What do you do?

[Magic]

How many of you build your bikes up from the ground up and why. I myself build my bikes. It cost more but I get what I want on it the first time. Plus I enjoy wrenching on the bikes, kind of like my own little therapy. Plus how many of you wrench on your own equipment? Just seeing how the other half does it.

[manual63]

I have always bought my mountian bike built up, but I always custom built my BMX and Freestyle bikes. I guess that it depends on your knowledge and comfort level with building up a bike. With BMX stuff, I know exactly what I want. For mountain bikes, it's taken me awhile, but I am starting to know what I want, and it's hard to find the setup I know I would like.

To custom build a top end BMX/Freestyle bike: About $1200 to $1800.

To custom build a top end MTB: About $2500 to $6000......if you don't go too crazy.

That might be another reason I buy them complete. It's easier and cheaper and you can always change the few things you don't like. My Moab is far from being stock though. It's a '98 model bike, but has '04 cranks and drivetrain with some custom wheels I built off of parts I was able to get. The wheels could be nicer though.

I wrench on my own stuff. The only work I had a shop do was when I had One on One redo my drivetrain when they put the new cranks on it. Sometime, if I don't have the correct tool, I will take it to a shop, but not often.

[berrywise]

I haven't bought a complete bike since 1994. Since then it's been buying frames and hand picking parts. I've been working on and off in the bike industry for the last ten years so the thought of paying someone else to work on my bike (let alone paying retail for parts :) ) is a scary one.

Unlike you though I really don't take much of a liking to working on my bike anymore. After getting paid for many years to do it it becomes something of a love/hate relationship to take the time to keep mine on the up and up. Sometimes I'll head up to one of the shops I've worked at and use their bench and parts washer. Something about a totally clean drivetrain still gets me off :crazy:

[Tex]

I've done it both ways, there are pros and cons to each. My most recent bikes have been bought as complete bikes, then I strip the crappy parts off and sell them, so I can buy the new parts that I prefer. I too spent many years as a misguided youth (and some of my adult years) in the back of bike shop turning wrenches. So I would have to agree with Scott that the idea of someone else putting their hands, of even worse, their tools on my bike scares me. However, I differ from in regards to fixing my bike. I love tuning my bike, I almost think it's therapeutic.
But after over twelve years of tuning bikes I have all of my own tools, stand, and truing stand, so it makes life a lot easier. The only thing I don't have is a parts washer, and again I agree with Scott, there is something about having a totally clean drive train.

[berrywise]

The only thing I don't have is a parts washer.
That's why there are 24 hour laundromats, 1 dollar later and your parts are nice and clean. Just kidding.

[halls]

I build all my bikes . The exception was my schwinn homegrown from 97 or 98? I like to wrench on them but I do get lazy and sometimes i've been known to bribe a young mechanic with the promise of lunch. :cool:

[FSSS]

I think everyone should at least try and wrench their own bikes. Get a good book, hang out with someone that knows what they're doing, use forums like this, and/or ask advice at a good shop - do something to learn the tricks, and get practice!

As you break stuff or need adjustments you will learn techniques and buy tools. Cash spent on a tool is always better than cash spent on labor at a shop.

Although... there are a couple of components I haven't had the guts to work on yet, mainly suspension parts.

[halls]

I find winter to be a good time to learn things. It's always a good time for me to work on my forks. I don't feel any pressure during that time to get it finished.

[berrywise]

learn techniques and buy tools. Cash spent on a tool is always better than cash spent on labor at a shop.
Good point. Just for starters a crescent wrench, set of allen wrenches, a phillips and flat blade screw driver will get the majority of repairs done on a bike. Even a good multi tool can get many repairs done.

Sure better tools and more specific ones will make things easier (and sometime more enjoyable) but for starting out just a few tools can really get someone going.

[Buck]

Hey guys,
I agree with everything said, except I had the oppurtunity to attend United Bicycle Institute. I was able to learn how to do everyhitng comfortably enough to get by and wrench on/off for the last couple summers in shops.

