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In my usual day dreamy way of looking at bikes and gear, I wondered just how much it would be to build up a santa cruz bullit top spec.

I went on chain reaction and selected saint everything, air forks, E13 bits and Easton bars.

Total price + frame at a generic £1100 was only pretty much the same as the full build at £2600.

Jeez! That is very suprising. Looks like I'll try and build a bike custom style one day.

I always thought it was waaaayyyy cheaper to buy full built then custom. Crazy times.

Haven't they stopped making the Bullitt as they have the APP designs now?

I don't quite get the figures, are you saying that it costs the same for a Top spec custom as an entry level full build?

The frame is on Evans, and yes it cost as much for a top spec build as an entry off the shelf bike.

It didnt make sense to me and I even made sure I did bottom bracket, cassette, tubes, chain etc.

It's insane. The thing is that if you get a good frame second hand the savings are even greater.

I double checked it all.

I wasn't questioning your logic, just wanted to clarify what your point was. I've never to date bought an off the shelf bike, I've built them all. I like the building and tinkering as much as the riding. I've learnt a lot of new skills and the cost can be spread out rather than drop a large chunk of change at one go.

Second hand decent frames are roughly half retail and sometimes lower than that , so the saving can be huge.

That would be a sweet ride if you did it. I'd be tempted to go coil for the reliability and performance benefits on a big-hit bike. I've just converted my older Pike Teams to coils for my Mythic Spitfire build I've just finished, the ride is beautifully smooth and I know they're gonna be bomb-proof.

What wheels and forks did you go for?

How much was the frame going for?

Some nukeproof wheels and a rockshox something that was about £400. I don't think it was sektor, could've been?

Sorry it as a heckler and £800.

Well what brakes, crankset and forks were they?

Those Nuke-proof wheels are good but I wouldn't call them absolute top spec, Easton Havens are tho, also could you post the full spec list?

Ok here is spec list....


Shimano Saint Disc Brakes M810
Front - Post Mnt - RH Lever - 1000mm
Quantity Update Remove
£114.99
Save £60.00 (34%)

Shimano Saint Disc Brakes M810
Rear - Post Mnt - LH Lever - 1700mm
Quantity Update Remove
£114.99
Save £60.00 (34%)

Shimano XT Disc Rotor 6-Bolt RT76
203mm 6-Bolt
Quantity Update Remove
£31.99
Save £8.00 (20%)

Shimano XT Disc Rotor 6-Bolt RT76
180mm 6-Bolt
Quantity Update Remove
£24.99
Save £12.00 (32%)

Shimano Saint/SLX Cassette 9 Speed HG80
11-34
Quantity Update Remove
£39.99
Save £15.00 (27%)

MRP G2 Steel Chain Guide
ISCG 05 - 36-40t - White
Quantity Update Remove
£69.99
Save £5.00 (7%)

E Thirteen G-Ring Chainring
4-Bolt 104mm 38t Delta Gold
Quantity Update Remove
£33.00
Save £6.99 (17%)

Shimano HG93 Chain 9 Speed
Each
Quantity Update Remove
£19.99
Save £13.00 (39%)

Shimano Saint Rear Mech 9sp M810
SS - Short Cage
Quantity Update Remove
£77.99
Save £32.00 (29%)

Rock Shox Totem RC2 DH Forks - Solo Air 2011
180mm - Galvanised/Grey - 20mm Maxle
Quantity Update Remove
£629.00
Save £370.99 (37%)

Shimano Saint Shifters 9sp M810
LH Only
Quantity Update Remove
£42.99
Save £17.00 (28%)

Easton Havoc DH Bar 2011
Grey 750mm 31.8mm - Lo
Quantity Update Remove
£47.99
Save £17.00 (26%)

DMR V12 Magnesium
Code Red
Quantity Update Remove
£55.00
Save £14.99 (21%)

Azonic Dunce Saddle 2011
Cadaver Black
Quantity Update Remove
£44.99
Save £5.00 (10%)

Tioga T-Bone 6061 Seatpost
27.2mm 350mm Black
Quantity Update Remove
£15.99
Save £2.00 (11%)

Hope Seat Clamp & QR
28.6mm Blue
Quantity Update Remove
£18.99
Save £1.01 (5%)

Shimano Saint Crankset M810-1
175mm 4-Bolt 68/73mm Shell
Quantity Update Remove
£154.99
Save £35.00 (18%)

Shimano Saint Bottom Bracket Cups M815
Pair - 83mm

£37.99
Save £10.00 (21%)
Sub Total: £1575.85
Shipping: FREE
Order Total: £1575.85
Total Saving: £684.98
(30%)

There’s a forum... 'challenge' build the cheapest new uk do it all bike.. i think its pretty hard to beat the buying power of the big brands but will be interesting to see what people can do

Frame
Shock
Bars
Shifters
Brakes inc rotors
Stem
Cables
Grips
Headset
Forks
Wheels
skewers maxles
BB
Chainset
Chain
Pedals
Front der
Rear der
Seatpost
Seatclamp
Saddle
Tubes
Tyres

Get a 2011 frame next year for about £1k and that is one heck of a bike...

Dmrdan you are missing a fair few bits from karves list like a stem, tyres, headset, cables, grips, etc and i dont see the wheels in the £1600 - otherwise nice stuff

I'm up for it, I often do thing slike that out of interest