Build a bad boy
 

Hi folks--I'm new here. I have been looking for a new bike lately. The bike that really caught me eye is the Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra. Unfortunately it is well beyond my budget. I was wondering if you thought a guy could build a similar bike from parts for less money. And if so--how much less? I have never built a bike before but I am a pretty handy guy when it comes to mechanics. I did build a 1966 mustang in the past so surely I can handle a bike. I just don't want to get involved in a laborious task that ends up costing me just as much money in parts as the complete bike from the store. Any help is appreciated.
Brett

Well, kinda depends how similar you want it to be. More importantly, what are the specific features you like about that bike, and what isn't as big a deal?

It seems to have a rather unusual component grouping, which does not bode well for building something exact for less money... usually it goes that you spend more to piece together a bike than to buy one complete like that. But, I also haven't price checked every piece of the thing... I don't even know where to find a frame/fork set exactly like that...

Also, I'm assuming you're looking at a new one... maybe look for a used one or overstock on a previous year's model? I know they're a bit hard to find, but they're out there, and you may find one at a deep enough discount to influence your decision in that way...

Thanks for the quick reply. What I really like is how it is light and nimble on the road. Then I like the fact that you can swap the rims for 26" mountain bike tires and it has a shock and disc brakes for off road. I also spend a good bit of time pulling a baby trailer with a 35 pound kid in it and the cantilever brakes on my current bike just don't work too well when stopping on a downhill when the kid is in tow. I wondered about buying a cyclocross frame and the rest of the components used or new. I'd really like to get it done for $500-600. Am I dreaming or is this doable?

As a general rule, the bike manufacturer builds the frame and buys all of the component parts. They buy component parts in quantity and without consumer packaging so they can buy them lots cheaper than you generally can.

If you're flexible in your part selection and are willing to put in the time to find exceptional deals on the parts that you need, you might be able to put together a nice bike for less than you can buy the whole bike, but I wouldn't count on it.

Building a bike from new components is usually more $$ than a complete bike, used stuff you can do it cheaper but it takes longer and can be hit or miss. You could build a cyclocross bike for that much but it's just a matter of hunting and pecking finding the right stuff. Or you could try a mail-order bike like an Ibex, they used to have a really cheap cyclocross, now they just have a really cheap flat-bar road bike:

http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/COR-CT-Details.html

it may accept cyclocross tires, I don't know. They also sell just frames, which are pretty cheap. Nashbar frames are decent and reasonably priced too. Anything new that's a step up, like Surly, will cost about $400 for the frame compared to 2-300 for Nashbar/Ibex/Bikes Direct (chinese made) type of frames. It can be hard finding used frames w/ canti brakes studs for 700c tires because that's basically either a touring or cyclocross frame, and both are niche products.

If you decide to piece something together in the interim you could just put some v-brakes on your current ride.

I have around 450 in the build of the bike in this thread.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=279931

The advantage of building is you get to pick everypart, The disadvantage is that you must be very patient to find the best deals or it will easily run you more than buying new.

Mud

The BBU uses the same Furio frame/HeadShok fork as a number of C'dale's hartail MTB's. You could always buy a used Furio MTB and just add some 700cc wheels.

What about a Specialized Sirrus, a Gary Fisher Utopia, a Trek 7.5FX (or 7.3FX, 7300FX, etc... there's a bunch of different similar models in there), there's also a few Kona offerings, like the Dew Deluxe and the VFR 3.

I think all the above have or are available with disc brakes, and they can all be had cheaper than the Bad Boy Ultra, if you shop around.

Just something to consider.