Build vs Buy?

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Medic142
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Medic142
I'm a fairly recent crossover from mx just now getting into xc type mtb stuff for fun and am really enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. That being said I bought what I thought was a good middle of the road hard tail 29er with basic Shimano gears hydraulic disc brakes and a standard suntour fork with remote lockout. So that brings me to my questions. Would you upgrade a basic level bike, buy a new bike that's more your speed, or build the best bike you could afford? Most of the trails around me don't have a lot of climb to them but are fairly rooty and I'm by no means claiming to be an expert rider but I do feel I would enjoy the ride much more on a full suspension bike. Also, what websites do yall order everything from? I'm used to motosport.com and btosports.com lol.
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steve45
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steve45 9/12/2016 1:34am
9/12/2016 1:34am
I'm quite picky with my builds, there are certain parts that i've just grown comfortable with in my years of riding.
Without wanting to sound snobbish, i dont think i'd ever be "happy" with a store bought stock build.
Theres two ways i go about it, more often than not i'll buy a "reasonable" spec full bike, than spend the next few months-year upgrading until i'm happy with the spec, but every now and then, usually when i've got a little extra money floating about, i'll buy a frame and all the parts i want or buy a bike with a frame i like, strip the parts and sell them and buy all the parts i want, then build.

I usually buy my parts from local bike shop, quite lucky to have a very good one just 5 minutes away, but when i do buy online, its usually with ChainReactionCycles.
A.P.
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A.P. 9/12/2016 6:22am
9/12/2016 6:22am
I believe it's always better to buy the best bike you can afford if you expect to keep it for a while.

I bought a dentist-approved carbon wonderbike 4 years ago and I didn't change anything on it except replacing the worn/broken parts.

On the other hand, I bought a middle-of-the-road race BMX for pumptrack duties a couple of years ago. Hubs were crap, house-brand components were heavy, etc.. I ended up upgrading pretty much everything on it. Ultimately, I didn't save money at all by buying cheaper than my budget could have allowed me.

Medic142
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Medic142 9/12/2016 8:05am
9/12/2016 8:05am
I did buy the best bike I could afford at the time. I was in paramedic school when I bought my bike two years ago but I never got much time to ride until this year. Now that I'm putting time in on it I'm statting to see what I would have liked to do different.
bturman
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bturman 9/12/2016 8:51am
9/12/2016 8:51am Edited Date/Time 9/12/2016 8:54am
I've gone both routes with success. If you go complete, know that prices are very competitive with most brands and you'll likely get a good package deal. Spending a little less on a complete and saving a few $$$ to upgrade a handful of key components can sometimes be a good play, too. A proper set of tires, for example, is far more important than some shiny pair of cranks. If you haven't already, look into direct-to-consumer brands like YT Industries and Commencal for some great deals.

If time isn't an issue and you have another bike to ride in the meantime, I'd suggest the long approach with a build from the ground up. There's nothing like a custom steed...

Good online stores for the US include www.jensonusa.com, www.chainreactioncycles.com, and www.competitivecyclist.com.
JAMTB
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JAMTB 9/12/2016 4:27pm
9/12/2016 4:27pm
I too am an old MX'er and Unless you want something unusual, you will be better off and save money buying a whole bike. I have a Specialized Stumpjumper and it's great off the dealership floor.
Medic142
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Medic142 9/12/2016 6:07pm
9/12/2016 6:07pm Edited Date/Time 9/12/2016 6:08pm
Thanks for the suggestions. I love custom s much as the next guy but I'm not swimming in cash so my approach is usually spend money where it counts. I have no issues with my frame but the forks are suntour xcm and they leave something to be desired and I would like to upgrade my rims and rear gearset (as I've read it's the weak point on my bike) and I don't want to have basically a complete bike in parts off to the side lol.
Medic142
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Medic142 9/12/2016 6:14pm
9/12/2016 6:14pm
The flip side to my problem is I still ride my dirtbike almost every weekend which consumes most of my money and I'm 90% sure I'm moving to Denver Colorado area this winter and plan on adding a down hill bike to the stable then. I kinda have an addiction to two wheels. I currently have an 04 kx250, 15 yz450f, 03 kawasaki 1000 and my mountain bike all consuming my money lmao.
bturman
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bturman 9/12/2016 8:34pm
9/12/2016 8:34pm
Medic142 wrote:
The flip side to my problem is I still ride my dirtbike almost every weekend which consumes most of my money and I'm 90% sure I'm...
The flip side to my problem is I still ride my dirtbike almost every weekend which consumes most of my money and I'm 90% sure I'm moving to Denver Colorado area this winter and plan on adding a down hill bike to the stable then. I kinda have an addiction to two wheels. I currently have an 04 kx250, 15 yz450f, 03 kawasaki 1000 and my mountain bike all consuming my money lmao.
There are worse problems to have. Welcome to the club!

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