Which frame for self-build?

GavH

I've decided to have a go at building up a bike from scratch, piecemeal fashion with new bits every few weeks or month or so. I'll also be using it as a good excuse to migrate some bits from my Bianchi as I upgrade ie wheels, shifters, brakes maybe even bars. Ideally, I don't want it to cost a fortune and hence low budget is the order of the day, mainly because it'll be a poor weather/turbo/short commute bike.

To kick off, I'm looking at a number of frames on ebay and would appreciate some thoughts on either the frame, the seller or anything else that is relevant.

First off:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130353865668&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and a very cheap Carbon frame from HK - I'm always wary of cheap stufff coming out of the Far East...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370316738225&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

then:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Finally what about this Ti frame?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

My ideal would be another Bianchi in 55cm, perhaps a Via Nirone.

rake

i dont think you will have the necessary machinery and materials to build a bike from scratch.

VinceEager

no idea what you want but as a maybe different idea, if i had the cash (and when i do because i'm itching to) i'll build (*assemble) a single speed cross bike.

GavH

VinceEager wrote:

no idea what you want but as a maybe different idea, if i had the cash (and when i do because i'm itching to) i'll build (*assemble) a single speed cross bike.

The thought of building a fixie did cross my mind, but I ruled it out for two reasons:

1 - won't fit the turbo

2- There are some nice hills where I live and I prefer to have gears to help me up them!

GavH

rake wrote:

i dont think you will have the necessary machinery and materials to build a bike from scratch.

Do you have to work hard at posting utter rubbish or does it come natural to you? :roll:

rake

it takes a bit of work sometimes.

hopper1

GavH wrote:

I've decided to have a go at building up a bike from scratch, piecemeal fashion with new bits every few weeks or month or so. I'll also be using it as a good excuse to migrate some bits from my Bianchi as I upgrade ie wheels, shifters, brakes maybe even bars. Ideally, I don't want it to cost a fortune and hence low budget is the order of the day, mainly because it'll be a poor weather/turbo/short commute bike.

To kick off, I'm looking at a number of frames on ebay and would appreciate some thoughts on either the frame, the seller or anything else that is relevant.




My ideal would be another Bianchi in 55cm, perhaps a Via Nirone.

From what I've seen, only one of the bikes is in your size! Unfortunately, that's the cheapo HK CF frame :shock:
How about this one?
I saw it when checking your links. Looks great, got your size and is also a very highly thought of frame, just ask about on here.
The Ti frame you highlighted, besides being a 50cm frame (!) looks quite old, as it has downtube bosses for gear changers :shock:
Anyway, that's my twopenneth...

redddraggon

Read this about cheap far east frames:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... 14&t=64495

GavH

Hopper thanks for the heads up, very informative and appreciated.

Red, likewise, that's the kind of thing I worry about but at the same time, the bike in that link was being used (abused?) as a hire bike on a holiday island. No way of knowing whether the failure was as a direct result of poor manufacture or if it hadn't actually been crashed some time before the failure?

softlad

you haven't mentioned budget - but judging by the other links you posted, I'm guessing it's not huge. In which case, I would take a look at the Pro-Lite Bella and the Kinesis KR-510

http://www.pro-lite.net

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/prodintro ... =Racelight

APIII

Big thumbs up for Kinesis. I got a 2010 crosslight 5T frame for £225, so don't know if that fits your budget, but it's turned out to be a great bike

blackhands

Excellent value training /bad weather/commuter frame here:

http://www.surosa.co.uk/3566/products/S ... me_08.aspx

skyd0g

It would probably/possibly be cheaper to buy a complete 2nd hand bike & upgrade the components as & when necessary?

sandbag

If i was buying carbon frame. I would buy seperate carbon monocoque forks complete with carbon steerer to maximize strength and quality. If it should snap somewhere else then you have less nasty accident. Forks or steerer snapping that's a nasty accident, so i wouldn't compromise that vulnerable area with cheap unbranded forks.

TimoH

These Planet X titanium frames are now incredibly cheap:

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... ve_18.html

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... _Road.html

They have an additional -20% off sale until Monday.

hopper1

TimoH wrote:

These Planet X titanium frames are now incredibly cheap:

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... ve_18.html

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... _Road.html

They have an additional -20% off sale until Monday.

That description is relative to constraints of budget!
I think Op is not looking to spend that amount

If I didn't already have a Ti frame, I would be sorely tempted....
In fact, I'm still tempted, so stop reminding me! :shock:

Louis84

rake wrote:

i dont think you will have the necessary machinery and materials to build a bike from scratch.

What do you mean by this? I've been building bikes for years. Thank god noone listened to you

I'm currently building another bike up at the minute. If you have no time scale on building a bike then you can make sure you really grab the best bargains because you have the time to wait. Keep open minded about picking your frame, it's easy to set your heart on a frame and be blinded, and end up spending well over the odds, or beeing soarly dissapointed if you dont get it.

With regards to the ebay choices, I would avoid the unbranded carbon frame from he far east!

GavH

Thanks for all the replies gents, very good stuff indeed! The Kinesis is certainly grabbing my attention at the mo. 8)

Buckled_Rims

Louis84 wrote:

rake wrote:

i dont think you will have the necessary machinery and materials to build a bike from scratch.

What do you mean by this? I've been building bikes for years. Thank god noone listened to you

I think he was trying a "clever" remark that failed. Probably meant Tig welders, pipe benders, jigs..... as in build a bike from scratch. :?

giant_man

You could do an awful lot worse than go for one of the Kinesis frames imo. The frames are cheap enough imo, and quality/customer service have an excellent reputation.

GyatsoLa

A lot of people say good things about XCAD frames - direct from the factory in China.