Commuting - Economical Steel Commuter...

The KHS Flite 250...price has been quoted at $569.

More details... (http://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_250_07.htm)

http://www.khscanada.com/v3/images/bikes/2007/l_1158789513_flite_250.jpg

I bought a economical steel commuter a few years ago; the Jamis Satellite for around the same price.

At that price I'd commute on it. I would take all the stickers off it, maybe uglify the paint a bit with patches of grey primer. I'd fit it with SPD pedals, rack, and lights, and it'd be good to go.

If you want it purely as a commuter I'd prefer the Flite 220 at $469. At a glance the only major difference is the CrMo fork instead of the carbon fork. I think it would be a better (more robust) option as a commuter.

At that price I'd commute on it. I would take all the stickers off it, maybe uglify the paint a bit with patches of grey primer. I'd fit it with SPD pedals, rack, and lights, and it'd be good to go.

If you want it purely as a commuter I'd prefer the Flite 220 at $469. At a glance the only major difference is the CrMo fork instead of the carbon fork. I think it would be a better (more robust) option as a commuter.

I didn't look at that one. But you are right.

I bought a economical steel commuter a few years ago; the Jamis Satellite for around the same price. That's a smoking good deal since the satellite retails in the high 700s.

I guess I'd rather buy a used road bike, but that's not always an option. If you want a fast but not too spendy commuter, this looks like a good choice. Either way I'd outfit it with bar ends, as I'm assuming it comes with Sora shifters at that price range. I mean, Sora is fine for what it is, but I just prefer bar ends.

I expect we'll continue seeing more and more road bike sin the 5-700 dollar range in the next several years. Mountain bikes got cheaper as the sport got more popular, it seems logical the same will happen with road bikes, due to the "Lance effect."

EDIT: Not even Sora. I'd definately swap them for some bar ends myself.

wow, I never noticed KHS had some good commuter options like that. I know it is a road bike, but does it have clearance for some good sized tires? My commute is mixed terrain, not any rocky trails or anything, but some light off pavement work, could it handle that?

It doesn't look much like a commuter to me.

Aggressive riding position, carbon fork, no fenders, no rack. You could use it to commute, but I can't imagine that's its primary purpose.....

The drops are almost level with the cranks.

Aggressive riding position[ The stem is flipped downwards, and there is a spacer above it anyways. I bet you could easily get the hoods level with the seat or higher.
[QUOTE]carbon fork
So? And the one for 50 bucks less is all CrMo.

no fenders, no rack.
Eyelets for both.

You could use it to commute, but I can't imagine that's its primary purpose.....
Exactly how many bikes are even billed as being primarily commuters? On top of that, how many of us in this forum ride a bike that has been marketed as a commuter? Certainly not the majority, or even a plurality. Us commuters, as I'm sure you are aware, tend to use whatever works. No rules or regulations. :D

The KHS Flite 250...price has been quoted at $569.

More details... (http://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_250_07.htm)

http://www.khscanada.com/v3/images/bikes/2007/l_1158789513_flite_250.jpg

You call that cheap? I paid $20 for the 1980's vintage Puch lugged steel frame bike I have put 1000 miles on in the last 3 months. I've put a $100 or so into accessories and parts since I got it. Buy used. There's a lot of opportunity (and savings) there. Even if you have the cash to burn, isn't there something else you'd rather burn it on?

I ride an old tourer, and a Raleigh 20. The tourer has bars above stem, came with racks and fenders, and is all 531. The R 20 has a very upright position, rack, fenders, and is all steel.

georgiaboy, have you looked at the Jamis Coda (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/index.html) line at Intown Bicycles (http://www.intownbicycles.com)? (Right down the road from Morningside).
My commuter is a steel Jamis and I love it. :beer:


BTW: for a few $$$ more the Jamis Aurora (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/aurora.html) is awesome.

You call that cheap? I paid $20 for the 1980's vintage Puch lugged steel frame bike I have put 1000 miles on in the last 3 months. I've put a $100 or so into accessories and parts since I got it. Buy used. There's a lot of opportunity (and savings) there. Even if you have the cash to burn, isn't there something else you'd rather burn it on?

This is a good point. With the exception, perhaps of STI shifters and MAYBE some slightly different gearing (which won't offer much more in gear ration range anyway), what is the advantage of buying new over used? You can get some used but gorgeous lugged frame, double butted steel tube framed bicycles that are far superior in strength/weight than almost anything you can get today at a reasonable price.

I sure do feel the draw to getting a new bike. There is something sweet about a new ride. But when you have such a wealth of well made older bikes around, it is hard to justify spending a lot of coin on a new machine.

georgiaboy, have you looked at the Jamis Coda (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/index.html) line at Intown Bicycles (http://www.intownbicycles.com)? (Right down the road from Morningside).
My commuter is a steel Jamis and I love it. :beer:


BTW: for a few $$$ more the Jamis Aurora (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/aurora.html) is awesome.
+1 on the Codas. Great bikes. Base model`s around $450 or so and the Sport`s about $600. Better specs and stuff.

+1 on the older steel bikes. I am commuting on a 1984 Raleigh tourer. It's lugged steel, upright handlebars, came with a springy leather saddle, and a bombproof rack. The only things I am looking at changing are the rear freewheel - I'd like to swap the 5 speed out for a 7 with a "bail out" hill climbing gear :) - and eventually the rims, since its original ones are steel. Still, I will be looking at a total investment of under $200.

New bikes are lovely, but I'm a student :)

georgiaboy, have you looked at the Jamis Coda (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/index.html) line at Intown Bicycles (http://www.intownbicycles.com)? (Right down the road from Morningside).
My commuter is a steel Jamis and I love it. :beer:


BTW: for a few $$$ more the Jamis Aurora (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/aurora.html) is awesome.

Thanks, Ron. I would love to come by the shop and am planning on meeting you one day. :beer:

You call that cheap?
No, but I'd call a Kent GMC Yukon XL with 14spd STI for under $300USD retail cheap.

TCS

Thanks, Ron. I would love to come by the shop and am planning on meeting you one day. :beer:

I'm always glad to meet BF folks. :)

Just so you'll know I'm not "pushing" what we sell -- I got my bike a few years ago -- long before I was working at the shop (I've been there less than 5 months).

I agree with most of sentiments here, but I do see the need for a brand new bike for a couple of reasons. One of the first and most obvious reasons would be that with a new bicycle comes support and maintenance from a good bike shop (assuming you have a good LBS). Second, buying used is way awesome, I'm actually riding an '83 schwinn super le tour, but it is about 4 cm too big. Sometimes it's hard to find a bicycle that fits. Third, besides fit, there are many other issues with buying old bicycles like finding old parts if something breaks down. Basically, if you are extremely good with the wrench, it's a no brainer, but for people who aren't as handy, buying a new bicycle does have many upsides and the cost is certainly justifiable.

I recently began commuting on a KHS Flite 220 and absolutely love it. Easy to set up with fenders and a rear rack, plenty of clearance for bigger tires, decent price...everything I need. Love it.

If somebody didn't buy a new bike now and then, there wouldn't be any used bikes for the rest of us!:)