buying a bike VS buying componednts and assembling yourself

chrisbassist

does assembling trhe bits yourself save you any money?

there don't seem to be many bikes i like within my budget, just wondering if it might save moeny, or whether it had any other benefits?

or is it too much for a beginner to do?

nickfrog

For me, custom is the only way because the bike is pretty unique, it's yours with all the bits that you want and that fit you and you control the actual weight of every part.
It can be cheaper as you can buy some of the parts second hand or get great deals.
It makes me laugh when people buy a full bike and start spending hundreds on it straight away.
You could put it together and let a LBS torque it up or do the bits you're not comfortable with and that should not cost you more than £50 labour.
Have a look at my £1,000 custom Commencal in the sig.

Chunkers1980

Too much of a headache and, generally more expensive, for a beginner.

You need to match loads of sizes to the frame you buy and it's easy to go wrong, potentially costing even more.

The Rookie

Having been off a bike for 20 years, my first bike back in the saddle was home built from a near bare frame, my current 2 bikes are also bare frame builds....all using a bike maintenance book from Waterstones for £16 and asking on here.

Sourcing parts new you'll always spend more than you can buy a new bike for, you don't have the buying power of a manufacturer, although some suppliers (e.g. On-one) do some really good deals at times.

If you are willing to shop around, using the bay and classifieds selectively then you can build a bike for less than you'll buy an all new one, but beware the P&P!

My current commuter I built for £240, Onza ally forks, frame, Deore cranks, new BB, 1x9 with spesh rear wheel, XT rear mech, new shimano SS chainwheel etc etc, my MTB will probably cost about £200.

If you want all new, then you buy a well equipped bike (look for an old model on offer) you don't like and reframe it selling what you don't want!

I find it very satisfying buidling a bike, I'm into cars and everything takles so long to do on them, I've just built an MTB for my youngest using a CBR frame off ebay and using mostly old spares I had lying around in about 5 hours of work, I even got her some pink outer brake cables (from a BMX) off the bay to make it more girly (as she is the girly one of the 2, the other daughter rides a matt black Scott!)

Simon

chrisbassist

right, so it CAN be cheaper depending on what you get and where you get it, but it can also be a bit of a pain?

I am looking for a DJ bike, may look into parts, see if I can do it or not.

anyone got a list of bits I would need to have it running fully?

obviously frame, forks, handlebars, wheels, tyres, brakes, gears, what else?

nicklouse

for a DJ bike just by one. single speed and rigid. sorted and you will not beat the price.

eg one of the DMRs or Identitis.

nickfrog

Tubes, headset, bottom bracket (usually comes with cranks), stem, grips, saddle, pedals.
Seat post (it needs to fit the frame in terms of diameter, not complicated).

In terms of "loads of sizes", a 10-year would not struggle as it is dead simple.

You can buy a full SLX groupset with discs and wheelset for £400 from Merlin.

chrisbassist

do want some gears, since I want to use it on road a little as well, just for the odd ride.

in fact the rides were the main reason for looking into a bike, getting fit etc, but didn't want something i couldn't have lots of fun on. and really like the DJ style.

the only DJ style I've been able to find locally (so far, still looking) is the 2010 GT Chucker.

checking out another store tomo which apparently has some specialized bikes in, maybe i'll find something there.

nicklouse

nickfrog wrote:

You can buy a full SLX groupset with discs and wheelset for £400 from Merlin.

or a full bike for £50 more.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=48600

or with discs and sus forks for 185 more....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=48604

Chunkers1980

nickfrog wrote:

Tubes, headset, bottom bracket (usually comes with cranks), stem, grips, saddle, pedals.
Seat post (it needs to fit the frame in terms of diameter, not complicated).

In terms of "loads of sizes", a 10-year would not struggle as it is dead simple.

Er that depends.

Over size handle bars, chainline BB spacer, headest stack height, stem stack, spacers, steerer size, maxel, maxel lite, standard QRs, bolt through, disc sizes, adpators for said discs, 6 bolt or centre lock, crank length, chain length, long short medium cage mech, top/bottom pull front/ size , cables to size, hydro cables to size. what size tyres/tubes, - that enough for you...

Size of tools to fit all items - headset to fit.......

surreyxc

depends on how you build. If you want everything in one go then it will probably cost you more, but if you are prepared to take time and be flexible on what components you get then it can be cheaper and rewarding. Buy a second hand bike with a decent frame, then just get out and ride, then think about which bits need upgrading or would improve the bike and keep checking the sales and ebay. Personally I like building bikes slowly as it allows time to understand what improvements components actually make.

The Rookie

I would suggest you start with a reasonable second hand bike, get to know how it works etc, then either rebuild that with the better components you think its worth (inc frame) or start a build knowing you have no fixed timing so can buy components as and when as you can still ride the old bike.

Simon

chrisbassist

Cheers everyone.

Think I'll just buy whatever I can afford. Maybe my budget will stretch to a specialized P. Then I can think about upgrading if I get really into it.

bike-a-swan

nicklouse wrote:

or a full bike for £50 more.

Dammit, I don't even like dirt jumping and I want one now. Cheers for that.