in 8 years.

Kokiafan

I had 1200 for a bike, and I paid 400 for the frame. I guess that was a lot of money in 2012 for a frame, do not really remember. Someone I know had one and suggested I get it so I got it. The company is no longer in business so who knows what the quality was.His frame failed a couple of years ago but I just kept riding mine. Now, I have some kind of strange creaking sound coming out of it that I have not been able to isolate. Maybe it is the frame, maybe not?
If someone can say to me that I should never expect a problem from a 400 dollar frame I bought 8 years ago, I will go with that...
Something like this, maybe: https://www.ebay.com/itm/PINARELLO-M...MAAOSwDHNfBv5h

70sSanO

Cool looking bike. Seller has 100% positive feedback over 1500 responses. If that frame fits what you want, what’s not to like?

But you should get reviews on the frame.

John

HillRider

Of course they are "profit-driven". You think the Chinese aren't? Part of the brand name maker's overhead cost is assuring the frames they also source from Asia are built to a reliable quality standard and providing warranty and product liability protection for the consumer. You may indeed get a very high quality frame at low cost directly from the Chinese manufacturer but you have no way of assuring that.

CyclingFool95 

I have two Carbon frames I bought "new" last year - both are from 2006 - but, I know both were unused/never built up, and both were genuine. Once came from an ebay seller, the other from Excel Sports in their "Vintage Pinarello" sale. I have no concern about 15 year old carbon (my Litespeed has a 25 year old Kestrel fork on it but since I've owned it since new I know its history) but I would be concerned about abuse/damage from a used frame.

I would take a look at Excel: .https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...ajor=1&minor=1 or Merlin: https://www.merlincycles.com/road-bike-frames-75276/

Steve B.

Nothing wrong with NOS - New Old Stock. Question whether there's still a warranty to the original owner. If you currently have a rim brake bike with mechanical shifting using exterior cable routing as well as a BSA bottom bracket, with all the components in good shape it can pay to simply replace the frame and move over the components.

One place I see a loot of NOS frames is R&A Cycles in Brooklyn, NY. https://www.racycles.com/bikes/road

zacster

Pinarello, nice! I'd go for that myself.

Moe Zhoost

And those will satisfy all of the back orders. QBP has said that they will not be able to ship new bike orders for at least 6 months.

squirtdad

what group do you have..... afaik there is no durace 6800 ultegra 6800 or dura ace 7900?

blakcloud

Someone posted this over at Paceline tonight. Some older bikes that look like they might work if they are the right size.

Parlee frames at Pro's Closet

squirtdad

hot itallian whether you have ultegra 6800 or durace 6900 with hollow tech you just get an Shimano italian BB at $25 to 30 and put your parts on


https://www.racycles.com/bikes/road/...-frameset-1212

zacster

The guy in the video at R&A sold me my bike 15 years ago. I had to replace the frame after I crashed it hard, but all the components came over, including the wheels which were surprisingly untouched. The original frame was a Kuota Kharma and I replaced it with a Kuota Kredo, and I still ride that bike as my main ride. It was my 50th birthday present to myself so at 65 now I don't really see a need to get anything new and besides it has served me very well over the years. I can still crank it out and beat most people.

As for R&A, they are OK to work with when you are spending a lot of money but can be a little brusque when you go in to buy the little stuff. People here in Brooklyn either love 'em or hate 'em.

robertorolfo

Don't want to derail this thread and start talking about intellectual property rights and whatnot, but...

As if the "big 4" are the only ones making decent bikes? Tons of alternatives out there, in every type of material...

Don't forget the Italians that are still building bikes in Italy!

That 8.675% sales tax though!

I've actually checked out their site a few times and considered stopping by, but I definitely got the "vibe" that they were going to be a bit snobby. I know they have overhead and whatnot, but their prices definitely seemed to be in the 'people from NYC have tons of money and don't really know what they are buying' range. Still, might be kinda fun though if I go on my Basso that I didn't buy from them...

zacster

You should definitely go in. The store if full of eye candy and they don't mind if you are just looking. Just don't try to talk bike to them unless they come to you first. I brought in my Davidson that I had built in Seattle and also my Zilioli from Italy and they would gawk at them, both steel classics. You just don't see them in NYC and they see everything.

steeljunkie

I've had great luck with the Black Mountain Cycles frames from Mike Varley in Pt Reyes Station, California. I, too, am big enough to break stuff on my bikes, so I like the durability of high quality steel bikes. Definitely worth checking out.
https://blackmtncycles.com/