[Closed] Custom built steel frames

Me... because you've got money to burn and I'd like to learn how to build a frame. 😉

I don't have money to burn (yet) but I do have time to save a few quid (or a thousand few quid's)

A kidney may be sold in the process of funding this project, rather do that than sell one of my other bikes to fund it 😉

[url= http://www.bespokedbristol.co.uk/Bespoked_BristolThe_UK_Handmade_Bicycle_Show_2012.html ]Linky[/url] i'd go to the next bespoked bristol (UK frame building show, next summer) and decide my self....

Thanks for that link

I have just under a year till my birthday so plenty of time to sort stuff out, although I guess the best frame builders will have long waiting lists...

Have a look at Rouke, because they have a fantastic reputation

yeah - brian rourke

thats my reommendation

Does Hewitt in Leyland do Mtb frames, or only road kit?

Not in my best interests revealing the competition, but there is some damn sexy beasts here: [url= http://www.demonframeworks.com/ ]Demon[/url]

His website only shows prices for road bikes, but the gallery does have a couple of MTB's

http://www.rourke.biz/custom_framesets.php

Enigma?

I wouldn't touch Paul Hewitt with a bargepole but that's just from personal experience..

Still loving my Curtis

Curtis is kinda where the idea started for me, been a brand I'd like to try for some time, although I don't know if they do Fillet Brazed work or just welded (so many questions to ask so many frame builders!)

But you gotta look at all the options when spending this much on a frame alone

I'd hate to buy frame A and then see frame B that I wanted more than frame A (yeah I know it'll probably happen anyway...)

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Fillet brazed loveliness

[url= http://www.lfgss.com/thread6377.html ]large list of british frame builders.[/url]

don't know if this is any good. it very road/fixed gear biased but a lot of the builders do mountain bike frames too.

Rourke don't fillet braze - tig!

I don't think their mtb frames look right imo.

You're going to find it hard to get more than 100mm suspension corrected frame, especially in fillet braze. I don't know exactly why that is.

I've an Enigma fillet brazed mtb, it's made of Columbus tubing, but they will do 853 that's what custom is all about. If you google my name I'm sure I've posted many pictures of it, or google the STW reviews - it's the actual one that I've repainted myself.

There is a guy called Kevin Sayles who now works at Woodrup Cycles, he does some mind blowing custom frames, not sure how clued up he is on mtb geometry though. Unlike road bikes you really do need to know what you want in custom mtb frames.

Shand Cycles do some nice fillet brazed custom mtb frames, they're Scottish - not sure if falls within your brief or not.

From my own personal experience - don't go to Croydon for a custom mtb frame - that's all I'm saying. 😉

I have a pretty good idea on what geometry/sizing I want, so that shouldn't be an issue, after over 20 years of riding MTB's I'm fairly confident in knowing what I want in a frame, but having a good chat with the frame builder is always the best way to make sure

The one builder I have contacted so far is able to give a fillet finished frame in 853 that can run up to 140mm forks, optimal at 120mm, it's welded first then brazed afterwards to give the clean fillet brazed look.

I have a few more leads now and will be looking in more detail at some of the builders mentioned above

Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep em coming in though!

What about [url= http://www.18bikes.co.uk/content/custom_framebuilding.php ]18bikes[/url]

[url= http://www.robertscycles.com/Robertscycles.html ]Roberts[/url], but you will have to wait... The name may or may not put you off 😉

Curtis is kinda where the idea started for me, been a brand I'd like to try for some time, although I don't know if they do Fillet Brazed work or just welded

Curtis [i]only[/i] do fillet brazed.

Don't go for welded then fillet brazed over the top, you really don't want two times reheating if possible, plus it will be harder/ with less oportunitues to repair it in the future, not many or any frame builders with take that on - sounds similar to Rourke's suggestion when someone recently enquired about a brazed frame? if they haven't the confidence to braze it on it's own I would walk away.

If you decide on Roberts email me first and I can tell you my recent experience of getting a mtb frame made!

18 Bikes are Tig only - innovative though 🙂

I think with that travel requirement and UK FB etc - it's Curtis (they braze only but don't file /blend the fillet) or Demon.

I would suggest rethinking the travel may be the way forward. I can do most things and faster in most cases on my FB 100mm than my 5spot. Just don't haul it off 'proper' jumps because I respect and enjoy it too much to wreck it.

It is a mine field, be cautious. You may find going over to the Frame building forum more informative.
🙂

There's an article in this months What Mountain Bike about a bloke that went on a week-long framebuilding course for his 40th, and came out with a very tidy looking frame. Certainly caught my eye.

breaking the UK rule here, but may be worth a nose at:

http://www.steelmancycles.com/

Andy - I went through similar recently albeit for my 30th 😆

I personally found 18bikes to be the best for me.

No fillet brazing but filling was offered for thought as the only reason I was after fillet was aesthetics.

Hope to get up and see them soon.

just don't look at their short travel steel full sus ........ Lovely stuff 😯

Do a Dave Yates course and build your own?

Plenty of companies to choose from:

http://www.ceeway.com/custom_uk_bicycle_framebuilders.htm

Or build your own
http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/custom_bike_frames-About_The_Course-44.php

Made a decision yet.......

I would definitely look at the enigma ego st, I test rode one and it's pretty special. I went to there open day and watched them frame build, the steel tubing they use is almost as light as the Ti, obviously thinner tubes, but still very impressive. I'm hoping (fingers crossed) to order one next year, not sure whether to go Ti. They've got a clearance sale on, not sure what size. The fillet brazed version is a beauty, I've also seen pics of woodsmans, matching fork paint job, very nice.

I had a lovely road frame built by Roberts, a fantastic bike that has done many hundreds of miles in the Alpes. Years of experience are evident in the way this bike fits and rides. It's awesome.

But I [b]would not[/b] however buy an MTB from them. I don't think they really 'get' MTB's, and worse still they thing they know best! Several friends have had some disappointing experiences with them. Road, track, touring and maybe 'cross bikes yes, anything else - NO!

Robin Mather is the way to go, but a) you don't have long enough and b) you probably can't afford it!

Robin Mather. Youo'll get what you want, it'll be beautifully made and will ride fab.

But if you wanted it for your 40th birthday ,you may have needed to order on your 38th.....

mine at the dyfi, (130mm forks, fillet brazed 853)

[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4578167220_a8e525672c.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4578167220_a8e525672c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimpmasterjazz/4578167220/ ]Mike[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/pimpmasterjazz/ ]Pimpmaster Jazz[/url], on Flickr

Another for Chas Roberts here. His stuff is beautiful, seen loads or Roberts frames down here in That London. He and his company have bin doing them for many years now.

Don't confuddle yourself unnecessarily with wanting X or Y tubing, listen to what the builder recommends, as they do know better than you. You'll get a better frame that way.

And a full custom frame takes inot account your riding style, weight, peculiarities of your bodily dimensions, that sort of thing.

18bikes in Hope have a [url= http://www.18bikes.co.uk/content/custom_framebuilding.php ]custom frame building side[/url]

When i was researching it (2004), roberts wouldn't make a frame for more than 80mm travel forks. He said it wasn't necessary. In 7 years he may have changed his mind, but i have heard that he's not the most flexible on certain details.

My thought is that unless it's really daft the customer is paying so let them have what they ask for.

The speccing, detailing and talking through the bike is a big part of the process and really enjoyable. It's worth finding someone you like and get along with.

Are you looking for it to be a ht or fs?

Never had a frame built myself but did get a frame repaired by Roberts.

He was a rude knob.

Matt at 18 bikes makes some lovely frames.

i have heard that he's not the most flexible on certain details.

I've heard this too. One bloke whose bike I was admiring said it was a nightmare to get them to make it for a 100mm fork! But they will make it to your specifications though, ultimately you are boss. Either they do, or they don't get the work.

I think I'd have a combination of fillet brazing and some nice lugged joints.

Oooh....

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I had my custom steel frame made in America. Personally I prefer TIG welds as they weigh less and, in my book, look better. My experience was that steel builders don't have much experience with long travel forks, they tend to be quite oldschool. 71 degree head angle with 120mm forks anyone? Just be sure that you know exactly what you want.

Robin Mather isn't taken orders.

Robin isn't taking orders and hasn't been for a while. And his frames are £1500 too....

I'd still like one though 😉 .

Robin Mather. You'll get what you want, it'll be beautifully made and will ride fab.

But if you wanted it for your 40th birthday ,you may have needed to order on your 38th.....

its my 40th next year, and i put in my order probably about 18 months ago.....starting to get a little excited.....

I'm going on a frame building course with Dave Yates in April next year. Doesn't cost a whole lot more than a custom frame does alone, and with 1-on-2 tuition, seems like great value

Have a chat with some builders and see which one you have the best feeling about. When I went down the custom route I had communication with a lot of frame builders it was fairly quick to rattle it down to only a hand full i was happy to trust, if I go custom again I will do the same thing.

I'd go with a builder who actually goes mountain biking for a start. It seems to me that most of the custom builders are stuck in the 80's. Roberts don't even have any info on mountain bikes on their website any more for a start. Just because someone is good with a torch, doesn't mean that they are going to build a good frame. I'd take a 'off the shelf' Chromag frame, either made in small batches in Squamish BC, or in the case of the 29er, by Chris Dekerf, over pretty well anything UK custom I'm afraid! Just look at the geometry of the Curtis 'Freeride'!!

I think I've still got my name on Mather's list, that was 18 months - 2 years ago now, he's not answering emails so I've given up. Second the Roberts - if it ain't road don't go there - been there done that - disaster!

Sorry got to join the Roberts bashing club. I had an mtb custom built DB frame built in '95 and it turned out to be the most ill fitting, uncomfortable, worst handling bike I've ever ridden. Stripped it down, and dumped it in the basement after 2 years of neck/back pain and fiddling around with seat positions and stems. Went back to my Kona and everything was fine again ...

I'm not sure UK custom is worth it, but if I did, I'd go for Mather. I reckon Argos Cycles would do a great job (as they've done a load of braze on/resprays for me perfectly fairly sharpish)

I've heard this too. One bloke whose bike I was admiring said it was a nightmare to get them to make it for a 100mm fork! But they will make it to your specifications though, ultimately you are boss. Either they do, or they don't get the work.

from a very reliable source I think you might find that Chas couldn't give a shit about getting the work; he genuinely doesn't care what people think. As far as he's concerned, [b]you'll[/b] ride the bike [b]he[/b] thinks you should ride, and if you don't like it, go somewhere else and stop wasting his time...

Many moons ago my replacement for my first ever mtb a raleigh, was a Dave Yates ,the magazines said it was great ,it rode crap ,felt dead .The next thing was a Roberts Bolx the Diablo was supposed to be a budget handbuilt frame so I assumed spending a bit more wedge and supposedly having the builder on side was going to be a better product and , it was pretty much a pile of Bolx again some journo had one in a mag and it was ace, I thought differently.There was a point where custom builders were regarded as super duper TBH probably the cycling press efforts and in all honesty to this day I still can't get my head around paying ridiculous money for some guy to try an make you believe you bought something so much better than Fu King Weld co in china.
I know the Ti bike I replaced the Roberts with was 100 times better than the hand built crap I had before.Maybe not a constructive addition to this thread but I can only think if some of the Uk builders even want to compete ,or maybe even earn back any credibility they really need to up their game.Surely there will be some new comers trying to break into a market and gain some rep but when occurs is anyone's guess.

Demon have a jump frame in the works so I guess they have an idea of modern MTB geometry. I chatted with Tom at Demon about various issues related to building a frame myself and he was really helpfull and came across as a nice guy. There was nothing in it for him, but he still gave me his time. If I wanted something [i]special[/i], Demon would be my first port of call. Have a look at the gallery and you'll see some real works of art there.

Pretty sure Steven at Shand Cycles will build exactly what YOU want, even if it is far from ordinary. The evidence is here in this folding, belt drive 29er for a giant..

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