Has anyone here successfully built up a beater from a frame?
#1
or tarckeemoon, depending
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Has anyone here successfully built up a beater from a frame?
You know, without spending more than you planned on bling parts?
#2
antisocialite
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yeah, i've done it pretty cheap. it helps immeasurably to have access to a good shop and lots of used parts, but if you do your homework and have a good set of calipers, you can get it right on the first try.
#4
the greatest swindle
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i'll be building my third one as soon as i get off my lazy ass and get to the shop.
first one
old Dawes i got from my dad - free
beater wheelset with a ss hub - $40
shimano 600 crank - free from my cousin
shimano sealed cart bb - free from my cousin
crappy spd pedals - also free from my cousin
new chain - $10
total - $50
second one for my girlfriend
beater peugeot frame - $50 from some hippy in everett
same crank and BB - free - the Dawes was too big so i dismantled it
same wheelset from the other bike - free
same chain - free
new brake pads - ~$15
total - ~$65
third that i'm building up
Azuki frame i got from the same hippy for $50
same crank, bb, and wheels - free - girl bought a new bike, doesn't need the beater anymore
will probably get a new chain - $10
stock saddle from my pista - free - will probably get something else though, that thing is just too squishy
gatorskins - however much i can find those for, it's gonna be my rain bike
total $60 + tires
it's not so hard i guess. but i have another bike i can spend money on
first one
old Dawes i got from my dad - free
beater wheelset with a ss hub - $40
shimano 600 crank - free from my cousin
shimano sealed cart bb - free from my cousin
crappy spd pedals - also free from my cousin
new chain - $10
total - $50
second one for my girlfriend
beater peugeot frame - $50 from some hippy in everett
same crank and BB - free - the Dawes was too big so i dismantled it
same wheelset from the other bike - free
same chain - free
new brake pads - ~$15
total - ~$65
third that i'm building up
Azuki frame i got from the same hippy for $50
same crank, bb, and wheels - free - girl bought a new bike, doesn't need the beater anymore
will probably get a new chain - $10
stock saddle from my pista - free - will probably get something else though, that thing is just too squishy
gatorskins - however much i can find those for, it's gonna be my rain bike
total $60 + tires
it's not so hard i guess. but i have another bike i can spend money on
#5
or tarckeemoon, depending
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Nice. Let's see some more pics!
#6
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sadly, i don't have any of the bike in its more economical phases (the sprung brooks and formula/deep v combo killed that) but here it is.
a photographer i am not.
p.s. did you see mclaughlin trying to wax dark matter this weekend? classic.
a photographer i am not.
p.s. did you see mclaughlin trying to wax dark matter this weekend? classic.
#7
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not fixed, or built from the frame up, but my beater cannondale road bike cost me $55 total. $40 for the bike at a yard sale, a free tune up from a mechanic friend, upgraded with free parts via trades and the local bike co-op, and $15 for bar tape.
#8
ride fast...take chances
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god bless the hippies.
=)
=)
#10
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for my beater, bought crankset/bb $40, used rear wheel $40...bike was garbage find.
#11
or tarckeemoon, depending
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Originally Posted by Jesse M
not fixed, or built from the frame up, but my beater cannondale road bike cost me $55 total. $40 for the bike at a yard sale, a free tune up from a mechanic friend, upgraded with free parts via trades and the local bike co-op, and $15 for bar tape.
#12
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Mine is not fixed...yet. 1974 Schwinn Le Tour... definitely a beater. Currently set up SS w/ 39x14...used what I had available. Pretty good all around gear for my locale. Posted a while back... here is the link
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/223236-first-ss-build-cheap.html
I plan to build up a fixed rear wheel soon, but that will push up the price quite a bit as all those parts will likely be new.
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/223236-first-ss-build-cheap.html
I plan to build up a fixed rear wheel soon, but that will push up the price quite a bit as all those parts will likely be new.
#13
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i just built up my commuter from a 1984 schwinn frameset. i'll do a full writuep later, but it cost me 200 and change. i had to pick up a new bb & headset, but the rest went towards things like tires, tubes, bar tape, brake levers, etc.
#15
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i got 15 dollar raleigh road bike in great shape with mostly campy parts at a garage sale, 40 on tires, i trash picked a single speed wheel, spent 6 dollars for some bmx levers and new brake cables, stripped off what i didn't need, a dollar bin selle marco rolls, a dollar bin itm goccia stem, a set of single stack chainring bolts(5 bucks), recently trash picked some cruiser bars for it and i'm at what 77 bucks, it could not be a sweeter ride, i haven't sold any of the original campy stuff, but it's got to be the only beater with campy seatpost, brakes, and front wheel
#16
or tarckeemoon, depending
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Originally Posted by soyboy
i got 15 dollar raleigh road bike in great shape with mostly campy parts at a garage sale, 40 on tires, i trash picked a single speed wheel, spent 6 dollars for some bmx levers and new brake cables, stripped off what i didn't need, a dollar bin selle marco rolls, a dollar bin itm goccia stem, a set of single stack chainring bolts(5 bucks), recently trash picked some cruiser bars for it and i'm at what 77 bucks, it could not be a sweeter ride, i haven't sold any of the original campy stuff, but it's got to be the only beater with campy seatpost, brakes, and front wheel
#17
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here's my story
I did it, keeping the money low is all about making sure the bike you start with has a lot of parts you'll finish with.
https://www.jaycokingpin.com/singlefix.pdf
https://www.jaycokingpin.com/singlefix.pdf
#18
perspective distorts
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that's all i do man. i've built up a few bikes for other people. then rarely come in over $200. bling is for the richies. they can buy "class".
#20
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Originally Posted by Seggybop
If you spend more than $25 I don't think it's ok to call it a beater anymore.
I generally try to stay around $15-20.
I generally try to stay around $15-20.
i don't know where you live but round here unless it's trash picked you'd be luck to get the frame alone for under that, let alone slightly customizing the bike to get it to your liking, additionally the dude i bought the bike from had known exactly what he had and was glad as hell to find someone that appreciated it, i was living right outside of philly at the time and it was rather late in the day so i was surprised, usually good garage sale stuff is cleared by noon, that was also the day i found a yard sale of a guy who had previously owned a bike shop, i picked up a butt load of dollar bin awesomeness
#21
Banned
on its third wheelset, 2nd BB, secnd saddle, many chains, was $100 initially
iced version after riding all day in a snow/sleet/rain storm
iced version after riding all day in a snow/sleet/rain storm
#22
perspective distorts
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Originally Posted by Seggybop
If you spend more than $25 I don't think it's ok to call it a beater anymore.
I generally try to stay around $15-20.
I generally try to stay around $15-20.
#25
do-over...
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I just finished this one for around $65, but of course it dosent have any fancy parts. but its fun to ride.
Based it off an old motor-pacing bike. i got a bubble gum blue frame exactly like this one, not sure what to do with it now...
Based it off an old motor-pacing bike. i got a bubble gum blue frame exactly like this one, not sure what to do with it now...