Hi,
i'm wondering if i can get a recumbent frame — preferably short wheel base, front wheel drive — all by itself. or rather, a frame with only the frame-specific parts, and not with the generic components, since i find it's cheaper to build my own bike.

i've decided i'm going to move away from bikes and toward bents. i'd be at the store tomorrow, except i'm low on cash.
i've always built my bikes piecemeal — collecting wheels, brakes, shifters, etc over a few months so i could take advantage of nashbar and the swap bins. it's also better because i can pick and choose what i want to buy.
for my most recent bike, the cost was far less than i would have had to pay for a complete bike.

but i can't seem to find just the frame anywhere online. is this done?

https://www.bentechbikes.com/

I've done this many times with Rans, Greenspeed, Longbikes, Vision, Organic Engines, Cannondale and almost every DF builder offers a frameset only. It's really up to each frame builder if they offer a frame set only. You will need to get in touch with the company or person that is building the bikes and deal with them directly. What brand are you looking at?

I build up all my bikes for loaded touring, and I want to build up the bike with parts that I know can hold up under the load and miles.

You will need to get in touch with the company or person that is building the bikes and deal with them directly. What brand are you looking at?

www.rotatorrecumbent.com also sells their Tiger SWB as a frame set in steel or Ti. Be warned their website, used to be nice, sucks now, even on DSL it loads like it is connected with a 1200 baud modem. Frame is a monotube, sort of like a 26/20 Bacchetta or Volae. Just looked, seems to load a bit faster, but really retro.

Volae will sell you a bare frame, but its no deal. You'll get a complete bike for way less than building the bike part by part - unless you have a lot spare parts sitting around.

https://www.atomiczombie.com/

https://www.cruzbike.com/