crazyotte

I haven't been on here a whole lot lately, Finished my Jamis build and just been spenind too much time RIDING to get on here in awhile.

Just kidding, life's gotten hectic.

But I just traded my loaner bike (a HR franken-build) for an '03 stumpjumper frame. Just the frame, no shock, nuthin'. So, I FINALLY have a full suspension platform.

In no real hurry to get it done, I LOVE the bike I have now. But I want to build this bad boy up right, at a performance level of about 9-spd X9 or XT, some decent hydros (the jamis has BB7s, which I love, but just want to go a different route.), a $3-400 wheelset, and a FOX fork.

Pumped about the build, Kinda toyed with the idea of buying a BD hardtail with all the components I like, selling the frame, and Ebay-ing a rear shock. Cost-efficient plan, or no? Would I be better off taking my time, deal-hunting over the course of a year?

Anyways, geeked up about the build.



Aaaaaand the BD bike I was eyeing...

dminor 

IMO, older FSRs make plenty-worthy builds still. I'd go with the Stumpy any day over a just-another-hardtail.

samburger

Sounds similar to my build, if not a bit nicer. I initially spent $1300 for mine, but recently upgraded the shock from a poo Bar 2.1 to a nice RP2 (to be installed this Friday!) which brought it to around $1570.

My build:
KHS XCT535 frame (2008)
Marz Ti 44 fork
DT Swiss 430x rims laced to XT hubs
X9 shifters & RD, X7 FD
Initially had Juicy 3 brakes
Truvativ Hussefelt bar & stem (donated)
Travativ Fire-X crankset
Kore Race platform pedals

Everything was new/closeout except the brakes & wheelset, which I got used. And of course the donated bar & stem. The brakes eventually crapped out due to user error & a generous member donated their El Camino's to me. So that should give you an idea of what can be done piece by piece with patience, an open eye, & a lot of help from other members.

crazyotte

I suppose I'll just take it slow and go piece by piece. Ugh I dont have patience for this

Nobody wants to weigh in on my BD donor (unoriginal) idea?

Edit: to clarify, the bikesdirect frame will be the one getting scrapped! All the components will be transferred to the stumpy. Plus a knick and knack that I need beyond what I get from the donor bike. And sell the BD frame and unused parts.

3speed

One thing I really don't know personally about, but just based on reputation, are you sure you'll be able to get much of anything for a BD frame? In any case, I say if you can be patient, just build it up slowly. It'll be cheaper in the end. If you have the cash and want the bike now, which is obviously a great choice if you choose to, then just go with the donor bike route. I did a build on my HT that took me probably a year(maybe a little more). I ended up with a bike sporting ~5yr old minty XTR derailers*, minty LX shifters and levers, new BB7 brake, great condition wheels, nice tires that were ridden once, and new Marzocchi DJ2 fork. It cost me ~$350 to build by taking my time. To me it was well worth it, but I also couldn't have afforded that bike new/complete. Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to saving money on bike builds.

*The derailers did come from a donor bike that a guy gave me for free, and I was able to sell the fork from that bike for $75 to offset the final build cost. Got lucky there.

dminor 

Well, that's what I thought you were going to say then somehow I read it wrong. My bad.

I've heard here of many people doing that but have never researched it enough or had personal experience to know if it's a better route or not. It would certainly be faster.