Budget or affordable custom MUSA frames?

[elliott]

Just curious about current framebuilders who are very competitive with their pricing. I've got a friend who could use a frame built to his spec but cannot afford the starting price of many options. Right away I start talking about Paul Sadoff and how there are no other options for many reasons. I'm still working hard on that but in the meantime I'd like to give some attention to new "up and coming" framebuilders than might have lower starting prices based on less testimonals, experience, etc.

Buddy needs a tig welded cx steel frame with custom geometry. Only fancy option he mentioned was hinged dropouts for potential single speed use. Dude works off an hourly LBS wage so cannot afford the best. I'm looking for suggestions for new or lesser known builders who's current frame pricing is in the $1000-1500 ballpark.

[rcnute]

http://www.elephantbikes.com/custom/

Ryan

[gdw]

Gunnar is close by and offers a cross frame with custom geometry and sliders or rockers for $1500.

[ceolwulf]

Not new and not lesser known but great value.

http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/Fango.html

$1200 CDN with custom geometry.

[RedRider]

Check out Colossi. http://www.colossi.us/
He's a former Dutch racer then builder who is located in China. He now has a US distributor in Brooklyn.

[modernfuturist]

Not new and upcoming but has been consistently regarded as a lower cost custom option: http://www.curtlo.com/pricing.html

[FlashUNC]

Della Santa is in that ballpark for full custom including a steel fork.

Quick turnaround from the man in Reno too.

[Ralph]

I wouldn't necessarily equate quality with price either. I don't think you get much extra for your money when you go much above these prices. To me it's nuts to consider paying 2-3 times what some of these lessser known builders charge, plus put up with a long wait time for some.

[thegunner]

rock lobster is just a TAD outside of that range...

[Frankwurst]

Not new and not lesser known but great value.

http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/Fango.html

$1200 CDN with custom geometry.

This + the current exchange rate would seem pretty attractive.:beer:

[vqdriver]

isn't curtlo in that range?

[carpediemracing]

Tsunami Bikes (http://tsunamibikes.com/wordpress1/). I'm a two time customer. Working man's bike - he admits not enjoying the paint aspect - but it's a custom frame, shipped, for $750? $800? I don't know now but the last price I saw on his site was $750. No fork so you have to get a fork or use one that you have already.

The first one, the third "build phase" picture set I got from Joseph, the builder.
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2010/01/tsunami-frame-ultrasound-3.html
I used a fork I already had when I finally built it up.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/S2IpI_OPuvI/AAAAAAAACkI/eMkYJgyaCxg/s800/FILE0256.JPG

The second one, this is where I started with the black frame.
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2010/12/tsunami-20-ultrasound.html

Joseph even modded my first frame for me, shortening the stays to "as short as possible". He charged m very little.

My two frames when I got the second frame. I stuck my head through the black frame to carry it to the shop a few miles away (I was at a friend's house for a couple weeks).
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/TUNoxgcgUeI/AAAAAAAADH4/z9M9JEr7LDg/s800/TsunamiOne_with_Two.jpg

My two frames after the first one got modified and painted locally (i.e. not by Joseph). I bought a new fork because I was going to ship out the frame that the first fork belonged to:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yVszbCsm9as/UWgFV-hXfuI/AAAAAAAAE2g/au678ML1IGU/s800/DSC_0605.JPG

I have a weird fit - short legs, long torso - and if I could I'd buy a regular frame. However none come close to fitting so I've done the custom thing. After the first frame I realized that the material etc don't matter as much as the fit and the fork. The second frame was great but I haven't ridden it in a while as I only had one set of 175 cranks and didn't feel like swapping them back and forth. I just got a second set so the black bike should be together again soon.

[Fatty]

Little over your friends price point , I hear this guy does nice work.

http://www.humbleframeworks.cc/

[bcgav]

Gunnar, Milwaukee (made by Waterford), and for custom hand built 44bikes (frames starts ~$1950).

