Although I’ve enjoyed reading the opposite thread about ultra top end stuff, I’m much more interested in the cheaper and mid range stuff (mid range for me will always be my ‘best bike’ due to financial constraints).
So, in a similar but opposite vein to Tom’s thread, what is the cheapest ‘new’ bike STWers can build? As we know, there are already lots of bargains around and potentially soon to be more.
Keen to see the ultimate low cost but fully functional bike we could get for all round riding. Aware of the Ragley thread, but some of the builds on there, although lovely, I don’t think are ultimate low cost - although I guess the frame might be as good as it gets from a cost : performance ratio.
What can you build? (Disclaimer - I may use as evidence to the purse controller in our household)
Yeah you won't really beat a complete bike off the shelf and arguably you can do 'mountain biking' on most mountainbikes you can buy from Halfords, Decathlon or anywhere.
There's loads of YouTubers who do these types of videos all the time, aka 'cheap bike challenge'
Somewhere you will find the line that suits you in terms of performance and durability.
Most of us with our fancy schmancy bikes could probably get away with much cheaper bikes, but it's not all about that as we all know 😊
Do you mean best value for money, rather than cheapest?
And I guess it has to be built from parts rather than bought complete as complete will win hands down every time.
RRP or what the current sale price is (or past sale prices)?
Yeah, did mean best value for money / performance ratio - not supermarket or even lower Halfords level. Seen some of those sort of YouTube videos, but they are usually doing huge jumps on supermarket bikes.
@weeksy you’re probably right. Suppose I was thinking of building our own rather than off the shelf - could a better bike be built using new but on sale prices than something like a Voodoo from Halfords or a Vitus from CRC?
The key to value for money is something that lasts for ages, even if it costs a bit more to begin with.
I would start with this:
https://www.wiggle.com/p/nukeproof-mega-275-carbon-mountain-bike-frame-2020
Just need to wait for it to come back in stock (Expected soon!) 🙂
Most of the performance comes from geometry, tyres and suspension, whilst drivetrain stuff and anything to make a bike particularly light can suck up money to little actual benefit.
I think the bike I've ridden the most is my Go Outdoors Calibre Dune fatbike.
Upgraded a few bits I admit, but out of the box it's a great bike.
I'd guess a cheap CRC Ragley frame, a microshift drivetrain, some sub-Deore Shimano brakes, a load of Brand-X finishing kit (they'll be another big loss if CRC vanishes), Clarks rotors, Hunt wheels and you're most of the way there. As someone said above, tyres you probably want decent ones, Specialized probably the go-to for cheap tyres that perform. Just need a fork at that point, those cheap Revaltions from a recent PSA maybe.
What can you build?
Secondhand complete, but barely used does exist.
I picked this up for £600 a couple of weeks ago - it had been ridden three times for total of 50 miles or so. So basically brand new with a chip or two in the paint.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53279611275_b865c0ca19_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53279611275_b865c0ca19_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pb8Wcv ]2020 Genesis Vagabond[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
I am sure there would be similar MTB bargains with some hunting...
The key to value for money is something that lasts for ages, even if it costs a bit more to begin with.
A very good point.
Durability and function over trendy / light / unusual etc.
Picked up two second hand bargains in the past !
Hunt wheels
£500 wheels? can build your own out of superstar bits for a smidge over £100 a pair, they'll work fine
I'm known amongst my cycling buddies as being a bit of a bargain hound 😁
I don't tend to buy complete bikes, as I enjoy the building & fettling process. I also like a robust (but discounted!) product for longevity.
My current hardtail is a Ragley Blue Pig - frame bought last November when they were at £320.
Ragley BP - £320
RS Revs - £180 from Alpkit
Hope Pro 4 + RF Arc rims - £300 from CRC
RF turbine Cinch cranks - £100 from CRC
Hope BSA30 bb - full price (£80?) Cos all the cheap ones died!
Hope headset - again full price (£70?) Cos Hope.
TRP Slate Evo brakes - £85 from Merlin
Hope Rotors - £25 each from Balfes
Trans X 200mm dropper - £55
Deore/Microshift 11spd gears + sram chain - £120 in total from various shops
Funn 40mm stem - £15 from CRC
Spank 800mm bars - £15 from Wiggle
Dmr deathgrips - £7ish from ?
WTB Vigilante 2.8 - £20 ebay
Maxxis Rekon+ 2.8 - £25 CRC
Charge Spoon saddle - free from a mate 😁
Think that's all.
My daughter's bike was around £600 with some parts bin parts iirc a couple years ago. Brand X frame and second hand fox 32 forks xt / deore drivetrain.
Hardtail + Deore + Fox Rhythms (of whatever model fits your riding). Done.
Are there any of those bargain Jamis Dakar FS still kicking around?
Ragley frame.
£180 Revs from CRC
Unfashionable HG wheelset
Single speed kit
Deore Crank
KMC Z1 narrow chain
Blackspire stinger
Tektro Gemini brakes from Merlin
Specialized tyres next time they have a sale
Brand-X dropper
£5 Supercaz grips in green on CRC
Tubeless valves cut from old tubes.
