#16
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"Because I can".... was the reply when one of my buddies with lots of disposable income (DINK) was asked by another friend why he spent so much on custom-built bikes, so often. Not trying to generalize, but that may be one of the main factors for lots of folk. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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#17
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For those of us that would need $100,000+ for a housing down payment AND will be renting for the next 10 years, what are some good up and coming frame builders to send our money too?
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#18
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Why buy a bike that costs as much as a house, when you can spend the same money for a bike that is a house?
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#19
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$14,400 for a custom bike? why? I've had so far 3 custom frames. Buy just the frame and fork and i'll get everything else done. ebay has lots of parts. it'll be lots cheaper, $3000-$4200 and lowers the risk and loss if it doesn't work out.
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Cuando era joven |
#20
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Quote:
https://www.schottcycles.com/ |
#21
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As one who still considers himself a "new" builder, I find this a very interesting discussion. I see many posts here and elsewhere on many subjects basically saying one won't do business with anyone who doesn't have loads of positive history (eBay is an example). And I always wonder "where does that leave the new builder?" Do we have to wait until the old guard dies off to have a chance? (Hm... Maybe I need to branch out to contract killing... jk!)
Fortunately I'm not in a position where my livelihood depends on selling X framesets in a month. |
#22
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Quote:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...76_rect/10_zm/ As for klunker, I wasn't referring to the historical type but the bikes that Ultra Romance rides which get a ton of attention on the Radavist. https://velo-orange.com/pages/piolet...th-27-5-wheels My friend's bike was about 7 grand. |
#23
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For good or bad, I see builders taking 3 approaches. Note that they are not mutually exclusive. But it is rare to see all 3.
1. Building quality bikes consistently, and developing a reputation for honest and consistent work. Extreme focus on the product itself. 2. Hit the social media game hard, build a hype around the brand, and bring in deposits that way. Extreme focus on the brand itself. 3. Price your product at a very attractive (I won't say "too good to be true....", but close to it) level. Extreme focus on getting customers. Dave, I don't know much about you or your bikes, so take this only as a single data point. Mjolnir seems a little hard to pronounce. There is some research out there (that I may be misquoting) that suggests hard to pronounce names are not as trustworthy and/or memorable. It was cited in a book called "Thinking Fast and Slow", if you are interested. On the broader point, about new builders... to each his own. The list of builders that I'd trust with my money is less than 10, and generated by years of reading this forum and listening to people's experiences with builders, seeing their products and knowing that they are good at.
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And we have just one world, But we live in different ones |
#24
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Quote:
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk Last edited by zambenini; 02-14-2019 at 11:52 AM. |
#25
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My handbuilt custom frame cost less than one month's rent?
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#26
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Many ways to get started as builder, one is across the hall in the Friday Night Lights which only builders can submit pictures. Another, advertise here, sure Paceline isn't too much.
Looked at your website, had to click a bit to see any pictures, not good, show your wears.... |
#27
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Quote:
I've bought from a "new builder" at NAHBS. I've also built a handful of frames myself. I think it's important to keep the pipeline flowing, and I would trust many new builders to build a great-fitting, great-performing bike. In my mind, the biggest risk to a new builder is financial. The "business" side of a new business can be tough, and if a builder is tight on cash, it may compromise the product. Thus, the buyer can get a little extra piece of mind if the builder is either well-capitalized or has an alternative source of income. |
#28
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Serotta was kind of the gold standard. And its gravitational pull brought many into the bespoke orbit. Without Serotta and this forum, most of the people I know on custom bikes would be riding Giants. But that was pre-Instagram and pre-Radavist.
Last edited by m4rk540; 02-14-2019 at 12:25 PM. |
#29
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Is The Radavist that popular?
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#30
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This
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Spending 14K on a custom seems like a stretch but who really knows. If you got it and you want the bike then more power to you. Selling a bike for 14K does in no way imply that it’s worth it. Best Ray |
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