I guess though my latest bike (03 bighit with a 888 runnin on 24s :) ) I bought complete but as I learned to DH/FR I quickly started breaking parts, my bike now is completely custom. I have done all the work right down to the wheel building, which I must say is the coolest thing when you can say "I built those wheels myself". that is the most satisfying part of wrenching on bikes, sitting down with some great tunes playin or an awesome bike movie in front of the TV, building the perfect wheel!
L8R
Buck

[TrailPatrol]

I wanted an aluminum frame bike for the non-summer seasons here, and I like Trek MTB geometry. It fits me correctly. (We had GTs at Anoka Co. and we have a Specialized Rockhopper at Lake Maria, and they just don't feel "right".) So I was going to buy a 4500 or 4900 with an SL frame, and change the Shimano and Bontrager parts over to SRAM and WTB myself. Then they came out with the 4600, which is a 4500 with all-SRAM components. (X7 which is the 2005 equivalent of the 7.0 I have used for years on my '97 930SHX.) So...rather than do the rest of the work myself, I was lazy and had Penn put my WTB tires, and seat on the bike when they built it up. I did do the WTB skewers myself though, to save some of my dignity. It took a bit to get used to the SRAM thumb shifters after 9 years with GripShifts, (The county and I had matching Trek 830s before the 930SHX) and I may still change them, but I have headlights, speedometer and GPS on my handlebars, so space is an issue.

Saved me a lot of work, and I still got the exact bike I wanted. I do most of my own tuning up and adjustments on all our family bikes, but I have one mechanically minded son-in-law who is getting pretty good at fixxing their bikes himself. I do take my and my bikes into Penn every spring just to protect the warranty, though.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[nigel]

and I like Trek MTB geometry. It fits me correctly.
Hans for that use of wording on how it fits, your the man!!!!!!!!!!

I wish more people would realize proper geometries!

D

[TML]

I think I've bought all of my bikes complete. Most of the time then, the parts I want upgraded or changed are stripped off by me and "hand me downed" to replace worn parts on one of my other bikes. Then the new bike gets customized as I see fit.

For the most part I do my own wrenching as well. Haven't rebuilt shocks yet but I'm sure that will come soon enough. I've built front wheels but haven't ventured into the rear world of dishing quite yet.

[tedsti]

I built my last bike. I spent hours on MTBR researching every last part. Most bikes come with cheap hubs or cheap whatever, hoping you won't notice. Build your own and get exactly what you want.

I built it up in October, so almost everything was 50-70% off mailorder. If you get stuff at the end of the year, parts are discounted much more than bikes, although parts start higher. I built up a bike that would have been $4000+ at a bike shop for about $2000.

Buy a good stand and a tool kit and build your bike. They are great investments. I also tear my bike down to the bare frame every winter. It gives me a chance to clean and lube every part as well as look for wear.

Ted

[TrailPatrol]

I was going to buy a 4500 or 4900 with an SL frame, and change the Shimano and Bontrager parts over to SRAM and WTB myself. Then they came out with the 4600, which is a 4500 with all-SRAM components.
I found out the details about the 4600 from one of the Trek reps at Chequamegon, and you know what? I have a virtually custom-made bike! The rep told me (and another Trek rep who was clueless) that the 4600 was a limited production run when they could not get all the parts from Shimano for some 4500s. SRAM/Rockshock liked the idea so much that they pitched in an upgraded front shock as well as the drivetrain parts. Unfortunately, ;) only about 500 were made. Do I feel cool :cool: or what??

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[FSSS]

Picked up my first "frame only" a couple weeks ago. We'll see how much it'll cost to build it up! Should be able to get parts pretty cheap since it's the end of the season, but the cranks, fork, and wheelset will have to wait a while.

[bradpartyka]

I have always bought my mountian bike built up, but I always custom built my BMX and Freestyle bikes. I guess that it depends on your knowledge and comfort level with building up a bike. With BMX stuff, I know exactly what I want. For mountain bikes, it's taken me awhile, but I am starting to know what I want, and it's hard to find the setup I know I would like.

I always have built my BMX bikes when I was younger. ;)

I just built my first mountain bike this season. And had a friend cabel it for me. I basicaly tore down my hardtail and changed it over to a full suspension with disc. And I did it to save money. Thank God for ebay!!!!!!