Ask the experts

[SchralphMacchio]

Risk:
If you build up a Frankenstein bike with ancient parts (like 2018 era fork damper) or wildly mismatched parts it will have very little resale value as a complete bike if you don’t jive with the bike. Buyers won’t know how to price against OE build spec unless you strip it back to the frame.

So if you have parts that you want to use, great. But if you are gonna go out and buy parts, seems like the right move is to buy parts of the same general vintage as the frame.

[Andeh]

I'm pretty sure you can score lots of hot deals on Pinkbike/CL right now for brand new takeoff parts from others who are snapping up sale bikes then upgrading parts to their taste.

[Huskier]

^^ Being one of those, Hayes Dominion A4's are going on the down country rig. Looking at rotors, Hayes's copy describes some kind of proprietary coating that makes them work better with Hayes pads. Is this bullshit? It seems like bullshit and that rotors are rotors. But the part of me that's so happy with the feel and power is worried about losing something if I go with dumb-dumb rotors.

And re: the last rotor problem I had: Rotor was not warped, shop just didn't bother aligning calipers. Drag improved significantly with very, very fine caliper alignment (what a surprise).

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[Spencer123]

I use h2s with mine and they work as well with the Hayes pads as my friends I have tried with the Hayes rotors. That being said changing from centerlines to the thicker sram ones definitely helped, so I think that is a factor. I would be hesitant to use shimano or some of the thinner options out there.

[Roxtar]

its not like my buddy creating something out of wood or my buddy who makes work boots completely from scratch its just bolting stuff together and i'd rather Santa Cruz did that and presented me with a product I wana buy usually for cheaper

I think you're missing the point. It isn't the joy in assembling the bike (although there is something to that), it's the joy of owning a bike that is 100% yours. Every component being there because YOU chose it.

Ask Santa Cruz to send you a Hightower with XTR shifter, XT derailleur and cassette, Mezzer Pro, Ohlins TTX2, I9 system wheels, Hope T4V4 brakes, Chris King BB, OneUp carbon bars, 5Dev cranks, and Spesh Power saddle. All color matched to your choice.
In fact, ask them to supply ANY of these.
See what they say.

[Andeh]

Yeah, exactly. Even if you tend to choose mostly mainstream components, the odds of getting the exact combination on ANY OEM build kit are essentially zero. I've done frame-up builds and it's definitely really exciting to do (accumulating a literal mountain of parts boxes on the workbench in anticipation of the build), but honestly the most rational way for me now is to buy a complete new bike at a "GX" level build kit, transfer all the brand new parts to my old frame to sell it as a complete, and then hang exactly what I want on the new bike.

At the very least, almost every rider replaces all the touch points on their bike. Taller guys are going to want a longer dropper. Everyone's got their own preference on saddle, grips, bars, and stem. Crank lengths are also a hot topic for personalization now too. Even tires (tread pattern, casing, rubber) are pretty highly rider and terrain dependent.

[Roxtar]

buy a complete new bike at a "GX" level build kit, transfer all the brand new parts to my old frame to sell it as a complete, and then hang exactly what I want on the new bike.

Exactly what I did for my wife's last build since you can't give away a used frameset.
A good used frameset with a brand new GX build? Easy to sell.

[jm2e]

You boys are all about bling.
I move a lot of old parts forward to new builds.
I’ve got Shim brakes, Vibrocore bars, Syntace stems, hub sets that are [emoji639] bikes deep and in it for the long haul.
My bikes work, but nobody is jerking off to them.


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[Roxtar]

You boys are all about bling.
I move a lot of old parts forward to new builds.
I’ve got Shim brakes, Vibrocore bars, Syntace stems, hub sets that are [emoji639] bikes deep and in it for the long haul.
My bikes work, but nobody is jerking off to them.

If you look at that list you'll find a lot more than bling. Every part is chosen strictly for the quality.
The bling is always a secondary consideration.
I also often move parts forward. They're just really nice parts.

[Roxtar]

I've done frame-up builds and it's definitely really exciting to do (accumulating a literal mountain of parts boxes on the workbench in anticipation of the build,

It's like your own private version of those "Dream Build" videos. (minus the zen-ish soundtrack)

[Andeh]

You boys are all about bling.
I move a lot of old parts forward to new builds.
I’ve got Shim brakes, Vibrocore bars, Syntace stems, hub sets that are [emoji639] bikes deep and in it for the long haul.
My bikes work, but nobody is jerking off to them.

A lot of my pickiness comes from wanting to re-use (or duplicate) component specs that are more reliable than what you get from catalog builds. When I got my Heckler SL ebike, if you get one of high end kits that come with Reserve carbon wheels they come with Hydra hubs which I have owned and don't like. But you can buy a retail set of Reserves with DT 350s which have never done me wrong. I also moved over a 170 AXS Reverb that I bought used off PB super cheap because it had a scratch in it that I repaired - even if I'd gotten the top end SC build, it would have stuck me with a 150mm version for size medium frame. I'm comfortable rebuilding my shocks and forks, so I was able to swap damper tunes around to move the new suspension over to the bike I sold - again, to get the high end "Ultimate" suspension build kit I would have had to spend $3,000 more just to get LSC/HSC adjust on the shock.

