Building a bike from ebay

craigward

Hello all,

I am going to start riding again after a long time, maybe 10 years or so.

I have a bike that I built all those years ago and don't really have the money to splash out on a new one so I wondered about building one from bits either in the sale or on ebay.

If I remember rightly my current bike is as follow:

Late 1990's Marin Nail Trail Frame
Magura Race Line brakes (The yellow ones)
I think it is Mavic rims on STX hubs, STX mechs, some cheap twist shift gears on a 7 speed cassette. I think the bars and stems and the rest are the cheap as chips stuff.

I was thinking of getting a full suspension frame and forks on ebay but not sure what to get or pay. I want something for cross country and a bit of fun. I saw an 04 Kona stinky go for £130 and quite like the look of them. I also like the current Specialized FSR XC so a frame like these would be good.

I currently have my eye on:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0355297982

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0354776372

Are these frames still good, or is it just worth waiting and spending my money on a good bike to start with?

Whats a good second hand frame to start off with?

JxL

Building a bike bit-by-bit is the expensive option, and also not as good unless you are very knowledgeable. Also remember each part from ebay will have postage costs, it all adds up..

I also thought of building an XC bike from bits a week ago, but now ordered a full bike because in the end it would work out about the same.

Also while each part may be good, it may not feel as good. Full bikes are designed with all parts in consideration (frame size, length of stem etc etc), and generally feel better than build-it-yourself bikes (again, unless you really know what you are doing).

Do you have the option to pay by longer-term finance if you don't have the cash right now?

craigward

I was thinking of finance but don't really want the debt. My goal was to transfer all my bits from my old bike to the new frame. I would then buy quality bits when I could afford them. I quite like the thought of building one and putting on quality parts. It all depends on if the right frame comes up on ebay, and also deciding what kind of frame I want.

ratty2k

It can be done, there was a Giant (NRS?)built by this (WMB) magazine from bits mostly scoured from ebay... Just takes longer and a bit of thought...

craigward

The frame seems the most sensible place to start. If I had around £100 - £150 to play around with what would be best to get? Is a full suss frame from 2001-2004 still good? There is a GT iDrive going for £145. Also is it worth buying the forks that the bike was built with?

At the moment I am watching around 12 frame to get an idea of price. Are there any gems worth looking out for from yester year?

nicklouse

problems you will have.

different headsets.
different length of forks steerers needed.
fork steerer size different (diameter) and stem/bars different sizes.
seat post and clamp different sizes
Front mech different fitting/different band sizes.
different cable pull direction front mech.
and maybe rear hub width/front hub axle size.


otherwise every thing will fit.

craigward

So this sounds like a big no!

But surely if I got a frame and fork all my original bits would fit? I think things might have moved on since I last built a bike

nicklouse

maybe maybe not. there are thre mech band sizes. there also other ways to fit front mechs.

Seat posts come in lots of sizes. as do seat post clamps and even then they do not have to be the same size as the mech band.

Fork come with 1 1/8th sterers and 1.5" steerers oh then there are the one with 1 1/8" at the top and the 1.5" at the bottom.

Standard fit headsets. internal (zero stack) and integral......

forks can be standard Qr, 20mm and 15mm and then there are a few with 24mm and others. (and 100mm or 110mm O.L.D)

rear hubs can be 135mm or 150mm O.L.D axles can be 10mm or 12mm or.....

there are so many variables that you could buy a pile of parts that could make a bike but will not.

lots of looking and spec reading is needed is you are buying used.

Oh and then there is the hoses for discs. if the fork did not have the same travel you may need to change the hose and bleed. or shorten and bleed.

and while we are on about discs. 6 bolt fitting or shimano splined fitting? oh but there are 2 shimano sizes.

Do not presume that anything will fit unless you know the sizes are the same.

craigward

Well, I guess I will have to have my wits about me. Some things I will buy in the sales and will make sure everything fits. If I stick to XT components I should be OK? I will stick with the Maguras for a while and save up for some nice disc brakes.

I suppose I need to see what stuff I already have and how useful it will be. I haven't even looked at it in years so I may end up replacing more than I thought.

nicklouse

sorry no. there is xt and xt and xt this size that size and the other.
the only good this is the current front mech (if they come with all the shims) will fit all three band sizes and are both top or bottom pull. You just need to know what swing you want.

once you have the frame then it will be easier to make sure you get parts that fit.

Dont buy bits hoping that they will fit what ever frame you eng up getting as 99% of the time they will not.

