Touring - Masi Speciale Randonneur

Hi,
In the blog of http://commutebybike.com I saw this post of new touring bike from masi.
Here writes:
"And last, but certainly not least, is the new Speciale Randonneur. While I don’t have all the specifics yet, this is their new touring bike that is, as Brand Manager Tim Jackson says, “kick ass”. The MSRP is $1145 and it is also due to hit shore in early November."
What do you think?
http://commutebybike.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/randonneur.jpg

Kfir

My initial concern would be the brakes and the use of a compact double. Aesthetically, the bike looks gorgeous, but is it a serious tourer?

No triple crank: fail. Pedals: fail. Caliper brakes: fail.
Looks nice though, and comes stock with fenders. Would make a killer commuting bike though.


Edit: The more I look at it, the more I like it. Most definitely not a loaded touring bike though- probably great for credit card touring or the like. I don't like the chintzy saddle though.

I agree with the previous two posters. No triple crank, and it looks like sidepulls are used. This looks more like a light touring/randonneur bike than a full-on touring bike. But then again, it is called the Masi Speciale Randonneur, isn't it?

I have to agree with the others. The MASI does not get me excited. If I had to choose between this MASI and the Raleigh Sojourn, I would take the Raleigh.

Yeah, I'd definitely cal that a Rando bike, and not a tourer.

Reminds me of Sutherlind in "The Dirty Dozen", "Very pretty, Colonel - VERY pretty - But can THEY FIGHT!?

That frame has some great potential. I would change some of the stuff hanging off the frame though. The bar end shifters would have to go, and I would add more spokes to the wheels. It would also be nice if there was room for a bottle on the outside of the down tube.

The fenders also look a bit inadequate for long distance touring.

My old knees would also need a triple.

I also like the cable routing on the top tube.

I agree that the bike, as it is, would make for a super high class, kick ass commuter that I would love to have for playing in traffic.

Its a rando bike...I don't know who said it was a loaded touring bike?

It seems silly to judge the bike based on criteria for which it was not designed (ie touring), however, for its namesake purpose (long, potentially multi-day personal races against a clock) the brakes and cranks are fine. The pedals are a personal decision, as is the saddle- who cares about them as spec'ed stock? Personally I would keep the clips and put one of my b17 saddles on anyway.

Looks nice

It seems silly to judge the bike based on criteria for which it was not designed (ie touring), however, for its namesake purpose (long, potentially multi-day personal races against a clock) the brakes and cranks are fine.
Since this is a touring forum and a post about it was posted here it doesn't seem silly at all to me. That said, I agree that it isn't a touring bike and probably isn't worth consideration for use as one in the configuration shown unless it is maybe very lightly loaded or credit card touring perhaps. It is a very nice looking bike and probably well suited to it's intended purpose.

The fenders also look a bit inadequate for long distance touring.

That one I don't get. Care to elaborate?

That one I don't get. Care to elaborate?

The front fender is pretty short, like 3/4 the length of a regular fender. The rear looks fine.
Also, they appear to just be cheap plastic which will break the first time it gets touched by anything.
I'm interested to see what the final spec will be and if they change anything when it finally becomes available.

The front fender is pretty short, like 3/4 the length of a regular fender. The rear looks fine.
Also, they appear to just be cheap plastic which will break the first time it gets touched by anything.
I'm interested to see what the final spec will be and if they change anything when it finally becomes available.
Oh OK, but... They look normal length to me and plastic is fine if it is decent plastic. I suspect that they look short because there is no mudflap. My guess is that it would be good quality plastic unless the Masi name has gone to hell recently. The plastic fenders from Planet Bike have held up fine for me for at least the 7000 or so miles that I have been using them. Similarly they are fine on the two bikes that joined me on the TA and they have at least 5000 miles on each and probably more. So I think the "break the first time they touch anything" thing may be overstated a bit.

So you replace the crank and put a triple, no different than the 520. I happen to think this is one of the most attractive touring bikes out there and Masi bikes look much better in person than this picture.

My guess is that it would be good quality plastic unless the Masi name has gone to hell recently.
One quick point: I hope you are aware that the MASI name was sold not too long ago(actually the rights to sell masi-branded bikes in the USA), and the only thing in common with the masi bikes today with the ones from italy and/or the 70s-80s is the name, correct?
They are all made under contract/subcontract in taiwan- not that I'm trying to imply that this is a bad thing at all by any stretch, but a very far cry from the racing frames from the 70s and 80s, and even to the ones made in italy. Quite frankly, the branding is irrelevant.
The bike is looking nice, and as I stated before, it is most definitely not a loaded touring bike, but it is certainly growing on me, and I'd love to see the final iteration/specs when it is finally "released" for public consumption.

