Author Topic: Cheap steel disc frame  (Read 5756 times)

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Cheap steel disc frame
« on: 12 August, 2019, 02:11:59 pm »


Can anyone recommend a cheap disc brake steel frame? I'm pondering making a semi sacrificial bike for use round town.

And before everyone says "why disc?" So I can reuse the collection of wheels I have that are all 622 disc compatible.

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #1 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:28:39 pm »
How long are you willing to wait? If you're willing to indulge your morbid curiosity I've read a few accounts of decent steel framesets bought off aliexpress, and indeed carbon fibre ones (though I'm not so brave enough to try).

e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32834723805.html

Obviously you wouldn't catch me flying down the arenberg on one but if you're pondering how low you can go...!
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #2 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:34:17 pm »
£100 at Planet X?

Scratch that, I can't read!

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #3 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:35:59 pm »
That one's caliper brakes only though if you could get a tame welder to braze on some mounts you'd be good I guess.
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #4 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:37:26 pm »
That one's caliper brakes only though if you could get a tame welder to braze on some mounts you'd be good I guess.

Doh, ignore me! :facepalm:

(I'm sure PX used to do something similar with discs, but they may no longer have it...)

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #5 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:39:37 pm »
yeah they used to do the Kaffenback. I did like the look of them but now sadly discontinued.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/road-bikes/kaffenback
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #6 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:42:40 pm »

Oh, I should add, bonus points for single speed capability... Makes the build cheaper if I don't have to faff with gears...

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #7 on: 12 August, 2019, 02:47:04 pm »
Why steel?
Planet X have the London Road or Full Monty for £200. Kind of similar style to the Kaffenback, but alu.

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #8 on: 12 August, 2019, 03:22:48 pm »
What's cheap? 
The Intec frames look decent value though not givaway prices, one of the sliding dropout models would suit single speed
https://www.bike24.com/p2169172.html

I have no experience of them, before a recent S/H purchase I was considering one based on the positive experience of someone running a MTB model with an Alfine hub as a commuter. 

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #9 on: 12 August, 2019, 03:59:31 pm »
26” MTB frames usually take 700c wheels with skinny tyres and are going to be a more ready source of beater disc frames than anything road oriented.

Can be single speeded by an old mech and a long screw bolt in the H hole.

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #10 on: 12 August, 2019, 08:31:21 pm »
It's alu, not steel. The fork is also apparently alu not carbon, reding the users comments. crap finish on the welds, crap paintjob and it needs flatmount calipers. Ss with a tensioner. BUT it is available in a 47 and for a new frame and fork I would reckon that's cheap (even with the wrong size seat pillar clamp).

Caveat I know nothing about the sellers. Would I risk it - undoubtedly if I wasn't put off by flatmount!

https://www.alltricks.fr/F-41484-cadres-rigides/P-500299-kit-cadre-velo-de-route-viper-rc3-disc-noir-rouge?gclid=CjwKCAjwnMTqBRAzEiwAEF3ndqe4vCBScagHHeXts73g7NfDLqp0tQQmQKEdKwkDE1DowNXGKtWhnhoCZIsQAvD_BwE

I hope that link is kosher, it looks awfully long!

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #11 on: 12 August, 2019, 08:56:30 pm »
https://www.leboncoin.fr/velos/1658929381.htm/

I suspect that something like this might fit the bill, pity it's a bit far to go. Poor sod left with that after someone pinched the wheels but it'll learn him to lock it up right! Looks small enough.

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #12 on: 12 August, 2019, 09:05:01 pm »
Find a cheap on one inbred?

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #14 on: 12 August, 2019, 10:10:54 pm »
Second hand?

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #15 on: 13 August, 2019, 07:33:37 pm »
This is another alu frame, appears to be sold without forks which puts up the price (although the forum could undoubtedly come up with a set of forks; I've a sus disc only fork sitting doing nothing for example but it wouldn't be the best option) but it has the sliding drop-outs for IGH so single-speeding should be a doddle. The smallest size is 49 but you'll have to check the top tube length.
www.bikebude24.de/droessiger-trekking-tr-rohloff-nexus-alfine-disc-only-rahmen

A wander around this site might throw up something better suited. They have cheap steel (and indeed ladies frames, although i haven't seen pink on offer) but I haven't seen anything in steel for discs (but I haven't looked that hard).

