Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Motobecane Messenger

OK, here is the deal. I know there is a ton of stuff on here about these bikes and about BD in general. However, a portion of it is nothing but flame posts. Quite frankly, I am tired of picking through it. If all you are going to do is flame BD or the bikes they sell (including the messenger). Please do not respond to this post. What I am looking for is feedback from those that actually own and ride these bikes, specificly, the Motobecane Messenger. It has all of the things that I am looking for in an entry level ss/fg. It will be used mostly for commuting and pulling a child trailer around on the local bike path. How do they compare to the Raleigh Rush Hour, Schwinn Madison, or the Specialized Langster? Witch in all likelyhood, are manufactured in the same factory. For me, the price is right on the messenger. I have a garage full of bikes, anything from an old JMC BMX bike to my beloved 07 Specialized Tarmac Pro. What I do not have is an dedicated commuter. For what it is worth, I have been seriously cycling for 25 years and while I do have a good relationship with my LBS. They can not approach BD's prices. I think that Mike and the crew at Bikes Direct should be commended for selling good quality bikes for reasonable prices. Thanks in advanced for not flaming and for any feedback from those who own or have ridden these bikes.

its what you're looking for get it. i been riding my moto mess. as a daily beater for over a year. get the wheels tensioned and have fun

I know your pain. But I'll be honest....I've answered your question at least 15 times on the board...

BFSSFG is a load of **** and you really need to dig down deep before you hit anything else that isnt ****.

Give the search a try and I'm sure you'll see. The Motopeacan has been a great starter bike, I've had no mechanical problems whatsoever but I have also replaced a third on the components. Saddle, bars, brake lever, pedals, wheels, cog, and lockring. The paint chips like it was made to do it so easily but the frame is very solid and has taken well to 8 months of Chicago roads.

Go for it if YOU want...not what someone else told you to do. Honestly...I love the bike but there are plenty on the market for a couple hundred more that do the job great and a bit better.

The best part about these threads is the OP gets pissed off and never responds and it is also the biggest reason no one wants to post in these 5 million BD bikes threads.

Yeah, and I could have spent another $4K on my road bike and purchased the next tier bike. I sold another bike to purchase a ss and a child trailer. My budget for the bike is $350-$400. I want the 08Schwinn Madison. But it is out of my price range. As far as I can tell by specs. The only thing that I would consider qestionable are the wheels. Everything else seems solid. I am just looking for some real life feedback such as yours. It's going to get hammered on a rough 10 mile commute and pull a child trailer. If I want to ride a quality bike, I'll take the Tarmac out. I do appologise for the repost. However, there truely is a bunch of crap posted by people that have never ridden the bike. Maybe they are pissed that they spend $300-$400 more on essentualy the same bike? Or maybe they just want to one up the next person? We have all seen the guy that has little to no pow pow but, he has the nicest bike! I raced moutain bikes for 10 years before becoming a "roadie". I owned and raced several different bikes/manufactures over that period. But the bike that I loved the most and wished that I still had today was a $321 Skykomish that I purchased at Costco. Maybe it has sentimental value because it was my first moutain bike? I do not know? What I can tell you is the thing was bullet proof and handled like a dream. Of all the Canondales, Scotts, and GT's I had. The only bike that has ever come close to it's comfort and handling was my Schwinn Homegrown (made by Yeti). Point is, the frame is the heart of the bicycle. It's what gives the bike soul. Seats, bars, stems, hubs, wheels, will make it nice. But it wont make it sing. For a couple hundo more, I might get better goodies. But I'll bet in that price point the frames come from the same Taiwanese plant that the messenger does! Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I am going to buy the bike and love it!

It's pretty stiff and considerably maybe I'm just a noob or maybe it's the geo but I was sprinting one day and man did I go down hard.

i sense you're not sure what exactly you're looking for from this forum, maybe thats why you're finding it hard to find your answer. You say you've got a lot of biking experience, i'm surprised it didn't flow over to your situation now trying to purchase a SS bike. Maybe you're just not sure about the purchase and looking for motivations here. I mean you're going to find it also loose it from a forum like this.

Here's my opinion of BD and those bikes. I got a bike from BD, a dawest last week and I"ve been impressed by the service (speed of delivery) and product (the bike) that i've received from them. The bike is a great bike for the money. and i'm sure the messenger is one too.

With all these entry level SS bikes, you're not going to get a Pista Concept type of definitive YES. The Dawest, the mess, the Kilos are always going to have pros and cons. And i feel the forum's pain, ever since i started to look for a bike from BD, every other day i see a new thread trying to compare or praise one bike over the other and eventually coming back full circle that these bikes are pretty much all a like. All these threads accomplish is "nickel and dime" these bikes and i think to be honestly, they're all quite a big waste of time. They're all the same and yet all very different.

Are you perhaps looking for someone to say that their $400 bike is better than the other $400 bike? You get what you pay for in the USA, more often than not. Especially at BD slashed prices, you are not going to find a bike that is so special that it is better than all the others in it's class.

