LSPlo

In this thread "group" will be defined as: shifters, crank, BB, cassette, FD, RD and brakes.

I have a chance to get a great deal on a nice steel frame. I don't really need the frame, so I can't justify throwing a whole lot of money at it. I'd even be happy with an old 9-speed group, but there's not as much of that stuff on eBay as I thought there might be.

I'm not sure how manly this is, but my #1 priority is a compact crank. I'm not against throwing some 105 stuff in the mix to get the price down. In fact, I priced out an Ultegra/105 group on Performance's website for about $700 after the 10% discount.

Can I go cheaper? Who sells groups for the best price? Another thought is to buy a nice, complete used bike on eBay and sell the stuff I don't need, but I'm not sure I can save much money that way. Anybody done it that way before?

JoeB14

Try probikekit.com. About $580 for what you described.
Edit-looks like that left out the RD. But their pricing is usually lower than Performance.

Jynx

www.probikekit.com

www.chainreactioncycles.com

2 cheapest places out there. I just got my full ultegra group (8 pieces) from chainreaction for $630 shipped. It was cheaper then probikekit too.

14max

Go used. I bought my 10 speed Ultegra kit (FD, RD, brifters, chain, bottom bracket, brakes) shipped for $300. The deals are out there. Be patient...

qualia8

https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/knight08.htm

or similar. then sell off the components you don't need on ebay.

Midwest Ullrich

Buy the latest and greatest Ultegra sl groupset at Colorado Cyclists (~$1600 incl. Reynold deep rim attack wheels, Pro Race 3 tires, handle-bar, stem, seat, seatpost,...etc). Then sell the wheels as well as other no-use stuffs on to your buddies or on ebay. Carbon wheels are hot and you should have no problem getting rid of it.

ridethecliche

Why you'd spend an extra grand to get the cheapest groupset is beyond me...

FrankBattle 

Don't listen to this guy ..

+1 on probikekit for <$700.

The reason most people don't spend 3 times what their budget is to "save" some money is that they do not want to put out that kind of money to begin with. If you were playing with house money, then perhaps this makes sense.

No. Scratch that, it makes about as much sense as my wife telling me she got a $1000 bag for $500, so she is saving us money.

sean3089

I like Colorado Cyclist also. For $1144 you can get Ultegra 6600 G w/Easton Circuit build kit. FSA Bars, Stem, Seat Post, Headset, Michelin Pro 3's...

I don't think you could get the group for $1600 with the Reynolds Attack wheels though -- Colorado Cyclist is selling them for $1200.

Cheaper than PBK

buddy

Try Ebay.<br>

Fat Boy

These guys to a pretty good job if you need to buy a bunch of parts.

https://www.universalcycles.com/index.php

phallenthoul

buy 100pcs from shimano
keep 1 for yourself
sell the rest 99pcs

JunkYardBike

Might try contacting this BF member who is selling a triple 9 speed Ultegra group, NIB for $350. Damn good deal. And yeah, I'm even less manly; I ride triples. Anyway, sale is pending, but who knows. I was tempted, but I really don't have any immediate use for the group:

https://www.bikeforums.net/sale/396522-bikewreck-s-garage-sale.html

squarewheels

In my experience the cheapest way is buying the stuff piecemeal on eBay. 9-spd. stuff is a bargain and you won't know the difference. Look for slightly used stuff. Components like brakes and cranks don't show much wear, so used is a good bet. I bought an Ultegra brakeset for $39 and crankset for $59. hard to beat.

MasterOMayhem

look at licktons lickbikes dot com

SushiJoe

Haha, that's what I tell my fiancé when I buy bike parts from PBK.
"But look how much I saved!"

She never gets mad, but just in case, I bought her some Dura Ace gear from PBK and Chain Reaction and told her I saved the dough for her too!

Hobartlemagne 

Can we do that? Or do they only sell to established bike sellers?

Hobartlemagne 

Well' I found the answer to my own question.
I called Shimano, and they will only sell to dealers. You have to have a retail storefront
to be a dealer. No online-only dealers.

Little Darwin

Or there is a street vendor in New York who will sell you the latest 10 speed Ultebra group real cheap. He's right next to the guy selling Romex watches.

oilman_15106

9 speed is a bargain? How long is it since you looked at 9 speed stuff on scambay? Dura Ace NOS triple 7703 shifters when over $400 recently!!!!! I run all 9 speed and constantly watch for a good deal to fill the spare parts hole. Deals have been very hard to come by as of late.

squarewheels

Current eBay listings:

9 spd Ultegra brifters: $132
Full 9 spd Ultegra gruppo: $195

Cassettes for $32

105 rear derrailuers $40

I call these deals. And I only looked for 5 minutes.

Percist

Get a job at a bike shop. End of story.

Midwest Ullrich

Folks,
Let's do the math. Go to https://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/kit/SSFBASG9. Price of the latest 6600 grouppo with bar, stem, seat, tires are listed as $1612. Then, check out their wheel section and the Reynold attack is listed for $1199. If you are not too greedy, sell the wheelsets to open market for $900 (buyer pays shipping) and you will recover a big chunk of your expense. If you don't feel comfortable of dealing with ebay, pair up with your buddies to do a shared buy.
The Easton circuit build kit option is another good choice; but like I said, brand name deep rim carbon wheels are hot. You will be able to get rid of it easier than a box rim wheelset. Check out the groupbuy thread and you will find people taking big leap of faith to get a set of no-name-brand carbon wheel with limited information about the manufacturer, hubs quality, rim structural durability....etc.
Good suggestion also about PBK. I will definitely try them someday. I heard people bought Dura Ace for ~$750 several months ago. What did some of you end up paying including import duties?

I think the OP has quite a few options to choose. Too bad the season is kicking off around the corner; finding killer deals is becoming difficult.

the beef

A few months ago I bought a carbon Look KX Light with full 10-speed Ultegra, carbon components and Bontrager Race Lites for $680 with local pickup. Sold the Look frame for $500, wheels for $200, carbon handlebars for $120, carbon seatpost for $40, etc etc

I got paid to get my new Ultegra group. Beat that.

oilman_15106

I searched the web site and could not find the SL group? Some how when I broke down the pricing on these deals they did not seem all that great. Am I wrong?