There were cheap NOS Vagabond frames for not very much more somewhere but I can't find the link. Needless to say the bargains that were kicking around 6 months ago are now well hidden.

Of course for less money you could have a complete bike in some french supermarkets, just need to find one with disc fittings!

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #16 on: 13 August, 2019, 08:41:09 pm »
Apparently On-One are working on some new versions of the Inbred. Though not sure when it will actually be available, or how much.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/news/products/q/date/2019/03/15/bootzipper-going-back-to-our-roots

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #17 on: 13 August, 2019, 11:31:12 pm »
I have a feeling that Planet X have shuttered those new projects. No news about them for ages, I don't think they forecast cycling as much of a growth sector in the UK unfortunately. New emphasis seems to be on clearing out stock.

I was all looking forward to it, see https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=112069.0 , but I reckon they've got cold feet.
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #18 on: 14 August, 2019, 12:29:25 am »
Brant has posted a few times on the Singletrack forum recently. New bikes still on their way. https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-on-ones-3/

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #19 on: 14 August, 2019, 01:04:17 am »
YACF touring/audax bargain basement:
https://bit.ly/2Xg8pRD



Ban cars.

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #20 on: 19 August, 2019, 03:08:35 pm »
https://www.biketart.com/bikes-c1/frames-c33/genesis-tarn-frameset-2018-p43664

It's a bit pricey but it is steel and has a carbon fork which looks quite nice. These people do have a Vagabond but only in M size, which I presume is too big for you. This one is available in S and takes 29er wheels.

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #21 on: 19 August, 2019, 03:35:48 pm »
https://www.biketart.com/bikes-c1/frames-c33/genesis-tarn-frameset-2018-p43664

It's a bit pricey but it is steel and has a carbon fork which looks quite nice. These people do have a Vagabond but only in M size, which I presume is too big for you. This one is available in S and takes 29er wheels.

My current bike is a Genesis Vagabond. Was after something cheaper as an every day single speed bike.

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #22 on: 19 August, 2019, 08:16:52 pm »
https://www.biketart.com/bikes-c1/frames-c33/genesis-tarn-frameset-2018-p43664

It's a bit pricey but it is steel and has a carbon fork which looks quite nice. These people do have a Vagabond but only in M size, which I presume is too big for you. This one is available in S and takes 29er wheels.

My current bike is a Genesis Vagabond. Was after something cheaper as an every day single speed bike.

J

Then the cheapest things that fit and are new are likely to be chinese or taiwanese aluminium, either 6000series or 7000 series. My mtb/tourer/uyility fetch the bread bike is one of those which came from Chainreaction (10 years ago and £80 for the frame without the fork, which cost the same. Chainreaction still has sale sell-offs in that price range but you will have to keep looking to find your size). There was a french bike shop advertising his take on a Vagabond for about half the price (on Le Bon Coin) but due to browser updating I now can't find the link. The frame would probably have suited your spec too, discs, steel, ss capable, ugly as sin and undoubtedly chinese (built by schoolkids probably, exploiting chikd labour  :sick:).

When looking for gravel bike frames last winter the thing that turned up cheapest all the time was old models of Vagabond - cheaper than Surly, although not by much.

Other than that it's a question of finding something secondhand. I am keeping an eye out but it is getting a bit late to strap one to Ivo's rack for the return after PBP!

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #23 on: 19 August, 2019, 08:23:04 pm »
Bike Discount have some rather cheap Cube frames. Maybe a trekking frame would be good for a town bike.
€70 for a bright yellow small frame? https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/cube-curve-pro-frame-lime-n-black-693233

Re: Cheap steel disc frame
« Reply #24 on: 19 August, 2019, 08:38:28 pm »
Bike Discount have some rather cheap Cube frames. Maybe a trekking frame would be good for a town bike.
€70 for a bright yellow small frame? https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/cube-curve-pro-frame-lime-n-black-693233

I was going to suggest this https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/brand-x-ht-01-27-5-hardtail-frame-2019/rp-prod130452  but the Cube looks a better (as in more useful) frame). The prices are about the same when you count in the free delivery from Chain Reaction. The Brand X however has a tapered headset which could involve the expense of fitting an adaptor to take a cheap fork.

In France a hardtail mtb would be more knickable than a hybrid but perhaps Holland is different.