Nukeproof plastic pedals for £16
Whatever reputable bar/stem/saddle/headset are on clearance offer.
Marley frame £190 including delivery.
Headset £10
Bottom bracket £30
Bits off my old bike, £free.
Total £230 for a hardcore hardtail/rat bike/winter smoker.
Bargain.
Smugness off the scale.
@ajantom, not so much spare as well used off a knackered full suspension frame.
Well if we’re talking spares/parts bin then I could build up at least 3 bikes for free
@thisisnotaspoon - this is the kind of thing I was thinking of, and lots of good ideas above. Although, I still think certain parts could be even cheaper and still function well - e.g I might consider Microshift stuff instead of Deore or maybe the new CUES stuff. Also, the more I look, I think I’d break my own rules for wheels and get them second hand - but if sticking strictly to new I will look at Superstar.
Last time I built a "spares bike" it had hope wheels, XTR cranks and Thomspson kit!
I had a bit of a bling hoarding problem. Didn't like the frame in the end though so selling it was a good way to make some money and clear out the shed.
These days I'd agree with:
The key to value for money is something that lasts for ages, even if it costs a bit more to begin with.
Although I'd say that after 10-15 years of crazy bike-price inflation thing's have settled down and trickled down so now we do have cheap forks, groupsets, dropper posts etc. E.g. those £180 rev's, sure they're not the latest Charger USB 3.1, but seems like we've been waiting since the original Pike for for a return of a <£200 all-aluminium mid-range fork.
If you've got the spare cash for mid-range bike parts, you've probably never had such a good choice!
Although, I still think certain parts could be even cheaper and still function well – e.g I might consider Microshift stuff instead of Deore or maybe the new CUES stuff.
Yea, I think there's some advantage to Deore in that it's upgradeable/replaceable. The price difference to cues/microshift/box etc isn't that much unless you're really trying to squeeze in under a budget rather than just go for the best bang/buck.
Also, the more I look, I think I’d break my own rules for wheels and get them second hand – but if sticking strictly to new I will look at Superstar.
Wheels can be a great place to save £££ as they're seen as an easy upgrade. So there's loads for sale genuinely used just a few times off relatively high end bikes. I got some DT / Raceface wheels off an OEM santa cruz build from 18bikes as the buyer wanted carbon wheels. They'd never even left the shop floor!
I’m known amongst my cycling buddies as being a bit of a bargain hound 😁
Hold my beer...
Nukeproof mega carbon 275.
.
Frame, New - £499 - CRC
Fork, New - Fox factory 36 G2 -£310 - Tri sport resort
Wheels, New - Hope pro5/Fortus 30 F&Rr 27.5" - £330 merlin/Tri sport
Tyres,New - Schwalbe M/Mary,H,Dampf - £48 - Merlin
Dropper, New -Fox transfer - £160 Ebay
Brake levers, New - Tech3 - £140 - CRC/Ebay
Brake calipers, New - V4 £60, V2 Hope freebie- Cant remember
Rotors, New - V2 vented 203mm F&R - £52.50/each - Activesport
Drivetrain, New - Sram 12 spd GX(crank/shifter/cassette/chain) - £210 -Merlin/alpkit/CRC
Bars , New - USE carbon riser - £25 - USE outlet
Stem,New - Hope 50mm - £45 - Ebay
Assorted parts - grips -grip Dr,/s clamp/spacers - from parts bin, (all new anyhow)
.
Total £1932
Recently built up a single speed which, over 1k miles in so far, has become my go to bike
all (with the exception of maybe 5 or 6) parts bought used
£910 all in
Brake Mounts IS-PM
Brake Rotors
Burgtec RW Bar
Burgtec MK3 35mm stem
Chain
DMR Deathgrips
Gusset Doublesix 17t sprocket
Gusset Doublesix SS Kit
Gusset Lofty Seat-Post
Gusset S2 AM Saddle
Halo Hex Skewers
Halo Vapour 35 Wheelset
Headset Spacers
Hope Headset 1 1/18”
Shimano MT800 BB
Shimano M7100 32t Chainring
Shimano m7100 SLX Cranks
SRAM Guide RSC Brakes
Surly 1x1 Frame + Fork
Surly Tuggnut x2
thought that. Cost me thousands
Pffft problem there is that you probably wanted something coherent. What you really wanted was the trends of 3 decades mashed into a superbike of availability.
1998 hardcore hardtail frame, with a 2011 160mm fork hammered into its undersized headtube? Running 2008 raceface cranks mashed onto a square taper bottom bracket, with a 26 inch Mavic 121 rear v brake wheel and a 29er CrossRide front wheel from your "xc phase"? Yeah there you go. 8 speed, obviously, but with a 10 speed shifter, yellow DCD and the bar ends I saved "just in case". Now THAT is a bike.
The v brakes are DX, that's still cool, yeah?
£699 brand new 👍