[XXX-er]

<p>
&quot; I think you&#39;re missing the point. It isn&#39;t the joy in assembling the bike (although there is something to that), it&#39;s the joy of owning a bike that is 100% yours. Every component being there because YOU chose it.&quot;</p>
<p>
I don&#39;t need to assemble the bike cuz I am willing to let some guy in Taiwan do it for MUCH less money, I&#39;ve had XTR I know i don&#39;t need XTR, I know its costs twice as much for not twice as much perofrmance</p>
<p>
I don&#39;t need matchy color, I never fell for purple ano either,</p>
<p>
I usually have just bought a mid spec XT/ X9/ NX&nbsp; whatever and its definaltey mine cuz I got the recipet for it ( less) for it and if wasn&#39;t good enough I wouldn&#39;t have bought it,</p>
<p>
for the Bullit E-bike it was even easier just buy the lowest spec cuz there will be 85NM of assist to cure all sins and the spec was pretty good/ good enough/ like the color but if you can convince some one to pay for it piece by piece thats good for you</p>

[bamboocoreONLY]

Bikes are already works of art, but to make them your own work of art is quite awesome. I love making it something that I feel the need to stare at when I walk by it in the house, then you're enjoying it even while not on it!

[Roxtar]

Wow, this site is so fucked up.

Anyway, XXX, custom builds aren't for everyone. Neither are Ferraris, '59 Sunburst Les Pauls, Gulfstream G500s, Sage flyrods, or Atlas Artemis.

However, as with all the above mentioned products, if something is your jam and you have the means to buy the best, they're pretty nice to own.

[XXX-er]

<p>
&nbsp;I bought a custom built slightly used doctor bike back in the day nothing wrong with it except buddy put a divot in the top tube and wnated to move on&nbsp;</p>
<p>
so I know the difference in price is not reflected in the perfomance and 2 weeks after I buy any piece of HW its old news</p>
<p>
IME the bike I get the most compliments on almost daily out on the trail is my low spec lavender Bullit ... women LOVE that color</p>

[Dantheman]

Thoughts on this Strega/Nomad frame for my kid? https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3969244/

He already has this exact frame in XS, but he's grown like a weed and will need a bigger bike come spring. Pro's include price, I know he likes how it rides, and his entire build will swap over. Geometry is pretty modern other than a slack STA, but that's fixable with one of those new offset saddle clamps. It has its share of scratches and the paint is a bit faded, but I can live with that. He's gotten super into football and that will occupy most of his summer, so I don't even expect him to ride much and would prefer to get him into a new bike as cheap as possible.

[Andeh]

I sold my GG frame for that without a shock a couple years ago, so seems like a great deal to me considering how much better quality the SC is.

[Dantheman]

I pulled the trigger, too good of a deal. Decent odds I'll at least break even selling his XS.

[North]

<p>
Pop Quiz: Tax error in your favor, and you are considering adding a big bike to the stable for bike park/desert/canada riding (160-170mm). Budget is $4K. What are you buying? GX Spires and V2 Megatowers are on sale. Anything else?</p>

[jamal]

previous gen trek slashes are on a pretty good sale.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...Code=greendark

[smmokan]

If you're a size medium, I'm going to be selling a V1 Forbidden Dreadnought next month (GX/X01 build with new RF wheels and a new Zeb)... much less than your budget too.

[toast2266]

<p>
Pop Quiz: Tax error in your favor, and you are considering adding a big bike to the stable for bike park/desert/canada riding (160-170mm). Budget is $4K. What are you buying? GX Spires and V2 Megatowers are on sale. Anything else?</p>

What're the current bikes in the stable?

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[Upinsmoke]

YT Capra core 3 is right at 4k on sale now. I enjoy my MX Capra

[North]

Current bike? I was afraid you'd ask that. I have a 2021 Norco Sight. It can do all of the things. I live across the street from the bike park, want to ride it more, and am not sure I want to put that thrashing on my pedal bike. I've always liked the Sight but I've never loved it. If I got something like a Spire I could see replacing the Sight with something a little less heavy duty down the line, but would a;sp be totally ok having 2 bikes within 10-20mm of travel of each other in the meantime.

Thanks smmokan. I'm on an XL for the Norco, typically L or XL.

[jm2e]

The world is your oyster. So many good long travel analog bikes out there, new and used.
If you’re getting a second bike, spend less time on the minutiae. Just make sure it’s got burly wheel/tire set and good brakes. Budget for pads/rotors and suspension service.


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