fishboat

A good-component conversion, like the blue one I posted above, will run you about $250-$300, not including the base stock-built bike. All parts except the shifters were new. The stock blue bike above(a 2007 I think) was like new and ran me $325. The $250-$300 does not include a new set of good tires. Many folks ignore tires..tires make a huge difference in how a bike handles and how fun it is to ride. I always install good tires, but they are not specifically needed for a conversion.

I recently picked up another 7.5FX, also in like-new condition(2010 model), for $190..quite a score. I'm converting it now, using all new components, and using new 3x9 Microshift shifters($120). Costs will be about the same as the blue one. The red one will be left at & used at a vacation home we purchased recently.

The total costs of a conversion like this can be quite a deal. In our, actually my wife's experience, it's a road/gravel bike that is very lightweight, it FITS her (they are WSD frames), and can run 38-40mm tires for a comfortable ride. $500-$600** doesn't get you far when you start looking for a used gravel bike that can match one of these conversions. I target 7.5's and above..they have better component groups and a carbon fork. Parts are arriving for the red 7.5 conversion. I'll post a photo when I get it done.

**Between my wife and I, we have about 12-13 bikes. I've never purchased a used bike yet that didn't need $100-$200 is refurb-upgrades..so a $500 bike is typically more than $500 when the dust settles.