Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Japan Fixed Bianchi Pista good option?

Everywhere is completely out of stock until the 2009 bikes start coming in, but I sold my langster Boston and am looking to get a more proper fixed wheel.

I like the Bianchi Celeste colouring, but was thinking what Tokyo people think of these bikes.

Eventual modifications I was thinking to do would be to get Nitto Handlebars, only have a single top bar direct pull brake, put white rubber grips on the drops and add a Thomson Masterpiece seatpost and maybe some Gran Compe wheels in all white with white tires.

I really like Nagasawa bikes, and all the keirin frames, they look sweet. but they do cost a bomb and i wanna get something that I think looks good immediately and that I can change a bit to my suiting, but still be a good ride.

So are the Bianchi Pistas good, bad, tacky, lame, **** quality, or just plain ridiculed over here?

There is a festival here in Japan where Bianchi pistas stuffed with candy are hung from tree limbs and children beat them with baseball bats, much like Mexican pinatas. So, if you are ever caught riding one in Tokyo around this time, watch your back..

Seriously though, nobody gives a crap what you ride, especially in Tokyo. Pistas are fine, customize away (as long as it involves rizers, a brooks saddle, components anodized in primary colors, etc). As long as you conform to the standards, you should have no trouble being successfully accepted into pisuto culture.

Good work max, thought as much, but some people can be a bit funny.

Any idea of what the cheapest i pickup a Nagasawa?

The only thing I don't like about the Pista is the fork. The crown (or lack thereof I suppose) just reminds me of my old crappy GT Dyno (had aero wheels haha) bmx bike from the good ol days. There was a thread here very recently though that was about a guy buying the new nashbar carbon fiber fork and putting it on his Pista and I thought it looked great. Pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things too.

And celeste is a great color :)

Disclaimer: I'm not japanese... or from tokyo :) just my $0.02.

One should keep in mind that the Chrome pista of America is not the same as the offering in Japan. Apparently there the 08s were celeste (as noted) and they had a Pista ALU as well, which is sort of like the Concept, but not?

Yeah the chrome pista is synonymous with the honda civic ex with a d-series motor and a ricepipe :)

A celeste pista would be mighty nice.

Those "mini" road bikes that every american wants but are only avail in japan are pretty cool too.

Japanese Bianchi fork has a crown.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2700172727_7dc6331e8d_o.jpg

wow. if that fork is stock, the japanese pistas are completely different than the US ones...
check out the chain stay. and the obvious color difference (assuming that's stock too).

is this for real?

Japanese Bianchi fork has a crown.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2700172727_7dc6331e8d_o.jpga chopper fix.

Wow, the Pista frame/forks in Japan look bomb.

I bought a lime green Pista in April. It's my first fixed gear bike and I really like it. I Bought it from a shop in Nakano. Tokyu Hands has Celeste, Lime green, yellow, and pink ones.

This is a bit more close up on the special pink edition.

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200805/11/91/c0126791_12285274.jpg

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200805/11/91/c0126791_12284098.jpg

How is the pricing compared to the US?

I have seen them for sale around 55,000yen or so. Roughly little over $500. The Pista's here are available with either flat bars or drops.

wow, where have you seen them, al the stores I have been to have nothing, protech and y's international

It was a few months ago. Check out Cycly and if you go there ask them when they will get another one. Every once in a while they will have a brand new Pista flat or drop for around that price.
What about a Fuji Track?

man that thing is dead sexy. why the hell don't they look like that over here?

they finally caught on to that fork thing...

man that thing is dead sexy. why the hell don't they look like that over here?

Exactly what I'm wondering... :(

Ah, you mean サイクリ-！！！　They sell used bikes, I went to the one in Yoyogi last year, but it is small there.

They just opened a big one in Shibuya, Damn, I was just at the bottom of that street there yesterday, should of had a look, if only I had known it had existed, it looks like it is just on the corner down the hill from red bar (If u know of that place, if you don't, it's a cool little place that stays open forever and all drinks are quality and only ¥500).

I will check it out wednesday as I think I will working a typical Japanese overtime shift tomorrow, 9-9pm, give or take a few.

I thought Cycly is on Summer break till 21st. That's Thursday for us, Don.

Tell me how it goes. ... I am tempted to buy their Panasonic frame. I won't make it to the store till October ... So much for getting good paying job, ... they make me work as much as they pay me.

T

the pistas in this thread look like they have slacker geometry than ones available in the states?

For those that are interested...

Here's the geo
http://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2008/im/pstgo.gif

Here is a photo of the Celeste.
http://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2008/im/pdpck.jpg

Here is the parts list.