Great Ayton

Personally I would say don't. Ebay has a habit if never turning out quite the way you would have hoped. As people have said there is computability problems and just generally used bike parts are more often than not warn out. Even if you know what your after things can still go wrong. If you don't know then really ebay is like keyhole surgery done by a blind man.

craker

I tried doing this with a road bike frame a couple of years ago and by the time I'd transferred the components across all that was left from the original bike was the pedals and tyres.

And I'm still buying new stems for it because it's never quite fitted properly (and the guy who fitted the headset sawed the steerer tube at its lowest point grrrr...) - definitely would buy complete and new if doing it again.

Still, I have built a couple of very useable runabouts from ebay / rubbish dump / spares, there's a real sense of achievement about it.

craigward

OK, So buying the parts seems to be the bit I shouldn't do. I should be safe buying a frame though? Are there any frames I should be looking out for? and ones to avoid?

craker

do it if you fancy it, I think you're probably aware of the pitfalls, ie you don't quite know what you'll end up with.

If you're running 7 speed on your current bike then you're probably looking at a new wheelset / groupset which is no cheap option. When manufacturers went up from 7 to 8 speed (or is it 8 to 9? can't remember) another gear was fitted by widening the rear hub fit in teh back triangle (OLD = over locknut dimension) so, on a road bike, 7 speed equates to 120mm old, 9 speed 130mm. You're 7 speed hub won't fit.

and nine speed means new shifters

Are your Maguras rim brakes btw? If so you'll probably looking to fit discs at some point which means new wheels which are both rim brake and disk brake compatible, maybe something of a compromise which you could do without.

I've got a spare set of Alex rims on Deore hubs 9 speed rim brake only wheels if you want them... :roll:

Kiwi Kranker

You dont necessarily need to stick to eBay. Last year I built a HT S-Works up from new parts . I only ever bought from store sales or as cheap as I could find the parts new online whether eBay or CRC etc. I spent a long time doing this -roughly 6 months- and when all was said and done I maybe saved about £400 on the showroom floor price.

Was not a huge saving considering its new price but I built my own bike from scratch with the kit I wanted. Was more for the experience than anything else as I have since sold it in favour of another full susser.

What was my point? Oh yes, if you have the time and you definitely want to build your own bike then dont even think of trying to match parts up, pick a frame you like (get out a ride some fully built up versions of bikes you like the look of to help make up your mind) and build it up from there. Think of your old bike as a 'temporary ride'.

Building is great fun and very satisfying but dont expect it to necessarily be cheaper, buying the parts over a period of time may make it more affordable as you can buy when you have a bit of spare cash.

This is all depends on whether or not you can handle using your old bike for a few months of course!

Good luck!

adb1006

There's nothing wrong with building up your own bike from scratch IMO. If you buy even a top end bike, there's bound to be bits you'll still want to replace (unless you buy a totally custom build). Buying it bit by bit means you buy the best bits you can afford as and when you can afford them. It's also a lot of fun building it yourself.

I did things slightly differently and bought a cheap-ish entry level bike - the Specialized Hardrock Sport. I then upgraded all the bits to fairly top end stuff that until all i was left to upgrade was the frame. I then bought a new frame, transferred all the bits over, rebuilt the Hardrock, sold that and Robert's your mother's brother.
I preferred doing it this way as i was then able to be out riding the Hardrock the whole time, rather than just looking a pile of parts in my garage and dreaming of being out!
I've ended with a bike worth about £2000 and have spent about £1300 as i bought bits in the sales etc as and when they came up - plus recouped £200 from selling the Hardrock on.

rowlers

I'd say go fot it! Be prepared for a lot of learning on the way though if you've never done it before!

I'm currently building this up:



So far I've got an SLX crankset to go on it, my reba sl fork and will be getting a set of Merlin 717s on XT hubs.

Will be buying bit by it over the coming months with input from this forum (hopefully!).

Hope to get full XT, carbon stem,bar and seat post plus whatever else is needed.
Should be fun!

craigward

What about this as a frame?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0359262860

how much would you pay for it?

MrChuck

It can certainly be done, with all the caveats above about knowing what you're doing. As somebody else said there's plenty of cheap stuff around from Merlin, CRC etc as well as eBay- IF you've got the patience to spend the time hunting around for it or waiting for the right stuff to come along.

A mate of mine built up a very nice XTC this way (over a few months I think) and while I appreciate the fun of tinkering and knowing you built it just how you want it, personally I just don't think I could be bothered*. It's not likely to be cheaper than just buying a pretty good bike to begin with which you could be getting out and riding rather than lurking on eBay.

