Buy comple, or build your own bike?

[PaulSecteur]

If any of you are into computers and building them, then Im sure that you have seen forums with people asking "Should I buy a PC, or build my own?"

As a bit of a nerd, the answer is build your own, as you can spec things to how you want them to be.


Would this apply to bike too? For instance, would it be worth buying a frame from ebay, them filling it with tiagra level components, also souced new or near new from ebay and such like?
What would be the pitfalls to watch out for? And any unexpected expenses?

Also, when it was done would you have a bike you had saved a fair bit of cash with, or would it cost the same as buying a new bike with the same components?

 

[carpiste]

I`ve been kinda hooked by the cycling bug and I too am already looking ahead to the new year and a "new" bike.
I`m actually riding a new Scott hybrid but want to go get a roadie for march/april. As a fellow nerd I`ve also built pc`s and saved money and ended up with better kit...........but E-bay? Never ever!
If I`ve learnt anything in my time it`s that you get what you pay for and ebay isn`t the place to go.I`d rather buy from reputable sources.Apart from anything else so much of the stuff from ebay can be bought cheaper from shops/stores.
I think I`d advise to get into the servicing and repairs of your bike too,just to get the feel of things.I know I`m doing that now.

 

[MacB]

Cost will vary depending on what you can do yourself and what tools you have but, if you want all new then I reckon it can cost 30% on top, or more, of a complete bike. You can significantly reduce this by buying secondhand parts but you need to know your stuff and have a lot of patience. To give you an idea I've considered buying complete bikes, to use some of the componentry on them for another build and then selling off the unwanted parts.

 

[Norm]

Cost will vary depending on what you can do yourself and what tools you have but, if you want all new then I reckon it can cost 30% on top, or more, of a complete bike.

+1 to that. Just have a quick look at the major bits (frame, wheels, gears, forks and brakes) and you'll quickly add up to the price of buying a complete bike before factoring in all the expensive smaller stuff (BB, levers, bar tape, stems) and larger stuff (tyres, cranks, pedals and bars) and bits you'll forget you needed (cables, noodles etc).

 

[Piemaster]

Plus side of building your own is that you will get exactly what you want from the start (see MacB's pompetamine thread) much as with a pc, and as I've done with my pompino. As above it will cost more than off the shelf but then there are always posts on here of someone buying a new bike then changing saddle/bars anyway.
I've built pc's in the past too but wouldn't bother anymore - a trip to the local shop and they will do it to whatever spec I want . But mostly use a laptop now anyway.

 

[accountantpete]

I assembled my bike through stuff off eBay and out of the For Sale section of this forum - probably a £1,500 bike built for £1,000 as you get the components that you want instead of the crappy stock wheels etc that are normally supplied and soon have to be ditched.


You want to take your time and source only lightly used components from helpful sellers - and don't hesitate to ask questions.

 

[Moodyman]

You don't have the buying power of the Giants & Treks of this world so your own build will cost more.

But there will be satisfaction from knowing that everything is as you want it. As Norm says, be prepared to fork out money for stuff you didn't realise you needed like cables,nuts & bolts.

I would prefer to get a ready-made bike with a good frame and modest components. And replaced these as they wear out.

That way you don't feel the financial pain and you get your money's worth from the initial purchase.

 

[lpjr]

Agree with all of the above. Just bought a complete bike recently for £899. During my investigation period I considered buying a frame from Basso and building the bike as I had a mate who has most of the required tools. I listed everything that I would need for the build and set about getting the best prices on the internet. On my first attempt my budget of £1000 was blown very quickly. I kept down grading the parts to the point where they were worse than what comes on an average £900 bike. Hence, I bought the average £900 bike and got a set of wheels from Planet X.

 

[youngoldbloke]

An interesting exercise - visit Ribble's website and check out their 'special edition' bikes - then use their 'bikebuilder' to put together the same spec bike - guess which one comes out cheapest? The same sort of savings generally apply to ready built v. build your own

 

[andrew_s]

You don't have the buying power of the Giants & Treks of this world so your own build will cost more.

It's not so much buying power as the lack of intermediate markup.
Giant etc buy direct from Shimano. You buy from a shop who's bought from a UK importer who's bought from Shimano. The importer buys at £x, and sells to the shop at £x + 40%. The shop then adds another 40%, with the end result that you pay twice what Giant do. Giant may pay less than the UK importer as well, but the main reason is direct buying.


[edit] Giant do pay less than the importer - they aren't paying for the packaging, instruction leaflets etc.

 

[barnesy]

There was a show on a few weeks ago and a new book out called Its all about the bike by round the world cyclist Rob Penn, he also has an article in last months cycling plus about it.

He wanted the perfect bike for him, a bike he would use every day and last the rest of his life. In the show he goes around sourcing parts from the likes of brooks, cinelli, continental. He gets his frame hand built and the wheels were hand built in america and alot of work and craftmanship went into it.

It worked out quite expensive but at the end of it he had bike that was his, exactly to his spec and something unique.

I think its cheaper to buy a bike that suits your needs off the shelf and maybe when it comes to upgrading parts you can choose something that better suits your needs.

 

[Norm]

I agree that self-build means you get exactly what you want, even if it is more expensive, but I do have some thoughts on some of the stuff written above.

I assembled my bike through stuff off eBay and out of the For Sale section of this forum - probably a £1,500 bike built for £1,000 as you get the components that you want instead of the crappy stock wheels etc that are normally supplied and soon have to be ditched.

You want to take your time and source only lightly used components from helpful sellers - and don't hesitate to ask questions.

If you are using second hand components, should you not be comparing your build cost with the cost of an equivalent second hand bike?

It's not so much buying power as the lack of intermediate markup.
Giant etc buy direct from Shimano. You buy from a shop who's bought from a UK importer who's bought from Shimano. The importer buys at £x, and sells to the shop at £x + 40%. The shop then adds another 40%, with the end result that you pay twice what Giant do.

I don't see the relevance of this, as the complete bike goes through the same channel as the parts. In other words, whilst Trek might buy direct from Shimano, the bike that they build then goes through an importer and a retailer, each adding their own margin.

 

[ricksavery]

I have a Surly LHT which I enjoyed building it myself from the frame up. Although the final setup is not radically different from a complete bike, I had the fun of choosing all the bits myself - as well as few mistakes. The final cost of the bike is only about £100 more than a complete bike (ncludes a good pannier rack and pedals) and is as good, or in some cases better specced than a complete, so for me it wasn't a particularly expensive option. Maybe with other components/frames and the buying power of large manufacturers, it might be for the bike you have in mind. Just thought I'd chip in.

 

[HJ]

In my experience Building your own is a way of getting a bike that build to fit you and is spected to your personal preferences. If you are going down this route, there are a couple pieces of advice I would give:

1. 1) Get a bike fitting before you start so that you know what frame to get
2. 2) Set a budget before you start, it is very easy to get carried away and spend more than you intended

 

[jimboalee]

I agree that self-build means you get exactly what you want, even if it is more expensive, but I do have some thoughts on some of the stuff written above.
If you are using second hand components, should you not be comparing your build cost with the cost of an equivalent second hand bike?



I don't see the relevance of this, as the complete bike goes through the same channel as the parts. In other words, whilst Trek might buy direct from Shimano, the bike that they build then goes through an importer and a retailer, each adding their own margin.

A second hand 16 lb Spesh SWorks for £900. Beat that with second hand bits off e-bay.