Buy as one vs build - on a budget

[jamin100]

my 14 year old son has outgrown is islabike so needs a new cyclocross bike for the upcoming season (September)

He’s a middle of the pack kind of rider and enjoys racing each week. With that in mind I’m looking to either buy or build (father son bonding type of thing) a 52cm frame cross bike. He has dreams of carbon everywhere but on the small budget we have that’s definitely not going to happen...

What are your thoughts on building one vs buying a complete bike? I’ve never built a bike before but do have most (I believe) of the tools to do so...

Also, if anyone has a 52cm cross frame or bike

 

[DCLane]

I've built a few bikes with my now 13yo - his current training bike a couple of years ago, a cross bike plus single speed 'fun' MTB last year and we're currently (slowly) building his new training bike.

Definately more fun and, if you can take the time parts sourcing, it can be cheaper.

We built his current cross bike for about £300 - aluminium/carbon Columbus X-Wing frame with decent 20 speed components. He got to choose cables, bar tape, saddle as well as help build it. Overall weight is around 8kg and handles well which imo is much better than we'd have got buying one for that price.

 

[vickster]

Someone linked this frameset

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shark-Tr...low/112642759047?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144

 

[alecstilleyedye]

unless you’ve got a substantial amount of components spare, a good second hand bike will be cheaper than home build, even sourcing parts from ebay...

 

[swee'pea99]

unless you’ve got a substantial amount of components spare, a good second hand bike will be cheaper than home build, even sourcing parts from ebay...

This, without a doubt. Use the search options in ebay to narrow down to your preferred type, price range, and - assuming you have a car - area, then be prepared to be a bit patient...tho' you can always trade off delay against price. But yes, buying a whole bike is always going to be way cheaper than doing it piece by piece.

 

[Smokin Joe]

This, without a doubt. Use the search options in ebay to narrow down to your preferred type, price range, and - assuming you have a car - area, then be prepared to be a bit patient...tho' you can always trade off delay against price. But yes, buying a whole bike is always going to be way cheaper than doing it piece by piece.

A second hand bike will be, but I can guarantee to build a bike more cheaply than I could buying a new one. As long as you have a couple of months to complete it and scour the internet retailers every day for short term sales where they need to shift gear quickly you can save quite a bit.

 

[swee'pea99]

A second hand bike will be, but I can guarantee to build a bike more cheaply than I could buying a new one. As long as you have a couple of months to complete it and scour the internet retailers every day for short term sales where they need to shift gear quickly you can save quite a bit.

I'm sure that's true - should've considered that! Have to admit the idea of buying new - especially if on a tight budget - never occurred to me.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I've built a few but if you can land a great sale bike there's no contest.

My Marin nail trail was £900 down from £1600 in a Xmas sale at Rutland.
It's got Yari forks which are £550 on their own and full slx kit with a dropper post.

CRC have some storming deals as do other outlets.
You get the warranty as well

 

[Vantage]

An off the shelf retail bike will more than likely have some cheapo nasty bits to cut costs vs the competition. Bottom brackets, brakes and headsets made of cheese spring to mind. Plus it'll be just another clone that every other Tom, Dick and Harriet has.
Building your own leaves your own personal touch and you end up with a one of a kind bike. Something special that no one else has.

 

[Threevok]

I've found that buying a bike (even in the sale) still means you end up spending more on upgrades later down the line.

Whereas building from scratch ensures you have the bike you wanted to start with.

 

[mustang1]

This is probably more about than just money. You'll have an adventure with your kid if you both build it together.

If I were building, I'd make sure there's plenty of time to get the bike built as I'm not the best at hand-stuff and I'd end up getting a proper mechanic to tune it up once it's built .

 

[Milkfloat]

My silly opinion - buy a used one on eBay, strip it without Jnr knowing and then rebuild it together adding in some little extra touches and components here and there.

 

[bpsmith]

I've found that buying a bike (even in the sale) still means you end up spending more on upgrades later down the line.

Whereas building from scratch ensures you have the bike you wanted to start with.

But. Buying a complete bike at the right sale price is still cheaper than sourcing all of the components separately, even after factoring in additional upgrades!

Plus the parts removed usually have a decent resale value too.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Buying a complete bike at the right sale price is still cheaper than sourcing all of the components separately, even after factoring in additional upgrades!

Plus the parts removed usually have a decent resale value too.

Complete bikes are generally better value than piecemeal builds, and secondhand complete bikes are way better value than complete new bikes. When you build something up from parts, all the extra odds & ends you need; just a few quid here and there, all add up to a substantial amount by the end of the job. Complete machines have all these odds and ends fitted already. I think the trick to getting value is to buy roughly what you want to end up with in the first place, and don't be obsessive about "upgrades" if the spec is somewhere close just as it comes.

 

[bpsmith]

Complete bikes are generally better value than piecemeal builds, and secondhand complete bikes are way better value than complete new bikes. When you build something up from parts, all the extra odds & ends you need; just a few quid here and there, all add up to a substantial amount by the end of the job. Complete machines have all these odds and ends fitted already. I think the trick to getting value is to buy roughly what you want to end up with in the first place, and don't be obsessive about "upgrades" if the spec is somewhere close just as it comes.

It comes right down to the deal you hunt for tbh. As discussed before, both of my Ridley purchases were a good bit cheaper than the same bike on eBay, except mine were new!

There are cracking deals to be had by those prepared to find them.