Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Republic bikes

http://www.republicbike.com/default.asp

anybody know anything about this company or there bikes. seems pretty cheap for u pick it stuff. lookin for a new beater ride to work bike. thanks

high tensile steel frames :(

i'd stay away.

perhaps someone close by can check out:

35 SW 12th Ave #110
Dania Beach, FL 33004

also, someone needs to point out the typo on the shop description page:

Atistotle is a customizable fixed gear bike with a flip-flop hub. Fixed or free – you decide. Aristotle's clean lines and component set balance value and visual.

(WTF does 'set balance value and visual' mean, anyway??)

high tensile steel frames :(

i'd stay away.Honestly I've seen people are against "high tensile steel frames" bike.. I don't know what does "high tensile steel frame" mean by that? Can you example me, please.. :)

It's an extremely cheap steel tubeset that is heavy and rusts easy.

Honestly I've seen people are against "high tensile steel frames" bike.. I don't know what does "high tensile steel frame" mean by that? Can you example me, please.. :)

High tensile is just a step above gas pipe.

Chromoly is about 60% stronger, therefore can be drawn into thinner tubes, thus making lighter bikes.

perhaps someone close by can check out:

35 SW 12th Ave #110
Dania Beach, FL 33004

also, someone needs to point out the typo on the shop description page:

Atistotle is a customizable fixed gear bike with a flip-flop hub. Fixed or free – you decide. Aristotle's clean lines and component set balance value and visual.

(WTF does 'set balance value and visual' mean, anyway??)

Needs a comma after "set", or a hyphen between "component" and "set".

Needs a comma after "set", or a hyphen between "component" and "set".

Needs the whole site to be destroyed because this is a terrible company with a terrible product.

while the bikes may suck, I bet this business will sell a **** ton of them.

fully customizable color scheme for 350? not bad if that's what you're into.

It's an extremely cheap steel tubeset that is heavy and rusts easy.


High tensile is just a step above gas pipe.

Chromoly is about 60% stronger, therefore can be drawn into thinner tubes, thus making lighter bikes.
Dudes, Now I get a picture.. Dannihilator- if frame got scratches, I have to paint cover it as avoid to get rust easy, am I right? ianjk- High tensile is more stronger than gas pipe? So, thank you for simply examples as above

the bikes aren't horrible, but not great by any means. Issues I see are slack angles, 175mm crank arms, 28c wide tires, ghetto bars, and only 24 hole rear wheel which I can't imagine being too strong.

Perfect starter bike for people that want me to build them one! I may send friends there. For someone that bike 1 mile a day, this is probably pretty good steal. It's like crap performance wise but for nonserious friends that want to be sort of hip.. not too bad..

yeah, it will rust and weighs 24 pounds. That sucks for most of us here, but there are a hell of a lot of folks out there who would pay almost that much for something a lot less fun with a lot more maintenance issues. If you have another $200 and/or some experience you can do better, but at that price point and no experience, your options are this or a terrible mountain bike. I would take the pretty colors.

Dudes, Now I get a picture.. Dannihilator- if frame got scratches, I have to paint cover it as avoid to get rust easy, am I right?


It will rust regardless, but it can be prevented/held off if you keep on top of keeping the frame dry.

It will rust regardless, but it can be prevented/held off if you keep on top of keeping the frame dry.


+1/2
Rust is I believe the oxidation of metal, which requires raw metal + water + some sort of electorlyte.. You keep that frame un scraped you won't rust! Paint serves as a barrier.. Paint doesn't rust! Laws of chemistry. Sorry to be a ******!

Rust is iron oxide.

The only problem with high tensile would be the weight, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I used to ride BMX alot, and the bike I had (which was 4130) was still close to 30lbs. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Will someone just say the F***ing obvious.. you wanna know what is the frame good for?? I know for a fact that frame isnt for Tricks but that fork looks like you have full Barspin clearance even while pedaling maybe... Hi-Ten is really cheap and heavy so don't expect to be the cool one with a 17 pound bike. The rims are only 24, so i bet that some one with enough torque could do some damage to those rims, or if you like going off curbs. The brakes dont have a brand..so thats a lil sketchy and so is the fact that its a Fixed gear but it doesnt come with straps.. On the up side, looks great, Suginos cranks, Barspins, and Great color choices.

BASICLY, i think its great for someone who jsut wants to be in that "Fixie" scene with their friends, some one who just rides with them and doesnt get too much into it.

someone on the forum needs to purchase one of these and write a review!

someone on the forum needs to purchase one of these and write a review!


I agree. I was just lookin at it for riden to work a 5 miles a day and leavin it outside for 8 hours in florida where its gonna get rained on. I couldn't leave a $800 (or more) bike outside all day.

only practical application of those bikes/frames is for geometry class to measure angles, other than that not much. would rather take the bus than be seen on that, personally.

only practical application of those bikes/frames is for geometry class to measure angles, other than that not much. would rather take the bus than be seen on that, personally.

someone to impress eh?

