Building first bike help.
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Building first bike help.
Hey there. Been lurking for a while reading up on different builds. And finally saved up a bit of cash for my own. But don't really know what all to get. I haves a budget of around $1600. I'm 5'9. 180. Any help would be great.
#2
Pint-Sized Gnar Shredder
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Somewhere between heaven and hell
Posts: 3,549
Bikes: '09 Jamis Komodo, '09 Mirraco Blend One, '08 Cervelo P2C, '08 Specialized Ruby Elite, '07 Yeti AS-R SL, '07 DMR Drone
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
First bike you're building or first bike period? If it's the first bike you're building and you've been riding a while, what kind of riding do you do? What bike do you have now? What don't you like about your current bike? If it's your first bike, I'd highly recommend buying a complete...unless you're an eBay ninja with plenty of patience and plenty of know-how, you'll save a good amount of money that way.
#3
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
If you're building a bike from higher end used parts off of the 'bay, you can build a pretty nice bike, the way you want it within you're budget of $1600, if you wait for the right parts and catch them at a good price. Used prices usually bottom out on ebay right before Christmas.
If you're building buying new parts, at $1600 you'd be way better off buying a complete LBS bike or maybe something from BD. Bike Manufacturers get huge bulk discounts from parts manufacturers. You will pay full list.
If you're building buying new parts, at $1600 you'd be way better off buying a complete LBS bike or maybe something from BD. Bike Manufacturers get huge bulk discounts from parts manufacturers. You will pay full list.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This will be my first adult bike. The main reason I thought of building is that everyone bike has their pros and cons. So I thought building would be a easier way instead of buying a built then upgrading.
#5
Senior Member
I'll suggest buying a complete bike first so you can find out the pros and cons so the SECOND bike will be your fave.
Anyway you do it have fun!
I'm going to assemble some parts to make something affordable and fun for me over the winter. Thanks Rocco for the economy tip.
-SP
Anyway you do it have fun!
I'm going to assemble some parts to make something affordable and fun for me over the winter. Thanks Rocco for the economy tip.
-SP
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Then you'll know what you're looking for and will be able to build yourself a bike to fall in love with.
#9
Still kicking.
While it is easier, it's not cost effective depending on your budget.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,334
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not wishing to sound like an old coot, but I've been building bikes my whole life (I'm 48 now), and while there is nothing like it for whiling away the hours and getting those sinapses connected, it's a hell of a learning curve. I personally started because we had no money as kids, and that was the only way to get a ride (can you hear the violins swell, yet?). If it were me, and wanted a decent bike, and had enough money, I'd probably buy a half decent bike, hell, maybe even a less than half decent bike with a decent frame, and start swapping out over time. That way I'd have something to ride which I hadn;t sunk a ton of money into, and yet had something to learn wrenching on. Of course, that's only good advice if you live in my head (I wouldn;t advise that). But rule of thumb - bike building is much like anything; you do, you learn. And no better way of learning than rolling your sleeves up and getting your fingers dirty. Of course, if it's a premium ride your after at the end of it, the cheap upbuild may not be the best way to go. You'll end up with a drawer full of cheap parts and a bike which is a beaut - except for that cheap frame...
But then again, I imagine we've all got a garage full of bits (and a few frames stashed in the rafters that the missus doesn't know about).
I could also give you advice on the missus. Just don't tell her I said that
Does that make any sense whatsoever?
But then again, I imagine we've all got a garage full of bits (and a few frames stashed in the rafters that the missus doesn't know about).
I could also give you advice on the missus. Just don't tell her I said that
Does that make any sense whatsoever?
Last edited by Gotte; 10-24-12 at 01:31 PM.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Paradise CA
Posts: 442
Bikes: 13' Ragley Marley, 12' Pivot Firebird, 13' Pivot Point, 89' Bridgestone RB-1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Should just save up a lil more cash and swoop something like this: https://www.jensonusa.com/!zJ0CPWWqq9...FW-CQgodjXsAxg. Then you would be set. Like previously stated if this is your first decent bike IMO you would be better off buying a complete bike and then upgrading components that youre not happy with on it. Though doable, itll be hard to build a bike specd like the above for 1600 or around that price. Unless you're shopping around, watching ebay/craigslist etc and have some time to kill, building a bike is often more expensive than buying complete.
