Custom Bike Build - Educate Me Please

[Witterings]

Often see this mentioned ..... does it mean they take a set frame and then just build your spec with gearing / brakes etc. or does it literally mean they measure you and build the frame on a one off basis and whilst I appreciate it may be an option for an Olympic / Tour de France cyclist are there more "budget" options for Jo Public???

If it's build the frame on a one off basis ... I'm guessing you'd have a choice of Ali / Carbon or is that wrong???

Again if it's on a one off basis .... any idea of ballpark figures what it might cost for a Hybrid type bike with spec around the 105 level ,,, the sort of bike you could probably buy off the shelf for around £1500 / 2k level.

I appreciate that's possibly a hard one to answer and not looking for an exact figure but just an approximate guide if it'd be £3k or closer to £33k as I have absolutely no idea.

Any input appreciated ... even if it just blows it out of the water budgetary wise so I know it's simply not an option.

[martinn]

Hi Witterings

Generally speaking a custom bike would probably be referring to a custom made to measure frame.
Most commonly in steel, any type, probably followed by titanium.
A few people can do custom carbon frames.
You also spec everything else on the bike, including the paint.

Cost of the frame... Wide range. Look at one of the frame builders website. Try Brian Rourke, enigma, Geoff goff ( I think), Bob Jackson There are many more. The cost will depend on the material used.

The good ones will ask what you want it for and then alter the build to suit.

There are those that really like a custom frame and those that say unless you have really unusual dimensions, you can get an off the peg bike to suit.

( I have a custom frame in 853 steel and I really like it. Could I have got the same off the peg, possibly, but custom gives you total freedom.)

Martin

[tatanab]

In my book a custom build is a stock frame built up with components of choice. Hence you might see "custom built Dawes Galaxy" in the for sales. A custom frame is a frame built to order but not necessarily built to measure. The reason I say that is because a rider with many years of experience may well know exactly what is needed to suit dimensionally and wishes to specify precise brazed fittings. I've had a couple of frames built like that as well as frames built where I've been measured by the practised eye of the builder. I've never been measured by tape measure or similar method.

[Witterings]

Cost of the frame... Wide range. Look at one of the frame builders website. Try Brian Rourke, enigma, Geoff goff ( I think), Bob Jackson There are many more. The cost will depend on the material used.

It is a custom built frame I'm potentially after so cheers for that some really useful info / starting point of where to look

[Brucey]

I think that 'custom bike' means different things to different people, and costs vary; talk to some builders if you want chapter and verse on that. [IIRC Bob Jackson only do OTP geometry these days, but other frame builders will do full custom]. FWIW I think that

1) braze-ons to your choice are very handy (but for most folk OTP frames are often well enough equipped these days)
2) custom parts likewise (but you can -and most do- end up with their own eclectic selection anyway)
3) custom geometry is probably only worth it under certain circumstances

On the last point if you have

a) a well-established (comfortable, efficient etc) riding position and
b) that riding position necessitates a frame of non-standard geometry

then a custom-made frame is a pretty good idea. Otherwise it is arguably something of a luxury. However if you have a riding position that is just plain daft, and you have a frame built to match it, you are (at some expense) probably just compounding your errors.

cheers

[tatanab]

It is a custom built frame I'm potentially after so cheers for that some really useful info / starting point of where to look

Use a local builder if you can. Then you can easily see the frame before painting. I did this 40 years ago with a tandem frame and had the builder relocate some brazed fittings whose position was less than optimal in my opinion.

[Bonefishblues]

Hasten ye to Bespoked this weekend and marvel at how much money can be extracted for the service

But seriously, there's lots of fashionable bling on show, but equally it can be useful to see a lot of custom builds in one place, to take ideas away to perhaps another builder.

[iandriver]

If you tour abroad a lot, this is one customisation you might consider that you simply wouldn't find off the shelf:
http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/s-s-couplings/

[pwa]

You can get a custom frame, but if off-the-peg works for you why would you bother?

Customising the rest is something I have done with my last two bikes simply because I had kit I wanted to re-use. And the key thing is to have a template to work from. Ideally you will have an existing bike to take measurements off for things like saddle height, distance of saddle behind bottom bracket and all those positional things. Combine that with geometry information from the frame maker and you have what you need to order the components that will have you in your correct position. If you know what that position is.

If you order things from a flexible outlet like Thorn or Spa you can take pleasure in making choices on every little thing, from hubs and spokes to chain rings and sprockets. And those odd looking handlebars that few other people seem to have. It can be a nice process. Better still if you put it together yourself.

[geomannie]

Again if it's on a one off basis .... any idea of ballpark figures what it might cost for a Hybrid type bike with spec around the 105 level ,,, the sort of bike you could probably buy off the shelf for around £1500 / 2k level.

