Afternoon From experience, as a 1st time project, would just buying a frame and going from there be "brave" or madness? Would buying a complete (ish) bike and stripping then rebuilding make loads more sense? Thx
It would be fun but expensive Don't under estimate how many different components make up a motorcycle and how pricey the smallest grommet can cost. I'd recommend a complete bike over a basic frame unless you are getting the frame free.
Have in mind what you want at the end of the build and try and source a donor bike that gives you a head start and be prepared to put in a lot of hours ............ and a lot more money than you planned. It becomes an obsession, believe me, I know all too well. Andy
from my limited experience so far you can pick up the common bits people upgrade like clutch covers, end cans, foot pegs pretty cheap. getting a little fastner is silly money. had to pay £4.50 for 1 GSXR fairing clip yesterday as could not get one elsewhere the correct size. That makes me think a donor/base bike is important. However, I'm thinking, how much of a bike could I build on 99p no reserve auctions if i am patient and observant....... I'm sure others must have tried it to varying success.
Buy a bike and strip it, I have a old r6 race bike all working. In order to get lock set, headlight, brake lights, new loom, switch gear, fairing, road legal tyres etc... you're getting on for buying a complete bike with a blown motor. Maybe even a runner.Then I get some spares I can see or keep. It's actually not even cost effective to convert it back.
One of the magazines did a comparison years ago between the cost of a bike new and the cost if assembled from component parts bought as spares. Even with many parts bought second hand the difference was eye watering. Use a custom frame by all means, but get a donor bike to transfer onto it. You can always sell the bits of it you don't want to help funds.
Keep me out of mischief really. My GSXR is good enough to start playing on track with. My 996 is tidy enough for my Sunday play. In 3 or 4 years i'll semi-retire the 996 and give her a good strip/rebuild then only take her out on a special occasion so I want something to practice/learn on in the mean time. I'm really liking getting my hands grubby in the garage so want something in there. no rush to complete it. Not fussed if it will be for track but most likely road. Just want it as a hobby, not to make money (would be nice). Think it needs to be a Ducati as you guys are the best. I have been amassing 748/9*6 OEM bits over the last year (clutch covers, seats, pillion pegs, etc,) so would make sense to stick with that. I'd get away with a few quid on a frame and going from there, i won't get away with £2k on a donor bike.
Do the maths, frame £400 wheels £400 engine £500 exhaust £250 forks £300 you could go on and on, a donor is by far the cheapest way to go.
I agree, if you pay what the breakers are after, but sometimes things slip through the net. I saw a 996s BP tail unit, plastic, both seats, lights go for £56 in perfect nick last weekend. Ducati 996 S Biposto Seat Unit | eBay Maybe, i should walk away from eBay before i do something dumb........
Yes, absolutely. My Monster started as a frame + a few bits and evolved into a bike and whilst it turned out good, it cost me an absolute fortune. Even with the upgrades I would have bought anyway, having a complete bike as a starting point would have saved me loads, mainly because when you have just a frame, an engine, suspension, wheels and all the bling, you still need all those little bits 'n bobs that you would have got with a bike but that no-one sells individually, or if they do they want silly money for them. Finally, if you had started with a bike then once it's all done you'll have loads of parts left over to sell and recoup some of the build cost - or start another project with...
