Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Kilo TT vs Masi Speciale Fixed?

A friend is looking at getting a budget fixed, so I recommended both of those. Which, specs wise, is the better bike?

Hard to say since the Masi has mainly house branded components. I have never ridden the Mercier but I think he'd likely be happy with either bike. IIRC the Masi is about 2x the cost of the Mercier new isn't it? I would probably go with the kilo unless you had a good deal lined up on the speciale.

Hard to say since the Masi has mainly house branded components. I have never ridden the Mercier but I think he'd likely be happy with either bike. IIRC the Masi is about 2x the cost of the Mercier new isn't it? I would probably go with the kilo unless you had a good deal lined up on the speciale.
$400+ tax for the Masi, $307+shipping+cost of front brake for the Kilo

That's a pretty good deal, I love my Masi and have no complaints with it.

i think the masi is a little bit better. personally, i dont like bikes with top tubes that slant either way.

kilo tt is more track geometry masi is lax as a mofo

the only thing that matters is looks and the Kilo wins.

where are you getting the masi for that price?

deathhare is right

kilo all the way.

To me, the choice is obvious, the Kilo TT. The geometry is a lot tighter and it looks nice. The Masi looks like a road bike and the wheel base looks super long to me. They've done a pretty crappy job of keeping the magic in the Masi name, if you ask me.


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/speciale_fixed.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/ba_3.jpg

If your homeboy would like to race track, then I say he should get the Mercier. If, however, he wants to ride on the street, I say either is going to make him equally happy.

Heaven forbid someone ride a bike with road geometry on the road. Everybody knows you need track geometry to go to the bar. (That said, I ride my track bike to the bar more often than I actually make it to the track.)

If your homeboy would like to race track, then I say he should get the Mercier. If, however, he wants to ride on the street, I say either is going to make him equally happy.

Heaven forbid someone ride a bike with road geometry on the road. Everybody knows you need track geometry to go to the bar. (That said, I ride my track bike to the bar more often than I actually make it to the track.)

Just a point of order: the road and the street are not the same thing.

Track bikes are great for the street, road bikes are good for the street, (in both cases this is assuming that we are not talking about super-carbon-radial-laced 13 pound monstrosities). Track bikes, not so hot on the road. Hybrids are rad for the street and pretty poopy on the road. Mountain bikes are fine on the street but double suck on the road.

^ That's a damn good point huerro, though arguably road bikes are great for the street as well. When i take out my geary i love that higher top speed for when traffic thins a bit. And furthermore, track bikes are really designed to be great under high g forces on the banks.

quill stem, crown fork ....nough said

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/speciale_fixed.jpg




The rake on tht fork looks like ass.

the fork looks like the one off the Kona Paddywagon.

but at least there is no annoying toe overlap

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wahoolee/kilott.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wahoolee/jiggly1wdvb6.gif

maybe your friend should pick up one of these they look fun to ride.

What's the point of the downward sloping tt on that Mercier if you're going to jack the stem like that? Should i know better than to ask such questions on bfssfg?

Why though would a rider who wanted low bars still want a long seat tube and longer seat stays? So you can use a shorter seat post? Or what?

I agree that the masi is a little fugly. In conclusion http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/wahoolee/jiggly1wdvb6.gif

but at least there is no annoying toe overlap

do most budget fixed bikes out there have toe overlap?

what about masi vs rush hour?

budget or not, it depends on the geometry.

budget or not, it depends on the geometry.

i understand that...i guess i could restate the question

do all of the entry level bikes being talked about on ss/fg have the geometry that lends itself to toe overlap?

just curious, because im shopping and the overlap bugs the sh** out of me.

Woah, I just woke up from a nap so I may be imagining this but do the Merciers now have forward sloping top tubes?

Full disclosure: I own the Speciale.

