Is it cheaper to buy the parts separatly and build your road bike or better to get one assembled?

[commutercallum]

Answer please?

 

[fatblokish]

No and no.

 

[ianrauk]

as what fatbloke said.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Once you're into bespoke parts and putting them together, the word 'cheaper' has long since become a verbal feint and a smoke & mirror fantasy.

Either you're kidding yourself that you've saved money or you're fibbing to someone else.

If it's 'cheaper' that you're after, pick up a nice, light, quality frame made of the material you're after with cheapish but goodish components on it. This might be a hangover from last year's model range.

Everything on a bicycle wears out over time, so buy for the frame. As the rest of the parts wear out, replace them with the stuff you really want. That's the cheapest way to go semi-bespoke.

You will inevitably replace parts before they're worn out. You will justify this with a story you actually believe.

By that time it will be too late. There is no cure. You will be going straight to hell, but on quite a nice bicycle.

I hope this helps.

It won't.

 

[Recycler]

Once you're into bespoke parts and putting them together, the word 'cheaper' has long since become a verbal feint and a smoke & mirror fantasy.

Either you're kidding yourself that you've saved money or you're fibbing to someone else.

If it's 'cheaper' that you're after, pick up a nice, light, quality frame made of the material you're after with cheapish but goodish components on it. This might be a hangover from last year's model range.

Everything on a bicycle wears out over time, so buy for the frame. As the rest of the parts wear out, replace them with the stuff you really want. That's the cheapest way to go semi-bespoke.

You will inevitably replace parts before they're worn out. You will justify this with a story you actually believe.

By that time it will be too late. There is no cure. You will be going straight to hell, but on quite a nice bicycle.

I hope this helps.

It won't.

Wise words!

 

[Nigeyy]

No and yes (it's usually much cheaper to buy a new bike). I assume you mean buying a new bike rather than paying someone to assemble one -in which case you'd still be paying for parts and then labour on top -in which case the answer would be no as well.

However the cheapest option is to buy second hand. The problem here is finding the right bike for you -particularly if you are an unusual size. And of course you won't have a choice in colour either. Or that new bike smell (must be the oil protectants they use).

I've built quite a few bikes up from scratch, and I've been very very careful with buying components -buying only stuff on sale, at the cheapest prices I can get (and I think I'm a savvy shopper too). Even then more expensive than buying a new bike. Truly, buying components isn't the cheap way.

And of course what Boris said is true too.

 

[VamP]

Boris and Nigeyy have said it all.

Despite that, I will add my little bit. The only way it makes any kind of economical sense to build your own bike is if you've already got a a few bikes and a ton of bits lying around, in which case you can get an exciting new frame, and build it up from stuff you have knocking around. Even then you'll fall prey to the desire to bling it up, and buy upgrades. It is the way of the cyclist.

Building your bike is, however, splendid fun and I would encourage you to do it. It's not free fun unfortunately.

 

[simon.r]

The only way it makes any kind of economical sense to build your own bike is if you've already got a a few bikes and a ton of bits lying around, in which case you can get an exciting new frame, and build it up from stuff you have knocking around. Even then you'll fall prey to the desire to bling it up, and buy upgrades.

Indeed.

I'm in the process of building a new frame up. My intention was to use as many of the old bits that I have lying around as possible. The desire to 'bling it up' (good phrase) and, to some extent, compatibilty issues, have meant that the only old bits I've used are a stem, bars, grips, cables, saddle, pedals, cog and headset.

On the positive side I'll have a bike that suits me and that cost a little bit less* than an off the peg bike would cost.

*Honest! The frame isn't available as a complete bike, but I'm pretty sure that if it was it would cost a bit more than it's cost me to build it.

 

[jdtate101]

If you're after a complete bike, then the answer is defiantly NO. Bike firms discount heavily the components to hit certain 'price bands' and as such the sum of the parts do not add up to the final price. Go and buy all those part individually and the cost is likely to be much higher. This is why, when you bike is significantly damaged in a crash, insurance companies often will not authorise a repair rather than a replacement, as actually a new bike will cost them less (which to be honest...is what we would all prefer anyway)

 

[GrasB]

Depends how picky you are.

For me it tends to end up cheaper to buy the parts & build up a bike. Why? Because I'll spend 2K on the bike, then invariably I can't get the fit just so. Cue me, over the following few months, buying a new bars, saddle, stem & cranks... So buying a frame set then getting exactly the components I want in the long run is cheaper. Now if you're someone who's not that picky & just rides the bike it's going to be cheaper to buy a pre-built bike.

 

[Nigeyy]

Something else to consider as well is the availability of a workspace and tools. Don't forget:

i. bb tool if you put cranks on
ii. probably need a crank puller
iii. cassette remover
iv. probably cassette whip tool
v. probably pedal wrench
vi. various other tools such as cable cutters, screwdrivers, hammer, allen keys, torque wrench, etc

It soon adds up. And of course there are tools that you can do without but are *very* handy to have such as a workstand, headset press, starnut setter, race setter, etc. You can fabricate some of these yourself, but you have to be careful. Since I'm a bit of a DIY bike sort of person, I have all the tools and a nice basement.

And of course, you have to be reasonably mechanically inclined (my best conquest was a Cannondale Headshok overhaul, that was a good one!) or pay for labour at a shop (which understandably adds greatly to cost).

Boris and Nigeyy have said it all.

Despite that, I will add my little bit. The only way it makes any kind of economical sense to build your own bike is if you've already got a a few bikes and a ton of bits lying around, in which case you can get an exciting new frame, and build it up from stuff you have knocking around. Even then you'll fall prey to the desire to bling it up, and buy upgrades. It is the way of the cyclist.

Building your bike is, however, splendid fun and I would encourage you to do it. It's not free fun unfortunately.

 

[Svendo]

I built my Storck Fenomalist cheaper than the build options from suppliers, partly because I used some bits I already had such as wheels, but even with the bits I've since acquired I reckon it's less than the ~£5000+ list price. But it's not a really fair comparison as my spec is totally individual, but adding up even list prices it's about the same, but with discounts I'm way ahead.

 

[gambatte]

Components = more cost
Put it this way. Theres been a few times I've gone round shops and considered buying a discounted bike, stripping it down and flogging the parts through ebay, as with just 3 or 4 major components I can see a break even point.

 

[fossyant]

Or if you take Canyon, the bike is way cheaper than the parts, even at knock down prices.

 

[biggs682]

are we talking using all new parts or used parts .

if using new then it will be more expensive