What fenders are those? The catalog doesn't list them. Also, would it fit 700x35c Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires?

FWIW, the limeys at Mercian spec all their touring frames withOUT canti posts, unless the customer specifies otherwise. They're building their tour frames with long ("standard") reach caliper brakes in mind. Unless you're going with reAlly wide tires, dual-pivot long-reach calipers are fine. They set up more easily than any canti's I've worked with, and a good dual-pull caliper will perform as well or better than the bulk of the chintzier canti's out there (onyx, br550, CC scx-5, avids). That being said, I run canti's on some of my personal bikes, and I like em--but, i like fat-*** tires and mud clearance and wide-open spaces on my bicycle.

as for the bar-cons, I wouldn't trade them for anything else for this application.

but yeah, it's a rando bike, more than a tour bike. but can you tour on it? absolutely. I think it looks pretty nice, but I wouldn't buy one.

-rob

Nice looking bike! I love the crowned fork, bar-end shifters, higher end cankset/bb.

No, it's not a loaded touring bike, but fit it with a saddle bad and bar bag, ride it as far as your money or legs will take you.

If you don't understand how this is a real touring bike. Here's your link.

http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Europe/Tour_Reports/Tour_of_the_Alps/

Photos and reports form an all time touring master.

We just got our first Masi Randonneur in a couple of days ago. It is GORGEOUS! It is also, unfortunately, pretty heavy. Still....I'm debating about EPing one. It's steel and it has long bar end shifters. What more do ya need? lol.
I agree, though, that it isn't what one would normally consider a "Touring" bike.

I'd love to tour on that, slap some racks on it and lets go.

They call the bike "Speciale Randonneur," not "Special Loaded-for-Cross-Country Tourer."

Jeez, you guys are a tough crowd. Looks like a pretty nice bike for the price to me. It seems that anyone planning to do serious loaded touring would either build up a frame from scratch or plan to replace some components on a stock bike. You may be able to buy the frame separately if you would want components such as a triple.

I would also venture that many people looking for a "touring bike" are actually looking for more of a randonneur or weekend touring bike. The Masi would do fine for those purposes. Not many people can take off weeks at a time to tour the country carrying all of their gear.

I want one. What a gorgeous bike.

I want one. What a gorgeous bike.

It really, really is. I think the fork is what really grabs me. That and the fact that it has friction bar end shifters. lol OH! and the MKS pedals with toeclips and straps!

It really, really is. I think the fork is what really grabs me. That and the fact that it has friction bar end shifters. lol OH! and the MKS pedals with toeclips and straps!

Well, one look at my screen name and you can tell why I'm hooked, lol.

I have to block these posts from my Dawes Super Galaxy though, I don't need a jealous bike on my hands.:D

I've used both cantilevers and dual pivot calipers. Calipers can be just as strong, in some cases, stronger.
Cantilevers need constant fussing. Calipers are set and forget.
An MTB cassette would gear the Masi low enough for touring.

We just got our first Masi Randonneur in a couple of days ago. It is GORGEOUS! It is also, unfortunately, pretty heavy. Still....I'm debating about EPing one. It's steel and it has long bar end shifters. What more do ya need? lol.
I agree, though, that it isn't what one would normally consider a "Touring" bike.

Hey, does it have the randonneur bars or the traditional drops that (I think) are in the photo above in this thread? My wife surprised me for Christmas this year with an '08 Speciale Commuter, which is (I think, also) the same bike except with a track wheelset, no fenders, no derailleurs and rootbeer color instead of burgundy. I went to the shop where she got it because I thought I might need a larger size & we talked about trading it towards a Randonneur. Personally, I was happy with the Commuter because I already had great plans to build it into the Randonneur before I even realized Masi had beat me to the punch. I even have other bikes that could make good use of the SS/FG running 'gear'. I was going to use a triple crank, btw....lol. Anyway, agreed it's not lightweight like some of the beautiful SLX steel bikes the looks might make you think of, but for about 99% of my actual purpose it's great. Only problem is to decide whether to build up my Commuter or trade.