Garbage

My buddy got one. The chains look awesome but are really thin, they felt like plastic so it may need replacing. The rear hub is actually pretty decent and looks cool. It has Sugino cranks so that is decent too. The tires feel really cheap, they feel like playdough a really sticky plastic like feeling. The saddle is cheap but is still pretty comfortable. The frame is heavy and I guess easily rustable but it really isn't terrible. The wheels look awesome but come out of the box horribly out of true but that is easy to fix. The brakes are BAD! the pads don't align and feel VERY cheap. My BIGGEST gripe about the bike however, are the grips! I don't even know how to describe them but they are CRAPPY plastic grips. So all in all, I'd give these bikes a 6 out of 10. They absolutely need new grips and probably a new chain. The brakes can be adjusted pretty well so they will perform alright, so that isn't too much of a problem. I recommend that if you purchase one, you take it to a bike shop to have it assembled. I work as a bike mechanic and built my buddy's and it is a little tricky to get some of the parts just right and the wheels trued.

THATS ALL FOLKS!

bleugh, dania beach is everything i hate about sofla bros.

just got a kilo or windsor hour or sst

I have 1 the grips suck, chain is really cheap. But the frame is okay, other then being cheap steel. But I have been riding it for about 3 days now. I tacoed the rear rim the first day of being on it. SO I would suggest new rims/tires. The Front tire riped the first day too, So I just put a velocity 650c on the front and Weinmann 700c on the back. Now it rides fine. I also put another crank on it too. Sugino is alright, but not the one they put on it, It felt tiny, and wobbled horribly. So all in all just the frame is okay, but I am planning to buy another frame to use.

I have 1 the grips suck, chain is really cheap. But the frame is okay, other then being cheap steel. But I have been riding it for about 3 days now. I tacoed the rear rim the first day of being on it. SO I would suggest new rims/tires. The Front tire riped the first day too, So I just put a velocity 650c on the front and Weinmann 700c on the back. Now it rides fine. I also put another crank on it too. Sugino is alright, but not the one they put on it, It felt tiny, and wobbled horribly. So all in all just the frame is okay, but I am planning to buy another frame to use.

ahhh now i see!

i'll stay away

yeah they suck but I did not buy it. So no regrets. But I hope to get another frame soon ;)

Republic bikes is a fitting name for a company putting together bikes with 90% of the parts coming from china.

I have 1 the grips suck, chain is really cheap. But the frame is okay, other then being cheap steel. But I have been riding it for about 3 days now. I tacoed the rear rim the first day of being on it. SO I would suggest new rims/tires. The Front tire riped the first day too, So I just put a velocity 650c on the front and Weinmann 700c on the back. Now it rides fine. I also put another crank on it too. Sugino is alright, but not the one they put on it, It felt tiny, and wobbled horribly. So all in all just the frame is okay, but I am planning to buy another frame to use.

Ahh Thank You! Good thing that I actually did choose schwinn cutter over Republic Bike..

dont waste your money man. bikedirect if you are gonna spend 300-400 bucks .. then upgrade when you are ready or whatever you plan to do.

high tensile steel frames :(

i'd stay away.


Honestly I've seen people are against "high tensile steel frames" bike.. I don't know what does "high tensile steel frame" mean by that? Can you example me, please.. :)


It's just another point for hipsters to differentiate.

I took the chance and bought the bike on a whim. This is strictly a toy and I have plenty invested in real bikes. And I'm too old to be a hipster or to give a rats ass- just want a fixie I can play with.

On first impression the bikes look cool. Downsides are ridiculously cheesy brakes that either have to be removed or replaced. Same with the pedals. Chain is frightening. And is it just me (I mostly ride mountain bikes) or am I right to be shocked this has a plastic chainring? But you get what you pay for and these are all easy upgrades.

But... the fork was damaged in shipping and the bike is unusable. Waiting to see if the company makes it right or just takes my money and runs. That to me is the difference between a buying a cheap fixie or blatantly getting ripped off. Stay tuned...

I took the chance and bought the bike on a whim. This is strictly a toy and I have plenty invested in real bikes. And I'm too old to be a hipster or to give a rats ass- just want a fixie I can play with.

On first impression the bikes look cool. Downsides are ridiculously cheesy brakes that either have to be removed or replaced. Same with the pedals. Chain is frightening. And is it just me (I mostly ride mountain bikes) or am I right to be shocked this has a plastic chainring? But you get what you pay for and these are all easy upgrades.

But... the fork was damaged in shipping and the bike is unusable. Waiting to see if the company makes it right or just takes my money and runs. That to me is the difference between a buying a cheap fixie or blatantly getting ripped off. Stay tuned...

Plastic chainring....?

a "high ten" frame will weigh more and flex more than a frame made from cromoly.

Next lesson is that if a frame has a sticker saying that it's cromoly doesn't mean that all of the 10 tubes are cromoly. A frame can have 1 cromoly tube with the sticker on it. the rest of the tubes can be high-ten.

