grimeric
Velociraptor
Posts: 36
Bikes: Gsf
Reg: May 3, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
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Post by grimeric on May 25, 2015 20:59:42 GMT
So what are people's opinions on building a bike from scratch. From a bare frame up? Do you think it's better, easier to get hold of a tired bike and strip it down and build it back up replacing and upgrading parts as you see fit. Or get a bare frame and v5 and buy parts separately and do your own thing? I'm a fan of Busa asg and 370 Steve gs's and would love to do something along the same lines for my first proper build. Which route would you experienced guys suggest I'd be best going down? I don't have a massive knowledge of bikes but I know how things work and have a collection of spanners Just interested in people's opinions. Cheers.
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Post by zooma on May 25, 2015 21:10:11 GMT
I'd go with getting a complete bike and taking it from there. Used to build/ride chops meself, and that was always the way to go; get a donor bike, take what you need and then bin or sell the rest.
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grimeric
Velociraptor
Posts: 36
Bikes: Gsf
Reg: May 3, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
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Post by grimeric on May 25, 2015 21:18:06 GMT
I suppose that makes sense. Then you can sell the bits you don't want etc. it's just I see people getting frames and going from there. I suppose that's okay if you have a workshop full of parts kicking around that you can use and make do with.
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Post by kokolis on May 25, 2015 21:36:56 GMT
Different ways for the same target. It depends what you want and how many parts you already have.
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Post by quazi on May 26, 2015 7:38:22 GMT
Horses for courses and all that.
Would depend on your vision, I personally don't like ending up with a pile of scrap shite, that nobody will want for 10 years.
You will end up with stuff anyway as some of your ideas may not work out, so you'll change your mind as you go.
Frames tend not to com up very often, that can be a wait for the right one.
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grimeric
Velociraptor
Posts: 36
Bikes: Gsf
Reg: May 3, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
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Post by grimeric on May 26, 2015 20:20:31 GMT
I can see both points of view. Depends how you like to build too I suppose. There seem to be a fair amount of frames kicking about but they all seem to be American imports. Guess the search continues for a cheap fullish bike.
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Post by kokolis on May 26, 2015 21:20:48 GMT
Often cheap has nothing to do with it.
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Post by jaydee on May 26, 2015 22:00:15 GMT
A good second hand bike used as donor most of the time works out cheaper than sourcing parts piece by piece. There's the added bonus of being able to sell of any parts not needed to raise cash for the parts you do. There's loads of hidden costs in building from scratch, such as the extortionist postage on every item, the petrol going here and there to breakers. At least in Britain, you guys can take advantage of the weak-ass euro for buying stuff abroad, but then again the bargains gone out of it with the postage cost's.
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Post by djc on May 26, 2015 22:29:41 GMT
I can see both points of view. Depends how you like to build too I suppose. There seem to be a fair amount of frames kicking about but they all seem to be American imports. Guess the search continues for a cheap fullish bike. What sort of bike are you after?
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Post by zooma on May 26, 2015 22:52:05 GMT
Depends how you like to build too I suppose. Think we'd all like to be able to build the bike of our dreams from parts, but money is a big obstacle for many; then of course, there's all the other reasons given
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Post by Devilman on May 27, 2015 12:17:51 GMT
It also depends a little on timeframe... if your in no rush, or have limited funds, starting with a frame and getting parts is the only way some people manage to build their bike. They simply cannot scrape together enough funds in 1 go to buy a running donor to start with. Frame often come up reasonably cheap and as such can provide a starting point, for little funds, which allows people to get their projects started Just depends what you want, how quickly you want it and how much you got to spend really
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grimeric
Velociraptor
Posts: 36
Bikes: Gsf
Reg: May 3, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
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Post by grimeric on May 27, 2015 18:16:43 GMT
Some very good points well made.
I see exactly what you mean Devilman, I have a mortgage and two young children so its sometimes hard to get the spare funds together. I suppose it could be argued that if you can't afford to buy a running donor then you can't afford to build a bike at all. But as said above, if time isn't an issue and you maybe only buy a part or two a month then it can be done. How quickly is another matter!
I'd love a gs or gsx frame running a b12 motor, and if I close my eyes and dream harder I can see it running a nice turbo setup! The annoying thing is I had a nice chunk put aside for a project but an emergency with the house swallowed most of it up and I find myself skint again. Such Is life though.
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Post by panda on May 27, 2015 19:07:50 GMT
i picked a cheap gsx 750 et up 3 years ago in good clean order apart from paintwork for £400 and gradually went from there fitting slingshotswingarm, 17" wheels better brakes and many other mods, just have to keep searching fella
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grimeric
Velociraptor
Posts: 36
Bikes: Gsf
Reg: May 3, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
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Post by grimeric on May 27, 2015 19:24:51 GMT
i picked a cheap gsx 750 et up 3 years ago in good clean order apart from paintwork for £400 and gradually went from there fitting slingshotswingarm, 17" wheels better brakes and many other mods, just have to keep searching fella Bargain! Something will come up at the right price. Like you say it's just a case of looking. You got any pics?
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grimeric
Velociraptor
Posts: 36
Bikes: Gsf
Reg: May 3, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
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Post by grimeric on May 27, 2015 19:46:43 GMT
Nice bike inazooma. Paint works not my cup of tea but each to their own. If we didn't have our own tastes everything would be the same.
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