Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Sparton vs. Kilo

I know it's comparing apples to oranges, but my Kilo was stolen, and I have about $400 to spend on its replacement. Originally, I was just going to grab one of the un-branded Kilos off Bikes Island, but I've been a bit interested in some of the Spartons I've seen. I've heard mixed reviews, but I love the look. Any opinions?

kilo is better

what is a spartan? I never heard of it.

http://search.stores.ebay.com/sparton_Bicycles-Frames_W0QQcatrefZC6QQdfspZ32QQfromZR34QQfsprZ0QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZ33503QQsaobfmtsZin sifQQsbrexpZWD1SQQsifZ1QQsofpZ4QQssPageNameZWD1SQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1248

I like the lugged construction of the Sparton. I did some searching and it appears that they have a road geometry. The Kilo is not as pretty and cheaper tubing/construction but it has a rear brake hole and rack mounts. Things to consider there...

I like the lugged construction of the Sparton. I did some searching and it appears that they have a road geometry. The Kilo is not as pretty and cheaper tubing/construction but it has a rear brake hole and rack mounts. Things to consider there...

a) spartons do this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=2c5sVV8PvBo)

b) http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2941/semitarckxe8.jpg

a) jackassery on a bike not intended for jumps begets broken parts on any bike
b) asinine

I don't intend on any 180s anytime soon.

i love my sparton alot
i had trouble building it tho, but i went through it pretty easy

I ride a 58cm Sparton and it's quite decent, I also had a Spicer which was just a Kilo. Comparing those 2 the Kilo built up easier, was lighter and more responsive and also came with a 1 1/8 headset. Don't get fooled by the pretty colors of Sparton.

I ride a 58cm Sparton and it's quite decent, I also had a Spicer which was just a Kilo. Comparing those 2 the Kilo built up easier, was lighter and more responsive and also came with a 1 1/8 headset. Don't get fooled by the pretty colors of Sparton.

elaborate.

a) spartons do this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=2c5sVV8PvBo)
Track bikes are not made for freestyle BMX tricks. A basic understanding of simple physics should make that amply clear.

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/8131/pssfg7.jpg

I have to say, the craftsmanship on the Spartons has certainly come a long way since the original "batch" was found on ebay. The paint and fit and finish sucked hard then but these newer ones look halfway decent for $290.

oh come on, since when did BFSSFG members stop getting BFSSFG inside jokes?

...you guys need to lurk more

I ride a 58cm Sparton and it's quite decent, I also had a Spicer which was just a Kilo. Comparing those 2 the Kilo built up easier, was lighter and more responsive and also came with a 1 1/8 headset. Don't get fooled by the pretty colors of Sparton.

Why is it so hard to build up? The only problem I can see is the 26.0 seat post, and I can get one at my lbs for cheap.

Track bikes are not made for freestyle BMX tricks. A basic understanding of simple physics should make that amply clear.

QFT

If you want to do tricks get some straight gauge heavy steel bike, not double butted dedacciai.
Now if the fork snapped in a race (Vivalo anyone?), then there would be a case.

search these forums and you will find A LOT of posts complaining about spartons and their inherent build-up difficulties.

^Inherent Build up difficulties? By searching these forums you might also find that the people making those complaints are "inherently" useless. Installing a Bottom Bracket/headset wouldn't be any more "difficult" on a Sparton frame than on a Kilo.

the issues mentioned are in reguards to headset facing, and bottom bracket chasing and facing. The frames also have been known to have other issues such as missalignments, ect. It seems like they just have low quality control

Kilo.

the issues mentioned are in reguards to headset facing, and bottom bracket chasing and facing. The frames also have been known to have other issues such as missalignments, ect. It seems like they just have low quality control

What sort of issues? Just that it needs it done? I think that it's fairly standard to have to face, chase, and ream a new frame.

Alignment is another story of course.

If I recall correctly the issues were that the BB had to be chased (or however you spell it) and that some of the threads on the forks were messed up. Other than that, I don't recall any inherent problems other than perhaps the folks building the bikes were inexperienced.

Check out the Bikeisland thread and you will see that a few of the Bikeisland Kilo TTs came with forks that were too short and one guy got a shipment of parts rather than a frameset.

So, yeah.

wasn't the original batch also like $175 shipped or something? not $300. you could get an alien for $50 more and get good geometry and (probably) better craftsmanship

or you could get the kilo: tried true and tested to be a decent, lighter, more responsive frame for less money.

unless you want dem lugzzzzz

For those of you interested. I was talking to the guy at Sparton, and asked if they might be getting any frames with different geometry. He said for $350, you can get a custom frame, with geometry to your liking.

That video proves jack. Except that the bike is not designed to be a freestyle bikes used by noobs who do not know how to properly bust a 180. If you want to be the new Dizz Hicks grab a bmx bike/cruiser and get your flat land on. Spartan makes a decent lugged track bike for the money and they have gotten better since there first batch. They have tubing options and custom builds for $350. Plus, Mike from Terrafirma is in colaboration with Jorge from Sparton from what I have been told. Mike if you are on here can you confirm this?

I love how we're all getting on the dude for using his Sparton to do tricks when there are hundreds more guys running around on Pista Concepts and NJS frames doing the same thing. I mean, lets not kid ourselves, there are kids running around doing mad wheelies with disc wheel and tri spokes with tubulars. All this bickering over whether are not track bikes are suitable for tarck tricks is getting ridiculous.

So **** all of you.

I think the sparton looks way nicer than the kilo and damn it's about time we support someone other than taiwan.

viva la tarck!!!

I just have my st800, it's not the same the they sell in the states, but I think its nice.

Here in chile we have a lot of st500 for ss/commuter and they are nice but not really well done.

Anyway, my st800 is almost perfect and by the way, in chile is $240

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/3103281151_59148ffe3c.jpg?v=0

here more pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32050746@N03/

and the cheaper frame: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedaleabeauchef/2989994545/

I saw the first batch that King Kog in Brooklyn had and just saw the new batch that Continuum Cycles in Manhattan has. The newer batch felt lighter and the braze work looked cleaner. The first batch didn't look bad by any means - the new ones just looked nicer. The stickers are on top of the clearcoat which is nice. I have yet to see an Alien or a Kazane frame, really the only other two price sensitive lugged frames out there. The prep work for installing the bb and headset are pretty common and any reputable shop like Continuum can fix those issues for you.

OT: what's the name of the pokemon in the op's icon? golding? **** i can't remember..

I saw the first batch that King Kog in Brooklyn had and just saw the new batch that Continuum Cycles in Manhattan has. The newer batch felt lighter and the braze work looked cleaner. The first batch didn't look bad by any means - the new ones just looked nicer. The stickers are on top of the clearcoat which is nice. I have yet to see an Alien or a Kazane frame, really the only other two price sensitive lugged frames out there. The prep work for installing the bb and headset are pretty common and any reputable shop like Continuum can fix those issues for you.

any more info on the newer batch of spartons? has anyone measured to see if the alignment is off like the previous batches?

OT: what's the name of the pokemon in the op's icon? golding? **** i can't remember..

magikarp

oh yeah

any more info on the newer batch of spartons? has anyone measured to see if the alignment is off like the previous batches?

I think there may be some minor, rather easily fixed alignment problems. Maybe not ever frame but on a frame or two. Jeff (the owner of Continuum) has an incredible eye for that kind of stuff and can fix the problems.

And the frames will be about $300.