Originally Posted by
70sSanO
Having built bikes from the frame, as well as buying, unless your friend has great connections/sources/parts bins to get parts cheap, and can build the bike himself, it is almost always more expensive to build.
In my experience you build because you want something that is unique, and you really like to build them. Just building basically the same as what a mfg already specs will probably be a losing proposition.
Absolutely, the whole is almost always cheaper than the sum of its parts. I've also built several bikes up from bare frames but either got a great deal on a complete "build kit" or transferred most of the components from other bikes. The old cliche "Good, cheap and fast. Pick any two." applies here also. If you have plenty of time you can assemble a good bike at relatively low cost. If you are in a hurry, it's going to be expensive or poor quality.