Gunnar stock geometry is around $1000 and custom geometry is right around $1500.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Soulcraft. Check them out.

[JAGI410]

Is the LBS he works at a dealer for Waterford/Gunnar/Independent or any other dealer-available custom builders? I'd start there and ask for employee pricing!

Or keep searching for a "stock" bike with geometry that suits his needs. The EP price for Cielo bikes is certainly worth looking into...

[jmoore]

I'll second the Curtlo. TMB has one and by all accounts, it's a great bike.

I'm curious what your friend ends up with. The "industry price" since he works at an LBS is an interesting option I would not have thought of. I'd check that route carefully.

[oldpotatoe]

Just curious about current framebuilders who are very competitive with their pricing. I've got a friend who could use a frame built to his spec but cannot afford the starting price of many options. Right away I start talking about Paul Sadoff and how there are no other options for many reasons. I'm still working hard on that but in the meantime I'd like to give some attention to new "up and coming" framebuilders than might have lower starting prices based on less testimonals, experience, etc.

Buddy needs a tig welded cx steel frame with custom geometry. Only fancy option he mentioned was hinged dropouts for potential single speed use. Dude works off an hourly LBS wage so cannot afford the best. I'm looking for suggestions for new or lesser known builders who's current frame pricing is in the $1000-1500 ballpark.

Gunnar or Waterford and if in a bike shop, I am sure he could get the 'bro' deal, wholesale plus a little from Waterford.

http://www.gunnarbikes.com

http://www.waterfordbikes.com

[oliver1850]

Meech custom CX with steel fork is $1595

http://meechcustombicycles.com/pricing.html

[soupless]

Scott Quiring is respected and offers a pretty decent shop guy discount if you send him a current paystub.

And he's from Michigan, always a plus.

[sandyrs]

Meech custom CX with steel fork is $1595

http://meechcustombicycles.com/pricing.html

Dimitri is great to deal with and built me a really nice coupled road bike with a Wound Up fork for under $2k. HIGHLY recommended.

[carlineng]

EDIT: Oops, actually read the original post, and see that Rock Lobster is the first name mentioned. He's good!

[Ken Robb]

Gunnar or Waterford and if in a bike shop, I am sure he could get the 'bro' deal, wholesale plus a little from Waterford.

http://www.gunnarbikes.com

http://www.waterfordbikes.com

Couldn't his shop owner order it for him and let him just pay wholesale with no add-ons?

[nooneline]

Little over your friends price point , I hear this guy does nice work.

http://www.humbleframeworks.cc/

highly recommended.

[hockeybike]

Primus Mootry in CO!

Joe D. does Aluminum frames for 1250, but I'm not sure if he's currently taking orders.

Great product at a great price, if he is.

[oldpotatoe]

Couldn't his shop owner order it for him and let him just pay wholesale with no add-ons?

Richard doesn't care, as long as he's a shop rat.

[seanile]

http://www.meriwethercycles.com/ - $1200 base

meriwether is great.

mine: http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=158457
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1558587_801748119889067_7639338658058956252_n.jpg? oh=c66a5dd61a2e3986c53afadc57070b19&oe=555E6141&__gda__=1435890751_b781c7324514ee460e98824efc42f92 2

[eBAUMANN]

http://www.meriwethercycles.com/

meriwether is great.

mine: http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=158457
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1558587_801748119889067_7639338658058956252_n.jpg? oh=c66a5dd61a2e3986c53afadc57070b19&oe=555E6141&__gda__=1435890751_b781c7324514ee460e98824efc42f92 2

best kept secret in framebuilding right now...SSHHHHHH SEAN! ;)

[seanile]

;)im glad you agree

[eBAUMANN]

;)im glad you agree

those tiny fatbikes he made were nuts, serious fab skills.
im tempted to hit him up for a 29+ rig ;)

[elliott]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their responses. Looks of good suggestions in here!