Budget Bike Build

comanche_cor

Hi,

So I am looking to take on a bike build myself. Plan is to do this as budget as possible and hope to keep build costs down below 1000e (hardtail).

Although mechanically competent - do most work myself this is my first time taking this on so I have few questions:

1. Does anyone have any good sources for info, I am guessing parks videos, youtube etc?
2. Where would you recommend for picking up parts - ebay, pinkbike, anywhere else
3. Any suggestions on forks to keep an eye out for that are a good balance of price and performance?

Thanks

Wanderer78

comanche_cor wrote:

1. Does anyone have any good sources for info, I am guessing parks videos, youtube etc? 2. Where would you recommend for picking up parts - ebay, pinkbike, anywhere else 3. Any suggestions on forks to keep an eye out for that are a good balance of price and performance?

I know a chap that built his own enduro a few years ago, got most of his components online, including second hand frame, I ll find out what sites he used, bike turn out fantastic, think fork was the most expensive part. Best of luck with it

cletus

No idea where you'd source parts, but on the spannering end of things Park tools have a video covering just about every aspect of working on a bike

Wanderer78

cletus wrote: »

No idea where you'd source parts, but on the spannering end of things Park tools have a video covering just about every aspect of working on a bike

i believe the chap above used the park videos a lot, he was also a bike mech at the time

cletus

In fairness, there are very few really difficult jobs when working on bikes

Wanderer78

cletus wrote: »

In fairness, there are very few really difficult jobs when working on bikes

im still trying to figure out some of my maintenance issues, but its very enjoyable trying to do so, some great resources on the internets

cletus

Wanderer78 wrote: »

im still trying to figure out some of my maintenance issues, but its very enjoyable trying to do so, some great resources on the internets

What are the issues, if you don't mind me asking

Wanderer78

cletus wrote: »

What are the issues, if you don't mind me asking

to be honest, i just dont have the right tools yet, but i have access to a former mechanic, im still very wary of attempting shocks and forks. im thinking of changing over to a one by system, and my dropper needs to be replaced, so theres some new things to learn.

from the chap that built his enduro, unfortunately the site where he got the frame is gone, and the sites he has mentioned, are well known anyway, but...

General rule for buying is you don't need the best in the world SLX is great quality and they now do 1x11 and I think they also 1x12 now.
Depending on the type of Bike that is being built you need to match up the frame headset tube with the fork width, that's usually called the taper I think.
Fork and wheel size and axle size must match
Make sure the brake disc size matches the brake itself, you can buy adapters to make sure they match up.
A big lesson for me, try to get the most modern sizes in terms of frame, fork and wheels. It's going to be easier to replace parts then and customize the bike.
For example, I think a common fork size is a 1" 1/8 taper (the frame will tell you what fork size it will fit)
Wheels, I'd be looking probably for 27.5 with sealed bearings. Cup and cone bearings are a pain in the hole.
Buying:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
https://www.bike-discount.de/ (delivery is dearer, but the parts are cheaper so usually ends up being cheaper)

Repairs / Installation
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help ( I have a book by these guys, they are top class)
https://www.youtube.com/user/parktoolcompany (thie YouTube channel is top class too)

I got my frame off a 2nd hand site that isn;t around anymore so not too sure where the best place to look for frames is.

Lemming

If you're looking for 2nd hand frames/parts, take a look around the pinkbike.com classifieds (just be sure to select the geographical search radius that you desire); failing that I'm sure there are more than a few local(ish) facebook groups to use too but I'll leave such recommendations to people who are in Ireland.

Edit: just looking at the overview count for Ireland vs. the UK as a geographical radius, you might want to consider have a field a little wider than Ireland as there doesn't seem to be large amounts of listings across the categories. That of course assumes you don't mind the potential extra effort of getting parts from abroad.

