Cost of a Full Suspension Bike Build.

[tjdixon911]

Just after a bit of information as to how much the likely build cost for a Full Suspension bike would be excluding frame (assume frame includes rear shock)

I can get a rough Idea but I am sure I am missing bits.

Something that may be better is a list of all items required for a build that I could price myself...

If this happens I will want to build the best bike I can but obviously I have a budget to stick too! (possibly looking at a Cove hustler frame for XC riding)

Also how easy/hard is it to build a bike?

Thanks

Tom

[lord summerisle]

how longs a piece of string?


i built 2 custom bikes a few years ago. one for me, one for the missus.

Now bearing in mind she already had the disk brakes and wheels carried over from her old bike her bike (built around a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR frame) came to £1200 and my bike was a complete job, built around a Specialized S Works frame came to £2500.

the differences came down to me specing a Chris King head set on mine and a titec on hers... a shimano UN72 BB on hers and a raceface on mine.

same with the cranks - i got middleburn, she had titec - all adds up.

as a list.

• F&R hubs
• F&R Rims
• F&R tyres
• brakes (make sure you cost for both brakes as some are listed seperatly as front and rear)
• front forks
• Aheadset
• stem
• handlebars
• grips
• gear leavers (depending on your choice of brakes they maybe seperate or integrated items
• gear cables
• saddle
• seat post
• bottom braket
• cranks
• chain rings (if sold seperatly like middleburn and what size/range ie 22,32,42 24,34,46 like ours)
• pedals
• front derailier
• rear derailier
• rear cassette
• chain

i've probly missed something - but its a start

Edited by lord summerisle on Tuesday 13th January 14:02

[sjg]

Can vary a lot depending on the cost of bits. www.merlincycles.co.uk do complete groupsets (all drivetrain plus brake components) at decent prices, including handbuilt wheels if you want them too.

Forks vary enormously in price and quality. You'll also need headset, stem, bars, grips, seatpost, seat, pedals.

Most of a bike can be put together with a set of allen keys. The new fancy Shimano chainsets/BBs need special tools, but Merlin sell a 3rd party set to do those for a fiver. Hardest bit is probably fitting the headset, cutting down the steerer tube of the forks and fitting the star-fangled nut. You can either bodge most of this with a big hammer and blocks of wood, pay quite a bit for tools you'll use once in a blue moon, or drop them off at your local bike shop and get them to do it.

[P-Jay]

In short, expensive in the short-term, but maybe not in the long-term.

When I had my custom build last spring I got a bit carried away and went deluxe on everything and spend too much, but if like me you're fussy it can be a money saver. The last bike I bought before it, I bought complete, and when I think of the bits I upgraded and replaced because I didn't like the OE stuff, or it wasn't up to scratch and died it would have been cheaper to buy a frame and build it.

The shop I used offered to price match any major website (wiggle, CRC, merlin etc) price for the frame and bits and built it for free, I can do most things on a bike, but pressing in headsets, wheel building and facing frames is beyond me.

[pastrana72]

Keeping to a budget is the hardest part (for me it was), but building a custom bike from a frame, may be an expensive route, but the most rewarding way in my opinion.

I have custom built on my last four bikes, the last three are all Coves, which are frame only options, so had no other option. It is not hard to build a bike properly if you have a good idea of what you are doing and have the correct tool's. You can always pay a LBS to fit a headset with the correct tool. Do not use wood and a hammer on a MTB if you can help it. luckily i have access to all the tools even disc facing tool, which is worth doing.

I buy the best wheels and forks I can afford, other parts I can upgrade later, for better when they wear out and I can get a good deal.

I did in the end spec my bikes up and excede my initial budget, but ended up with a bike I am really happy with. I doubt i will ever buy a complete bike again. 1.5 to 2K GBP not including the frame is a sensible budget for decent kit.

The hustler is a great Frame for a custom build, here is one (mine) I built earlier.

Edited by pastrana72 on Tuesday 13th January 21:19

Edited by pastrana72 on Tuesday 13th January 22:27

[gbbird]

Well,

if you are asking what is the cost excluding frame and forks, then the cost will surely be very similiar building any decent MTB, hardtail of full sus.

I have built a couple of hardtails up from scrath, the most expensive being my Cove Stiffee. I think that came to just less than £2k all in, so take the frame out of the equation and the bits added up to about £1.5k. An expenisve hobby, but well worth it

[nervous]

You don't need a better bike- you just need someone to ride with who you've got a chance of ever being able to keep up with.

this guy, perhaps.



he'd probably be better company than me, too.

[neil_bolton]

Tom, What with my lothario lifestyle recently, I've completely forgotton about emailing you back.

Get Nervous to give you my number and give me a call and I'll chat to you.

[tjdixon911]

nervous said:

You don't need a better bike- you just need someone to ride with who you've got a chance of ever being able to keep up with.

this guy, perhaps.



he'd probably be better company than me, too.

Think I'd still struggle to keep up with him!

Still ok for Saturday?

[tjdixon911]

neil_bolton said:

Tom, What with my lothario lifestyle recently, I've completely forgotton about emailing you back.

Get Nervous to give you my number and give me a call and I'll chat to you.

Thats not a problem, there is no rush! I'll take forever to actually make up my mind and spend any money!

Thanks

Tom

[tjdixon911]

lord summerisle said:

how longs a piece of string?


i built 2 custom bikes a few years ago. one for me, one for the missus.

Now bearing in mind she already had the disk brakes and wheels carried over from her old bike her bike (built around a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR frame) came to £1200 and my bike was a complete job, built around a Specialized S Works frame came to £2500.

the differences came down to me specing a Chris King head set on mine and a titec on hers... a shimano UN72 BB on hers and a raceface on mine.

same with the cranks - i got middleburn, she had titec - all adds up.

as a list.

• F&R hubs
• F&R Rims
• F&R tyres
• brakes (make sure you cost for both brakes as some are listed seperatly as front and rear)
• front forks
• Aheadset
• stem
• handlebars
• grips
• gear leavers (depending on your choice of brakes they maybe seperate or integrated items
• gear cables
• saddle
• seat post
• bottom braket
• cranks
• chain rings (if sold seperatly like middleburn and what size/range ie 22,32,42 24,34,46 like ours)
• pedals
• front derailier
• rear derailier
• rear cassette
• chain

i've probly missed something - but its a start

Edited by lord summerisle on Tuesday 13th January 14:02

Thanks thats very useful I will have a go at pricing the list at some point, then once I have seen the bottom line go and buy something off the shelf.

[nervous]

tjdixon911 said:

Still ok for Saturday?

Totally.