I appreciate that's possibly a hard one to answer and not looking for an exact figure but just an approximate guide if it'd be £3k or closer to £33k as I have absolutely no idea.

Any input appreciated ... even if it just blows it out of the water budgetary wise so I know it's simply not an option.

Last year I completed a custom build including a bespoke Reynolds 631 frame from Dave Yates and a classic touring set-up to approximate 105 standard viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3832&start=1560#p1312006. I was able to get everything as I wanted. Total cost was in the region £2,200-£2,500 depending on how you cost it (e.g. do you include my spannering time; do you include rail fares to travel to the frame builder?).

Price for a build can of course be more/less but that will give you a price steer.

Cheers

[andrew_s]

Levels of "custom" are
1. Custom build - a stock frame built up with parts to suit.
Cost will probably be much the same as buying the frameset and DIY, but the bike shop will have all the tools, and shouldn't make mistakes such as getting incompatible components.

2. Modified frame + custom build
Starting with a bare stock frame, make changes such as adding braze-ons, changing rear dropouts, adding S+S couplings etc, maybe use non-standard forks, paint as requested.
On a steel bike, braze-ons are likely to be something like £20 a go, a fancy paint job could be £250-300, S+S would be around £600.

3. Made to measure frame.
This would normally start with a fitting session on a jig (BB/handlebars/saddle with adjustable positions that you can sit on and pedal, better ones would allow pedaling against a load). This would require a visit, followed by a considerable wait (several months usually) before your frame gets to the front of the queue. It's worth checking what types of bike the builder has been making - someone who's been specialising in race/TT frames may not be the best person to approach about a round the world heavy tourer.
Price will depend on what and who, but you are probably looking at a frameset only price in the region of £500 more than an equivalent off the peg frame.

In financial terms, it's only worth while if you have a body that's sufficiently non-standard (very tall, short but still want 700c, unusual proportions such as long body & short legs, a disability of some sort etc), or if the bike you want can't be created by approach 2.

There's always the "just want it" factor though, and if you can afford it, why not?

[PH]

Levels of "custom" are
.....SNIP
3. Made to measure frame.

I think there's either more categories or this class needs subsections. Some frame builders stick to their established models, they'll make it to your size, maybe change the braze ons and paint to your colour, but it's main design has already been established before you enter the shop. Other builders will start with a blank piece of paper and your bike will be truly unique. The price reflects this, custom steel frames can vary between £600 - £2,000.

[PH]

You can get a custom frame, but if off-the-peg works for you why would you bother?

Sometimes it's just fun, or vanity, or simply because you can.
There's also that difference between something that works for you and something that's absolutely perfect, I've never had an OTP frame that didn't have some compromises from my ideal. It works the other way as well, I have a Thorn frame with features and fittings that wouldn't be practical for a builder doing a one off to include. Then of course a custom frame hasn't gone through the prototype phase and there's no opportunity to try before you buy. Pros and cons, but if either turns out to not be what you want, the re-sale price of an OTP frame may be a higher proportion of it's original cost, the value of a custom frame is in the choices you have, the second user doesn't get those.

[peetee]

A good custom frame is only worth persuing if you are experienced enough to understand and convey your requirements and be comfortable enough in your present riding position (or understand it's shortcomings) so that the builder has a basis from which to work. If it's a bike you intend using 'forever' a good builder will take note of you age and build a degree of futureproof flexibility where possible. For example, specifying a longer flatter stem so a shorter more upright one can be fitted later on.

[Witterings]

In financial terms, it's only worth while if you have a body that's sufficiently non-standard (very tall, short but still want 700c, unusual proportions such as long body & short legs, a disability of some sort etc), or if the bike you want can't be created by approach 2.

It's mainly dues to injury's I've had and my 29er doesn't aggravate / cause any pain but is very heavy and I really want something more road orientated but able to handle some gravel paths.

My options are either put this bike on a serious diet but even replacing front fork with a carbon one and losing the shocks (always locked out for the riding I do) and maybe going with lighter more road orientated wheels I'm probably only going to be able to lose about 1.5kg yet getting a Hybrid built with reasonable tyre clearance but duplicating the sizing of the 29er would probably be about 4 kg lighter.

My alternative is buy another bike but I bought a gravel bike in December which is causing me all sorts of problems and if I sell that now would probably drop about £1000 so the idea of risking doing that again with a Hybrid to find for whatever reason it doesn't quite work out doesn't appeal and it's not too many expensive mistakes like that and you're up to what it would cost to have one built.

I've found these guys who are only just down the road from me, they provide their own frames and then build to customers spec but they'll also have a frame custom built for you so am going to take my bike and go and see them to work out what the best option for me may be.

Cheers for everyone's help though is much appreciated!!