Budget Frame Recomendations

[CS2]

Any recomdations for a budget frame/fork? I'm thinking $500 max. This is more of an all purpose bike. I don't race so light weight is that big a deal. Surly CC seems to fit the bill but it's almost too common. If I could find something a little different than the herd that would be a plus.

[webmstrk9]

Soma double cross is sub 500, I went with the Surly CC.

[CS2]

Soma double cross is sub 500, I went with the Surly CC.

Is Soma a QBP brand?

[webmstrk9]

it doesnt appear to be: Quality Bicycle Products

[jrm]

frames seem to come pretty cheap. There's also the offerings from on-one, planet x, swobo and fuji. There's also always used too.

[CS2]

it doesnt appear to be: Quality Bicycle Products

I was thinking Salsa not Soma. All those S brands are so confusing, Salsa, Soma and Surly.

[thesnail]

I went with the scattante a couple years ago and I really like it, frame, fork, headset for about 280.00.

[4Crawler]

I went with an Origin-8 CX700 frame earlier this year, about that same price range (~$250+/-):
- Products Description – ORIGIN-8

My build:
- Monstercross Bicycle Build

I mainly liked it for all the flexibility it offered in brakes, fittings for fenders, racks, bottle cages, etc.

[CS2]

I went with an Origin-8 CX700 frame earlier this year, about that same price range:
- Products Description – ORIGIN-8

My build:
- Monstercross Bicycle Build

I mainly liked it for all the flexibility it offered in brakes, fittings for fenders, racks, bottle cages, etc.

Very nice bike. The front tire looks tiny inside that fork. How big of a tire can you fit in it?

[4Crawler]

That is a 700x40 tire mounted in that picture on a 19mm wide rim. Now on a 24mm wide rim and tire looks a little wider. Mfg. specs a 2.1" wide tire will fit, a bit less clearance on the frame, fork could probably fit a lot wider tire. In back there is ~1/2" clearance on the DS and 3/4" on the NDS at the chain stays to the 40mm tire. At the fork, there is a good 1" of clearance on both sides.

[jerry68]

Nashbar touring bike frame and fork.

Built one up CX style for my wife, and it works great.

[CS2]

Nashbar touring bike frame and fork.

Built one up CX style for my wife, and it works great.

Did you have any problem with the crank/BB? The cross frame was notorious for no clearance on the stays. I had looked at the Nashbar but you can't tell whether they come with the 130 or 135 spacing.

[Hogdog]

I bought an aluminium cyclo cross frame for £50 from Paul Milnes in England...Unfortunately I need to make 10 posts before I can post links so I can't show you a photo. It's well made, reasonably light and it rides beautifully. It's got me scratching my head as to why anyone who doesn't compete would want to spend much more, it does the job and I can't find any drawbacks.

[jerry68]

Did you have any problem with the crank/BB? The cross frame was notorious for no clearance on the stays. I had looked at the Nashbar but you can't tell whether they come with the 130 or 135 spacing.

No problems at all, in fact I didn't even bother to chase and face the BB shell. The Touring frame was like $99, and it appears well made and finished. IIRC, wheel spacing is 130mm. I stripped all the parts off an old Cannondale R500 road bike and added some old CX canti's I had laying around, built up the Nashbar frame, and threw on 700X35 Kenda CX tires, and they have plenty of clearance.

Frame

Nashbar Double-butted Aluminum Touring Frame - Road Bike Frames

Fork

Nashbar Touring Frame Fork - Normal Shipping Ground

Wife's bike

[Nater]

All City Macho Man.

It's a bit over your $500 price, but it's pretty nice.

All-City Macho Man Frameset 55cm Citron - AEBike.com
$595 for the frameset

All-City Macho Man Complete Bike 55cm Citron - AEBike.com
$1600 for the complete bike.

[Nater]

Or I saw this on eBay recently...

Rosso Cyclospeed Cyclocross Frameset 51 56cm | eBay

[jerry68]

Is Soma a QBP brand?

Soma is a Merry Cycles brand.

[CS2]

Or I saw this on eBay recently...

Rosso Cyclospeed Cyclocross Frameset 51 56cm | eBay

They're just a rebadged Masi, which is a good thing. I take a 55, in the geared version. I wish they had my size.

[Glenrexellyn]

It's a little over your max but I think you should take a look at Black Mountain Cycles. Good design, versatile, great value.


Black Mountain Cycles: Black Mountain Cycles Frames

[erol/frost]

Just ordered an OnOne Pompetamine frame and fork for £170 shipped

[henrymiller1]

I started my cross w/ a Orbia, "lobular" . Great frame from Spain. I haven't seen another one and price was $250 w/ carbon fork. Bike is light, fast and an ease going uphill. If i did it again, i might buy a complete bike from Craigslist. I love bike, but it added up quickly. I guess they all do. Have fun.

[jrm]

Soma is a Merry Cycles brand.

Thats where ive gotten mine.

[marito1507]

nashbar cx steel frame & carbon fork. great price and quality. i've put over 1,400 miles so far and loving it!

[CS2]

nashbar cx steel frame & carbon fork. great price and quality. i've put over 1,400 miles so far and loving it!

Does Nashbar offer the frame separate? I've only seen complete bikes. Never heard a bad thing about the complete bike though.

[marito1507]

Does Nashbar offer the frame separate? I've only seen complete bikes. Never heard a bad thing about the complete bike though.

I'm pretty sure they sell the frameset only..the complete bike is priced fairly though. i got mine brand new in wrapping from a friend for $120!!