Cost Of Build?

Joined
Feb 3, 2017
Messages
102
Location
australia
From the page you linked to:
"You can modify any size or shape of car wheel to create a truly radical chopper of your own design.
Every part on the Vigilante chopper is made from either square steel tubing or standard bicycle components, so you can carve out your own ultra stylish DIY chopper using materials you have on hand or acquire."

..So it will depened on where in your area you can get..
- 1x unwanted and over-used car tyre -car junk yard, online, possibly free.
-1x old used parts bicycle - online, 2nd hand shop, friend, possibly free.
-some steel tubing.. ~5m?? -Hardware store, junk pile - check hardware price.
-time.
-welding consumables- rods/wires/gas.
- a few grinder cutting discs.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
2,384
Location
Wakefield, UK
It's a question that's been asked before regarding other models. You can spend as much or as little as you choose to and depending on how good a scrounger you are. I appreciate that's a frustrating answer but it's true. I doubt any two similar machines built by folk here had similar cost lists. There really is no fixed answer. Freecycle.org is a good place to beg for donor bikes.
 
Last edited:

SirJoey

Super Moderator
Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
4,781
Location
My cozy little nook in the corner!
I ended up with around $800 in my Kyoto Cruiser, and that was back in 2008! But I went all-out
on it,
buying 2 brand new bikes for donors, in order to have mostly new (and matching)
parts for both sides. I also added a canopy top, & nearly every accessory you can think of,
so yeah, it depends on how you source your donor parts, & how many "extras" you wanna add. :)


FWIW, it ended up being my most expensive build ever! Although that may sound like a lot of money
for a home-built, consider the fact that at that time, a similar factory built was around $3,500!!! :eek:
***
 
Joined
Nov 13, 2020
Messages
2
Location
San Jose, CA
Thanks for all of the responses! It’s really helpful and nice to see a super active community. I’ll keep you all updated if I pursue the build. Thanks all.
 
Joined
Sep 16, 2018
Messages
1,353
Location
Netherlands
The choices you make, make the price.
When I started my first build, I calculated it and I could have build it for under 250 euro. But I didn't like the parts I could get and went for new parts. So the price went up.
That was the choice I made and with the new build, the frame will be even more expensive. But I went all out this time. It could be cheaper than my first build, but I wanted to improve my first build and went for other parts.
 
Joined
Feb 5, 2008
Messages
563
Location
Fernley, NV
Website
miscdotgeek.com
Well said, Emiel. I went on the opposite end of the spectrum. I bought new steel for the main parts, but ended up going to a local metal recycler and getting not just some 3/16" steel that I needed, but also a bunch of bike parts that I ended up using in my build. And I'd been saving scrap bikes, metal working tools, and spare bike parts for years. Part of my $300 for this build was a welder, supplies, cut off disks, paint... everything. I think I could build another, or rebuild this one, for around $150 if I did all the same things. I already have a proper welder now, etc.
 
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