#12
Two-Wheeled Aficionado
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Wichita
Posts: 4,903
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur TR, Cannondale Quick CX dropbar conversion & others
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
There is some really good advice here. Let me chime in my $0.02 in an overly long-winded way.
My dad and I got 'new' FS bikes this year.
He bought a BMC Speedfox (26") from Speedgoat when they put it on model year-end clearance. He paid $2699 and it retailed for $3599. It has a full Shimano XT group less the chain (KMC DX-10), good wheels, a Fox Evolution RL fork and a Fox RP2 shock. (BTW Speedgoat now has mediums left for $2399, if you are interested.) It's a 2012 and lacks a Shadow or Shadow Plus rear derailleur. Kind of annoying, all that chain slap. But I've ridden the bike and it's fast and awesome.
I bought a 2004 Santa Cruz Blur frame with an old Fox Float R AVA shock and bought all-new parts as cheap as I could from mostly Ebay, but a little Amazon and Competitive Cyclist. I paid $2830 total. I just bought a new CTD Trail Adjust shock which brings my total investment to $3200. But you can't buy a bike with X9 drivetrain, X0 twist grips, and a kashima fork and shock for that, even on clearance.
I just did 14 miles on his bike today. I've done hundreds on mine. His bike is pretty damn good. I'd say it is 8/10ths of mine-- for less money, a warranty on the frame, and really it only gives up some adjustability and smoothness in the suspension. This was my first build and I put about 20 hours in it. Previously, I had only done routine maintenance, but on my bike I did everything except the headset (no bearing press, and I didn't want to ghetto it). Next time I could build a bike in under 8 hours, but I'd still spend hours researching parts and finding the best deals.
Anyone can get a deal like my dad did if you do some research and know what you need, or just take a chance and get lucky, and most importantly strike fast once you see a deal you know you want. But many LBSes don't discount their end-of-year bikes anywhere near what the big online resellers do. $1600 is enough money to get a good hardtail bike. If you want full suspension, you'll be able to get a very rideable, mid-entry bike if you get the right deal.
My dad and I got 'new' FS bikes this year.
He bought a BMC Speedfox (26") from Speedgoat when they put it on model year-end clearance. He paid $2699 and it retailed for $3599. It has a full Shimano XT group less the chain (KMC DX-10), good wheels, a Fox Evolution RL fork and a Fox RP2 shock. (BTW Speedgoat now has mediums left for $2399, if you are interested.) It's a 2012 and lacks a Shadow or Shadow Plus rear derailleur. Kind of annoying, all that chain slap. But I've ridden the bike and it's fast and awesome.
I bought a 2004 Santa Cruz Blur frame with an old Fox Float R AVA shock and bought all-new parts as cheap as I could from mostly Ebay, but a little Amazon and Competitive Cyclist. I paid $2830 total. I just bought a new CTD Trail Adjust shock which brings my total investment to $3200. But you can't buy a bike with X9 drivetrain, X0 twist grips, and a kashima fork and shock for that, even on clearance.
I just did 14 miles on his bike today. I've done hundreds on mine. His bike is pretty damn good. I'd say it is 8/10ths of mine-- for less money, a warranty on the frame, and really it only gives up some adjustability and smoothness in the suspension. This was my first build and I put about 20 hours in it. Previously, I had only done routine maintenance, but on my bike I did everything except the headset (no bearing press, and I didn't want to ghetto it). Next time I could build a bike in under 8 hours, but I'd still spend hours researching parts and finding the best deals.
Anyone can get a deal like my dad did if you do some research and know what you need, or just take a chance and get lucky, and most importantly strike fast once you see a deal you know you want. But many LBSes don't discount their end-of-year bikes anywhere near what the big online resellers do. $1600 is enough money to get a good hardtail bike. If you want full suspension, you'll be able to get a very rideable, mid-entry bike if you get the right deal.
Last edited by ColinL; 10-30-12 at 08:45 PM.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Geelong, Australia
Posts: 659
Bikes: Cannondale Supersix Hi-Mod / Scott Spark 930 / Scott Sportster 20 / Jamis Allegro 2.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just buy one dude...ride it...for a few years...see what you end up doing...end up liking...then maybe build one. Unless you just want to build cos you think it'll be fun...in that case all power to you.