Buyers view on buying frame set or complete bike

stevenb

Hi all,

I have a brand new Kinesis Racelight T3 frameset with the Tracer 1.5 full Carbon fork.
I am wondering whether to sell it as a frameset or a complete bike.
I appreciate that some people buy new bikes and may swap out a few bits on it to their taste. I am thinking with the Kinesis it’s generally perceived as a winter bike so I also thought about building it up as a new bike with the brand new Shimano 105 R7000 parts from a brand new donor bike, plus brand new long drop calipers, seatpost, wheels and bars etc

The frameset has warranty and I have the receipt for it too including the headset and fitting.

I think some people may also prefer a well spec’d winter bike that is built and ready to go.
I guess in a nutshell it’s parts vs complete bike. It’s just extra hassle selling all the individual items.

Matthewfalle

warranty may not be transferable post sale so doesn't make a lot of difference.

receipts are just bits of paper.

if you're going to do something with the groupset and its economically viable to keep it then sell the frame set, otherwise shift the whole thing - you'll only end up with an old groupset in a box gathering dust

#sellitall
#buyaRittewithObermayers

stevenb

Matthewfalle wrote:

warranty may not be transferable post sale so doesn't make a lot of difference.

receipts are just bits of paper.

if you're going to do something with the groupset and its economically viable to keep it then sell the frame set, otherwise shift the whole thing - you'll only end up with an old groupset in a box gathering dust

#sellitall
#buyaRittewithObermayers

What I would like to know is your view on whether you (as a buyer) would prefer to buy the Kinesis as a whole bike or as a frameset to build yourself.

Matthewfalle

depends on price, what groupset, condition of groupset, what i have in the garage, what i'm going to do with it, how mechanically competent i am, etc.

not being difficult, its just tricky to know without seeing it all - i have a full spare ultegra groupset in the garage but its not worth popping it on a bashed up frame that only seserves, say, the 105 on it.....

#horsesforcoursez

Matthewfalle

brand new as yours - frameset.

#don'tbuyitbuildit

keef66

Save yourself the hassle of building up then stripping down the bike. Sell them separately. Lost count of the number of times I've seen on here people trying to sell complete bikes but failing, then selling the separate bits easily.

Just be realistic about the prices you ask for them.

And what size is the frame??

stevenb

The Kinesis I have is a 54cm.
I knew about bikes not selling well as a complete bike but I thought with the Kinesis they are pretty generic as most people would fit on 105 or Apex/Rival.

I’ve historically sold parts for very competitive prices anyway as it makes sense to just get the sold rather than gathering dust. At the moment I have so many parts that I thought it would be good to put them to use on a bike.

I also have a 2016 Felt F75 which I stripped and rebuilt with SRAM Force, and other quality parts I already had. I know if I strip that to keep my Force group set, I probably wouldn’t be able to sell the frameset. The brand new Kinesis would certainly be easier to sell being new and better known.

keef66

Thing is that your choice of wheels, tyres, finishing kit etc may not be to others' tastes, so you're restricting the number of potential buyers. If I was in the market for a new winter bike I'd seriously consider a T3 frameset but I'd want to build it up myself

(I'm not, I already have a Tk, and it's too big for me anyway)

stevenb

keef66 wrote:

Thing is that your choice of wheels, tyres, finishing kit etc may not be to others' tastes, so you're restricting the number of potential buyers. If I was in the market for a new winter bike I'd seriously consider a T3 frameset but I'd want to build it up myself

Thanks for the feedback.

sniper68

Matthewfalle wrote:

brand new as yours - frameset.
#don'tbuyitbuildit

^^^^This^^^^^^
I built my last three MTBs and my last 2 Road bikes from the Frame set up.Might not be as economical as buying fully built but is more economical than buying built then upgrading 8) Plus you get your bike from the outset 8)
#buildingisallpartofthefun

stevenb

Sniper68 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

brand new as yours - frameset.
#don'tbuyitbuildit

^^^^This^^^^^^
I built my last three MTBs and my last 2 Road bikes from the Frame set up.Might not be as economical as buying fully built but is more economical than buying built then upgrading 8) Plus you get your bike from the outset 8)
#buildingisallpartofthefun

Hi,

I'm not building it for myself it would be to sell onwards. I'm going to think about this once the new bike arrives.

