Elbow

Hi,
a friend of mine want to get a new bike. I offered to help her source the parts and hope to get her a decent custom bike at a better price than off the shelf.

So I was hoping if anyone here could help me out with brands etc.

we are in Tokyo but Im hoping prices are similar .

Her Budget is about 50,000 up to 100,000 yen so about 1000 bucks? or 500 quid.

She likes the Pisto style bike as do I. I suggested she could use a flip-flop hub and have the best of both worlds. Free and fixed wheel.

So would need to know some good pointers for

Frame
Wheels
Crankset
Brakes
Stem
Handlebars
ETC

Hope you can help us out

Cheers

carleton

No offense, but that's like asking: "I'm hungry. What would make a good dinner?"

You will get lots of responses, lots of contradictions, little consensus and if you actually make what is suggested it will not be great.


Go to a local bike shop and let them suggest a complete bike that you can buy and ride this afternoon. That's their sole purpose for existing...just like restaurants

cal_gundert05

So, you really volunteered the people here to help your friend build her bike. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but...

Also, I second the recommendation that you take your friend to a bike shop and get some pointers from the people there. That is their job, and they'll probably have more knowledge about buying parts in Japan than most of the people here.

Elbow

Thanks for your replies.

Very useful.

The reason I asked here was I used to build bikes but that was many years ago and since switching to motorbikes Ive lost touch with whats good out there.
just thought i would ask in a bike forum.
Sorry to bother.

carleton

It's not a bother. It's just that, like motorbikes, there is so much out there that it's hard to make a good recommendation. You know, does she want to race? Does she want to relax? Steel, aluminum, carbon fiber? Fancy, flashy, subtle, classy?...

Take this with you to the bike shop:

1) Tell them your budget and your MAX budget. "I want to spend around $1,000. $1200 if it's really, REALLY nice..."

2) Tell them how you expect to use the bike. (Racing, commuting, daily, weekly, long distance, short distance...)

3) Tell them what's important to her. (Good looks, low maintenance, good name, or resale value...)

4) Is fixed-gear a necessity? Want fixed, single speed, 3-speed, 10 speed? (1-3 speeds will handle most city riding)



I hope that helps.

Elbow

The thing is I dont like buying off the shelf, part of the fun is looking around and doing it yourself.
And another thing why Im asking here is my Japanese lingo is crap. At least armed with some ideas I can go to a shop with it all printed out and have to not think about language barriers.

She wants a bike that she can use around the city but also something that looks the dogs bollocks too.
A mixture of easy riding and long distance
Low maintenance
A bike that will last her a while.

I suggested to her have both fixed and free wheel.
So if she is riding around town a lot she can use the freewheel and when she is on a long haul switch it over to fixed.

Thanks for the feedback, it all helps.

Elbow

well it did cross my mind a little bit


I think thats what I will have to do.
I just thought a place like this was up for throwing some ideas about.

Build your own

I know you said you're not looking for completes but if you change your mind Tokyu Hands has started selling some.It's been 1 1/2 years since i've been to Tokyo so i don't know if they have started carrying Track parts as well.It used to be just roadie stuff.Here's a couple Pisto shops to check out:
Punch Cycle in Asakusa
Tokyo
Taito-ku
Kaminarimon 1-5-10
03-3841-50
or
Carnival in Shibuya
Tokyo
Shibuya-ku
Jingumae 6-23-11 2F
03-5485-8581
It's on the 2nd floor above W-Base(BMX shop)

With the way the prices are in Tokyo, i think you'll end up at the top or above your budget.Good luck on your project and post some pics when you're done.

Elbow

Nice one,
How odd Im actually been staying with my ex and kids about a 5mins walk from Kaminarimon.

And I live in Shibuya

so some nice choices,

thanks for that

I did know about Tokyu Hands so will have a look about there

cheers