New frame on a tight budget
 

Hey guys, I'm not looking for another ****storm. I'm looking to replace my steel frame, but I'm on a pretty tight budget. I'm aiming for under 400$ for a frameset. I've been looking through ebay and found some potential buys, but would appreciate some feedback or better ideas.

2009 Fuji Roubaix Pro
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_500wt_1156

2002/2003 Pinarello Galileo
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_586wt_1141

2010 / 2011 Planet X Superlight Team Alloy Frameset
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_4543wt_1141

if you can find a gunnar roadie frame...buy it! i bought mine off CL last year for $350.

voodoo rada frames can be had for around $400 too.

here it is built up:
http://velospace.org/node/32897

That pinarello is a good deal for a decent frame and fork. There's deals to be found. I just scored a Spec Sworks E5 w/ a damaged fork for $130 on ebay. I'll pick up a fork somewhere and build it up with parts as i find them.

if you're looking to stay with steel, which is a good option on a budget, this fuji from nashbar looks like a great choice:

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...R-NCL-SIDE.jpg

I recently bought a Cyfac jours off Chainreactionscycling.com. To me it was the best buy for a new frameset under $400. Other options I looked at were a couple Fuji's on ebay, Motobecane Le Champ SL, Soma Smoothie, Planet X, carbon from e-hongfu-bikes.com patience to find a used frame.

The Cyfac is nice. The paint's a little cheesy wth the white graphics. Geometry is good, the frame is average weight for aluminum.

Preferably not steel, looking to go aluminum

can i ask why?

Specialized allez e5 for $550 is the best frame set you can get, includes carbon fork, headset and seat post

Just looking for a change and carbon is not within my price range right now. Im waiting on a price quote from the store on an orbea aqua frame before i make any final decision.

if i needed a low cost alu frame i'd get the scattante, no questions asked. under 3 bills, carbon fork and rear stays. looks pretty good too.

http://www.performancebike.com/image...-RED-EXTRA.JPG

if you want alu, get a caad 9

Spend a little more and get this made to your specs:

http://www.tsunamibikes.com/Tsunami_Bikes/Home.html

See this:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/sho...hlight=tsunami

I have a Tsunami and really like it but it's 2x the budget ($750-$800 - my second frame will be $800).

I'd get a used brand name frameset or a new "large company backed" rebadge. I consider an older Giant TCR, CAAD9 (or 8 or whatever), Trek, Jamis, etc to be large company frameset - figure any frame/bike sold through local bike shops.

Rebadge are like the Scattante. When a large company sells a frame under their umbrella (like Performance Bikes) then they have a little more riding on the frameset, a little more to lose. Nothing wrong with them - the last one I saw dropped me and the guy who was riding it was very happy with his bike.

cdr