why people say Frankenbike?

Question

why people say Frankenbike?
for an example
you use a XTR shifter and rear deraillures.
but with a deore front deraillure.
why does people call it franken bike?
people just buy to their needs.
a good shifter and rear deraillure make shifting will
while a front deraillure don't make much difference even in weight
another example is myself
using a suntour fork with XT shifter, FD, RD and BB5 brakes
suntour fork is pretty good enough for me.
it works but a little heavy. thought of getting a lighter one before, but this one just work
XT drivetrain give me smoother shifting than deore
and BB5 is also strong enough as i'm very light

i just don't understand why people call these franken bikes
maybe it is to people who call them
but not all parts need to be the same grade (eg: fox fork with XTR)
so, why is it so important to use parts of the same grade?
why cant get a lower end fork with a high end drivetrain?

do check my profile for another question on my bike spec

Answer 1

Well, one of the cool things about cycling is you can do your own thing. Ultimately, if what you select works to your expectations than a label should have no merit to you. Would I do what you are doing - no. But, heck, it's your bike - right? That's the whole point. Cyclist are individualists, I think this trait has diminished over the last few decades but is still there.

One of my friends is faster then hell out on the trails. He rides some crappy looking steel frame with old parts. He blows away most full kit riders. I think it's great when back at the parking lot these riders stop and say "Wow dude you rock". Shiny parts and a good paint job are nice but doesn't define him as a cyclist.

Wear your Frankenbike label as a badge of honor.

Answer 2

I often use that term with my colleagues in the bike design business. It relates to using parts that MIGHT work together but don't provide the best performance.

Your example of using Deore shifters with an XT derailleur is a classic. According to Shimano these should not be used together, but they commonly are- especially by those building their own bike- to save money. LX and XT are fine. Deore and Alivio are fine. LX and Deore are fine. Deore and XT are not.

Considering using a low end fork (like a Suntour) with an XT drivetrain makes absolutely no sense- kind of like putting a $3000 stereo in a $500 car. Same thing with wildly different forks combined with rear shocks. Balance is the word.

Answer 3

I've first started hearing that term on higher end bikes, where one would put, for example, a Turner 5-Spot front triangle and a Turner RFX rear. Or take a Marzocchi fork and put other internal on it.

I've just heard it regarding different components. Maybe they just put the term where it seems you're building a frame out of isolated components you had before or something.

Don't pay them any mind.

Answer 4

Are you familiar with the story of frankenstein? Frankenstein was a "monster" created from human body parts from different humans by a mad scientist.

These bikes are obviously a conglomeration of disparate parts, and that's why some people might call it a "Frankenbike"

Answer 5

cause it's made of many different parts just like FRANKENSTEIN

I'm just moving through real quick today, doing cut and paste answers...this part is cut and pasted, but the sentence above was not. I mean every word of it, even if it's just one word. Today is a points day. Rock on ....

Answer 6

This type of bike was first done by Frank Enn, the famous tubing manufacturer.