Raiden

So IS there a fair and brief phrase for an off-the-shelf frame assembled with parts selected specifically for its user? Custom-assembled, perhaps? Or will 'custom' forever be associated with the frame?

Team Sarcasm

hand picked, unique, custom-but-not-custom

Team Sarcasm

modified is a good one too

kbarch

I think that's the difference between customized (upgraded or modified) and custom made. Most bikes are customized to some extent, and it sounds like your bike is highly customized. But it always was and still is an R3. Custom bikes, on the other hand, do not have model names except the customer's own.

To this point, I'd argue that bianchi10's definition is inadequate. A made-to-measure bike with a one-of-a-kind paint job isn't custom, either. Generally speaking in such cases, the design was already determined. For a bike to be truly custom, it would have to be assembled in a unique fashion - substantially designed from scratch. Although there are bona fide custom road bikes, what one finds here are mostly customized and occasionally custom-finished and made-to-measure bikes. Custom bikes are more likely to be found on the Alt Bike forum: Alt Bike Culture

Yes: customized. 'Custom' will be associated with the frame as long as the frame is the source of model names.

thisisbenji

My measly Motobecane.

thisisbenji

Love this one, if the photo was better I'd say hot.

coolcamaro12

I remember seeing this on your forum post a few days ago. Definitely hot. I would love to own a bike that looks like that. The wheels, black paint, and silver chainrings go together very nicely. Easily one of the best looking Motobecanes in existence

WheresWaldo

Looks like a custom Motobecane to me, you added a bike stand to it!

bmcphx

I lol'd

Raiden

A solid workhorse of a bike, but those Motobecane frames sure are ugly.

milkbaby

I would vote hot except for the warning sticker on the top tube and the shifter attachment band showing through the gap of the handlebar tape wrap (or did you simply attach them on top of the bar tape, either way not attractive).

WheresWaldo

Its not so much the frame that's ugly, its the '80s graphics. They really need to hire a graphics designer to come up with some newer looking decals.

Raiden

Well, ugly decals on a generic frame, with an ugly fork. That text will clash heavily with just about anything ever.

I too wish to hear exactly what's up with the bar tape/brifter clamp

Bunyanderman

Very well played argument, gained my respect.

R1lee

Your wheels are worth more than your frame, ditto on the group. did you spend all your money on the components than realized that you actually needed a frame to put it on?

bmcphx

For what it's worth those assaults are old ones, I had the same wheels and they are <$1000 new and ~$500 used. Do you think his frame is under $500?

gc3

It's called a "bike" or maybe "your bike" but that's about it....

thisisbenji

It's just black cloth tape, I'v since put on bar tape. Which does in fact cover the brifter clamp.

The frame graphics are ugly as hell, it would be better with no graphics. Maybe just the head tube badge.

Frameset cost me $150 new, wheels were purchased used for $500. I did however purchase the group new.

I also have a Specialized Crux that was built up with this force group set. I had some issues with the brifters during cross season and had to send them to SRAM for repair. I purchased an Apex group while I was waiting for them to come back. I ended up leaving an Apex group on the Crux. The wheels were also for the Crux, before I had a road bike I'd use the Assaults to take the cross bike on road rides.

So basically yes, I did spend all of my money on components and realized I needed a frame. Except I didn't exactly buy all of the components with the attention of building a bike.

I wanted an Allez e5 frame set, but I couldn't find any in stock so I settled on the Motobecane.

Btw, here it is in current form w/ alloy wheels.

Muffin Man

If the photo was better? What can I do to improve that? I'm not very good with a camera, and my Nexus 5's camera is pretty limited.

m3ta1head

No comments on this rig?

bmcphx

What comments are you searching for? Usually when there are none it means what you posted is uninteresting.

Bunyanderman

Easy gearing is evident.

m3ta1head

Yep, for climbing the steepest, gnarliest singletrack and fire roads in the area. The whole premise behind the build was to be able to ride on trails that are usually exclusive to MTBs. I have a roadie as well with tight gearing for normal road riding.

coasting 

I'm not digging the all black bikes. They've been livened up a bit with decent accessory colours, but lipstick on a pig.

Bunyanderman

Whats the range? I have a 11-25 with 34-52 and I have to grind at 10+ gradient.