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Is there a super cheap bicycle kit out there?

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Old 01-10-16, 09:47 AM
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Is there a super cheap bicycle kit out there?

Is there a place you can buy a box of parts and assemble a bike inexpensively?

I have the itch to practice building bikes from the ground up. I don't need any other bikes, but I enjoy working on them. So I thought about finding a box of parts that I could assemble, then donate the bike to charity once its built up. But I don't want to spend a ton on the build.

Anyone know of a good source for such a project?
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Old 01-10-16, 09:50 AM
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Any bike coops in your area? They don't have kits but should have all the parts you'll need.
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Old 01-10-16, 09:54 AM
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Look around for a place that you can volunteer at.

Churches, bike shops, some bike shops are non profit and do a lot of free work for the homeless.
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Old 01-10-16, 12:08 PM
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Why not buy a craigslist bike, take it apart, clean it up and put it back together?
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Old 01-10-16, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Why not buy a craigslist bike, take it apart, clean it up and put it back together?
Yep. I scored a '87 Schwinn Traveler last week for $20. It's completely disassembled, I wetsanded and polished all the components and I'm waiting for a few parts to come in.
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Old 01-11-16, 10:12 AM
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Wiggle | Shimano Tiagra 4700 10 Speed Groupset | Groupsets & Build-kits
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Old 01-11-16, 12:10 PM
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The funny thing is that a box of parts is worth more (to a smaller market) than a complete bicycle is to consumers overall. It's like the old Heathkit electronics.

I once had a hard time selling a running Bradley GT "kit car." Then I placed an ad in the Automobile Parts column of the classifieds as a fiberglass body for your VW -needs work. The phone rang off the hook.
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Old 01-11-16, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Jarrett2
Is there a place you can buy a box of parts and assemble a bike inexpensively?

I have the itch to practice building bikes from the ground up. I don't need any other bikes, but I enjoy working on them. So I thought about finding a box of parts that I could assemble, then donate the bike to charity once its built up. But I don't want to spend a ton on the build.

Anyone know of a good source for such a project?
Buy a $224 road bike from Bikesdirect, disassemble it and then re-assemble it. The good news is that whoever gets it after you will have a bike that is much better built than a BD bike that comes out of the box (based on my experience of "bike in a box" assembly quality).
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Old 01-11-16, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Why not buy a craigslist bike, take it apart, clean it up and put it back together?
+1 ...and there are bicycle co-ops that will happily take your re-builds and find them a good home. I shop CL for project bikes I wrench on for fun. Some I resell some I give away. I don't really make anything (in terms of profit) but get a lot of pleasure from my efforts.
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Old 01-11-16, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by dr_lha
Buy a $224 road bike from Bikesdirect, disassemble it and then re-assemble it. The good news is that whoever gets it after you will have a bike that is much better built than a BD bike that comes out of the box (based on my experience of "bike in a box" assembly quality).
That's a good idea, thanks.

My concern with CL is jacked up bikes and hard to find parts. I'd like to have a project where I know all the parts are there that I need to start and finish.
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Old 01-11-16, 01:16 PM
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$60 less at Ribble - and they have 3500 Sora as well.

But I'd +1 the Bikesdirect (or BikeIsland) idea. Those are basically a box of parts + cheap frame + build that could probably benefit from a rebuild.
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Old 01-11-16, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 700
I once had a hard time selling a running Bradley GT "kit car."
I used to want to buy a Bradley GT ... too bad I didn't see you ad. Then I could have had it take up space in my gaarage for a long time, waiting for me to get around to it.

Sorry, blast from the past sort of stuff. I had forgotten that part of my life.
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Old 01-11-16, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Jarrett2
That's a good idea, thanks.

My concern with CL is jacked up bikes and hard to find parts. I'd like to have a project where I know all the parts are there that I need to start and finish.
Then you're missing half the fun...
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Old 01-11-16, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by rmfnla
Then you're missing half the fun...
... and three-quarters of the cost.
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