I don't know what the hashtag stuff means that you guys are posting. I don't use twitter etc. Do they have any actual meaning?

keef66

stevenb wrote:

I don't know what the hashtag stuff means that you guys are posting. I don't use twitter etc. Do they have any actual meaning?

No, it's just meaningless banter

aberdeenal

My old bike was a GT Grade which I stripped and sold on eBay - altogether I got over £1100 for it all. If I had sold it as a complete bike I would have been lucky to get £650 for it.

I recently built my Kinesis 4S Disc - shopped around and bought the components from various on-line retailers to get what I wanted. I kept a few bits off my old bike too. I've never done anything like it before and when it was finally completed I was scared to ride it because I built it ha ha ha!

At times it was frustrating and I swore quite a bit but I've been using it for commuting for around 6 x weeks now and absolutely loving it. I would recommend it to anyone......and remember You Tube your best friend.

Matthewfalle

keef66 wrote:

stevenb wrote:

I don't know what the hashtag stuff means that you guys are posting. I don't use twitter etc. Do they have any actual meaning?

No, it's just meaningless banter

#bantz
discount code 12

stevenb

AberdeenAl wrote:

My old bike was a GT Grade which I stripped and sold on eBay - altogether I got over £1100 for it all. If I had sold it as a complete bike I would have been lucky to get £650 for it.

I recently built my Kinesis 4S Disc - shopped around and bought the components from various on-line retailers to get what I wanted. I kept a few bits off my old bike too. I've never done anything like it before and when it was finally completed I was scared to ride it because I built it ha ha ha!

At times it was frustrating and I swore quite a bit but I've been using it for commuting for around 6 x weeks now and absolutely loving it. I would recommend it to anyone......and remember You Tube your best friend.

I'm fine building bikes anyway as I've done it many times.
In fact, I enjoy it more than buying a new bike as it comes.
Going to try and justify the old n+1 route and keep the Felt F75 and Kinesis and make space for the CAAD13,
Hoping to perhaps get a gravel bike after that.
More hanging brackets in the garage I think.

#morespaceinthegaragemeansmorebikes

My first ever hashtag....
#imnotjoking

Matthewfalle

stevenb wrote:

#morespaceinthegaragemeansmorebikes

My first ever hashtag....
#imnotjoking

#looksgoodtome

keef66

#Ivestarteddoingitinworkemails

#reallypissespeopleoff

stevenb

keef66 wrote:

#Ivestarteddoingitinworkemails

#reallypissespeopleoff

ugo.santalucia

stevenb wrote:

What I would like to know is your view on whether you (as a buyer) would prefer to buy the Kinesis as a whole bike or as a frameset to build yourself.

I would probably buy a Colnago Master frameset, but equally I would probably buy a Kinesis full bike. It's never going to be anyone's "dream frameset" so people will be equally happy to compromise with the components that are already there, rather than bother building it up...

That said, there might be folks who are in need of a second hand framset, rather than full bike...

On balance, I would sell it as a full bike

First.Aspect

keef66 wrote:

stevenb wrote:

I don't know what the hashtag stuff means that you guys are posting. I don't use twitter etc. Do they have any actual meaning?

No, it's just meaningless banter

Yup. And repetitive.

#notevenfunnythefirsttime

Matthewfalle

keef66 wrote:

#Ivestarteddoingitinworkemails

#reallypissespeopleoff

#stupendouswork
#discountcode61
#aisle19

Bridgey79

It's always easier to sell a frame and parts. I've recently spent ages trying to sell a couple of bikes then just end up splitting them and sell the lot almost straight away. Just wait until Ebay are doing a £1 listing offer.