Recommend me an under-rated frame/frame builder.

[Kerplunk]

So in a perfect world I'd be nipping down to Mercian, Bob Jackson or the like and ordering myself a nice new frame for my far too rapidly approaching 40th birthday. Sadly money constraints mean instead I'm looking at trying to find a decent but dirt cheap secondhand frame that I can get resprayed. Don't want anything too old that should be properly renovated as I'll just be swapping over all the gear from my modern bike. Something 80s/90s in a nice Reynolds/Columbus tubing is what I'm ideally looking for.

So which framebuilders produce quality frames that go for cheaper than average prces?

 

[Old Ned]

So what exactly are you looking for? A cheap secondhand to renovate or a cheap new build?

I've read your post several times now and still can't decide.

Any new build is not going to be 'cheap' - and what is an 'average price' these days for a new frame build?

I reckon the 'pre-owned' option is by far your best bet - and the least expensive.

 

[Kerplunk]

Sorry, a cheap secondhad to renovate. (Already got a modern bike to transplat the running gear from.)

 

[paininthe]

I've looked at this a load of times and decide against, I think you have a bit of everything here. 531, british and handbuilt also recent respray.

Dave Yates

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/53cm-Dave-Yat ... 2566bdad23

 

[Kerplunk]

Yeah, thats exactly the type of thing I'm thinking of. Not sure about the top tube length on that though. Current frame is 54x54 and even with that due to a glass back I've got a shortish stem (90mm). With a slightly shorter seat tube won't that length the top tube slightly as well?

 

[David B]

I've looked at this a load of times and decide against, I think you have a bit of everything here. 531, british and handbuilt also recent respray.

Dave Yates

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/53cm-Dave-Yat ... 2566bdad23

Looks good to me too. Not the highest-profile builder out there (though still pretty well known) when compared to the likes of Roberts or Mercian, but with a reputation for very good build quality.

David

 

[Slimtim]

I bought a Dave Yates frame set from ebay recently (it was an accident as I swore that I would only clear stock!!). It is in Reynolds 853 and battleship grey. I have had several steel frames and this one is beautifully built and rides really well. Dave Yates has a very strong reputation.

Here are a couple of pictures. The groupset is 8 speed Campagnolo Chorus with Cinelli bars and stem, a Rolls Titanio saddle, grey Open Pros on Chorus hubs and Jagwire white/silver cable outers (which I like a lot). I have include a shot of the monogrammed seatstays and brake bridge.

You can see why I am looking for a Campagnolo seatpost!

Other under-rated builders being Brian Rourke (look for trademark wrapover seatstays), Venom (built by Matt Norman but no longer around), Dave Marsh, Aende (run but a man called Pungo - if ever there was a reason to buy then that is it!!) and Roberts.

 

[Old Ned]

Other under-rated builders being Brian Rourke (look for trademark wrapover seatstays), Venom (built by Matt Norman but no longer around), Dave Marsh, Aende (run but a man called Pungo - if ever there was a reason to buy then that is it!!) and Roberts.

I wouldn't say that any of them would be 'under-rated'. I'm not sure if Dave Marsh actually built frames himself but he had some good builders working for him. Aende was 'Pongo' Braithwaite - definitely one of the leading small builders, and as for Brian Rourke, no further comment should be necessary

 

[monty dog]

Take a look at Hilary Stone's website, he often has some decent frames for fair money:
http://hilarystone.com/index.html

 

[rw101]

Other under-rated builders being Brian Rourke (look for trademark wrapover seatstays), Venom (built by Matt Norman but no longer around), Dave Marsh, Aende (run but a man called Pungo - if ever there was a reason to buy then that is it!!) and Roberts.

The late Alan 'Pongo' Braithwaite not only had a memorable name, he also built some fab frames. My one is in Reynolds 653, rides like a dream. But be quick, prices are going up ...