Custom build HT

DHA987S

Am toying with spending money on a carbon HT, I want something as light as possible. However would it be better/cheaper/more sensible to get a custom build?

njee20

Depends how much you have to spend. The likes of On One, Cube etc have some stonking (not stinking, damn iPhone auto correct) mid range hardtails, but if you really want light and money's not an issue then custom build is the way to go. Or a Cannondale Flash Ultimate or Scale 899

ollie51

It depends on how much you've got; you'll be able to get a more personalised bike obviously but it's more likely to cost more than the equivalent off the peg bike.

You really need to be throwing 2.5k at it for it to worthwhile I reckon otherwise an off the peg model would probably be better.

Is this for XC racing I assume and how light are you after?

DHA987S

Have been looking at the cube stuff mainly for an off the shelf bike.

Weight wise, 10-11kg would be nice, you can get some cubes at that weight for around £2200.

submityournentries

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOWHIPREB ... ippet-race

£1200, and 11.25 kgs (i had to google a conversion lol) worth considering with the cubes at the very least.

DHA987S

Hadn't considered the on-one stuff as I haven't seen any out and about, will do some reading up on them. Cheers

njee20

Alternatively, buy a carbon frame on eBay (or an On One or sommat), then build, you can choose to sacrifice strength for weight in some places where an off the shelf manufacturer wouldn't, or put more expensive wheels on and cheaper finishing kit or whatever.

10kg for £2200 should be very doable if you're careful with the spec.

DHA987S

My bike build skills will probably hinder me if I were to self build

The on one is very very tempting having had a quick play with the specs, I think I can get close to 10kg for £1500. My money will likely go there....

The Rookie

DHA987S wrote:

My bike build skills will probably hinder me if I were to self build

Start learning, I did a frame up build on my first bike back from quitting cycling when I left Uni in 19....well a long time ago - when BB's were all cup and cone, steerers were threaded and an integrated headset wasn't a term associated with cycling.

I've now built 3 bikes for myself, one for the wife and 1 for the youngest daughter and helped the elder daughter to build 2, much more fun than buying a built bike!

Simon

njee20

Does mean you can tailor parts to suit too, which if you have a goal in mind, like you want it light, makes sense.

If you go second hand on some bits you'll certainly do sub 10kg. Wheels are the best place to save weight, but you could easily blow half your budget on some!

DHA987S

Had a look at the costs of a self build, the issue would be tools on top of the bike + components. I have basic tools but not enough to build a bike.

Have ordered a whippet just now, the wait begins

booyaka

DHA987S wrote:

Had a look at the costs of a self build, the issue would be tools on top of the bike + components. I have basic tools but not enough to build a bike.

Have ordered a whippet just now, the wait begins

nice - looking at the carbon trail 456 myself for £1200.

obligatory pictures when it arrives please!!

leaflite

DHA987S wrote:

Had a look at the costs of a self build, the issue would be tools on top of the bike + components. I have basic tools but not enough to build a bike.

Have ordered a whippet just now, the wait begins

Nice!
With stans crest-superstar/stans ztr hubs and dt supercomp/cx ray spokes (£300-400) you could probably save another 1kg on what is already a light bike.

ollie51

DHA987S wrote:

Had a look at the costs of a self build, the issue would be tools on top of the bike + components. I have basic tools but not enough to build a bike.

Have ordered a whippet just now, the wait begins

Frame or full build?

njee20

You're not going to save a kilo with a Crest/SS wheel build, but it could be a nice upgrade. Or Hope Hoops on Crests, significantly cheaper than a custom build and still reasonably light.

pastey_boy

full xtr group m970 new from totalcycling £828 inc brakes 9 speed but still awesome
whippet frame new £400
sid rlt from on-one £300
white prolite allein wheels from ribble £200
white charge knife saddle from evans £45
ti post off ebay 175grams £45
ritchey wcs stem from on-one £35
pro xcr scandium bar from crc £40
h/set £30
racing ralphs from on one pair £45
grips superstar £8
seat clamp superstar £6
schwalbe xxlight tubes
from mt zoom xcracer £15

total £1997
not bad for a full xtr carbon race bike and the weight should be around the 10kg mark easily, this is just a quick list but with a bit more searching could get it cheaper and lighter yet should be a pretty tough bike and colour co-ordinated too (if that matters)

DHA987S

ollie51 wrote:

Frame or full build?

Full build

The Big Cheese

As above, the leader in terms of value and quality has to be the On-One Whippet at the moment. I personally think that it's a gorgeous piece of kit, and can be built up around a 90/100mm fork with so many kit variations it's unreal.

My choice would be XT equipped, with a SID Team fork and some custom built wheels (Pro II on Stans Olympic)

That's just my tuppence worth.

I prefer to build my own, have built many over the years and enjoy it almost as much as riding them....

ollie51

DHA987S wrote:

ollie51 wrote:

Frame or full build?

Full build[/quote

I'd stick with that, but it's definitely worth upgrading the wheels and maybe the cranks.

DHA987S

Yeah have upgraded the cranks, was unsure on the wheels so have left the standard ones on there and will probably look at changing them to something of my own choosing in the future.