How do I build a Mountain Bike from scratch?

The Dood: How do I build a Mountain Bike from scratch?
I am looking to build a full suspension mountain bike. I am not looking for the absolute best, but I am looking for a relatively decent one. I would say I am looking to spend $ 1200. Can I get more for my $ $ if I build myself or just buy a bike? What I would like to see is a list of components that would get me a complete mountain built from scratch. For those items can you tell me what are the top 5 names for the component you described? Thanks.

Answers and Views:

Answer by El Ron Hubbard
90% of the time, you will get more bang for the buck if you purchase a complete bike. my recommendation is to buy one, ride it one season, then upgrade the components you are unhappy with. $ 1200 for a full sus bike isn’t going to get you anything overly fantastic, though.

Answer by just4fun
to make it would just to take an old bike take that apart put it together again to practice THEN

get like tubes, rims, brack lines, the tyre its self ETC

it isnt easy to make a bike from scratch but with the right equipment id reacon it can be done

i hope ive helped

PEACE! : )

Answer by Bob A
It’s a lot cheaper to buy a complete bike. Building one will cost you 2-3 times more.

Answer by Rise Above
You can build a bike from parts but it’d probably be smarter to buy a used bike. I was once given a slightly damaged hardtail frame and built it up from parts I already had plus a few I bought. If I added up the value of all the parts I put on I probably could have sold the parts and bought a similar complete bike for less $ $ $ .
Now I’m giving the bike away so I’m even less inclined to calculate how much it’s worth.

If you were building a hardtail I’d say go for it but FS bike frames cost more and a decent shock alone can be costly. Find a 3-4yr. old Cannondale Rush or Prophet or a Specialized FSR XC or Stumpjumper and go ride!

Answer by Max Cruise
It will cost more to buy all the components and frame separately than to buy a bike already built.
I had considered taking a frame building class, but after I factored in class cost, travel expenses, and lodging, it was cheaper to buy a frame from a custom builder.