Independent Fabrication Deluxe

[orange71]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINT-Independent- ... dZViewItem

 

[clunker]

Wish I was smaller

 

[gump]

This has been on STW for aaages with no takers at £700.
Will be interesting to see what it fetches.

Only problem for me with second hand IFs, is that they were always built for someone else. Kind of goes against the grain of a custom bike for me :?

 

[stevek]

They're not all custom though are they? This one has standard geometry. If your body's of normal proportions then standard should be fine.

 

[Anthony]

I expect it'll sell, but if you want a starting bid of £400 for a steel frame you ought to have better pictures and more description of the frame than this seller is providing.

I'm sure IF make good frames, but basically it's just 9 steel tubes that somebody blew £1,300 on. Rody charges two thirds (US prices) of what they charge and I know who I'd rather have building a frame for me.

 

[ededwards]

I'm sure IF make good frames, but basically it's just 9 steel tubes that somebody blew £1,300 on

I understand what you're saying but taking the argument further why would you want to spend more than £75 on 9 steel tubes? Sorry, just being a pain and agree that I'd love a Groovy.

Better photos would definitely help the seller - the prismatique paint makes it look at first as if the headtube is corroded. It may end up a reasonable buy when you think what Cotic Soul's etc. sell for new as this will be of much higher quality. Not surprised that it didn't sell on STW, £700 is too much for a secondhand steel frame no matter how nice.

 

[JustKev]

£700 is too much for a secondhand steel frame no matter how nice.

agreed. I recently sold my complete Roberts DOGS BOLX for less than £700 and that IMO is a far better frame than the I.F. although I've yet to ride one.

I.F. are lovely looking though usually - this is not a great example, possibly spoilt by poor photos?

 

[Anthony]

I'm sure IF make good frames, but basically it's just 9 steel tubes that somebody blew £1,300 on

I understand what you're saying but taking the argument further why would you want to spend more than £75 on 9 steel tubes? Sorry, just being a pain and agree that I'd love a Groovy.

Better photos would definitely help the seller - the prismatique paint makes it look at first as if the headtube is corroded. It may end up a reasonable buy when you think what Cotic Soul's etc. sell for new as this will be of much higher quality. Not surprised that it didn't sell on STW, £700 is too much for a secondhand steel frame no matter how nice.

I wasn't knocking your IF, it's superb, but it's only nine tubes welded together and painted and the tubes are the same as anybody else could use. FWIW one of the US framebuilders deals in True Temper tubes and a bike's worth of OX Platinum, which I take to be equivalent to 853 and Columbus Life, would cost $120 from him. I don't think IF's basic price of $1,695 is justified by a difference in quality over the same tubes built up by Rody or other small builders. And as for paint, Rody is the best anyway.

 

[stevek]

11 tubes if you include the diddy ones but not counting cable routing .



Let's not slate the IF too much, let's say it goes for around £400 (lol, you never know, but the photo's are pretty sh1te) that's quite a saving on new prices and I understand that this frame is almost new. IF make top notch frames in my opinion and many others opinions too. Do they charge too much for them? Maybe, but folk are still buying them.

Rody creates some fantastic stuff too and I hope to own one of his frames in the future. I also own an IF and I'm very happy with it. As Rody becomes more successful perhaps his prices will increase? What does he charge for a frame do you know?

 

[ededwards]

I wasn't knocking your IF, it's superb, but it's only nine tubes welded together and painted and the tubes are the same as anybody else could use. FWIW one of the US framebuilders deals in True Temper tubes and a bike's worth of OX Platinum, which I take to be equivalent to 853 and Columbus Life, would cost $120 from him. I don't think IF's basic price of $1,695 is justified by a difference in quality over the same tubes built up by Rody or other small builders. And as for paint, Rody is the best anyway.

Don't worry, wasn't taking it personally, pretty much agree with your point but when you think that fairly standard UK steel frames (e.g. Cotic Soul, On-One Inbred) plus the likes of Surly are £300 to £400 I'd have thought a good condition IF frame would not be such bad value at £400ish.

For what it's worth I also think that IF are a bit too pricey (particularly in the UK) and the paint on mine, while nice enough, is nothing to write home about and seems to chip pretty easily although they can make a decent secondhand buy.

If only we didn't get caught for customs and import duty a nice, custom US steel frame would be a great buy - not just Groovy but Vanilla, Waterford, Retrotec etc. etc.