Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - i'm going downtown to look at FBM Sword Frames today....

i was about to order an 09 Bianchi Pista - my goal is to get a frame in chrome or raw metal.

so then i saw this - Volume Cutter V3. dope.
http://www.tokyofixedgear.com/img/pds2/medium/volumeraw1.jpg
no US distributors that i'm aware of.

then i found out that FBM makes a frame with a similar look, built right here in NY.
http://superbbicycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/sword-headbage.jpg

i know this look is polarizing - some think it looks like crap.
my road bike has a nice coat of pearl paint; i don't need another :)

That is badass and I want one.

You live in Ithaca? I lived there a few years back and really miss all the waterfalls and rad places to swim.

The boys at FBM make amazing stuff.

http://www.ride-this.com/index.php/volume-bikes-cutter-track-frame.html?source=googleps

That is badass and I want one.

NYC...but it's closer than taiwan :)

NYC...but it's closer than taiwan :)

Unfortunately, Taiwan is probably a lot closer in the financial sense.

http://www.ride-this.com/index.php/volume-bikes-cutter-track-frame.html?source=googleps

heh, my bad. i could only find UK and Tokyo dealers.
guy i spoke to today said that the Sword frames are slightly better quality, and that the Volume would be more relaxed than track and cheaper.
that's all good with me, i don't plan on riding on a track

fbm makes some sick bikes, i had no idea they made anything outside of bmx.

they don't have that frame on their website... are those a limited run or something?

they don't have that frame on their website... are those a limited run or something?

www.fbmfixed.com

haha, i was looking at the wrong site. my bad, im a dummy

Iv seen the Volume on ebay for a decent price.

I checked out a bunch of shops. the Cutter is apparently more BMX-ey than your typical track frame, overwelded and has thicker tubing. more for people doing tricks. I didn't get to see one in person. this sentiment was echoed by several LBS guys.

I saw the sword. looked good, but was kind of expensive. I would need to do a build from
scratch, which might be a little much if I want the sword frame.

lame as this may be, i think I'm going to buy a complete bike to learn on.

I checked out a bunch of shops. the Cutter is apparently more BMX-ey than your typical track frame, overwelded and has thicker tubing. more for people doing tricks. I didn't get to see one in person. this sentiment was echoed by several LBS guys.

I saw the sword. looked good, but was kind of expensive. I would need to do a build from
scratch, which might be a little much if I want the sword frame.

lame as this may be, i think I'm going to buy a complete bike to learn on.

I don't think its lame.

How much was the sword may I ask?

I bought a complete bike and I learned a little too quickly.. now I just want to build up my own.

I don't think its lame.

How much was the sword may I ask?

the sword was about 550 to start. since they're a local shop---as opposed to Taiwan--- they are willing to do custom builds for you.... I'm told they'll do invetween sizes, drill for a rear brake, etc.

there was a decision that had to be made about whether I wanrd an integrated headset on the sword...something I'm too much of a noon to know

I'm going to say no you don't want an integrated headset.

ETA:
I just looked at pictures of the Cutter. Eugh.
http://www.ride-this.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/u/cutter_blk_dropout_1.jpg
Is it just me or do those dropouts look like total crap? Look like stamped steel, and the way they're attached to the frame reminds me of those super cheap bike boom bikes (think Free Spirit) where they just crimp the tube around the dropout...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3HZOoR3jtE0/SFgPb_N3lHI/AAAAAAAAADI/n9Y7FOETadk/s1600-h/Free+Spirit+-+Dropouts.JPG

I'm going to say no you don't want an integrated headset.

ETA:
I just looked at pictures of the Cutter. Eugh.
http://www.ride-this.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/u/cutter_blk_dropout_1.jpg
Is it just me or do those dropouts look like total crap? Look like stamped steel, and the way they're attached to the frame reminds me of those super cheap bike boom bikes (think Free Spirit) where they just crimp the tube around the dropout...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3HZOoR3jtE0/SFgPb_N3lHI/AAAAAAAAADI/n9Y7FOETadk/s1600-h/Free+Spirit+-+Dropouts.JPG

So you can mash on it and it wont break?

So you can mash on it and it wont break?

What?

550 for the frame? or the frameset? or bike?

I'm going to say no you don't want an integrated headset.

ETA:
I just looked at pictures of the Cutter. Eugh.
http://www.ride-this.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/c/u/cutter_blk_dropout_1.jpg
Is it just me or do those dropouts look like total crap? Look like stamped steel, and the way they're attached to the frame reminds me of those super cheap bike boom bikes (think Free Spirit) where they just crimp the tube around the dropout...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3HZOoR3jtE0/SFgPb_N3lHI/AAAAAAAAADI/n9Y7FOETadk/s1600-h/Free+Spirit+-+Dropouts.JPG

apparently it's made in Taiwan and "more BMX than
other fixed gear frames" so...