I think all the negative comments on the Masi's looks have to do with a terrible stock photo. I've taken out a spacer, flipped the stem, dipped the handlebars, and stuck a racing saddle on there and the bike looks positively mean. Yes, the fork looks ******** in the stock photo, but it's much better in person. Proof of the pudding is that I get a fair bit of toe overlap on my clipless with the cleats pushed all the way forward (bringing my foot all the way back).

People love this bike, strangers and bike shop employees both comment on it all the time.

Now, my question: where you getting one for $400, and how many people hating on the Speciale have actually seen it in person up close and, god forbid, taken a spin on one?

i never realized the Mercier looked that good. i'll take two of them.

Full disclosure: I own the Speciale.

I think all the negative comments on the Masi's looks have to do with a terrible stock photo. I've taken out a spacer, flipped the stem, dipped the handlebars, and stuck a racing saddle on there and the bike looks positively mean. Yes, the fork looks ******** in the stock photo, but it's much better in person. Proof of the pudding is that I get a fair bit of toe overlap on my clipless with the cleats pushed all the way forward (bringing my foot all the way back).

People love this bike, strangers and bike shop employees both comment on it all the time.

Now, my question: where you getting one for $400, and how many people hating on the Speciale have actually seen it in person up close and, god forbid, taken a spin on one?

Maybe you should post some pics? I know I'd like to see it.

Maybe you should post some pics? I know I'd like to see it.

All in due time... meaning, this weekend while I'm out and about.

Full disclosure: I own the Speciale.

I think all the negative comments on the Masi's looks have to do with a terrible stock photo. I've taken out a spacer, flipped the stem, dipped the handlebars, and stuck a racing saddle on there and the bike looks positively mean. Yes, the fork looks ******** in the stock photo, but it's much better in person. Proof of the pudding is that I get a fair bit of toe overlap on my clipless with the cleats pushed all the way forward (bringing my foot all the way back).

People love this bike, strangers and bike shop employees both comment on it all the time.

Now, my question: where you getting one for $400, and how many people hating on the Speciale have actually seen it in person up close and, god forbid, taken a spin on one?
You passed me today in traffic on 14th while I was in my car. The $400 price is from a LBS I used to work at...

i understand that...i guess i could restate the question

do all of the entry level bikes being talked about on ss/fg have the geometry that lends itself to toe overlap?

just curious, because im shopping and the overlap bugs the sh** out of me.


"entry level" doesn't matter....look at the geometry.

"entry level" or "non-entry level" track bikes have track geometry which lends itself to toe over-lap.

road geometry typically does not lend itself to toe over-lap but it occurs sometimes.

You passed me today in traffic on 14th while I was in my car. The $400 price is from a LBS I used to work at...

Ha! Yes, that would be me, although more Speciales are popping up on the DC roads these days. The matching blue TT pad and Bell Sweep helmet will tip you off for sure. 14th street is my territory - better get the Mercier or I'll have to run you off the road! :D

People love this bike, strangers and bike shop employees both comment on it all the time.

Ditto, this bike has gotten far more compliments than any other bike I've owned, from shop employees to other riders going by to random people on the street.

flipping the stem was required for me too.

Ha! Yes, that would be me, although more Speciales are popping up on the DC roads these days. The matching blue TT pad and Bell Sweep helmet will tip you off for sure. 14th street is my territory - better get the Mercier or I'll have to run you off the road! :D
Ahh but it's not for me. I will shortly be riding one of the many Iro Black group buy bikes, and will be getting rid of my Jamis conversion. I still am undecided on my Paramount build.

To me, the choice is obvious, the Kilo TT. The geometry is a lot tighter and it looks nice. The Masi looks like a road bike and the wheel base looks super long to me. They've done a pretty crappy job of keeping the magic in the Masi name, if you ask me.


