Is there a super cheap bicycle kit out there?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 4,126
Bikes: Steel 1x's
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 632 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
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?
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?
#2
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,209
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
Any bike coops in your area? They don't have kits but should have all the parts you'll need.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#3
Mechanic and Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 83
Bikes: 1995 Fuji Roubaix- 25th Anniversary Edition, 2003 Bianchi Veloce
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
Churches, bike shops, some bike shops are non profit and do a lot of free work for the homeless.
#4
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Why not buy a craigslist bike, take it apart, clean it up and put it back together?
#7
Registered User
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.
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.
#8
Senior Member
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?
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?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
+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.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 4,126
Bikes: Steel 1x's
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 632 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
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).
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.
#11
L-I-V-I-N
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Stafford, OR
Posts: 4,796
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
$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.
__________________
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,491
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,478 Times
in
1,836 Posts
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.
Sorry, blast from the past sort of stuff. I had forgotten that part of my life.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La La Land (We love it!)
Posts: 6,301
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
Then you're missing half the fun...
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,491
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,478 Times
in
1,836 Posts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mymorningjacket
Bicycle Mechanics
26
08-01-17 07:34 PM
kenshireen
Bicycle Mechanics
62
01-27-16 12:46 PM
c_bake
Classic & Vintage
62
03-31-11 09:27 PM