Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - MASI or Raleigh??? help!

i need some suggestions...i'm getting a new bike/frame and i'm looking at a masi speciale and a raleigh rush hour. looking at cannondale too. i will be city commuting and distance riding? pros and cons??? your suggestions would be awesome!

thanks,
Pete

you might also want to check out fixies. A lot of people on the board ride fixies and they seem to like them.

I've got the Speciale Fixed, IMO it's excellent. It's a bit expensive for what you get but depending on what your shop is charging (mine was less than MSRP) might be a worthwhile pickup. The geometry is excellent and the stock components are good except for the pedals. Given the choice I would buy this bike again.

masi is pretty ;)

I've got the Masi and I love it. Super fun bike, and it's very pretty. Stands out from all the other bikes around here, even other fixed gears.

We've carried a bunch of different SS/fixies. Masi has been our most successful. I like the Speciale Fixed for a fixie and the Speciale Commuter for a SS (or as a base to build a touring/randonneur bike like I did.) Conversely, we've had a 56cm Raleigh One Way on the floor for almost a year now.

I ride a '77 MASI and it's been good since I got it (in '82), so I'd say go with the Masi for sure. Mine is fixed 42 x 15.

Rick / OCRR

I ride a '77 MASI and it's been good since I got it (in '82), so I'd say go with the Masi for sure. Mine is fixed 42 x 15.

Rick / OCRR

Well, your MASI and my MASI share a name only. While I love mine, yours is handbuilt in Italy, mine is a production frame ;)

Well, your MASI and my MASI share a name only. While I love mine, yours is handbuilt in Italy, mine is a production frame ;)

Well, no elTwitcho, not exactly.

My MASI was built in Carlsbad, CA at American MASI, which was licensed by MASI in Italy. There were three builders there at that time, so I don't know who built mine, but the builds were supervised by Mario Confente.

I bought mine from the original owner in '82 and had it repainted and re-decaled by Medici. It was my main road bike all through the 80's and early 90's. The frame collected dust for a few years, then was built as a fixed gear in 2005. I seem to be constantly changing things around, component wise, but I'm thinking it will say a fixed gear bike (well, at least until I die!).

Rick / OCRR

Well, no elTwitcho, not exactly.

My MASI was built in Carlsbad, CA at American MASI, which was licensed by MASI in Italy. There were three builders there at that time, so I don't know who built mine, but the builds were supervised by Mario Confente.

I bought mine from the original owner in '82 and had it repainted and re-decaled by Medici. It was my main road bike all through the 80's and early 90's. The frame collected dust for a few years, then was built as a fixed gear in 2005. I seem to be constantly changing things around, component wise, but I'm thinking it will say a fixed gear bike (well, at least until I die!).

Rick / OCRR

I did not know that.

Nonetheless, I still think it's important to point out that our two frames share the name MASI, but beyond that there isn't much in common between our bikes than a name.

Well, no elTwitcho, not exactly.

My MASI was built in Carlsbad, CA at American MASI, which was licensed by MASI in Italy. There were three builders there at that time, so I don't know who built mine, but the builds were supervised by Mario Confente.

I bought mine from the original owner in '82 and had it repainted and re-decaled by Medici. It was my main road bike all through the 80's and early 90's. The frame collected dust for a few years, then was built as a fixed gear in 2005. I seem to be constantly changing things around, component wise, but I'm thinking it will say a fixed gear bike (well, at least until I die!).

Rick / OCRR


yes, the U.S. Masi frames are more highly sought after than the Italian ones. Lot of great American framebuilders worked for Masi back then: Brian Bayliss, Dave Tesch, Dave Moulton, Eisentraut, etc.

OP, both bikes are nice, get the one that fits you best. I've not seen the Raleigh but the Masi looks very nice, and rides well, too.

I did not know that.
Nonetheless, I still think it's important to point out that our two frames share the name MASI, but beyond that there isn't much in common between our bikes than a name.

You're right, of course, but the MASI name has been bought and sold several times, and it was once owned by Schwinn! How weird is that! Now it's owned by Haro (which started as a BMX only company, back in the day).

There are MASI websites that take you through all the changes over the years, and possibly the most strange fact is that MASI's son is now making bikes in the original build location in Italy, but even he can't use the MASI name on the frames that he builds (at least for sale in the U.S.), since his father sold the family name!

Rick / OCRR

MasiGuy should be posting here real soon. He can and will answer all your questions about any of his bikes.

masi>raleigh