Thread: Frame couplers
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Old 05-24-10 | 06:02 PM
  #21  
blarson
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Originally Posted by HillRider
Considering the complexity of the design and the precision need in manufacture, S&S couplers are very fairly priced. The $500 installed price includes the frame builder's time and skill. Particularly for a retrofit, the alignment must be very exact and this is not a job for the neophyte and certainly not for the first time frame builder.

When ordered with a new frame from a maker like Co-Motion, the couplers are installed in the top and downtube before these tubes are cut to final length, mitered and brazed or welded in place.
"Neophyte" is that a scene from the matrix? I love watching him dodge bullets.

I still think 500 is still rather steep, reasonable for a one off fab but at any reasonable quantity they are making decent profit. I am moderately experienced in manufacturing and have a degree in mechanical engineering. Maybe not quite a neophyte or a joe shmo garage tinkerer, although I have met tinkerers with more mechanical intuition than many engineers. In the end it is a bike, yeah there are some stresses involved but they are still relatively simple.

Putting them on before hand is a great idea though, thanks.
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