I mentioned previously that a pre-owned bike set up the way I wanted would cost around $1500 to $2500. Could I put one together out of new/used parts for (significantly) less? I planned to source:
- Frame/wheels/controls/seat post
- Air or carbon fork
- Crankset/cassette/chain
- Tubeless tires/setup
- Saddle
- Flat pedals
- Rear rack
- ALT bars
One big variable was that buying pre-owned equipment on eBay has been a mixed blessing because sellers don’t always fully disclose the problems to be found with their items. After watching auctions for several weeks, I decided I could source the parts and bike for <$1200. So I took the plunge.
- Bike: 2016 Norco Charger 9.3 ($400)
- Fork: rockshox reba race dual air ($232)
- Crankset: Deore 2×10 38-24T, 175mm ($70)
- 44T chainring ($25)
- Bars/bar ends/grips/tape: Ritchey Kyote & ESI chunky ($91)
- Pedals: RaceFace Chester ($43)
- Rear Rack: Axiom Journey ($30)
- Tires: Panaracer GK SK+ ($65)
- Saddle: Selle SMP TRK med ($80)
- Shipping: ($150)
So, $1186 and I win right? Not so fast… The bike had been left out in the weather, so I decided to replace the (Shimano) wheel bearings, plus it needed pads, so that was another $25, plus I had to buy some tools that I didn’t have and finally put perhaps 20 hours into wrenching everything together.
So, perhaps the (imaginary) $1500 used hardtail would have been better, but I still would have wanted a rack, different bars, saddle and probably tires, plus whatever maintenance required.