Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - IRO Mark V

What does everyone think about the IRO Mark V? Quality, parts, etc.?

http://www.irocycle.com/fixedgearandsinglespeedbikeframesfromirocycleinc/id78.html

looks cheapO !

I ordered mine this past thursday. It should be here next week. I'll post pics and a review once its built.

looks cheapO !

IRO quality is not bad for the price. I tell you what is cheapo: De Bernardi thron frame. This thing has such a poor paint job that 2-3 mm diameter paint dropped off around the bottom bracket when I scratched a small lump. It looked like the DeBernardi folks decided to paint over a puddle of mud/clay around BB, but that is topic for another day.

doesnt look bad at all, but the price is a little steep for my cheapo budget

DB'S are sweet frames but are reputed for the ****tiest paint jobs ever to grace a bike. Hell, at least the paint on a huffy stays! so basically, when youy buy a DB, add $100 for a powdercoating.

That's why when I saw two UNSCRATCHED DB's behind the handlebar I was really thrown off :-D

Mine came in the mail yesterday and i built it up with the parts of my other bike. Surly 36 fixed/fixedd hub to whatever rim. Sun 32hole hub laced to sun rim. Suginio areomaxy cranks, 42-14 gearing, shimano spds, selle italia seat, kore stem, and ritchey bullhorns. The bike wouldnt fit my 28mm armadillo tire so i ran out and found a 23mm. A 25mm should fit.

It looks way nicer in person than in photos. Its way stiffer than my old scwhinn world sport. Also its a 59 where as the scwhinn was a 63. Im only 6ft tall. This bike rocks. I can allready tell the difference in the bottom bracket height (no more wussing out around corners) and the geometry (trackstands will wash out on you if you aren't paying attention). Sorry for the long post. Photos to come shortly!!!

DB'S are sweet frames but are reputed for the ****tiest paint jobs ever to grace a bike. Hell, at least the paint on a huffy stays! so basically, when youy buy a DB, add $100 for a powdercoating.

That's why when I saw two UNSCRATCHED DB's behind the handlebar I was really thrown off :-D
those were skitbra's and mine, locked to a tree.

looks cheapO !

You get what you pay for, and for $250 that's not much.

However...



What does everyone think about the IRO Mark V? Quality, parts, etc.?

I am incredibly happy with mine. As I said above, the quality isn't top-notch, but it is an awesome deal for the price. Also, it sounds like you are interested in buying a complete bike (as opposed to assembling it yourself). The website says "This is a starting point. You can add or change anything you like," and they're not kidding. Keep in mind that IRO bikes aren't pre-assembled; Tony, the owner of IRO, builds each one from scratch (basically). Tony is a great guy to deal with; if you have a specific part in mind, he'll order it and put it on the bike for you. That's why I think IRO is such a great deal; you could spend just as much money on a Pista, Langster, or KHS, but if you do you are probably going to eventually swap out parts. With IRO, you can all of the specific components you want from the get-go. I've said this elsewhere on the forum, but if you get Tony to build you a wheelset, make sure you check it out with a spoke tensionometer once you get it; mine came dangerously under-tensioned, and I had to have it re-trued.

Pics are available here (http://pictures.sultanik.com/iro/).

Hefty looking tubes, methinks. I'd go with Surly

Hefty looking tubes, methinks. I'd go with Surly

IRO are made in the same factory as Surly with 4130 steel just like Surly.

Seems like Surly just charges a little more.

I have a Mark V frame set and it performs great. The fork is a little heavy.
But for $50 on ebay you can get a nicer steel fork. Personally, I ride the
fork that came with it and have had a lot of fun.

DB'S are sweet frames but are reputed for the ****tiest paint jobs ever to grace a bike. Hell, at least the paint on a huffy stays! so basically, when youy buy a DB, add $100 for a powdercoating.

That's why when I saw two UNSCRATCHED DB's behind the handlebar I was really thrown off :-D

My Marin frame must have a similar paint job. Little chips missing all over the effin' place. Granted, I've already crashed it twice, but neither of those times had anything to do with the current paint loss. By far the most brittle paint job I've ever seen on a bike.