squirtdad

Is it ever cheaper to buy a bike for a full component group, strip the components and sell the frame? The idea is for updateing an older steel fram that I like.

Or is this crazy forgetaaboutit?

I_bRAD

There's that BD record bike

jamiewilson3

I did it one time. But I ended up keeping the frame and rebuilding it about 4 months later for my girlfriend.

DieselDan

The BD Campy Record bike sells for $400 over dealer cost for the grouppo, which maybe less then retail, as I don't sell bikes/parts, just rentals, but get the dealer catalogs.

rhenning

There is a LBS near here in northern IL that buys as many slightly defective and close out bikes as he can. He then parts them out over the winter. He is careful what he buys and basically gets nice parts for 10 to 25 cents on the dollar. He also sometimes scores high end frames. Nice man to do business with. Roger

urbanknight

Sure it is, that's where take-pff frames come from. Some shops buya complete bike for the component group to make a customer's custom build, then they sell the frame cheap. I built some of my bikes that way. Each frame was under $100, and sometimes came with a headset and a front derailleur.

cs1

It's hard to beat buying a complete build kit from GVH bikes. Most of the DB bikes don't have genuine Shimano cranks or really decent wheels. A few do, but most have cheaper ones. That's how they manage to sell them so cheap. Good luck

Tim

Proximo

If you already have a nice frame, this would be a nice donor bike:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ttour07995.htm

but really, even the frame isn't bad. About the only junk things on it are the saddle and the pedals which many, if not most, people would replace even if they were major brands. For the money, it seems hard to beat.

TO11MTM

I'm currently in the process of which you speak...

If it's a closeout bike, it often times can be very much worth it. However, typically closeout frames are very oddball sizes. As a result I have a very nice, but very small Dolce 44cm womens frame just sitting here and the only person who had any interest in it was a nigerian scammer.

cs1

That is a nice looking bike. Any feedback on the Cane Creek brakes and American Classic wheels? The enitre bike cost less than buying a build kit. I am impressed.

Tim

East Hill

Actually, I would suspect the bigger problem is that all you have left is the frame, in this case. Most women who would fit the 44cm Dolce would probably prefer to buy it as a complete bike.

There aren't very many of us short women who would want to take on the challenge of building up a bike!

I am, of course, a nut. That's why I'm usually found in Classic & Vintage... .

East Hill

Proximo

I assembled one of these for a friend. The brakes are silver so they match the Ultegra parts. They seem to be well made and they definitely stop the bike (although the pads were crappy and replaced immediately with Kool-stops). Certainly not junk.

I can't say much about the wheels. I think these are AC's budget wheels and as such are pretty light at 1637g.

TO11MTM

Not a bad concept, now that you mention it. I've still got all the parts I swapped out on there, aside from the seat and seatpost.

oilman_15106

From the looks of one seller on ebay, Used Bike Warehouse(I think), makes a living doing what your think of.