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/speciale_fixed.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/ba_3.jpg


magic in the masi name? for a supposedly reputable cycling company, and the fact that every bike is emblazoned with a trillion italian flags, every single masi out today has crappy low end japanese product across the board and is assembled in taiwan.... hahaha.

magic in the masi name? for a supposedly reputable cycling company, and the fact that every bike is emblazoned with a trillion italian flags, every single masi out today has crappy low end japanese product across the board and is assembled in taiwan.... hahaha.

I wouldn't be responding to your troll opinions, but your troll facts warrant it.

The Masi's don't have a trillion Italian flags. In fact, there's just one, along with a group of other country's flags, like an unabbreviated version of the WCS stripes. As for Japanese components, I don't think stuff made by TruVativ for SRAM counts there. And, they're the same components on the Taiwan made Mericer, Pista, Rush Hour, Windsor, ... need I go on?

And when you're talking "every single Masi" do you mean the Dura Ace equipped stuff too?

Feel free to dis anything you can think of, but at least get your facts straight.

Is it possible to get the decal on the Mercier fork off?

Woah, I just woke up from a nap so I may be imagining this but do the Merciers now have forward sloping top tubes?

No.

Is it possible to get the decal on the Mercier fork off?

Of course, but it's under the clearcoat.

Yeah, yeah. That's what I meant

Is it possible to get the decal on the Mercier fork off?

I covered mine with vinyl decal tape and you can't really tell unless you're really looking for it.

Someone on the picture thread posted about removing
the logo from his gang-green Pista. He used a harsh
chemical stripper and timed it right so that it only took
off the logo, but not the paint. I would presume that
the same thing would be possible with the Kilo TT.

Someone on the picture thread posted about removing
the logo from his gang-green Pista. He used a harsh
chemical stripper and timed it right so that it only took
off the logo, but not the paint. I would presume that
the same thing would be possible with the Kilo TT.
Ehhh...no, I think he used Citristrip which is relatively mild

Ehhh...no, I think he used Citristrip which is relatively mild

For realsies, I've got extra vinyl left. PM me. I'll mail it to you.

Looks like this:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f211/sfrazi2/myoneisred.jpg

Ehhh...no, I think he used Citristrip which is relatively mild

Well, I was speaking from recollection, so whatever.

Maybe you should post some pics? I know I'd like to see it.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2474/img4732mu0.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7213/img4734wr0.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9933/img4735tf7.jpg

The Masi looks sweet with the fork flipped, I was in between the Masi and a 07 langster because i could get a good deal on either. I went with the langster because i'm a sucker for Alum... but Mercier or Masi... deff Masi if you set it up like that one.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2474/img4732mu0.jpg



I think I'd like it better from farther away.

I wouldn't be responding to your troll opinions, but your troll facts warrant it.

The Masi's don't have a trillion Italian flags. In fact, there's just one, along with a group of other country's flags, like an unabbreviated version of the WCS stripes. As for Japanese components, I don't think stuff made by TruVativ for SRAM counts there. And, they're the same components on the Taiwan made Mericer, Pista, Rush Hour, Windsor, ... need I go on?

And when you're talking "every single Masi" do you mean the Dura Ace equipped stuff too?

Feel free to dis anything you can think of, but at least get your facts straight.

im not just talking about the 'speciale fixed', im talking about masi as a company
in fact i build masis out of the box at work and i can tell you they have alot of problems and half the time i feel they arent worth the hassle to build let alone buy

need i go on?


****ing pecker head.

If your homeboy would like to race track, then I say he should get the Mercier. If, however, he wants to ride on the street, I say either is going to make him equally happy.

Heaven forbid someone ride a bike with road geometry on the road. Everybody knows you need track geometry to go to the bar. (That said, I ride my track bike to the bar more often than I actually make it to the track.)


For street riding, I'd take the Masi any day. LBS has one in stock and it's a very nice looking bike. Why anyone thinks riding with their @ss in the air and their nose sniffing the front tire is cool is beyond me but to each his own. The street is not a velodrome.

Orange bikes? They go faster and chicks love them.