Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - next frame?

well, this *should* seem obvious, i guess, but i'm looking for advice, input, thoughts etc.

i've been riding and upgrading my bike over the last year, and when i get these new wheels built up the only original stock parts (from an 04 bianchi pista) left will be the frame and seatpost. so at some point i'll get to the point when i want a better frame. i must say i really like the ride of this frame, but i expect something better quality will be an even better ride. but what frame?

I want something steel, lugged, with track geometry and minimal clearances (i won't be running fenders or 28s), and i don't want it to murder me financially (probably can't go custom or colnago). i'm thinking about $4-500 for frame only (i'll keep my colnago fork).

obviously there are used frames to be had in that range, but is there an option for anything new? i can only think of de bernardi, which i think is about that price bracket, but nothing else. so please give me some suggestions and weblinks if possible.

cheers :)

eddie

I did a thread about frames in the 500 dollar range a while ago:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=91817&highlight=frames+%24500

might not be lugged steel, but check cramerroti (sp?)... blow outs on older models, very very lovely frames.

another canadian: marinoni. great price, but again, might not fit the aesthetics so much... but definately something to look at.

or maybe that bareknuckle eai thing? price is right, aesthetics as well.

^ all three of those aren't lugged, but well within your budgetary requirements

if you up your budget a bit, you could go for an off-the-peg bob jackson.
there aren't too many new, budget, lugged steel track frame choices out there. De Bernardi is pretty much it.
Your other option is custom, but then that's a lot more $$$

mondonico might be an option too. anyone know what those run? i assume something like $700 maybe? the ones hanging around freewheel on valencia here in sf look pretty nice.

I did a thread about frames in the 500 dollar range a while ago:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=91817&highlight=frames+%24500


yea and nothing that was posted fits the bill, other than the de bernardi. the one that sounded interesting, the andante bikes ting, was a dead link. what did you end up buying? i know what wheels you have but not the frame :rolleyes:

yea and nothing that was posted fits the bill, other than the de bernardi. the one that sounded interesting, the andante bikes ting, was a dead link. what did you end up buying? i know what wheels you have but not the frame :rolleyes:


also anyone got a link to bareknuckle / nessuno? googled to no avail

business cycles has them.

So does Bill Ron and YoJimbo's

http://businesscycles.com/nessuno.htm there you go eddie

i really like debernardi. im in a similar situation soon. in about january ill be in the market for a new frame. only origional part on my bike is the stem and seatpost.

how tall are you? if youre short like me.. id go buy that khs at trackstar for 350.. love the curved downtube

or buy ceya's sannino pursuit bike...that thing is hot!

cheers j,

here's a couple things though

i don't want a 1 1/8" headtube
i don't want another tig-welded frame

what i really want is a keirin frame, basically, only i don't care about njs certification, i don't need hatta bits or a fork, i don't need it custom-built, and i want it for $500 :)

ps check yr inbox; i need yr email

how tall are you? if youre short like me.. id go buy that khs at trackstar for 350.. love the curved downtube

5-9. i'll go look cheers.

what is ceya selling?

i want something real plain and classic though, not really trying to do curved tubes or funny-bikes.

your dream bike doesn't exist

Getting a custom lugged frame w/o a fork for a little more than $500 isn't out of the realms of possibility. There are younger/newer builders who are trying to establish names for themselves and therefore charge a lot less than more established builders.

For example, there's a guy in town here who would almost certainly be able to hook you within that price range, depending on the lugs, tubing, etc that you wanted.

m.

used is the best way - you can get a banging used steel lugged frame for around $500

i got my keirin for 400 and some change, they exist, you need to be patient if its what you really want :)

yeah, I got my 3rensho for under 400 and love it. Ceya has his sannino pursuit frame at trackstar, it is a curve top tube but that thing is sweet as hell. If your going to get a keirin frame, they almost always come with a fork, and I'd say ditch the colnago fork and keep the keirin fork, it'll just look weird with a colnago fork on a keirin frame. I'd check trackstar to see if they have frames, it's the closest place that would have any in stock, maybe bikeworks too.

your dream bike doesn't exist


a lugged, round-tube, steel frame for $500? what's the big deal? there's the de bernardi which is exactly that. i'm just trying to find alternatives.

like i said, doesn't have to be custom, just wondering if anyone else is making something like that

what did you end up buying? i know what wheels you have but not the frame :rolleyes:

I didn't buy a frame for that wheelset, but that wheelset belongs to Sophia as pictured:

http://static.flickr.com/8/10414288_b17167a75b_o.jpg

Reason being, I score a Colnago Super Track, Greta (new wheels - Campy Record hubs on FIR's being built tonight):

http://static.flickr.com/26/49780899_2676e3ca2d_o.jpg

I dig the Cramerotti's a lot. Almost considered that before the Colnago came my way. I almost placed an order for the Bob Jackson listed in that thread and above. It comes to about $640 US shipped and is one sexy frame.

