Building a bike – more expensive than you’d think!

cycling

I’m pricing a self-built Surly Cross Check with Shimano 105 components at about € 1,600 (USD $2000). That does include tools to the value of €380 that I can reuse, but it’s a hell of a hit to take upfront even so.

Despite the good deal on the frame I’d get online the cost of the “finishing kit”, saddle, bars, stem, as well as the expensive Park Tools needed, make this impossible to justify. I could probably get this with complete Ultegra built up from the shop for the cost of the full self-build with 105. Here’s the numbers:

Comparison chart

Self building

  • Surly CC frame, 105 groupset, all components including wheelset components, plus tools to build it all up: €1,614.63 (2,063.10 USD)

Self building budget option

  • Surly CC frame, Tiagra groupset, pre-built wheels, all other components plus Park Tools Work Stand: €1,281.60 (1,636.80 USD)

Off the shelf shop build

  • Surly CC frame, Tiagra groupset, pre-built wheels (estimate), all other components but no tools: €1,050.00 (1,341.64 USD)

Planet X Kaffenback

  • Planet X Kaffenback, 105 groupset, pre-built complete, no tools not including delivery: €1,038.67 (1,327.78 USD)

The value of the reusable tools from the first and 2nd self build options is €379.34 and €148.69 respectively. Prices are mainly from Chain Reaction Cycles, except the frame from a bikecomponents.de. Prices include delivery to Dublin, Ireland. The only estimate I included is €200 for a complete wheelset (hubs, rim, spokes) from my bike shop.

Check out a detailed breakdown in the spreadsheet here (html format).

Update: added further options from bikecomponents.de to spreadsheet.