Buy in the price range you can afford, and know that a steel frame single speed bike is going to last a long time because it is so simple. I have a Pista with a chro moly frame and it is great for taking a beating in the city on various terrain. If you purchase a cheap SS or track, you are focusing on the right idea, the frame, just make sure the weight isn't an issue and order that new commuter!

Thanks Again! I really was not looking for validation. I know that it is a $400 bike. I just hate to see a product get flames because they are inexpensive or not zoot enough. I just want good solid feedback from those that actualy ride the bike. My mind is made up anyway. I'm going to order a messenger today. If it turns out terrible.....So what? I've spent more and recieved less on a wheel set that wont stay true. Damn they were lite though! I still think that BD needs to be commended for bringing quality bikes at a reasonable price to the masses. Same bike at any LBS runs $200-$250 more! Thanks again!

http://www.cyclofiend.com/ssg/images08/ssg136-4moto1.jpg

http://a727.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/l_4065adb826d0f335081fdd41658c872e.gif

^It hurts.

haha, agreed. not sure where those photos came from.

the new nathan fabian

There can never be another.

It's pretty stiff and considerably maybe I'm just a noob or maybe it's the geo but I was sprinting one day and man did I go down hard.

what the hell are you talking about?

http://a727.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/l_4065adb826d0f335081fdd41658c872e.gif
Well I was looking forward to getting my orange San Jose back from the powdercoater, but this kinda killed it for me... :(
At least my ergo bars will be set up correctly...

Well...most recent. A lot has changed.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2596717520_abc9224785.jpg?v=0

I bought a messenger in january as a rain/backup bike. It didnt take long for the crank set to become useless. I gave the bike to a friend. He replaced the crank. Other than that, it was a good value and they shipped immediately. BUT... BD bikes have neg bling value. When I see one on the street i know I'm most likely looking at a noob and his first fixed gear. I know that sounds lame, but its the truth.

With all your bike experience, perhaps you could sink the $350 into building a very nice conversion with a better wheelset, bottom bracket, etc.

Personal preference, but if your looking for bang for buck a conversion would work, especially for hauling a kiddie trailer and commuting.

BD bikes have neg bling value. When I see one on the street i know I'm most likely looking at a noob and his first fixed gear.

You spent more time thinking about your tats and your leather than about beer and chicks didn't you? :thumb:

i get tons of people telling my my windsor hour is "****ing awesome"


haha


i chuckle ever time




ranted the only thing stock is the frame and seat post

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/jdm94delsol/new3-42.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/jdm94delsol/new3-23.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/jdm94delsol/new4-18.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/jdm94delsol/new5-14.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/jdm94delsol/new1-36.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/jdm94delsol/new1-34.jpg

^ Gorgeous pictures!

Can anyone with an MM comment on its speed with the default cog? I realize this depends on the rider and the road, but does it feel like you can hit a good pace without having to pedal madly, or is it more of a bike for cruising speeds?

IMO its a bit too tall for hills. but great for speeding on flat ground. if you live in a mostly hilly area, id suggest a taller rear cog. if you live in a mostly flat area, with some small hills, like my area, its perfect. and im not even in that good of shape. tall enough for flat areas, yet i can skid with ease :P.

btw, thanks for the compliment on the pictures. :e-beer:

Finaly, some great posts! Yeah, RideAmongUs, I will be a neewb. I have never ridden a fixed gear or a single speed other then at the BMX track. So it will be a whole new world for me. A world that I am VERY excited about! Zoe, I have thought about a fixed gear conversion or even building one out of a classic Raliegh/Nishiki/Peugeot. But after I add it all up, it still comes out to be more then my budget. Although building one would be great fun! Just for kicks, could anyone recomend a decent frame and fork for a conversion or a full on build? Also, I have a Giant OCR1 that rides quite nice. Wouldn't need to much to convert either. What is the rear spacing for an flip flop hub? How do you resolve chainline issues ect? Interesting.....:twitchy:

If you want SS you could do a very cheap conversion with the OCR1. Buying a SS conversion kit would do the trick lickety split (or go really cheapo with a piece of PVC and dérailleur as tensioner). If you want the fixed gear option buy a wheel set with a flipflop (or really just the rear wheel).

The wheelset on the Mess is fine, but not great. I think it comes around 100 clams shipped from bikeisland.com.

If you want a new bike (which is what people often do), it seems the Mess is a nice ride if you are confident in sizing on the interwebz.

A full build w/ frameset will almost, surely, definitely, positively, probably be more than buying the messenger.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/ravenmore/orangebikeandshoe.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/taniadelrio/meandmahbike.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2595642837_b9546697c9.jpg?v=0

I love the Orange! Since I am a total newb at the ss/fg thing. I think I will stick with a new bike. I have read Sheldon Brown's article about conversions. I think that it is more then I want to deal with right now. Although one day I would like to build a vintage bike. Besides, it will cost me more and I want to ride it like today! If I have to replace the wheels and what not. No biggie. I'll most likely do it anyway! LOL!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/ravenmore/orangebikeandshoe.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/taniadelrio/meandmahbike.jpg

Hey she's cute.:)

My bike from the pic thread:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/gmckey/Moto1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/gmckey/Moto2.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/gmckey/Moto3.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/gmckey/Moto4.jpg

damn i love that orange!

damn i love that orange!