I was planning a similar build and colour to this (Turd's ex's bike - sorry for linking!) - I love vanilla/cream:

http://www.ephemeroi.com/fortony/bike/antonioramos-jackson-02.jpg

As suggsted, a used frame is the way to go otherwise (the Cramerotti's are hella nice in my opinion). Wait for e-framebank to open up.

i only say keirin because they continue to make the exact frame the i want. yea man i'd love a 3rensho, no ****ing doubt, and of course if i came up on one i'd keep the fork, headset and bb.

just used keirin as a style guide

and yeah, no funny bikes

i only say keirin because they continue to make the exact frame the i want. yea man i'd love a 3rensho, no ****ing doubt, and of course if i came up on one i'd keep the fork, headset and bb.

just used keirin as a style guide

and yeah, no funny bikes

wheel-licking on the street is dumb. 'Specially with a load on your back.

i have pals in japan too. i could get something from framebank thru them, right? it's only closed to gaijin, isn't it?

love the colnago. the bob jackson is nice too. isn't he in bk?

edit: no he's in uk, not bk. which framebuilder am i thinking of?

have you checked re-loads stock of used keiren?

i have pals in japan too. i could get something from framebank thru them, right? it's only closed to gaijin, isn't it?

love the colnago. the bob jackson is nice too. isn't he in bk?

edit: no he's in uk, not bk. which framebuilder am i thinking of?

Since I just went through the process, here's the downlow on e-framebank orders for folks inside Japan. My sister-in-law was trying to order two frames for me, the pink 57cm Panasonic, and the lavender 56cm Gan Well Pro. The proprietor of the shop would not do it -- he will only sell one frame at a time, to one person. He would not ship direct to my hotel room, only directly to my sister-in-law, who had to pay via direct bank transfer.

I did receive the frame in good order (as everyone who's ordered from e-framebank seems to have), but be aware that it's a bit of a hassle for the folks doing it.

Obligatory pimpage of the Pinkasonic:

http://boxwood.subtle.org/se/japan/pana01.jpg

yeah the vivalo is nice, albeit $650. otherwise it's a bridgestone with 110mm spacing.

yeah guys, you're right, i should just wait for the right keirin frame to come along. i ride a 53 so there's no issue there.

only thing is i know for a stone fact i'll then get all ocd and want everyting to be njs. that's kinda the reason i was trying not to go that route

yeah the vivalo is nice, albeit $650. otherwise it's a bridgestone with 110mm spacing.

yeah guys, you're right, i should just wait for the right keirin frame to come along. i ride a 53 so there's no issue there.

only thing is i know for a stone fact i'll then get all ocd and want everyting to be njs. that's kinda the reason i was trying not to go that route

I think you should go through your pals in japan and get a keirin frame that way if its a japanese frame that you want. reload's stock is limited and you might be able to get it a bit cheaper through hook ups in japan. Didn't some one here just get one from eframebank via buddy system?

the builder in brooklyn is Johnnycoast, Jose R just got a frame from him, absolutely beautiful, he's on the the top of my list.

That bob jackson if beautiful, a little more than 500 but definately worth the splurge.

off topic but another nice british brand is mercian, once again, more than 500 but worth the splurge.

edit: I'm sloooowww....

johnny coast, yea that's it.

and yea, i only want one frame. i have buds in japan who can handle all that stuff so maybe that's the way to go.

except for the fact that i ike to run a brake…

no compromise, brakes do not belong on a keirin frame, or any true track frame. I'm not trying to be a brake snob or anything, but it just doesn't go. Johnny coast frames are super nice and I think cheaper than some of the other custom frames. Theres a coast frame in the window at trackstar with the curved hutchins style stays. very beautiful work.

yea, i hear you wangster. if i go that route then i may have to just go without the brake.

thing is, i'm comfortable with the skid/skip, but i like to know the brake's there. i'm not ambifooted and i can only skip at one point on the rotation. feel like if i *really* need it i might not be able to afford that <80 inches of road i'll use up *before* i start braking.

but i'm also purist enough not to want to screw up the aesthetics of a true track bike.

aesthetics aside, the purity of a track bike is kept by use of a proper fork (c-a length, rake), brake hole or without.

