Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Swobo vs. Giant

I'm working at and LBS (just started recently), and we carry Giant, Rocky Mountain, Swobo, and Biomega. I'm looking at getting a fixed gear, but I'm having a hard time deciding which one. We have both the Sanchez and the Bowery in stock. Here's my predicament. The Giant is much cheaper, and in my humble opinion better looking. Every time I see it I like it more. The Sanchez on the other hand has better parts, and a galvanized steel frame. I'm working on a severe budget, so cost is really important.

Is there really any reason for me to absolutely avoid the aluminum Giant? I'm not going to be riding any more than possibly 50 miles a day on it. Everyone at the shop keeps telling me I'll be happier with the Swobo. What are your thoughts?

Everyone at the shop is right.

If your budget is that severe, and you must have a new fixie (compared to an old one or an ebay one), and cost is that important to you.. i would get the Giant, because you're on a severe budget and cost is really important to you.. and like you said the more you look at it, the more you like it... so why not ride what you like..

I think that Swobo Sanchez is the biggest pile of **** and a complete waste of money, but I'm in the minority here.

I say get the Giant, it's a pretty good bike for the money.

The Swobo is probably made by Giant. :p

I'd support the little guy and get a Swobo but ride both and see which one you like better.

For what it's worth, I like my Giant (for what it is....a cheap/entry level fixed/ss bike). It's definitely not flashy or anything special but I've had no problems with mine as my only means of transportation. I purchased it in November and have ridden 2500+ miles on it.

How much is the swobo? I saw one in person at a workshop and thought it looked pretty clean. The green bowery is pretty sharp too, but overall I think I would go with the swobo. This is based purely on looks alone. I think the build spec between the two is similar.
+1 for swobo if it's steel.

I saw the Swobo at one of my LBSes and I was pretty impressed. In fact, they had a spare set of the Swobo bars and grips, so I bought them for my bike 'cuz I like 'em. :)

I've never seen a Giant in person, though. So I'm not going to cast a vote either way other than to say the Swobo looks cool.

But I agree with mykrrrr's sentiment about trying both and seeing which one rides better for you.

swabo looks nice, and is priced well.

http://www.swobo.com/product_b.aspx?l=00040012000000000000&p=SBB08002#

depends on your budget.
i like steel... so i am biased

Go for steel.

Isn't there only like a $100 difference between the two? You could make that much selling plasma or stealing a car stereo or two.

Wouldn't really matter to me anyways because I prefer the Giant.

Wow the Swabo has cool dropouts - looks like a Bob Jackson. I like the built in chain tensioner.

http://www.swobo.com/cImages/Website_0/type_543/SBB08002_115986.jpg

Swobo for the white bars, and the nice dropouts.

I saw the Swobo at one of my LBSes and I was pretty impressed. In fact, they had a spare set of the Swobo bars and grips, so I bought them for my bike 'cuz I like 'em. :)

I've never seen a Giant in person, though. So I'm not going to cast a vote either way other than to say the Swobo looks cool.

But I agree with mykrrrr's sentiment about trying both and seeing which one rides better for you.
In addition to what I posted earlier, I saw the Swobo @ MOJO in SF when I was out there last month and it looked good to me. I hate integrated headsets so personally I'd go for the Swobo.

Again...ride both and see what you like.

If you/anyone wants to build up a a Giant Bowery frame, I've got a medium sized one that I picked up from Mike G on here and resprayed white. I also found a Pista frame @ the same time so I built that up and the Bowery is just hanging in the garage. $100 shipped and it's yours.