COLOURS

Celeste, Yellow

FRAME

Cr-Mo Double Butted

Size

50, 54

FORK

Hi-Ten Fork 1"

SHIFTER

-

REAR DERAILLEUR

-

front derailleur

-

crankset

Truvative Touro 1.1 48T

chain

KMC 3/32"

sprocket

16T Free, 16T Fix ( 15T Fix )

WHEELS

-

REAR HUB

Joy Tech 36H

FRONT HUB


RIMS

JLACO DRX-2000

TIRES

Maxxis M-201 700x23C

HEADSET

FRIST F-997AW 1"

STEM

HL TDS-D347B-8

HANDLEBAR

HL DR-AL-10B

BAR END


SEATPOST

HL SP-D288 27.2mm

SADDLE

San Marco Ponza Cr-Mo Rail

GRIPS


BRAKES

Promax RC-466

BRAKE LEVER

Tektro R200A

PEDALS

VP-398T

B.B.

TH BB7420 68-113mm

Price


\70,350-(本体価格 \67,000-)

any word on who's OEM-ing these for Bianchi Japan?

I thought that Bianchi made frames in Japan especially for the Japanese market.

Looks like a Langster.

The american one looks like a much nicer bike.

Looks like a Langster.

looks like a langster!?! for real???

awww man, I wanted to escape from those things as I used to have one, but sold it because u guys said they were uncool. :rolleyes: Now i get told that the steel frame, Italian track bike I want to get to replace it is in the same category! Oh this world of FG is so hard to understand:twitchy:

looks like a langster!?! for real???

awww man, I wanted to escape from those things as I used to have one, but sold it because u guys said they were uncool. :rolleyes: Now i get told that the steel frame, Italian track bike I want to get to replace it is in the same category! Oh this world of FG is so hard to understand:twitchy:

Just buy what you want. What are your looking for in a bike? Why did you ditch the Langster?
The Japanese market Pista's geometry is pretty slack so I wouldn't call it an Italian track bike. But that doesn't mean it is good or bad. Just not track geometry. I dunno but I think the Japanese Pista's are similar to the Masi, SE, etc. Famous name branded/Taiwan made/ready to ride affordable, entry level complete fixed gear bikes. If it fits your purpose, buy it.

Just buy what you want. What are your looking for in a bike? Why did you ditch the Langster?
The Japanese market Pista's geometry is pretty slack so I wouldn't call it an Italian track bike. But that doesn't mean it is good or bad. Just not track geometry. I dunno but I think the Japanese Pista's are similar to the Masi, SE, etc. Famous name branded/Taiwan made/ready to ride affordable, entry level complete fixed gear bikes. If it fits your purpose, buy it.

Sorry, I was being funny...

I don't really care about trends or anything like that. I sold the Langster for different reasons, and I think the frame was a little too small for me, I would probably buy another if I see another good deal like i bought it for, ¥50,000, 3 months old.

But i really like SS/FG riding. And I hear a lot about the difference of steel vs Carbon and Aluminum. I actually really like the Celeste colours and the Bianchi heritage. I actually think I would prefer a slacker head-angle as I often hear that the tracks frames are twitchy in the street.

If I don't get a Pista, then I will probably order a Panasonic track frame and build up a bike myself. Cost more but I am not in a hurry as my MTB handles the 40km round trip commute just fine. Although I was a lot faster on the Langster.

I am glad that the fork is cool on the Japanese model, I read a lot on here that people complained the Pista's fork sucks. I think it was only style that they were complaining about though.

total noob here and i have a totally noob question. so what does the term "slack" mean as it refers to frame geometry?
i'm considering this japanese pista frame and i was told that this frame feels larger and that a 52cm might be sufficient even though i'm 5'11 (180cm). on the other hand, i'm afraid the next size up 55cm would be too large.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like they have a small one laying around and they desperately want it sold. At 5'11, no matter your inseam or build, a 52 is too small.

from a quick check of rakuten...

this shop is indicating "入荷しました！" in various sizes/colours>
(pink) http://item.rakuten.co.jp/auc-ad-cycle/bi155pk/
(celeste) http://item.rakuten.co.jp/auc-ad-cycle/bi156/
(yellow) http://item.rakuten.co.jp/auc-ad-cycle/bi155y/

while this shop is indicating "入荷時期未定">
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/ride-on/rr09bia044/

and this shop is not indicating anything about stock>
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/joint/rd-09bianchi-036/

the japanese pista seems overpriced considering the components used in the build. it's gonna cost over $700 and is not superior to the USA versions in any way other than perhaps the paint job and the fork crown. and no the fork is not special - it's listed as being made of hi-ten steel which is inferior to the USA version which uses Cro-mo. laaaaame! as a track frame it's not impressive in any way either, doesn't appear to be any better than the standard Fuji track / Kilo / Windsor chinese frames.

at this point if you're stuck on the idea of having a unique eye-catching pisuto bike, you should buy an NJS frame like the Panasonic and build it up from there. or, save some $$$ and buy an Alien or Kazane frame. You'll get the same NJS-style steep track geometry without the high sticker price, leaving you more budget for fancy parts.

the bianchi pista and pista concept are strait up Taiwanese... not even close to italian. (this is referance to the current production, there was one time when pistas were made of columbus, deda, etc tubing.

as far as my two cents goes, the bianchi pista have nothing on NJS fames.

(target bike is to bianchi pista, as bianchi pista is to samson)

god thanks japan for their domestic production extremely high quality of goods... honestly it makes have hope for a better tomorrow.