End of the lesson, there's seamed cromoly and seamless. A seamed tube starts out as flat plate and is rolled then welded. You will not see the seam, but it's there. Seamed tubing can get a lenght wise crack in it or it can just not ride as well.

Seamless tubing is Drawn over Mandrell ( D.O.M ) this is suitable for building aircraft or racecar parts. Yes the good frames on the market are D.O.M tubing on all 10 tubes.

As for "double butted" it's thicker near the welded joints due to the strenght lossed during welding.

I hope this helps clear up some stuff with this frame. it's not that the bike will rust quicker. it's about quality and what you can get for your $

Republic bikes is a fitting name for a company putting together bikes with 90% of the parts coming from china.

um, the US is a republic and China actually isn't one, but this isn't a civics class.

Heard back within hours regarding my busted fork and other concerns. Bottom line is they are willing to bend over backwards to replace my fork and do whatever is necessary to feel good about my purchase. I have to say I am very impressed with the level of customer service.

I'll have to wait until the fork arrives to get a sense of the ride, but I feel that I got an entry level fixie at an entry level price from a reputable company.

I agree. I was just lookin at it for riden to work a 5 miles a day and leavin it outside for 8 hours in florida where its gonna get rained on. I couldn't leave a $800 (or more) bike outside all day.

I have a Republic and I love it. There were a few things that I swapped out. First was the chain... cheap and thin, not plastic like people said, but Im not down with cheap chains. (The chainweel was not plastic either, Sugino cranks, actuall pretty nice) The grips are absolutely horrible. They feel like grips off of a triclyce. I changed the bottom bracket... the website says that its sealed but mine wasnt, so dropped in a sealed b.b.. I didnt even bother putting on the brakes, but they look cheap as well.


Granted it is NOT a top of the line fixed gear, but I went from an old school Nishiki to this and it is worlds of difference. If you are looking for a decent commuter/beater or an entry to mid level fixed gear, then this is it, with a little work. For the price its tough to beat.

Also they seem to be sized a bit weird. I ordered a large (59) and it fits more like a 57. still im 6'2 and i like the way that it fits me, nice and tight. Fun bike.

... plastic?

gas pipe bikes?

sorry to bring this threat back up. Any other folks have a review on this? The back rim tacoed the first day?? that sounds ****ty. Does it barspin 700s?

wow it's been exactly one year since this thread was created. thought the message would be clear

don't ask about this bike, because you shouldn't even be considering it. it's a piece of garbage that is vastly outclassed by many better competitors

someone on the forum needs to purchase one of these and write a review!

You first. Actually, I should see about an evaluation copy.

well, assuming I can only afford a bike at this price - $399 - is it worth it? I'm not looking to go race... I just want to ride around town, maybe some cardio rides, and lots of tricking... So when you say it's a piece of crap, could you elaborate on that? I mean, I've read the thread, but some people are like "eh it's cool for the price" and others are like "it's a piece."

There's a kind of adage with bike gear: "Cheap, light, durable - pick two." From everybody's description of this bike, it looks like the builders picked "cheap" twice, then offered it in a bunch of colors that would appeal to hipsters, who would also pay a ridiculously high price for it. I'd avoid it.

well, assuming I can only afford a bike at this price - $399 - is it worth it? I'm not looking to go race... I just want to ride around town, maybe some cardio rides, and lots of tricking... So when you say it's a piece of crap, could you elaborate on that? I mean, I've read the thread, but some people are like "eh it's cool for the price" and others are like "it's a piece."

yeah you're right it's worth it. a $400 gaspipe fixed gear with garbage components is vastly superior to a $300 4130 windsor timeline with decent hubs. the only thing that's good on the republic is the crankset, and frankly that's not an area you need to dump money into.

On a serious note (well, i'm still serious about not paying an extra $100 for an inferior product. shill warning whatever), but if aren't familiar with bike maintenance and set up then i highly suggest buying from a local shop. i'm guessing south bay area you mean like san jose and the like, there's plenty of decent shops. having a shop assemble your bike and check the fittings to make sure they're greased (lockring and cog, bottom bracket, seatpost, etc) will cost around $80 it seems. factor in they'll help you with fit an you might not be that far away in the end from just buying a $500 bike in the store. plus you'll be building a relationship with a local shop, which is always good to do.


now, if you have the know-how and the tools to basically disassemble the bike completely and reassemble it properly then go for an online order bike, it'll be cheaper. chances are you'll also know how to set up all saddle angles, positioning, and bar height and know what stem length to get.

now, if you have the know-how and the tools to basically disassemble the bike completely and reassemble it properly then go for an online order bike, it'll be cheaper. chances are you'll also know how to set up all saddle angles, positioning, and bar height and know what stem length to get.

i may be going out on a limb here, but if someone had this kind of know-how, they probably wouldn't be considering a republic.

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/1238409288_adam-slapped.gif
..

^^^The image is gone!

If you have to replace the wheels,chain, and the brakes you are really paying $400.00 for a sub par frame and fork.