Swapping components onto donor frame? ideas please.

[152l2]

Hi all,

So, i have decided that my quest for a decent road bike in my budget (£350) and size (6'3") is not going to happen.
Someone at work, has kindly given me a nice (but bare) frame. My question is, can i now buy any road bike with any size frame and swap all of the components over onto my 'new' frame? Or is there anything I would not be able to swap over?
Any help / advice / ideas appreciated.
Thank you. Stuart.

 

[martint235]

Forks may depend on the length of the headtube. If the headtube on your frame is longer than the one on the donor bike you could have issues.
Bottom bracket and cranks tend to go together but if your frame has neither it shouldn't be a problem unless you've got a weird Italian frame (either donor or main)
Some steerer tubes are now tapered which could also cause a problem.

 

[152l2]

Hi Martint235,
Yes, i hadnt thought about the shorter head tube. Maybe it isnt such a good idea.
Thanks for the advice.
Stuart.

 

[martint235]

Hi Martint235,
Yes, i hadnt thought about the shorter head tube. Maybe it isnt such a good idea.
Thanks for the advice.
Stuart.

Don't give up! If you're buying a new bike as the donor to a better frame, the bike will have sizing details that you can compare. It's just something you need to be aware of.

 

[growingvegetables]

Recently did just that - took all the components off a broken frame and "considerably improved" my knackered old frame. Checked all the cable lines and lugs so I'd have no unpleasant surprises along the way - but missed two things

- head tube length (+1 on that one)
- and how the pull operates on the front derailler - my old frame will only take an upward cable pull, and the replacement I wanted to use was only a downward pull :-(

I'm sure there'd be other surprises in wait?

Consolation - nobody in the 12 years I was riding the old frame EVER commented on how nice a bike it looked. But since the rebuild, it regularly gets appreciative comment. Job's a good 'un. :-)

 

[Dusty Bin]

I don't see the logic in buying a new bike, just to swap all the components over to a different frame. Why not just buy all the components and save yourself 50% of the work?

 

[HLaB]

It might have been said but you have to consider diameters. My Scandium GF Kinesis frame was written off and I went a replacement (identical geometry) thinking I could transfer all the components but in the 4 years since I botugh its now a 31.6mm rather than a 27.2mm so my old seat post didn't fit and i had to get a new front mech too. They've also increased the fork clearance so my old long reach Ultegra brake is just too short

 

[Gravity Aided]

I would try and find a frame about the same era as a starting point, perhaps even the same make and model, or near to it. Is the bike frame English? or (shudder) French? Because, depending on era, some components are threaded differently than others, particularly French and Swiss bicycles. Then, as stated before, for the fork there is the head tube length to consider. Beyond that, there is a whole road full of questions remaining. Each one will provide enlightenment and enrichment of your knowledge about bicycles. If you have a local bike co-op or friendly cycle club, now would be the time to seek them out.

 

[Crankarm]

This old 'new' frame, how good is the paint work and the lugs? If there is any rust I would have it blasted which will reveal any holes in it - tiny pin prick holes due to corrosion. If none get it re-enamelled. But if holes = corrosion - bin it. Stripping and building a bike is pretty straight forward if you have the tools, just use anti seize paste and or grease so when you need to dismantle in a few years time components aren't seized. What is the wheel set like?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I don't see the logic in buying a new bike, just to swap all the components over to a different frame. Why not just buy all the components and save yourself 50% of the work?

Ever tried pricing up a bike build from retail price components? Buying a good condition complete 2H bike could work out significantly cheaper though

I'd say do it - it's the best learning experience. As for forks....eBay can turn up some useable forks at a decent price

 

[Dusty Bin]

Ever tried pricing up a bike build from retail price components?

Yes, many times. There are huge bargains to be had out there - esepcially at this time of year.

Buying a good condition complete 2H bike could work out significantly cheaper though

This would also be an excessive waste of time and money though. If you are going down the s/h route, then you definitely don't need to buy a complete bike and there is even more reason to go down the component route.

 

[PatrickPending]

Agree with the above, the components on a £350 bike aren't going to be the best anyway. Look a
t s/h components - plenty of people will be upgrading...