Tony04

Manitou forks offer the same quality as rockshox/fox for maybe 20% less the price, as youre not paying for the brand.
Also nice in winter as their reverse stanchion arch keeps mud out

saccades

Only my last two bikes were bought complete, everything prior were "self built".

Strong, light, cheap pick two....

Get onto buy and sell mountain bike Ireland, there are probably other MTB/bike selling groups too.

Put up wanted adds there or on MTB club websites, everyone there will have tons of stuff no longer needed.

Budget more than you think for finishing kit like stems, bars, saddle etc.

Have a rough plan if what you want, be wary of frames with odd bolt thru designs, odd headset designs and any fork that isn't a modern tapered job. Straight steerer forks are either really bad or impossible to buy new out of the states. 26" with a tapered headset shouldn't be overlooked. Cannondale went 1.5 straight headset ages ago so always good for a cheap updatedable build.

Avoid dryad (and oddball) shocks, extra expensive to fix or get serviced.

You can pick up hope hubbed wheels fairly often, cheap & are easy to adjust from one standard to another. Theoretically dtswiss to but I've never bothered myself learning the range.

Normally I get a cheap (obscure or bland brand frame, something not sexy/desirable) decent frame, wheels and fork all second hand. Taking your time on eBay or the like is your friend. Gives you an idea of the market and if you are getting robbed or a bargain.

Then new brakes/drive chain - budget for deore, it's plenty good enough. 1x that's not 12 speed is cheap too. I normally use most finishing parts from the parts bin.

I built an ace bike (well I think it was ace, did me great for 24hr racing), for just over a grand 5 years ago, carbon FS frame, dtswiss forks, American classic wheels, reverb, 1x10 (mixture of hone, xt and slx), Thomson stem, ec90 bars, SLR saddle, xt brakes. By taking my time, hunting bargains and picking up stuff dumped by people getting the latest and greatest.

Icyseanfitz

Currently building up a 29er enduro bike, decided to try a Chinese brand ican for the frame and carbon wheels (very good reviews so not too worried). Have a look over at chinertown dot com, lots of great user builds on cheaper frames with both high end builds and budget builds.

covey123

comanche_cor wrote: »

Hi,

So I am looking to take on a bike build myself. Plan is to do this as budget as possible and hope to keep build costs down below 1000e (hardtail).

Although mechanically competent - do most work myself this is my first time taking this on so I have few questions:

1. Does anyone have any good sources for info, I am guessing parks videos, youtube etc?
2. Where would you recommend for picking up parts - ebay, pinkbike, anywhere else
3. Any suggestions on forks to keep an eye out for that are a good balance of price and performance?

Thanks

Pinkbike forums either by bike brand or Mechanics Quick Question Thread are a great resource, recently had trouble getting the rocker link off my frame when stripping bike for bearing change and posted up the issue, had a reply on how to sort it within within minutes, definitely worth a look if any issues

iwillhtfu

I had the same idea myself for a nice aggressive hardtail for around €1k...





spent €700 on the fork :rolleyes::D:D

covey123

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I had the same idea myself for a nice aggressive hardtail for around €1k...





spent €700 on the fork :rolleyes::D:D

Love it, Actually laughed out loud!:D:D

Wanderer78

iwillhtfu wrote:

spent €700 on the fork

The chap I mentioned earlier, that build his own enduro, spent the same, bloody expensive things, think it was more expensive than the frame

comanche_cor

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I had the same idea myself for a nice aggressive hardtail for around €1k...

spent €700 on the fork :rolleyes::D:D

love it!

I am afraid of losing patience and going all out on things, but lets see.

I stupidly lost out on a Ragley Big Al frame, but found an almost new Dartmoor Primal 29!

I am without bike atm - so also thinking of buying an inbetween 2nd hard full suss with the idea that this becomes a doner bike until I find the full sus I want and sell off the frame and other bits that I don't want.

comanche_cor

So 1k me hole! Thought I'd give an update

So have all components sorted, spent more that I thought.