*If you already have something to ride and it's more of a pet project then of course that's different.

rowlers

MrChuck wrote:

*If you already have something to ride and it's more of a pet project then of course that's different.

Already have a 2007 Trek 6000. So I'm not with out a bike!

craigward wrote:

how much would you pay for it?

Me?

Paid £318 from wiggle, they price matched CRC!

Northwind

Mine is a "Bike that ebay built", well, ebay and the classifieds on here. it looks a little rough in places because of the used frame but it works very well. Some parts were new- drivetrain, wheels and brakes- though those were all bought cheap. I doubt I could get anywhere near matching its overall performance for less than half again what it's cost me.

craigward

If it still works I can use my Marin until I build the new one. Which sounds like the best option. Maybe just get my old one running and build a new one. A project that can be done over time.

I think I will keep an eye on ebay for the right frame, but the rest I may buy new in the sales. I know I have asked before, but any recommendation on a good 2-3 year old frame?

purple power

buyin from ebay isn't that bad, i buy bits all the time off there and have built my past 2/3 jump bikes using ebay parts, you just need to know what will fit and what wont and wait around for a while and good stuff will come up at a real cheap price e.g: i brought a merlin duel jump bike for £175 posted off there since i have bought new forks and stem both from other bikes off ebay whereas my brother bought a saracen xcile jump(ish) bike from ebay and has put a complete new front end pn new frame and new brake on so its just a case of knowing whats crap and what isnt!

biggstevie

I have 1 of them Specialized fsr frames in red in my shed if you can get to portsmouth you can have it it's just sat there.

Just drop me a msg if you want it.

craigward

Don't think I could get there in all honesty. Out of interest how much would you be wanting for it?

petejuk

Lots of advise here. Some positive, some negative concerning ebay sales. I have built a number of bikes from ebay and (as yet) have had no bad experience from it. Because the majority of people seem to buy new, their cast off parts from upgrading their components end up on ebay. Therefore there are many good deals to be had on all parts with little wear and tear.
Points to note:

get a modern(ish) frame- you'll have less compatability issues
find out what the item costs new (lots of good last year components to be had in internet shops)
factor in costs for tools (bb tool etc) if you need them.
set a limit on how much you're willing to pay per item - don't get in a bidding war.
research frames on internet for specifications to assist with seat tubes etc.
Apologies if this is teaching you to suck eggs. Just my tuppence worth.
Lastly, I've learnt loads doing this and thoroughly recommend it. Theres no reason why you can't build the perfect bike from ebay. Good luck.

craigward

Thanks for that Pete.

I think finding the right frame is the crucial bit. How old would you go for a frame? I really like the idea of building the bike that fits me with the components that I choose.

petejuk

Anything in the last five years (aheadset type headsets generally and more standard fork steerer sizes)

craigward

Well that gives my a lot of room for finding something which is good. There is a CANNONDALE GEMINI frame from 2006 on ebay for £82. Will be intestesting to see what it goes for but I have my eye on:

Cannondale Jekyll 700
specialized epic pro m4
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR expert
2004 ORANGE 5 PRO

All end within the next five days.

bivvy

craigward wrote:

Well that gives my a lot of room for finding something which is good. There is a CANNONDALE GEMINI frame from 2006 on ebay for £82. Will be intestesting to see what it goes for but I have my eye on:

Cannondale Jekyll 700
specialized epic pro m4
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR expert
2004 ORANGE 5 PRO

All end within the next five days.

the reviews for that Jekyll 700 look good, I see it's still up on ebay, currently around £100, let us know how you get on if you build up a machine

http://www.bikemagic.com/review/reviewP ... /1/v/1/sp/

i've built a hardtail up from ebay, and building another now, generally works, and u learn a lot about bike parts and what fits, all useful stuff. and satisfaction of riding a machine u created / restored.

I'm not up on full sus. Maybe the pivots could be a problem on some bikes? ? Or are they reliable in modern bikes after a certain year? Anyone any ideas?

Andy B

With a second hand full susser the bearings/bushes could be knackered & possibly not available any more, lifespan can vary on any bike, even a year old bike might need new bearings or bushes, it all depends on how much use/abuse it's had & how much servicing has been done to the bike

Also the rear shock might need a service which would cost from £80 upwards, some older shocks are odd sizes which might not be available any more

Suspension & shock design has progressed a lot in the last few years & newer bikes handle much better than older full suss bikes, although there are exceptions

Stick with a hardtail unless you know what you're buying has spare bushes/bearings available & be prepared to spend £80+ on the shock if it needs a service