While most people do buy their bikes fully stock, more and more people are starting to do custom builds, either to save money, get the exact parts they want, or because they simply can’t get a bike right now. While many people think of custom bike builds being expensive, you can actually build up a bike with good parts on a budget. Part of the advantage of a custom build is that you can get the parts you want. So even if you can’t afford that top of the line 12-speed drivetrain, you can probably get a cheaper model that still gives you that 12-speeds. Keep in mind that you do have to spend a certain amount of money for this to work, for example, you probably can’t build a custom bike for $2000, but for $3000 it’s possible.
So here are a few recommendations for parts or companies that make killer products for a good price, and that will help you shop for the parts for your next bike.
- SRAM 11-speed: If you don’t really need a 12-speed drivetrain (SRAM Eagle), then you can save money and weight by using SRAM’s 11-speed drivetrains. Or Shimano if that’s your thing.
- Don’t splurge for carbon, especially wheels: While carbon is lighter, it is also way more expensive than alloy. And depending on what part it is, carbon is sometimes only 100g lighter than the alloy version, which costs $300+ less. For example Stan’s Crest MK3 wheels are $679 and weigh 1,579g, while the Podium SRD, which is a carbon wheel with the same internal width, costs $1,995 and weighs 1,287g. Obviously this is an extreme example, but illustrates the point, carbon is not nearly as hyped as people think.
- PNW, Oneup, or Crankbrothers: Each of these brands makes dropper posts, and each of them has a dropper post that costs $200. Every one of these droppers is a solid, reliable, and well-made product. If you want a dropper, then you’re going to have to spend $200 to get a good one, and many of them are $300+. So if you need a dropper, buy from one of these three brands.
- RaceFace: This brand is very big, however they make a ton of good products for a reasonable price. The Aeffect stem and bar lineup are excellent alloy options, and the Chester pedal is the best composite platform pedal out there. (It comes in cool colors too)
- Try SRAM GX or NX: SRAM GX Eagle is probably the most common drivetrain on mountain bikes today, and even if you can’t afford that, NX Eagle is a solid choice, even if it is rather heavy. Shimano SLX vs XT is another option, and SLX has an excellent reputation.
- Finally, don’t ignore the smaller companies: There are tons of small companies out there that make excellent products, whether it be handlebars and stems or cranks. Make sure you keep an eye out for small companies like that, they often will have a cheaper option, or one that is the same price as the big companies, but is maybe lighter, or comes in more colors.
That’s a few tips for you when you’re building up your next bike and you’re not able to spend a ton of money.
Feature Photo by Ｋｕｃｈｉｈｉｇｅ Ｓａｂｏｔｅｎ on Unsplash