alathIN

I am tempted to try a build for my next bike. I have been wanting a Long Haul Trucker but not too thrilled with the factory set up, and also interested in taking on the challenge/learning of a bike build.

My idea was to buy the LHT frame and pick up a Shimano 105 groupset off of ebay. There is a reasonably priced wheel builder here in town I'd like to use for my wheels.

I am not an accomplished bike mechanic, but have worked on my own bikes some and have generally been a shade tree mechanic most of my life. Dad lives nearby and has a fully equipped machine/fabrication shop if for some reason I need advanced tools or capabilities.

Just wanted to check in with the more experienced bike mechanics here and see what people think about this project. Would particularly like to know of any pitfalls to be aware of.

One specific question: was considering disc brakes. I know disc brakes require a different version of the LHT frame - but are the standard 105 brifters compatible with disc brakes?

HillRider

105 brifters are compatible with "road" mechanical disc brakes but not with MTB disc brakes and are not, of course, usable with hydraulic discs.

I've built up several bikes from a bare frame/fork and a "build kit", either purchased, transferred from another bike or pieced together from my own surplus parts. If you are familiar with basic mechanics, know what parts are compatible and have basic bike tools, it's a fun and rewarding project. If you have to buy your parts at retail it is a quite expensive approach.

cny-bikeman

You seem to have some specific needs or preferences, and that is one good reason to build your own. The other factors are budget and time. You need to lay out everything you will need to purchase, including tools or any shop labor for things you don't have the equipment or expertise to do. Then look at how much time you are willing to wait til it's complete and how much time you are willing to spend learning about compatibility, sourcing and ordering parts and doing the build.

Consider ordering an LHT that is customized to your specs, or ordering stock, making the changes you want, and then reselling the swapped out components.

dsbrantjr

"Consider ordering an LHT that is customized to your specs"

+1 You typically take a bigger hit selling the swapped-out components compared to the upcharge for specifying upgraded ones.

fietsbob

the Road Brifters are short pull.. then the caliper for disc brakes is the road version, short swing.

for Touring I cannot imagine needing a 53:12 gear , but YMMV ..

buy through a Bike Shop and the removed parts may be credited towards the ones you wish for , since they will be New.

RubeRad

For your reference, I chose to build a Surly CrossCheck. I came in less than retail, even with handbuilt wheels. It is not easy to save money by building vs buying, you probably have to shop carefully for used parts over a length of time. I'd say better reasons for building are (a) you want something different and/or unique, (b) you want to learn and/or the process.

Good luck!

alathIN

Appreciate all the informative feedback.

I probably fit both (a) and (b).

I'm willing to spend the time scrounging around for parts, but a bit leery of stumbling into unforeseen incompatibility issues.

bradtx

alathIN, Building up from a frame set is great fun, but I have yet to find it inexpensive. A new complete bike is less expensive than a new frame set built with new parts, but I've found the reward of having just what I want worth the expense. You may like looking at the LHT builds in the touring section for ideas.

Brad

RubeRad

Well this is the place to ask questions, there are a ton of people that do already and you can probably find the same questions you need already. With a LHT you've got pretty much as standard as possible interfaces, so "regular" bottom bracket of 68mm english, "regular" 1 1/8 headset, etc.

cyccommute 

While you did a pretty good job of keeping your costs down, you aren't really doing a valid comparison. You may have saved $5 but you had to invest far more time than if you'd bought new. Scrounging all your parts took a lot of your time. The hunt for parts can be fun but it does take a significant amount of time. The bike manufacturer does something similar but with greater efficiency. That time is included in the cost of the complete bike.

Then there is the time you spent putting the bike together and making adjustments. While it takes less time for a shop mechanic to put a bike together and to make the needed adjustments, it still takes time and money to do that. Again, that time is included in the cost of the bike.

If you were to offer a realistic cost, you'd include your time searching for parts, waiting for parts and installing parts. That could be a significant amount of time and realistic cost.

Finally, you are comparing a bike with new parts to a bike with used parts. While I doubt that you will have a problem with the used parts...bike components are pretty durable...you do run the risk of shorter parts life and of getting a part that doesn't work or doesn't last as long.

I'm not saying that either you or alathIN shouldn't build up a bike...I've done it many, many, many times...but you should go into a build with your eyes wide open to the real costs. You should also consider why you want to build a bike. I build bikes and wheels because I want something that I can't get from the factory usually including the frame. I would never build a bike in an attempt to save money.

Kimmo 

I'd advise buying a complete LHT, and stripping and rebuilding it (mostly for the learning exercise, and also because you can afford to take more time and care than a shop), swapping out only the parts you want to change.

As for the wheels, you could give them a go yourself - get some sweet spokes, and new rim/s if needed, get hold of one of the many how-to wheelbuilding books, and get stuck in. You don't need a truing stand for great results; a frameset and zipties is all you need. Again, this is something you can afford to take a lot more time doing than you're probably prepared to pay for.

RubeRad

All good points. I do kind of wish I had saved a couple hundred more by ordering, say, Handspun wheels rather than spending for handbuilt with the hard-to-find reflective rims (which are not really very reflective). But in the end, a fair price paid to a local craftsman to do a good job is not wasted.

For someone who has money, it's a question of budget and balance. I don't mean rich money, I'm just saying I'm comfortable enough to have disposable income that can go in various directions. Strictly speaking, I could have just bought a CrossCheck, or a Rivendell, or a Dogma, if I wanted to dip into savings. Somebody who is living on the edge and really can not spend the retail price of a new CrossCheck might be able to build something comparable and save a little bit of money. But of course they would probably be better off spending $200 or less on a CL bike that would serve them just as well.

Me, I wanted to learn, and I am super-cheap so I get a thrill out of every saved buck.

rydabent

Building your own might be a good deal is you can get in on sales etc. Sounds like you are going about it in the right manner since you have scoped out a local wheel builder. Contrary to the thinking of some, building and working on your own bike is not rocket science. They are pretty much straight forward simple machines.

alathIN

Just found out, someone already makes the bike I want:
2015 Vaya 2 | Bikes | Salsa Cycles

This makes it easier.

cny-bikeman

Don't know of a soul on this forum who has put it in that category

When already built, somewhat true, when building from scratch not true at all.

Retro Grouch 

For some of us there's also either a fun or a satisfaction factor.

Why should you pay somebody else to have the fun of assembling your bike?

RubeRad

Yeppers, that was one of my motivations as well.

HillRider

Your time has to be included in the final bike cost only if: a) someone will pay you to do something else with that time or b) you resent the time loss because you don't like doing the work. If neither applies, your time spent doing something enjoyable is not a loss but a gain.

Murray Missile 

Amen.

alex jb

IMHO you will not save money but will get a lot out of building yourself.
take your time and enjoy the fruits of your labors.

fietsbob

Another benefit of owner stripping and re assembling the bike, is...

repairs you may need to do on the road will be using the knowlege you gained in the process ..

Wilfred Laurier

or

c
if you fix bikes for a living
then building your own bike is unpaid labour
albeit possibly necessary for peace of mind
as i shudder when i think of
anyone else working on my bike
with very few exceptions

KonaRider125

Nashbar makes a very nice touring bike, buying that and then upgrading might be another good option.

cny-bikeman

Problem solved.

ThermionicScott 

Congrats! Be sure to post pictures and impressions once you get it. And from here, you can use @Kimmo's post to familiarize yourself with how all the parts go together.