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New Steel frame How to find a guy to make it?

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Old 08-19-14, 02:54 PM
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New Steel frame How to find a guy to make it?

I want to look into a new road frame steel no need for fully custom as off the shelf does work fine for me. I found a web page with a list of all frame builders by state. As I reviewed the cost varies from $700 for an off the rack frame to $2,500 for custom. All things being equal if some guy builds me a bike for $700 I add a carbon fork for $300 will I be riding a much lesser bike than the $2,500 frame?
I have zero need for a fancy big named guy on the frame.
Wondering what have folks done?
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Old 08-19-14, 02:57 PM
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Magic 8 Ball says "too vague".

Same tubing?

What builder is $700?

Is $2500 including a fork?

What do they charge for a custom frame?

Custom builder may build "stock" frames when they don't have custom work to do. Since those frames are more equivalent to factory frames, they have to be priced closer to the prices of factory frames.

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Old 08-19-14, 03:12 PM
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https://hufnagelcycles.tumblr.com

My nephew had this built by him Hufnagel x Karl Benjamin | Cycle EXIF
Its a a beauty and ride so nice!
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Old 08-19-14, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by JTGraphics
https://hufnagelcycles.tumblr.com

My nephew had this built by him Hufnagel x Karl Benjamin | Cycle EXIF
Its a a beauty and ride so nice!
Looks expensive
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Old 08-19-14, 03:22 PM
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If you don't need custom, why are you looking for a small frame builder? Why not just buy a production steel frame like a Ritchey Logic including their excellent fork for just about your price. Check it out at Adrenaline.
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Old 08-19-14, 03:23 PM
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The tubing will have a lot to do with the pricing as well as other touches like curved stays, hand cut lugs, internal brake cable, ect. An off the shelf frame from a custom builder is going to be sweet as it is.
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Old 08-19-14, 03:31 PM
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Buy local. Even if you don't need custom geometry, you can review your needs, goals, and budget with the builder. That's priceless IMO.
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Old 08-19-14, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by datlas
Buy local. Even if you don't need custom geometry, you can review your needs, goals, and budget with the builder. That's priceless IMO.
I dunno. Do you think you can do that for $700? I'd be surprised. The production steel frame guys like Ritchey, Gunnar, Soma, etc. are putting out some very fine stuff right now for very reasonable prices. But I suppose it couldn't hurt for OP to give it a try. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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Old 08-19-14, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
Looks expensive
It was by the time he as done the frame alone was in the 3k+ range.
But he's and artist and art professor in a local collage thats were the inspiration for the paint job came from.

When you do custom you will pay a price for it! but in his case he was looking for something special which he got and when you do something like this you need to add in the cost of a fitter so you have the specs for which the builder can work off.
If your going to just have someone build a frame off general specs why even think about custom?
You will be better off with production frame, several good frames to pick from.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
I dunno. Do you think you can do that for $700? I'd be surprised. The production steel frame guys like Ritchey, Gunnar, Soma, etc. are putting out some very fine stuff right now for very reasonable prices. But I suppose it couldn't hurt for OP to give it a try. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
If he goes with a big name, it will be expensive. But there are lots of lesser known custom builders out there.

As you said, it's worth looking into as an alternative to an off the shelf frame.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:11 PM
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Still on the left coast.

Hey @patentcad, you might be interested in this: we are heading out to see the A's play the Mets.

I did sneak in a brief ride today before returning the rented Roubaix.

Flying home tomorrow.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by datlas
Still on the left coast.

Hey @patentcad, you might be interested in this: we are heading out to see the A's play the Mets.

I did sneak in a brief ride today before returning the rented Roubaix.

Flying home tomorrow.
I hate when that happens.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by thehammerdog
I want to look into a new road frame steel no need for fully custom as off the shelf does work fine for me. I found a web page with a list of all frame builders by state. As I reviewed the cost varies from $700 for an off the rack frame to $2,500 for custom. All things being equal if some guy builds me a bike for $700 I add a carbon fork for $300 will I be riding a much lesser bike than the $2,500 frame?
I have zero need for a fancy big named guy on the frame.
Wondering what have folks done?
I'm confused. If you don't need fully custom, why look at frame builders? There are lots of nice off-the-shelf TIGged options at reasonable prices.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by halfspeed
I'm confused. If you don't need fully custom, why look at frame builders? There are lots of nice off-the-shelf TIGged options at reasonable prices.
That's what I said. I agree with you.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
That's what I said. I agree with you.

Now you're just being argumentative.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Now you're just being argumentative.
I just can't help it. Mea culpa, mea culpa.
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Old 08-19-14, 06:39 PM
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Worth looking in to: https://www.benscycle.com/p-2975-mil...e-builder.aspx?
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Old 08-19-14, 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by TK LP
Man, that's pretty sweet. Good tubing and a good price. Made by Waterford even. Now you have me thinking.
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Old 08-19-14, 07:02 PM
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Also confused why OP is looking at custom when he doesn't need custom and price seems to be a factor. Jamis has complete bikes for under $2000. Bianchi does too. Soma, Gunnar, All City, Surly and others have nice frame sets. And ebay is full of used frames. Granted you'll still pay upwards of $1000 on ebay for a Reynolds 853 or Columbus frame in like new shape but there are some great deals to be found. I bought a complete Tange 1 Iroman for $275 and worth every penny
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Old 08-19-14, 07:06 PM
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.Curtlo Cycles - Handmade bicycles. Custom Mountain Bike, Road, Cyclocross, Tandem bikes

makes custom bikes. His prices are not bad.
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Old 08-19-14, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
Also confused why OP is looking at custom when he doesn't need custom and price seems to be a factor. Jamis has complete bikes for under $2000. Bianchi does too. Soma, Gunnar, All City, Surly and others have nice frame sets. And ebay is full of used frames. Granted you'll still pay upwards of $1000 on ebay for a Reynolds 853 or Columbus frame in like new shape but there are some great deals to be found. I bought a complete Tange 1 Iroman for $275 and worth every penny
Ritchey uses very fine, light tubing and makes a super efficient and comfortable frame.
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Old 08-19-14, 07:47 PM
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Curtlo Cycles builds nice frames that don't cost too much. Custom frames start at $990.(2011 prices)

.Curtlo Cycles - Handmade bicycles. Custom Mountain Bike, Road, Cyclocross, Tandem bikes
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Old 08-19-14, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
Ritchey uses very fine, light tubing and makes a super efficient and comfortable frame.
I'm not as familiar with Ritchey's frames but it looks nice. What kind of steel? I can't find the material listed on their site
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Old 08-19-14, 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by halfspeed
I hate when that happens.
Me too. Oh well, carry on.
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Old 08-20-14, 03:54 AM
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Originally Posted by rms13
Also confused why OP is looking at custom when he doesn't need custom and price seems to be a factor. Jamis has complete bikes for under $2000. Bianchi does too. Soma, Gunnar, All City, Surly and others have nice frame sets. And ebay is full of used frames. Granted you'll still pay upwards of $1000 on ebay for a Reynolds 853 or Columbus frame in like new shape but there are some great deals to be found. I bought a complete Tange 1 Iroman for $275 and worth every penny
Well for one thing a frame made by a custom builder holds it's value very well compared to a Jamis. My Paramount is a Panasonic/Japan frame. Even though Waterford oversaw design and production it's not worth near as much as a Waterford Paramount even though the ride on both is probably about equal and weight difference minimal. Kind of like comparing a Camaro SS to a Porsche.
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