Didn't see the point in second hand brakes / groupset so bought new.

Frame, fork and wheels I picked up second hand but pretty much added up to the 1k mark. The frame and fork are never used.

So looking forward to the build and hoping I haven't forgotten anything. Last of the parts to arrive this week!

Icyseanfitz

comanche_cor wrote: »

So 1k me hole! Thought I'd give an update

So have all components sorted, spent more that I thought.

Didn't see the point in second hand brakes / groupset so bought new.

Frame, fork and wheels I picked up second hand but pretty much added up to the 1k mark. The frame and fork are never used.

So looking forward to the build and hoping I haven't forgotten anything. Last of the parts to arrive this week!

make sure you put pictures up

comanche_cor

So to bike out for shake down today - ended up being a slomp fest up in ticknock!

Pretty happy with the shake down, a little bit of gear adjusting and I really miss a dropper, but back on the bike again which is good!

A little disappointed with 4 pot brakes, but perhaps I need to set em up a bit better.

Overall happy ... just need to relearn to ride a hardtail!

Lemming

Nothing quite like a bit of bike porn on a Sunday evening :pac:

What brakes did you opt for? And what size are those rotors; they look tiny, although that could just be my perception being skewed having spent much of the weekend invisi-framing the missus new bike and its 29" wagon wheels ...

comanche_cor

Lemming wrote: »

Nothing quite like a bit of bike porn on a Sunday evening :pac:

What brakes did you opt for? And what size are those rotors; they look tiny, although that could just be my perception being skewed having spent much of the weekend invisi-framing the missus new bike and its 29" wagon wheels ...

Rotors are 180 and brakes are deore 4-pot ... wheels are 29"

I rode them on the road to try and bed them in but I was getting a bit of squealing in the wet..

Dunne maybe they will come stronger with a bit more riding.

I think invisi-framing was the right thing to do on Sunday, some about of muck out there. Was covered in it.

Wanderer78

comanche_cor wrote:

I think invisi-framing was the right thing to do on Sunday, some about of muck out there. Was covered in it.

Think everyone got destroyed yesterday, twas fun though, tis like cycling on an ice ring though

prunudo

Deore 4 pots get good reviews so I'd imagine they just need to be set up correctly or bedded in further.

3102derek

Dartmoor Primal looks really nice in the red.

I have one in black. 27.5


image uploader

comanche_cor

3102derek wrote: »

Dartmoor Primal looks really nice in the red.

I have one in black. 27.5
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Nice, the black is classy!

Am starting to get to grips with riding a hardtail again - it certainly keeps you honest!

Few things that I have to work on:
- no more ploughing through rock gardens, gotta keep light on the bike
- need to take more impact through the legs (and not he ankles ouch!!!)
- am now pulling on the bars when coming to the lip of a jump as I am not compressing through the rear shock. Was never the best of jumpers, but its now time to learn properly!

but having said that I have picked up a few PBs here and there on the hardtail and not on climbs!

Tenzor07

comanche_cor wrote: »

Am starting to get to grips with riding a hardtail again - it certainly keeps you honest!
Few things that I have to work on:
- no more ploughing through rock gardens, gotta keep light on the bike
- need to take more impact through the legs (and not he ankles ouch!!!)
- am now pulling on the bars when coming to the lip of a jump as I am not compressing through the rear shock. Was never the best of jumpers, but its now time to learn properly!
but having said that I have picked up a few PBs here and there on the hardtail and not on climbs!

Just picked up a brand new carbon hardtail 29'er with 130 Fox forks, great to be back on a HT again, much easier to clean and maintain in winter mud...
I have a pair of 2.6 Maxxis tyres on with XT 2 piston brakes as I feel the 4pot would be overkill for a light bike..

You certainly need a bit more energy to ride without suspension, however most people I see out there are over-biked, you don't need massive 36' forks with 160mm travel and 140++ in the rear for most of the trails around the country..