BTR Fabrications' New 650B Ranger Demo Bike by BTRfabrications

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mwart (Sep 25, 2015 at 14:43)

Considering the sort of hard tail bike you can get for £1000 the cost of this frame seems a little excessive. I understand that it's hand built in a shed and they'll only sell a few, but wow, that's an eye watering price for 11 tubes of steel welded together.

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ermoldaker (Sep 25, 2015 at 17:38)

Agreed. My semi good On One 456 was £200

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markg1150 (Sep 25, 2015 at 22:56)

Looks like a sweet frame that I thought about till I looked at the price. Can get a full built honzo for hundred quid more. Sadly it's probably the best price they can do to make a living off. Best of luck to them

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tobiusmaximum (Sep 26, 2015 at 0:02)

Isn't there a logic in business somewhere that if you can/will only create a few of something then you can/may as well.. Hike up the price, creating exclusivity? If they couldn't cope with the demand of them being priced reasonably, why price them reasonably? Lots of people have money these days, lots of people like exclusivity. I think it will all be fine.

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ryanme (Sep 26, 2015 at 2:16)

No longer made in the shed, fully custom build, geometry etc, worth the money if you want something built for you

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tremeer023 FL (Sep 26, 2015 at 2:36)

My Curtis SX custom frame cost £650 about 8 years ago and at the time I had a chat with the builder who said the profit margin was so tight he really needed to increase the price going forward so £1000 is probably realistic. Have to say though, the Curtis was worth every penny - I'll take it to the grave.

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ryanme (Sep 26, 2015 at 2:59)

Custom frames at £1000 is pretty average, I went on a weeks course to build mine and that came in at about £2000 (i was taught to build it and actually did so myself) its massively worth the money if thats what you want and appreciate it

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smalltownboycustoms (Sep 26, 2015 at 13:22)

"that's an eye watering price for 11 tubes of steel welded together." Put that kind of logic to anything and it will seem expensive. 2k+ for a carbon full sus frame, it's only some carbon sheets glued together, bearings and two Aliminium cylinders full of air....

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rchez08 (Sep 27, 2015 at 5:07)

@ryanme you got more details about the course? I'd love to do something like that!

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marzocchidjiii (Sep 27, 2015 at 10:56)

@tremeer023 glad to hear that, I'm waiting for the imminent completion of a custom HT from Chickens, check his stuff out here: www.chickensframeemporium.co.uk

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ryanme (Sep 27, 2015 at 22:14)

Google the bicycleacademy, all the info is on the website!

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bighitbourne (Sep 27, 2015 at 23:58)

agreed, ive had my curtis over 10 years now, its still pimp, wont bother selling it.... that was made out of t45 tubing and brazed, it is a work of art, ill never break it anyway, but still got that lifetime warrenty! that was £725 because of the options i wanted, clear coat, grind plates on the chain stays, BMX bb, stamped dropout, spare set of custom stickers. i dont know how much they are these days, but that seems a bit steep in comparison to the quality of curtis...

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djm35 (Sep 27, 2015 at 1:33)

Having ridden a friends 26" version of this frame, I can tell you they are amazing. Also, they made it to his specs at no extra cost, how many big brands do that? Its not cheap, but they don't churn out thousands of them in a factory.

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Old-Man-Eggy (Sep 27, 2015 at 2:04)

I think giving the BTR guys a hard time because of the price is a bit harsh really. Without setting up and giving this business a go, none of us have got any idea if the costs involved. Ultimately, if I came into some money, I'd love to own one of these. It looks like bags of fun!

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brit-100 (Sep 26, 2015 at 12:21)

If you don't get it, you don't get it, and that's fine. Those of us that do get, it don't need to convince you.

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turnem23 (Sep 26, 2015 at 1:40)

I have 1, she's called Bee. Sure its expensive, but i love its exclusivity and how great it is to ride.

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Matt76 (Sep 26, 2015 at 8:21)

At first glance I really didn't like this frame. On taking a second look I actually really like it. Just a shame it seems very over priced though.

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ashyjay (Sep 26, 2015 at 9:58)

£1000 is about the going rate for a low volume steel HT but for that grand BTR better throw in some paint choices and a choice of drop outs.

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graeme187 (Sep 30, 2015 at 23:24)

Thank goodness they've refined the design of the headset gusset. This looks really grown up, really nice looking hardtail. Now where's the 29er version?

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frazchops7 (Sep 26, 2015 at 5:00)

Still confused as to why they don't get them made in Far East ala Stanton. They'd sell loads at a £500 price point!

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smalltownboycustoms (Sep 26, 2015 at 13:10)

As great as the Stanton frames are, you can only choose between 3 or so sizes and colours. BTR make each frame bespoke to the rider. So chainstay length, seat tube (length and angle), top tube length, reach, drop outs, wheel size and head angle and any colour you want. Getting them made in the Far East wouldn't allow this. Plus I'm pretty sure they love making them.

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gkeele (Sep 28, 2015 at 1:30)

I guess you'd ask the same of Orange...

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frazchops7 (Oct 7, 2015 at 12:14)

Orange hardtails are made in Taiwan.

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chris1scouser (Sep 25, 2015 at 15:19)

Titanium? Or heat treated aluminium?

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ducksarse (Sep 26, 2015 at 3:59)

Non of the above, Reynolds 853 and 631 steel.

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eliwrightmtb (Sep 27, 2015 at 12:11)

@Crush12 @ArthurSandsmtb

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Matt-W (Sep 26, 2015 at 4:26)

£1000 for a really heavy hardtail frame? Ouch.

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smalltownboycustoms (Sep 26, 2015 at 13:11)

Chromoly steel isn't heavy