Should you buy an MTB frame and build it up with your choice of parts? Or just get a complete bike from a shop?
You might think a self-build can’t possibly compete with the value of a shop-bought bike. Well, I’ve asked MBUK’s magazine editor, James Costley-White, to custombuild the coolest bike he can with a £4,000 budget and pit it against my shop-bought Marin Rift Zone, which retails for £3,775.
We’re going to compare the specs and ride them back-to-back to work out which is the winner!
Would you custom-build your own bike? Let us know in the comments 👇
#MBUKmagazine #MTB #mbuk #mountainbike #mbuktech
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Does A Custom-Build Make Sense?
02:20 Raaw Jibb Spec
06:57 Riding The Bikes
14:09 Verdict
16:38 Outro
His Own Bikepark! | A Lap With Olly Wilkins
👉 https://youtu.be/Sz8n2cCUtPk
This Disease Kills Bike Parks 🪦 Why Revs Closed
👉 https://youtu.be/wSbDhq6NYIY
The Kids SHRED | Dare Valley Bike Park Tour
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulKq9rERtFM&t=66s
E-MTB Vs. Motorbike | We Swap Bikes With @BillyBolt57
👉 https://youtu.be/o2yEd5fHHfE
How To Start A Bike Company | Starling Cycles Factory Tour!
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14 Comments
Costco sells Intense mountain bikes now. When I was a kid that was one of the most innovative brands ever. I know they were bought out years ago but it's still pretty crazy.
love that riftzone just bought the same one a few months ago
All my past bikes i builed on my own. There is no other way to use the components if your old frame goes to the trash bin. Also it is nealry impossible to sell used bike parts because everybody wants them for free.
Ideally, more brands would be like commencal where you can really pick your components. At least most offer a SRAM/Rockshox or Shimano/Fox option. With that said, everyone has preferences, so what do you do?
Obviously pre-built kits are bought enmass, and offer the best value, but even well spec'd Santa Cruz's still come with Reverb droppers.
For most enthusiasts looking to upgrade, many are 'ok' keeping their old parts and hanging them on a 'new' frame with new Geo and a shock tuned for that bike. If I still had parts I prefer such as a high quality eagle drive train, decent working dropper, good fork, good brakes, good wheelset and of course the touch components (saddle/grips/bars) – I'd change the main variable, which really is the frame and its shock.
Shop-bought or custom-built, what would you prefer?
What a stupid comparison. Terrible work, bikeradar.
A good way to save a lot of money, is while you have the bike you have now, think whether you want to upgrade or build a whole new bike.
Because you have a bike already, you can take your time checking out sales and clearance parts.
You end up with the bike you really want, and for a lot less than retail.
Great video. Personally, I always buy complete "budget builds" with the frame I want, removes 99% of stock components an sell them "new" at 30% discount vs. on-line store price. Then replace with proper new components I want. That way I get the frame at 1/3 of normal frame price, or the frame I want that isn't marketed as "frame only" for purchase.
Depends what you can drop on with offers. I’d do something similar deore mech and spend more on the higher end shifter. My current bike has an xtr shifter with a slx mech and slx cranks
Building a bike needs the tool, the knowledge and the time.
If you have all these requirements, you can easily outperform the crazy post-covid market.
I've built an enduro based on a Dartmoor Blackbird for roughly 1800 Euros. Specs are a Lyrik 170mm with tuning by a legit company, RS Super Deluxe Coil , Shimano XT Drivetrain, Formula Cura 2 brakes, DT Swiss Wheels with Schwalbe tires.
The only used part is my Yep dopper remote, which I took from my previous bike.
Took me roughly 6-8 months acquiring all the parts from sales and discounts, but without time restraints I saved a lot of money.
With 4k for an acoustic bike the world should be your playground.
Wouldnt it be better to buy a Rift Zone frame and build that up and compare with a stock Rift Zone?
I get the price comparison, but the geometry and build quality of the frame makes this an apples to oranges comparison from the get go. The frame is the only thing you cant change, so it doesn't what parts you spec if your frame is not to your liking.
Alu frame and ext cable routing for the win! Not many options for that, which is ridiculous.
Definatly prefer custom-built bikes, so enjoyable building a bike frame up.
Alloy frame, budget tires, deore mech and low end finishing kit. In hunt arguably factory built wheels with no name hubs. This bike is arguably just a touch above entry level yet cost £4K. Money doesn’t go far in the bike world now.