Originally Posted by
Troul
are you keeping the original frame? yes, it's the same. no, it's not.
The frame is just another part, same as the wheels or handlebars or saddle or cranks or any of a number of bearings. The frame can’t move without the other parts nor is it a “bicycle” without those other parts. If you replace a bearing, isn’t the bike different from the original bike and thus is a different bike?
Originally Posted by
Reflector Guy
And most likely, there's a serial number somewhere on the frame. Changing the frame changes the serial number which is less trivial than changing wheels or a seatpost.
Lots of parts have serial numbers. Forks, for example, can have them. Some hubs can have them. Some bearings have serial numbers. The “serial number” is a way for manufacturers to keep track of production and inventory or to prevent counterfeiting. If some part has a serial number and you change to a new part, does that mean you have a new bike?