Many trackies use carbon forks on their track bikes, and since these carbon forks have brake holes, it doesn't seem to bother them much.

Others have a separate fork for the street and one for the track. But then that's additional hardware. Its just easier to remove the brake at the track. No worries.

It seems silly to me to have anxiety over a style issue like a front brake screwing up the look of a track frame.

But, a keirn frame with matching fork does look pretty as does any other track bike with matching fork. I do find it ironic though that the only place you see Keirin trackies ride their Keirin bikes w/o brakes is on the velodrome, while here in the states its on the street. Keirin trackies ride with brakes on the roads of Japan.

Since i was mention here. Ed ,i just got rid of a panasonic (53.5) to Red Menace.

The Sannino is too big for ya. I am going back so you can wait to see what i can get.


I will do my best to get you one and some come drilled on the fork.


Jose, They don't ride due to saftey, when you go to school for it and betting is part of your job..well you get the rest. alot of riders ride with brakes.only very few messengers.

s/f,
ceya!

I'm able to buy this one for $600. Seems to be a very old Kalavinka but in very good shape, maybe repainted professionally?
Should I go ahead even though the frames at ebay are a little cheaper?

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

S/f,
Ceya!

Since i was mention here. Ed ,i just got rid of a panasonic (53.5) to Red Menace.

The Sannino is too big for ya. I am going back so you can wait to see what i can get.


I will do my best to get you one and some come drilled on the fork.


Jose, They don't ride due to saftey, when you go to school for it and betting is part of your job..well you get the rest. alot of riders ride with brakes.only very few messengers.

s/f,
ceya!


ceya i'd really appreciate that — thanks. let me know whatever you come up on.

Eddie, i'm kinda in the same situation as you.
I'm going to jump over to Tokyo from Seoul for a couple of days.
if i can, i might pick this up.
http://www7.plala.or.jp/cpswakatsuki/fmhin347_bs.html
it's only 20000 yen, but it's got 110 rear spacing.
they've also got this
http://www7.plala.or.jp/cpswakatsuki/fmhin150_stora.html

I talked to Tomity about shops and he recommended Cycle-Recycle-Depot and cycle pro shop wakatsuki.
anybody else know places that sell used keirin frames in Tokyo?

the paint on the stratos is hot.

love that bridgestone, jay. i'm sure you can get the rear cold set to 120mm, if you didn't want the hassle of trying to find a 110 da hub.

when are you going?

and what site is this you're seeing these bikes?

I'm going over for 2 short days thursday and friday. wish i had more time there.
here's the site: http://www7.plala.or.jp/cpswakatsuki/
according to the site, they've only got 2 keirin frames in stock right now.
here's the page with prices and used stuff
http://www7.plala.or.jp/cpswakatsuki/fmhin.html

the paint on the stratos is hot.I agree. I'd definately go for the red hot Stratos. Hey - if you can find a pair of track hubs for me, 110 in the rear, I'll buy it from you.

that bridgestone is small for you no?

that bridgestone is small for you no?
might be too small seattube wise, but the top tube is the right length.
if i do manage to pick up that bridgestone, i'm gonna see if i can fit it with the right stem and seatpost length.
if not, it's yours if you want it.
it should fit you well without too much seatpost sticking out.

oh, and that stratos is hot, but its 80000 yen. out of my price range.

I'm able to buy this one for $600. Seems to be a very old Kalavinka but in very good shape, maybe repainted professionally?
Should I go ahead even though the frames at ebay are a little cheaper?

i will come over and beat you if you paint that bike... not really, but thats just stupid

i will come over and beat you if you paint that bike... not really, but thats just stupidHaha, I meant that the bike might already have been repainted professionally by Kalavinka. I would never consider repainting a bike like this.

i have to second a bob jackson off-the-peg frame. go to their site. choose size. choose color! choose lug lining color. look at the price. minus the VAT. add shipping to US. comes out to about $550. not bad.

Dude I would sugggest something older...maybe like a vintage Schwinn Paramount. An old 80's bianchi. Legnano too makes good frames!

i got my yanagisawa njs frame in tokyo slightly used in perfect condition for $200 if you have friends there they most certainly can help you score a kierin frame cheaply....too bad you didnt post this a week ago they just finished their kierin frame and parts swap in tokyo last week.....anyway with friends in tokyo you should be able to find what you are looking for


later