Haha, you F'd up.

I like that stem. What kind is it?

Haha, you F'd up.
i didnt mess up, BD did. lol. im happy with mah blue, but that orange is bangin!

Thank you everyone. I have been shifting through the forums looking for the same info as Mr. HH, and this is the first thread about the Messenger, Hour, or Kilo that wasn't worthless.

Now I have to ask myself, blue or orange . . . hmmmmm

I have the blue one

I really like the orange better

shortened mtb risers, bmx grips, only front brake

i call it my "townie" bike

OK, here is the deal. I know there is a ton of stuff on here about these bikes and about BD in general. However, a portion of it is nothing but flame posts. Quite frankly, I am tired of picking through it. If all you are going to do is flame BD or the bikes they sell (including the messenger). Please do not respond to this post. What I am looking for is feedback from those that actually own and ride these bikes, specificly, the Motobecane Messenger. It has all of the things that I am looking for in an entry level ss/fg. It will be used mostly for commuting and pulling a child trailer around on the local bike path. How do they compare to the Raleigh Rush Hour, Schwinn Madison, or the Specialized Langster? Witch in all likelyhood, are manufactured in the same factory. For me, the price is right on the messenger. I have a garage full of bikes, anything from an old JMC BMX bike to my beloved 07 Specialized Tarmac Pro. What I do not have is an dedicated commuter. For what it is worth, I have been seriously cycling for 25 years and while I do have a good relationship with my LBS. They can not approach BD's prices. I think that Mike and the crew at Bikes Direct should be commended for selling good quality bikes for reasonable prices. Thanks in advanced for not flaming and for any feedback from those who own or have ridden these bikes.

Yeah, and I could have spent another $4K on my road bike and purchased the next tier bike. I sold another bike to purchase a ss and a child trailer. My budget for the bike is $350-$400. I want the 08Schwinn Madison. But it is out of my price range. As far as I can tell by specs. The only thing that I would consider qestionable are the wheels. Everything else seems solid. I am just looking for some real life feedback such as yours. It's going to get hammered on a rough 10 mile commute and pull a child trailer. If I want to ride a quality bike, I'll take the Tarmac out. I do appologise for the repost. However, there truely is a bunch of crap posted by people that have never ridden the bike. Maybe they are pissed that they spend $300-$400 more on essentualy the same bike? Or maybe they just want to one up the next person? We have all seen the guy that has little to no pow pow but, he has the nicest bike! I raced moutain bikes for 10 years before becoming a "roadie". I owned and raced several different bikes/manufactures over that period. But the bike that I loved the most and wished that I still had today was a $321 Skykomish that I purchased at Costco. Maybe it has sentimental value because it was my first moutain bike? I do not know? What I can tell you is the thing was bullet proof and handled like a dream. Of all the Canondales, Scotts, and GT's I had. The only bike that has ever come close to it's comfort and handling was my Schwinn Homegrown (made by Yeti). Point is, the frame is the heart of the bicycle. It's what gives the bike soul. Seats, bars, stems, hubs, wheels, will make it nice. But it wont make it sing. For a couple hundo more, I might get better goodies. But I'll bet in that price point the frames come from the same Taiwanese plant that the messenger does! Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I am going to buy the bike and love it!

jesus christ, can you please invest in a keyboard with an [enter] key??

Some nice pics in this thread. I too like the orange one.

Yes, but color is generally something I don't worry about

Some nice pics in this thread. I too like the orange one.

your pants are aflame.

Did you seriously come in here to bother posting that? Christ.


I was commenting, does it matter?

yes.

Well, at least the thread was relevant for a short time..... There's an A-Hole born every minute. Thanks to all who made relevant post's! I've ordered an orange one! Another newb qestion.... Whats the deal with the card in the spokes?

i feel so down for those suckers who don't have threadless.

Spoke cards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoke_cards

Do the decals come off easily?

My girlfriend has a pink Messenger that is her daily commuter. She beats it up and it works just fine, except that the wheels have a tough time staying true and the paint scratches easily. other than that its awesome!

this was my moto before some crack monkey decided he wanted it more than i did and stole it from inside the bar i was hanging out at,caught him on video too,but no one recognized him.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s211/boozymcliverrot/velospaceresized13jk3.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s211/boozymcliverrot/velospaceresized334kj3.jpg

I had to hand down my Messenger to my overgrown 9 year old. He's 5'3" tall and needed to train for football, but he had outgrown his MTB. He lowered the seat on my Moto and started riding it, and some racing in the neighborhood. I switched out the handlebars with a more upright stem and flat bars. I changed the freewheel to an 18T to lower the gear a bit. He rides around a 1/2 mile loop for 30-45 minutes a day.

I just ordered this bike in orange and after seeing the pics in this thread I can't wait for it to get here. This will be my first ss/fg.

[This space reserved for pictures when the bike arrives later this month]