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Newcomer Bond Bikes touts customizable frames that won’t break the bank

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Bond.Bike, one of the world’s newest bicycle brands, is offering fully customizable frames at a price they claim is hard to beat. Differing from the gamut of most custom builders, Bond offers customers a unique choice – they can replicate any existing geometry you desire – or – build you the frame of your dreams from scratch. 

Breaking from convention again, Bond only builds in aluminum, though they claim it is the highest quality available that is suitable for building superior bicycle frames. Each frame is also fully anodized. More info inside…

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For Bond, function was the most important factor in designing their frames. What you get with every Bond is a frame created just for you, and one that happens to be light, stiff and comfortable. As all of Bond’s frames are unique, they do not list weights. However, a recently created 56cm frame tipped the scales at 1,070 grams.

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Bond also offer full custom color options with one proviso – the top tube will always be black.

The three principle co-founders of Bond have more than 50 years of cycling experience between them, including bike racing, testing, coaching, engineering and quality control. During the three years it took for Bond to find its current form, the founders learned a lot along the way, but it was no easy feat – “the odd drop of blood, lots of sweat and even the odd tear, squeezed like juice from an oft-exhausted lemon in moments of frustration”. Remind me to never start my own bicycle brand.

In the end, Bond believe they have produced what is the finest aluminum frame available to date.

Bond.Bike draws upon the often lost “bike shop feel” for their ordering process. Nowhere on their website is a link to buy frames – rather, they ask you leave your name, email and phone number and they will call to discuss your needs and answer questions.

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Bond want people riding their bikes to be completely satisfied with the entire process, from first contact to sitting in that saddle for the very first time, and they hope, many times after that.

The cost of each custom-built Bond frame with carbon fork is $2,250.00 and a lead time of eight to ten weeks.

Bond.Bike


Article by Gravel Cyclist. Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience.

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Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago

Better price than most but still barely cheaper than a basic Ti SEVEN. Its obviously lighter and stiffer but I can’t imagine the tube set costing more than a tube set made of US sourced Ti. Under $2000 with fork and I’d be interested as their goal is affordability. This isn’t as affordable as a slightly more expensive bike that won’t fatigue under human stresses.

Lee Rodgers
7 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Hi VP, I’m Lee Rodgers from Bond. Our frame and fork coast $2250, which is quite close to the $2000 you specified. In this kit we also include a thread fit BB expander kit, headset and a 3T seatpost that we specifically chose to compliment the ride of the frame. Our frame is stiff and of course with the custom geometry, we can adjust the ride feel as required. Thanks for the comment, we appreciate it!

J.T. Kirtley
J.T. Kirtley
3 years ago
Reply to  Lee Rodgers

Hi Lee! If you’re still getting notifications from these things, would you mind contacting me re derrailer hanger? I love my Bond, but it is sidelined because I can’t find a replacement hanger anywhere. I would be bummed if my frame becomes basically wall decoration for lack of $40 part. Thanks!

Ol Shel
Ol Shel
7 years ago

It’s as if we’ve been off aluminum frames long enough to have forgotten why we got off aluminum frames. I’m seeing a lot more aluminum brands being introduced. Not sure why.

brettrobinson
7 years ago
Reply to  Ol Shel

LOW Bikes look legit. They’re pricey though…

blah blah blah
blah blah blah
7 years ago
Reply to  Ol Shel

do ya life a favor ride a caad 12

Dave
Dave
7 years ago

Because modern alloy frames are a world away from the bone shakers we stopped riding years ago.

ascarlarkinyar
7 years ago

@Ol Shell

Spot on sir!!!

The move back to steel or forward to carbon was a good move. Aluminum without the interference of a big mtb tire is not supple enough to be comfortable or can last if made to flex.

If steel is to heavy go carbon, if carbon is too pricey go steel. Going in between gets you less of a ride. TI is just pricey steel that lasts longer (forever…lol).

Ol Shel
Ol Shel
7 years ago
Reply to  ascarlarkinyar

Maybe these wider rims and 28mm tires make it tolerable? I can still see durability as an issue if the makers are trying to get comfort by asking the tubes to flex. Lightweight aluminum has never liked that.

Or, if the combo of tire and some sort of squishy gizmo between the axles and your behind allow cheap and durable frames to be comfortable, I’m all for that.

tyler
7 years ago

aluminum. never again. excepting specialized’s brave attempt at a crit-focused throw-away (or LOW i guess)

Tommy Rodgers
7 years ago

Modern aluminum makes a great frame.

I’d bet $100 that no one here could tell the difference (if the frame was somehow disguised) between a quality aluminum, carbon, and steel frame – bike weights all equal, and all running 25mm rims, 25-28mm tires, and 85 psi.

In the real world, the difference is that a good aluminum frame is stiff enough to throw around a technical crit course, almost as light as high-end carbon, and inexpensive enough not to require the equivalent of a mortgage payment to replace.

Custom aluminum excepted, price-wise.

Lee Rodgers
7 years ago
Reply to  Tommy Rodgers

Hi Tom, yes we agree! A full-custom Bond is $2250 and we have a decent replacement policy also. This is a full custom geometry bike with custom color, BB included along with seatpost and headset. We went for aluminum because it allowed us to make custom frames but also, as you stated, the ride quality is right up there with the best carbon. Thanks for the comment, much appreciated!

Mike D
7 years ago
Reply to  Tommy Rodgers

I’ll second that–aluminum is a viable option in terms of ride quality these days. Would I choose it over other materials? Eh, maybe on a case-by-case basis. I haven’t thrown a leg over a Bond yet, but take for instance Felt’s new VR line. Aluminum frame/carbon thru-axle fork/28c tires and hydraulic 105 11spd… It’s a bike that feels comfortable from the first pedal stroke–*surprisingly* smooth, even when factoring in those 28c tires. Really a nice ride. Not a racer, but I wouldn’t hesitate to log thousands of miles on it, even being an aluminum frame.

I have faith the crew at Bond can put together a quality bike. Time will tell if their price point is in line with what people are willing to pay for one.

John Caletti
John Caletti
7 years ago

The website and this article don’t tell us much about the company – could you elaborate? Who are they, how many are they, where are the offices, where are the bikes made, and by who?

knarc
knarc
7 years ago

The rider makes a bike great not the material. Also look how many pros has back or other musculoskeletal problems especialy in the mtb, since the carbon start to used in bike industry. I think in the future by the using of 3d printers we will see great alu bikes.

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