Is It Cheaper To Build Your Own Bicycle?
Bicycles can be pretty expensive, so it’s only natural to wonder if there are any ways that you can reduce the expense.
It’s unsurprising, then, that many people consider whether it may actually be cheaper to build a bicycle from scratch rather than buying one from a manufacturer.
So, is it cheaper to build your own bicycle? The answer to that kind of depends on the person that you ask!
In general, it has been widely accepted that it is more expensive to build your own bicycle than it is to buy one that has already been built by a manufacturer.
In theory, this is true, since bike manufacturers often have deals with manufacturers that make the parts, so it can be cheaper.
With that being said, this is not always the sense. If you have some patience and you are savvy with your money, you can actually save a lot of money by building your own bicycle.
You can make a fantastic quality bike at a fraction of the price of what you would be for one that’s been built already. You can find deals on frames that have been barely used and lightly used parts, which can save a significant amount of money.
You can even take parts from your current bike and put them onto your new bank. In short, if you are clever about it, you can save a lot of money by building a bike yourself. You’ll just need a little bit of time and patience in order to do it.
How long does it take to build a bike from scratch?
If you buy a bike from a manufacturer, it’ll probably take you around 10 to 30 minutes to get it assembled. This may seem a little obvious to say, but you will probably need to spend a lot more time trying to put together a bike that you’ve built from scratch.
The amount of time that it may take you to build your bike from scratch will vary from one person to the next. If you have never assembled your own bike before, you will likely find that it takes you longer to do it. This is because you may be lacking in technical know-how.
If you have all of the parts together and you know what you’re doing, it could take you as little as an hour to put it all together. Sometimes things can go wrong though, and this can sometimes mean that the process takes longer.
As a reference point, a professional bike manufacturer may be able to assemble a bike in as little as one to two hours if all of the parts are already there.
Since you aren’t likely to be building the individual parts yourself and you’re just putting parts that have already been assembled onto your bike, you could probably expect it to take this long. It may take less time, especially if you have someone else that’s helping you to put it together.
Is It cheaper to build your own bicycle?
So after all of this, you may be wondering if it’s even worth it to build your own bike. After all, it can take a lot of time and sometimes it can even cost more money – though this isn’t always the case. Well, it depends on you.
It’s probably best to stick with a bike that has already been manufactured if you are a beginner cyclist. It’s definitely worthwhile to build your own bike if you are very experienced though, and if you have a slightly higher budget if the project calls for more money to be spent.
There are a number of benefits to building your own bike. To start with, it gives you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of your bike.
Having this kind of knowledge can help you to become a better cyclist. Building your own bike also means that you can customize things the way that you like them. This means that you have a better cycling experience since you can improve on the things that your bike is lacking.
There are also very few feelings that are better than realizing that you have built your bike with your very own hands.
It makes you feel powerful and confident, which is a huge bonus when you’re trying to improve your cycling. Your bike is also super unique – nobody else will have one quite like it!
So, the downsides. Building your own bike can take up a lot of time. It can take you a while to actually put the bike together, not to mention you’re also going to need to research the things that you need. It can also be challenging to know exactly what you need when you’re first getting started.
Steve Beck is a passionate cyclist and experienced writer covering the cycling industry for over a decade. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in all bike-related things, from the latest products and technologies to the best routes and trails. His articles are well-researched, informative, and engaging, and he has a talent for explaining complex cycling concepts in a way that is easy to understand. Steve can be found on the road when he’s not writing about bikes, putting his knowledge and skills to the test.