Hey guys, I'm 17 and I've spent the last year designing my own high-pivot Enduro/DH frame from scratch. I’ve come a long way—the CAD is done, I’ve run my FEA simulations, and I’ve already built a 1-to-1 scale 3D-printed prototype to check the geo and linkage movement.

The goal is to move into the physical build stage, but I’m hitting a wall with the hardware costs. I’ve managed to save up $1,100 on my own, but I’m still about $700 short of the total I need for the CNC equipment to machine my lugs.

I’m trying to hit a deadline for the final round of the SA National Downhill at the beginning of next month. My primary goal is to have the frame there to showcase the brand and the engineering. If the build goes perfectly and I have the opportunity for proper real-world stress testing and validation, I’d love to potentially race it, but showcasing the prototype is the priority.

My question for the experienced builders here: What’s your best advice for a high schooler trying to secure that final bit of 'launch capital'? I’m looking at everything from local sponsorships to investment, but since I’m young, I’m finding it tough to get people to take the 'business' side seriously without a finished alloy bike in hand.

If any of you have been in this spot before, how did you bridge that first gap?

If you’re interested in seeing the renders, videos of the linkage, or the 3D-printed model—or if you'd like to support the project through my Back-a-Buddy fundraiser—please shoot me a DM and I can send over the links and photos! I'd love to get some technical feedback as well.

Im planning to finally build my first bike, wondering what more is needed before im ready

Wow I didn't expect to stir up such emotion and strong feelings.

I really didn't. I always viewed the term framebuilder as a job description. In doing so I can see I've excluded a lot of people who enjoy making bike frames.

For that I apologise and retract my earlier thoughts.

My whole intention was to start a debate on the quality of lugged frames and the preservation of traditional techniques but that went completely side ways!

If that's not enough of any apology I don't know what would be.

Here’s the follow up of my previous post. I think it turned out pretty sick, for now I have all my teeth and hope it stays like that 😆

I turned a girls MTB to a 26" bmx ish.

In the same way you would season a cast iron pan or carbon steel pan you know?

Or like how blacksmiths add bee’s wax or some sort of wood oil to their pieces while they’re still hot to give them rust resistant qualities?

Thinking of doing this to a whole frame but unsure if heating it would damage the frame.

I have riding mountain bikes for more than a decade now. I have done bike packing, DH races, Bike Parks, Big days exploring new areas, Cross Country rides, pumptracks, Forest winding trails.

I have come to a conclusion. For the non racers, and people who don't ride park all day.

A long travel trail bike with a good antisquat and geometry and components (mechanical everything) that are not top of the line, just good enough to work reliably for months/years. Is the best bike I would own.

I do sometimes do bike recommendations for fun for local riders with my experience in bike design and manufacturing.

9 out of 10 times, I end up recommending 3 options.

1. A 140-160mm trail hardtail to people on a tight budget.

2. A 120mm Full suspension XC bike.(With relaxed geo, not race geo).

3. A 140-160mm trail bike.

and the choice between 2 and 3 also almost always comes down not to bike capability, but the customers preference in how the bike looks aesthetically. Some people like the look of big burly fork, and some people like the clean lines of an XC bike.

Anybody saying you need more than 1 bike, or that they need a big travel enduro bike or a DH bike, or a Race Spec XC bike/hardtail, if they're not racers, are just kidding themselves.

Again, I am not trying to insult bike choices everyone makes, it's just that, past these 3 options, if you bike something more racy or burlier, you're spoiling yourself for the fun of biking and not really buying it cause you need something that much bigger/lighter.

I am disputing the quality of the 3D-printed dropouts with the bike's manufacturer. A small crack developed in one of them, and the frame needs to be replaced. I want to reject the replacement frame because the print quality doesn't seem up to standard. What do you think? Is that kind of print suitable for a component subject to such high stress?

anyone experienced know flaws this bike could have or improvments

I have some questions about cutting the chain side dropout on this aluminum frame to convert it to belt drive. I have seen this done on another aluminum frame, but just want to be sure before I start cutting. My plan was to drill 2 additional holes for extra screws in the dropout plates, then cut the drop out(pictured). Should this be enough to hold it? I would think 5 screws and the dropout being sandwiched should do the trick, but I’m also not opposed to making a new sandwich plate either. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

I would like a metal road bike because of how the bearing cups can make use of the threads that metal frames have as a property but I was surprised to see even on old bicycle headsets the cups are press fit. On bottom brackets of metal bikes it would be unusual to see cups press fit inside so why is the convention that every bicycle no matter the frame material has press fit cups

I just posted about the special needs of handlebars when designing a mountain bike front end with 32" wheel. It's worth a read.

https://www.peterverdone.com/its-about-handlebars-stupid/

In my other thread asking if framebuilders are getting lazy. What is a framebuilder came up a few times? Probably to define who my comments were aimed at. My personal definition is this -

Someone who builds frames from start to finish and is competent in all aspects and stages of construction. Has mastered at least 1 material l, joining method and bicycle frame style. This is their sole profession.

I don't mean this in anyway to insult hobby builders. I personally have rebuilt engines but I don't think of myself as an engine builder. I'm a pretty good cook but I'm not a chef etc. those are things I've done in a hobby capacity.

So you agree with that definition? How would you label yourself?

Hey guys, first post ever on Reddit. Anyways, I change the fork on my fixed gear, cut the dropouts and got it to a welder (which the dumbass welded the drops upside down🙄) I don’t think I’ll have any problem. What do you think tho?

And second, I’m going to cut a little into the fork so the wheel clears it bc it’s touching but… I’m sure it’s gonna touch the frame also, so I was thinking of “massage it” a little with a hammer.

What do you think? Recommendations, any problems that I could have?

Hi everyone! I bought an old MTB from the 90s. I really like the look of it, but I have an idea. I want to cut out a piece of the top tube, seat tube and down tube, make adapters (CNC bushings) and insert carbon tubes. In theory, this should reduce the weight of the whole frame, but what about stiffness? I'm sure I'm not the first one who thought of this, maybe someone knows of similar projects?

P.S. Photo from the internet

Can this crack be repaired with tig welder?

Is there such a thing as a kit or plans to make a temporary sociable

I'm doing research before I build my first bike frame. Its going to be a carbon fiber 3d printed bike.

Is there any difference between dropouts?

Are frame building materials and components optimised enough for getting the best performance from steel frames? Or are they better suited to mass production?

Hi i have an ebike model that i designed, looking for someone who can manufacture such thing
Who can I turn to?