Buying a 'stock' stock bike

[Spasmodic]

I've got about $1500 to spend on a stock trials bike. I've been doing alot of poking around trying to figure out if I want to build one myself or let trialsin.com build me one. Though I don't have a whole lot of experience building bikes, my roomate is a bikeshop mechanic and if necessary I could also slap a friend a couple six packs to help build me some wheels.

My specs: 6'2", 180lbs, rode bike trials back when Ot pi ruled the world, rode motorcycle trials for 10yrs, been putting around doing bike trials for about a year, need a new bike.

Specs of the trialsin bike I was considering: Echo Control
here: http://www.trialsin.com/sell/frames/echo/eframe.htm

FRAME: U6 Alloy frame.
FORK: U6 CNC alloy fork.
BRAKES: Magura HS-33 rear, Magura Louise FR (180mm rotor!).
BOTTOM BRACKET: Echo custom external bearing.
CRANK: Echo CNC
BARS: Echo 29" wide Supa bar.
STEM: Echo Supa stem
HEADSET: Echo oversize
RIMS: Echo, competition drilled. 48mm rear, 38mm front.
TIRES: Varies by availability.
HUBS: Echo custom 72 point engagement single speed cassette rear, Echo disc front.
PEDALS: VP double cage.
BASHRING: Echo custom.

The questions:

1. Aside from the obvious 'why the hell did we ever teach the chinese capitalism' arguments are there other social stigmas to buying a complete bike (rather than building one)?

2. Though most echo parts seem to have a good enough reputation, is it a question of the long term durability/cost ratios compared with buying big early (like CK hubs or Hope brakes etc) and building slowly (perhaps I am too impatient for this approach?)

3. Has anyone bought a complete bike from trialsin before? Was it a good experience? Will he work with you on upgrading parts on the build?

4. Is trialsin putting these bikes together? I was under the impression that echo used to put the bikes together at the factory but not any more. Does this mean trialsin is putting them together?

5. Webcyclery has the 'new' echo frame. Is this the '06 model? I can usually tell by the look of the frame but webcyclery has the annoying habit of having the smallest pics possible.

(here:) http://www.webcyclery.com/product.php?productid=17179&cat=412&page=1

Thanks all. I've been in information suck mode for a few days now. I'm getting anxious to put together a bike and start riding on it.

[PJL]

Complete bikes, especially nowdays, will get you very nice components for a very fair price. It will generally be cheaper compared with buying the same parts new, separately.

About the durability, I think the Echo stuff will compare quite favorably with more expensive parts. Only thing I would be wary of is the new Echo rear hub, I haven't seen much feedback about it except for some pre-production ones that popped their tops.

Regardless of what bike you choose, the best thing you can do is just give either Tim or Mean Todd a call. They will let you know all the current info on what they have and what they can do for you about upgrades.

I don't know who puts the bikes together but I would suggest doing it yourself and learning how everything works. Besides, if you can adjust the choke on your trials motorcycle I'm sure you can figure out how something as simple as a bike works.

[eastcoaststeve]

i bought my pitbull complete from tim at trialsin...couldn't have asked for better service.
upgrades were no problem, he answered all my dumb questions and was always friendly.
recently ordered a new stem and bar combo from him...again, top notch.
if you have questions, just give him a call.

[Issac Brock]

sorry, i'm too tired to read the whole thing, but for what i did read:

dude i wish i knew someone to help me build my bike. take advantage of that mechanic and get yourself some nice parts from different places and get him to help you build it. Do what yuo can on your own and just get him to help you out.

[Elan]

echo no longer ships complete bikes. your retailer specs and builds them as they see fit.

[rush]

And as previously said it will be worth it.

[dkoppric]

And as previously said it will be worth it.

word, no matter what combination you get it will be better than trying to buy the parts by yourself. check out the updates page a bit, tim usually puts up some sweet builds for a nice price... http://www.trialsin.com/special/sframe.htm