Building a full suspension bike from scratch.

Hodders

Hodders

Hodders

Soldato
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I really fancy building a bike from scratch.

Budget of around 3k in total.

My idea would be to get a full sus frame from a known brand and then add components to fit.

Question is, can you save money this way or is buying a whole bike cheaper?
 
Hodders said:
I really fancy building a bike from scratch.

Budget of around 3k in total.

My idea would be to get a full sus frame from a known brand and then add components to fit.

Question is, can you save money this way or is buying a whole bike cheaper?
Click to expand...

Check out Allen Millyard’s downhill bikes on YouTube.
Impressive stuff.
 
I've generally found that it's more expensive to build up your own bike and only worth it if you have a number of parts already available to donate, and that's on road bikes, can only imagine its even worse on a full sus.
 
Try getting parts, it's bloody hard work at the moment. Unless your not fussy.

But also its so much more expensive. I.e my bike was 3300, try building up a frame and parts for that price. I'm running lyrik ultimates, deluxe ultimate, XT groupset, 4 pot breaks, dt swiss wheelset, dropper etc. So you can definitely go cheaper as a full bike, but building up will cost more for less.

I.e a set of lyrik ultimates is £900(ish) and a decent frame and shock is £2000. So you could go cheaper, but you'll have less for more building yourself. It adds up too, tyres, tubeless valves, bleed kits and so forth.

Bike companies get huge discounts buying direct from SRAM etc.

Your biggest issue is getting parts at the moment, it's pretty grim right now. I don't think there is any 12 speed mechs in the UK currently, unless you splash out on XTR. If I break mine, I'll have to pay £200 to keep riding :/
 
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Hodders said:
@Begbie great reply thanks.

Looks like whole bike is the cheapest option then.

Why is stock so terrible? Surely everyone that wants a lockdown bike would have one by now!
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Shipping problems caused by Covid, supply chain being swallowed up last year still having a knock on effect. The guys I bought my bike from (Bird) have said numerous times now that 2021 might be impossible and 2022 might even be a struggle. Personally at £3k, I'd put an order in for a privateer 141/161 and know you have a bike incoming.
 
I'm wanting a new bike Transition Spur but in waiting for all the parts I want to be available rather than buying bits at a time, very little of my current bike will be used as it's a 26" bike, and I'm downsizing from a freeride based bike to a down country bike.
Plus side should be even better parts available later this year or next.
I've always put my own bikes together as no off the shelf one comes close to having what I want.
 
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