How important is a high quality frame in a budget build?
 

I'm looking to build a budget commuter, based off a rigid MTB frame with fatter road tires, drop bars, and F&R racks. I can easily find a cheap MTB on Craigslist with a suitable rigid frame and fork, would building with decent components on a lower quality frame be a bad idea? I've been riding a late 80's Schwinn World Sport, so it won't take much to seem like an upgrade IMO. Are there any major reasons why I should go with a better frame than the X-brand Wally World bikes? I'd like to keep the entire build under $200 if possible (a stretch, I know) so I want to save money where I can, without compromising the overall performance of the bike.

Helmart sells mountain bike shaped objects, don't waste your time. Generally speaking Helmart bikes are too heavy, too poorly constructed and too difficult to keep running to be worth putting any money or effort into.

If you can find a name brand - Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Miyata, Univega, etc. - that's a good place to start. However inspect your prospective purchase carefully. Look for cracks, broken parts, rust, dents, etc. before you purchase. Nothing blows a budget like purchasing a recycler special.

No reason for a Wally World or low end frame for your build. Craigslist is loaded with very nice chromoly framed rigid mountain bikes with decent components for $75-$125. Just do a little research so you know how to identify the better models of the rigid mtbs. Mine was $125 and has a nice ishiwata double butted frame, chromoly fork and decent components and juts needed some cleaning and lube.

Good luck on the hunt.

+1 if you are only starting with a frame its nto too hard to find a cheap Trek Schwinn etc bike that will be good for your project. You could even put and ad on craigslist that you want just a frame and say you are on a budget. Someone might give you a frame/bike. I have a couple frames I need ot put on Craigslist since I don't plan to do anything with them.

Besides Craigslist, check out ebay also. I got two bikes there and I wouldn't have a problem getting another one if I so desired. You get a cheap frame from Walmart you'll find that you can't upgrade the parts if you wanted to. A lot of those bikes can't take certain quality parts. You get yourself a decent mid-level frame and you can put any new part on it that you'd want. If it were me. I'd put all of my attention into getting a good high quality frame. And then over the years gradually upgrade all of the components. After about five years you'd have yourself a really nice bike. Keeping everything under $200. You're not going to have much. Go to ebay and see what they have for under $300. You'd be surprised.

I'd go about it the other way, if I were you. Get a good frame and if you can't afford what you really want in terms of what you put on it, settle for less in components for now until you can upgrade to something that is more desirable. Meanwhile, save away and improve until you end up with a great bike all the way around.

edit: I see I am just parroting scoatw. So consider this +1 on his suggestion.

Yeah, wouldn't we all.

I see all the points here. I guess it would be easier to upgrade individual components later rather than a frame. I have also heard a lot of the low end bikes have odd sized components. After some searching I have found quite a few treks, diamondbacks, specialized, etc for a reasonable price, and those will start off with better components if I can find a complete bike rather than just a frame. Thanks for the input guys.

Honestly you can get a pretty good complete bike for less than $200 (especially when it comes to mountain bikes) if you look around and wait for the right deal and then get there before someone else. =)

I got this Surly 1x1 on ebay for $370 minus shipping which was only $45. Minus the accessories that I added. And I converted it to a 1x8.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...c3a4b19023.jpg

You get used to checking out Craigslist or Ebay regularly, you'll find good deals.

building from a frame isn't going to be cheap. I would budget a little more and try to get something nicer on craigslist