Better to buy or to build?
03-30-09, 06:10 PM
#1
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Better to buy or to build?
i'm just getting my feet wet into bikes. i need one for commuting from my living space to my work place, and i need one on the cheap.
i know if i build, it would probably be cheaper, but cost more time, but at the same time i'll learn a lot more about my bike and form an everlasting affectionate bond with my project. but at the same time, buying would be a hell of a lot more convenient.... how'd you guys start out with your first bike, bought or built?
i know if i build, it would probably be cheaper, but cost more time, but at the same time i'll learn a lot more about my bike and form an everlasting affectionate bond with my project. but at the same time, buying would be a hell of a lot more convenient.... how'd you guys start out with your first bike, bought or built?
03-30-09, 06:16 PM
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Better to buy than to build. Cheaper by a long shot. Although you can sometimes find something rideable at the thrift stores or at garage sales; it's hit or miss, may take months and you'll still probably need to replace some parts. And it would be a good idea to regrease the bottom bracket, wheel hubs, replace brake cables, and probably the chain. Not to mention the tubes and tires.
Buy your first bike, then be on the look out for super deals that don't require much work at all. You can check with the guys and gals on the Classic and Vintage forum; they have tons of bikes in their garages and many flip bikes for a living.
Or, you can do what I did, and spend tons of cash building up bikes that will never be worth what I put into them.
Buy your first bike, then be on the look out for super deals that don't require much work at all. You can check with the guys and gals on the Classic and Vintage forum; they have tons of bikes in their garages and many flip bikes for a living.
Or, you can do what I did, and spend tons of cash building up bikes that will never be worth what I put into them.
Last edited by bbattle; 03-30-09 at 06:23 PM.
03-30-09, 08:11 PM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/525457-buy-new-assemble-parts.html
Check out my thread I made yesterday with the same title
Check out my thread I made yesterday with the same title
03-30-09, 08:20 PM
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well how much of the bike will you have before you need to get new parts? I bought a clean frame + headset + handle bar + brake levers + crank set + front wheel + seat post for $100
all I need now is a rear wheel, cog, lock ring, and chain.
all I need now is a rear wheel, cog, lock ring, and chain.
03-30-09, 08:48 PM
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i prefer building because i think you get more experience out of it and it's also handy to know how to work on your bike, if you need the bike soon and are looking for a cheaper way to get one, i would probably go with buying a premade bike. you can find entry level ss and fg for pretty cheap
03-30-09, 08:57 PM
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i prefer building because i think you get more experience out of it and it's also handy to know how to work on your bike, if you need the bike soon and are looking for a cheaper way to get one, i would probably go with buying a premade bike. you can find entry level ss and fg for pretty cheap
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You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
03-30-09, 10:43 PM
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If you are talking fixie, build your first one, and don't spend more than 400.
Frame and fork w/ wierd shimano crank w/ a freewheel built in $50
old quil stem and chop and flop bullhorns $20
Wheelset w/ cheap tires and cog $140
New BB $30
Random SS crank from Co-op $5
Chain $10
Vintage Pedals and clips + new straps $20
Bar Tape $10
Brake and brake handle Free
Assembly (Like $70)
Misc Parts
Freestyle Axle Pegs $15
700x23c Armadillos $80
Oury Grips $10
And I love my bike, It gets me around great.
Frame and fork w/ wierd shimano crank w/ a freewheel built in $50
old quil stem and chop and flop bullhorns $20
Wheelset w/ cheap tires and cog $140
New BB $30
Random SS crank from Co-op $5
Chain $10
Vintage Pedals and clips + new straps $20
Bar Tape $10
Brake and brake handle Free
Assembly (Like $70)
Misc Parts
Freestyle Axle Pegs $15
700x23c Armadillos $80
Oury Grips $10
And I love my bike, It gets me around great.
03-30-09, 11:35 PM
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I personally recommend buying, then upgrading parts once you ride it and learn how the components work, and how you want to ride your bike.
Building a ss/fg when you don't know anything can be very very costly, and when you don't know much you'll end up buying cheap components. So you might as well get a cheap bikesdirect bike, or shop around for an entry level ssfg, it will be cheaper.
Conversions are also an option. However, with the spike in popularity of ssfg, many frames worth converting are already snatched up on craigslist, or are overpriced due to the popularity.
Building a ss/fg when you don't know anything can be very very costly, and when you don't know much you'll end up buying cheap components. So you might as well get a cheap bikesdirect bike, or shop around for an entry level ssfg, it will be cheaper.
Conversions are also an option. However, with the spike in popularity of ssfg, many frames worth converting are already snatched up on craigslist, or are overpriced due to the popularity.
03-30-09, 11:37 PM
#12
K2ProFlex baby!
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and they also have the new ones in black, but they used brushed steel for the fork and seat stays instead of chrome. 
looks like total horse ****.
looks like total horse ****.
__________________
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
03-30-09, 11:39 PM
#13
K2ProFlex baby!
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__________________
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
03-31-09, 12:24 AM
#14
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This one cost me ~$200 to build, and it feels great to ride. I've slowly been upgrading parts, and the cost is pretty manageable.
Like IbikezLA said, go to a local used bike shop; they should have most of what you need. And, as always, consult SheldonBrown.com
Like IbikezLA said, go to a local used bike shop; they should have most of what you need. And, as always, consult SheldonBrown.com
03-31-09, 08:44 PM
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A friend of mine was given that exact advice for her first fixed gear. Dude told her to get a Kilo TT (like him) for $350.
After listening to him whine, pine, and moan about all these other nice bikes out there that dude wanted (they work together), her response was, "Why would I buy the $350 bike? Why would I get the bike that you are trying to upgrade from? I'm just going to want to upgrade myself pretty soon. Why don't I just buy a nice bike from the start?" I smiled.
Being financially responsible and (obviously) reasonable she had the cash to drop on a Fuji Track Comp...that her co-worker now envies. "Can I ride your bike again?..."
Take your time and buy a good off the shelf bike that is as close to what you want as you can get and tweak from there. Very few bikes are absolutely perfect for any one person out of the box.
Most cheap conversions of franken-bikes are bikes-of-convenience made of parts that are lying around and/or cheap. They are lying around and cheap for a reason...no one wants to use them. You get what you pay for.
I'm not speaking from on-high. I've built several franken-bikes either because I was broke or bored. In the end I sold them all for less than I invested into them.