550 for the frame? or the frameset? or bike?

for the *frame*. the forks were another 200.

leader 722ts comes in raw. I want one real bad.

http://www.leaderbikestore.com/pd-722ts-2010-track-frame1.cfm

Those dropouts look gross.

Is it just me or do those dropouts look like total crap? Look like stamped steel, and the way they're attached to the frame reminds me of those super cheap bike boom bikes (think Free Spirit) where they just crimp the tube around the dropout...

Using the awesome power of technology, we're going to go back in time to where your question was already answered.


I checked out a bunch of shops. the Cutter is apparently more BMX-ey than your typical track frame, overwelded and has thicker tubing. more for people doing tricks. I didn't get to see one in person. this sentiment was echoed by several LBS guys.

that fork is nice.

leader 722ts comes in raw. I want one real bad.


raw bikes are hot. I want a raw bike.

Using the awesome power of technology, we're going to go back in time to where your question was already answered.

Wow dude... I don't even know where to start.

First of all, my question was, "Do those dropouts look like total crap?" I completely fail to see how bolding some quote about oversized tubing and welding answers that question in the least.

Second, Did you even read my objections to those dropouts? It has nothing to do with the big ugly welds (although they are, in fact, big and ugly). It has to do with the fact that they look like the dropouts on a 1979 garage sale special—not exactly confidence inspiring when it comes to busting out your sweet "BMX-ey" tricks. The steel looks stamped instead of forged (looks thin to my eye as well). The tubes looks like they were just crimped down on the dropouts (see picture)

Last... what the ****? I say the dropouts look like crap and everyone defends them saying "They're better for tricks." What the **** what the ****?! How is making ****ty looking stuff good for tricks? Perhaps if I had said "Man, those dropouts look like crap... for tricks" or maybe "Those dropouts look like crap... because they are so sturdy and beefy looking." But I didn't, I said they looked like cheap crap.

http://i38.tinypic.com/es9e69.jpg

relax
I understand this new bike forums format is getting to you.
I know its frustrating when things don't work, but just take a deep breath and relax. it will all be ok

Goos fra ba

snarkiness tends to be received with hostility

I agree w/ Adriano about the fork, though. It's pretty cool looking. 200 seems a bti steep but w/e. I would buy it if I needed a steel fork

Wow dude... I don't even know where to start.

First of all, my question was, "Do those dropouts look like total crap?" I completely fail to see how bolding some quote about oversized tubing and welding answers that question in the least.

Second, Did you even read my objections to those dropouts? It has nothing to do with the big ugly welds (although they are, in fact, big and ugly). It has to do with the fact that they look like the dropouts on a 1979 garage sale special—not exactly confidence inspiring when it comes to busting out your sweet "BMX-ey" tricks. The steel looks stamped instead of forged (looks thin to my eye as well). The tubes looks like they were just crimped down on the dropouts (see picture)

Last... what the ****? I say the dropouts look like crap and everyone defends them saying "They're better for tricks." What the **** what the ****?! How is making ****ty looking stuff good for tricks? Perhaps if I had said "Man, those dropouts look like crap... for tricks" or maybe "Those dropouts look like crap... because they are so sturdy and beefy looking." But I didn't, I said they looked like cheap crap.

http://i38.tinypic.com/es9e69.jpg

Wow, they look just like those old crimped dropouts, only they're shaped differently, are clearly brazed and don't look anything alike at all aside from the fact that there isn't a smooth and gradual taper as is typically done on bikes with thinner tubing.

I wonder if it's possible that there might be a simple explanation for why the dropouts look the way they do. Maybe something like; they use thicker tubing for increased strength, and I wonder if there's an explanation for why, like if they were for doing tricks.

I wonder if maybe this bike is less like a track bike, and more like something like a BMX? What do BMX dropouts look like I wonder?

http://davidwilsonindustries.com/gallery/bmx/cruiser/BMXdropout.jpg

http://www.thepurebicyclecompany.co.uk/interface/images/titamiun-bmx-frame-drop-outs.jpg

http://www.batch.org/images/frames/bmx_mini/bmx_mini_dropouts.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X6BAqnj-7Ls/RjInwH7FoLI/AAAAAAAAADg/KFpTETUOU8A/s400/Federal+Dropouts.jpg

But no dude, totally looks like a 1979 garage sale special and nothing at all like some other kind of bike built specifically for tricks, that was already mentioned in this thread.

Hm, I wonder if anyone knows why they didn't taper the tubing to the dropout making it thinner and....

^Thanks, you totally get me.