Custom - is it worth it?

[ededwards]

You shouldn't
Why should you go custom if you have what you like :roll:
imho you should go custom if you have "special needs" that are not available on stock bikes/frames.

I reckon that's exactly what I was trying to express at the start of the thread!

 

[DM]

Aesthetically, I know what I'd *like* (swoopy tubes, Schwinn paint scheme). And a few U.S. builders could do a great job of it.

But my cheapo second-hand Taiwanese 29er fits perfectly, and has solved all my previous problems with frame-fit and discomfort.

So my only "sensible" * reasons to go custom would be the "look" that I want, plus the convenience of S&S couplers; At the moment, that's not enough to convince me to spend a couple of grand.

* (Given all this talk of Italian road bikes, your opinion may differ on whether a hand-crafted single-gear 29er beach cruiser is *sensible*)

 

[REKIBorter]

Visited Enigma Bikes this week to drop off my Ti frame for a bit of TLC, only saw a couple of the bikes they were building up in the office. They are beautful, very expensive and I want one. Custom, one day, when I win the lottery.

http://www.enigmabikes.com/

 

[Wold Ranger]

Custom

Mate of mine ordered a Merlin MM direct, than went to CA for a month to have it fitted and watch it being built in the various stages. Every single thing he specced was built into the bike, right down to having his name engraved on the flat bladed chainstays.
He still rides that frame regularly, 12 years later still fits like a Glove. The cost was astronomical though! There are custom builders and custom builders though!

 

[kanerdog1x1]

heres my 10p's worth.
having had alot of different bikes over the years, and ridden many more on top, i think i know what i like a bike to 'ride' like. if i was ever to consider having a custom frame built i think i would go with the massive knowledge that the bicycle industry has already accumulated and choose relatively standard geometry but have a frame with particular features, like a sloping top-tube, lack of chainstay bridge, under bb gear cable routing and under top-tube brake cable routing, the little touches that i have learned make a difference to my riding. i was considering getting a custom ti frame from canada about 4 years ago, but in the end decided to get an off the peg bike from one of the big u.s. builders instead because it offered all of the features i wanted at the time, but also a better warranty and the safety of good geometry and fabrication that i would be proud of, and at the time it was the same cost as the custom frame. i have been happy ever since.

oh, and the custom frame that resides in hereford with the dodgy paint actually rides really well, climbs well, jumps well, and is very stable over rough stuff, even if the owner doesnt like the head angle, i do. i think he wanted it too slack and the builder may have done him a favour.

 

[CAS]

Custom defintely feels worth it today to me - I actually got my Ti build finished enough to get on it and ride for the first time- suddenly all those emails to and from China with adjustments to the drawings, agonies over whether the bottom bracket would fit in the end and what exact combination of kit to put on it all seem worthwhile!

It's not quite there yet more setting up to do but I'm really pleased with it! Would I feel as pleased if I could buy a frame my size off the peg to build up? - I'm not sure.

 

[yo-eddy]

Just had my maiden run on the (non-custom) Groovy Bigwheel today and it put a big smile on my face. Never ridden a 29er before and was a bit anxious about the handling. In the end I loved it, this bike has a steeper headtube (and seattube) angle than my 26" bike wich compensates for the bigger wheels. This gives a nice combination of the comfort from the bigger wheels and still pretty sharp handling. I have this bike next to my full custom 26" Groovy (Yo-Eddy geometry specs) but think it will be a though choice to pick one for this years Grand Raid in the swiss alps.
To go short, even if you think you know you've all figured it out, there still might be concepts popping up that you might like just as much..... or more (future will tell :roll: )

 

[LeeDevelopment]

I've had custom done twice, both are keeper. First one was made by Richard Kent at Caygill Cycles in Richmond, N Yorks. Absolutely fabulous bike that one.

My other frame is the proto Development Bikes 853, currently on loan for testing at the moment.

I would definately go down that route again too, you get the most bang for your buck. The thing you need to remember is...research research research and then speak to the builder. Take muse from frames that you have ridden, admire, what materials they are in, any quirky features, the geometry etc etc. Then dial it all in on paper, go to see the builder and away you go.

For frame building courses look no further than Dave Yates on Tyneside, he's currently accepting applications for 2010. They sell out quickly mind you and rightly so.

 

[Simon]

I've got a Robin Mather custom. I was very lucky - it may have taken ~18 months from order to receipt of the bike, but it was everything I asked for and has amazing attention to detail.

Having ridden the snot out of it, I'd make the following comments;

- I could probably have got something similar off the peg, but not with just the selection of braze-ons, paint etc I wanted

- I'd always go with geometry I'd already ridden when ordering custom - it's too much money to go experimenting with something new

- If you're someone who gets the itch to try something new, custom might not be for you. I used to go through bikes very rapidly, but in honesty the Mather stopped me in my tracks. Not because it's amazing to ride, but more because it represents the sum of my knowledge and riding experience to the date I ordered it. It's everything I need. Ironically, this means I spend more time riding and less time reading forums...

 

[ferrus]

Magazines used to make a bit of a deal about how custom builds handled more precisely, due to being more accurately aligned etc. -Doesn't make you feel great about your mass produced Pride and Joy. Surely that's mainly bull, just another concept to hype isn't it ?
Personally, I convinced myself that a framebuilder wouldn't have that special 'Joe Breeze magic', even if the frame was better made. But that's probably bullshit too..
Still, if you can afford it, it's nice to have any thing made bespoke isn't it? Custom fitted etc. by a 'known' craftsman in a small local workshop is a lot more satisfying[and ethical] than one assembled en-mass in the far east, by bored underpaid.. blah..blah
..Oh the Guilt. :cry: