Swap Components to another old frame – is this sensible?

I have a mid ’90s gents 26″-wheel steel-framed MB but with nice components which are as new (Shimano Deore XT). The trouble is I can now no longer easily get my leg over (dont laugh, it comes to us all) and one day I am going to collapse in an undignified heap when getting off!

After buying a very nice Trek 7.2 hybrid aluminum frame on ebay I have realised that you cannot swap ANY components from a mid ’90s steel-framed bike to a 2006 ally bike (especially if the ally bike is set up for 700c wheels).

So the new plan is to get a 1990s ladies steel frame (set up for 26″ wheels) and swap the components.

But frames are hard to find. So I will probably buy any rubbish bike and strip it down to the frame. I assume that cheap bikes are cheap mainly because the components are cheap and frames are generally OK?

Is this a sensible way forward?

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For bikes that age your main issues of compatibilty will be BB shell widths, seapost diameter and maybe headset size (you on the border between 1″ and 1 1/8″ eras? There was a crossover period) Watch for cottered cranks on cheap bikes, your (square taper?) BB may not fit that shell. Then your cranks won’t fit either. also watch for cheap bike with claiper brakes and your decent one with cantis (which have different mounts)
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I assume that cheap bikes are cheap mainly because the components are cheap and frames are generally OK?

Unlikely. Cheap bikes tend to have cheap frames. If anything, it’s likely to have a worse frame. Eg. mid-price bikes sometimes come with cheap frame and bling components so the marketing guys can say ‘buy this it’s got an LX mech.’
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Not wishing to put a dampner on it, if you have a ready supply of spares for bodging go for it.

I reckon you might be cheaper getting a new bike, and then selling your Deore XT parts on retrobike, if they are indeed ‘as new’. What you may find is that when you change one part, like the chain, you end up needing cassette, chainrings, rear mech etc.

Andrew,
thanks for the advice “For bikes that age your main issues of compatibilty will be BB shell widths, seapost diameter and maybe headset size (you on the border between 1″ and 1 1/8″ eras? There was a crossover period) Watch for cottered cranks on cheap bikes, your (square taper?) BB may not fit that shell. Then your cranks won’t fit either. also watch for cheap bike with claiper brakes and your decent one with cantis (which have different mounts)”

Ebay seems to be the best source of this sort of frame or bike. I think I can check almost all of what you suggest I look out for with the exception of the BB shell width.
So providing I look for a steel, 26″ wheel, mid 1990s, 1″ headset, square taper cranks, then I should be OK. I might need a seatpost shim and a new BB bearing and axle, but apart from that I should be able to use my old components.

Thanks for the advice on cheap frames but I am afraid that one lugged steel frame looks like any other lugged frame to me.

AlasdairMc has it. Unless you know precisely what you’re looking for, you’re likely to spend a lot of time, effort and money on this and still end up with bits that don’t fit or are worn out.

Sell what you have (Retrobike is a good place to sell old XT, etc for silly money) and buy a whole bike that’s in working order.

AlasdairMc has it. Unless you know precisely what you’re looking for, you’re likely to spend a lot of time, effort and money on this and still end up with bits that don’t fit or are worn out.
Sell what you have (Retrobike is a good place to sell old XT, etc for silly money) and buy a whole bike that’s in working order.

Alasdair, Cheezpleez There is no point in me asking questions on this forum if I dont take the advice of more experienced people such as yourselves. So project abandoned; not least because if I use a cheap frame then I will end up with a bike that gives me no pleasure.

Plan B. I have a nice condition Trek 7.2 hybrid ally frame (I need the more upright position that a hybrid offers). So I could build that up with components (e.g set of good 700c shimano-hubbed wheels £80 from woolly hat and easy to swap over bits such as saddle, brakes from my existing bike. Total cost about £250. A new bike with Deore XT level components about £800. But its not just the money; there must be a great satisfaction in riding a bike you have built?

So is this an equally stupid idea? (I’m not short of those!)

It doesn’t seem silly to me. The only thing it seems to me is that you will need to think about exactly what gear ratios you use, given that you would be changing wheel size (but actually I doubt even that is very important). Maybe at the start of the project write out a list of everything you need to have / swap over so that you can see any troubles ahead of time.

It doesn’t seem silly to me. The only thing it seems to me is that you will need to think about exactly what gear ratios you use, given that you would be changing wheel size (but actually I doubt even that is very important). Maybe at the start of the project write out a list of everything you need to have / swap over so that you can see any troubles ahead of time.