Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Upgrading Frames from a SE Draft

Hey everyone,

I have a 2010 SE Draft bike that I'm finally getting around upgrading after longboarding for two years. I'm currently in the market of upgrading parts of it and I'm inbetween the Leader 722RS and the Pake Rum Runner for the new frame. I'm looked around the forum and have found a preference for the 722RS but very little on the Rum Runner. The Pake was recommended to me by a local bike dealer here and I found the Leader's on BF.

The 722RS would run me about $128 shipped and the Rum Runner would run $190 shipped. I'm 5'10, 180 lb, commute about six miles five times a week and go on weekend rides of about ~30 miles. The most important thing to me is comfort for the long ride and speed for the short bursts (getting to work that's 2 miles away in 10 minutes or less through downtown). I've also looked into the All City Big Blocks but I can't seem to find anywhere that sells the frames at all.

Thanks for the help everyone!

I think you're looking for the 722TS, not RS if you have a track bike.
I have a 722, and its great. It's not the lightest frame, but I think its plenty stiff for my uses, and the Candy apple green sparkles! :D

why the RS vs the TS? It seemed like the RS was ubiquitous around the boards.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n514/Muffinmeng/Leader722rs_zps14afedf7.jpg

Road dropouts. TS has horizontal dropouts for track stuffs.

Ahh, I see. I just did a quick search and the TS run around 300...a bit more than I was willing to spend, :/

If your budget is that low, maybe don't upgrade.

Trading one low end frame for another isnt really an upgrade. Unless there is something specific about the SE's geometry or the way it fits that doesnt suit you, and unless one of those other frames has the particular fit or geometry characteristics you are looking for, you are just pissing away your money.

your best bet if you arent able or dont want to spend alot of money is just to scour craigslist.
hit that up daily till you either see a complete with crappy parts but a decent frame or the frame itself.

If your budget is that low, maybe don't upgrade.

+1

Trading one low end frame for another isnt really an upgrade. Unless there is something specific about the SE's geometry or the way it fits that doesnt suit you, and unless one of those other frames has the particular fit or geometry characteristics you are looking for, you are just pissing away your money.

I agree with this. I've got an SE draft lite that has a lot of upgrades done with fairly cheap parts. (origin 8 crankset, velocity deepv, alloy bars, ritchey post etc), everything but the fork brakes and saddle basically. It is about 23 lbs, but I haven't weighed it since I replaced the wheels, so probably a bit less. I was also looking to upgrade to a pake since most of the parts I've purchased will be able to transfer over, but I couldn't really see a benefit in doing so because the bike weights most people on this forum give for their pake's with similar parts were around the same weight as my hi-ten steel draft. All a bit over 20lbs. If the weights are similar, whats the benefit of upgrading? stiffness? geometry? I am holding off for a while, will probably save my money and get a Soma Rush in a few months. What's the point of upgrading to something that's barely an upgrade?

If your budget is that low, maybe don't upgrade.

+1


Trading one low end frame for another isnt really an upgrade. Unless there is something specific about the SE's geometry or the way it fits that doesnt suit you, and unless one of those other frames has the particular fit or geometry characteristics you are looking for, you are just pissing away your money.

+1


Don't throw good money after bad.

Take your time, save more, buy a complete bike that is exactly what you want...not "getting closer" to what you want. Playing that "getting closer" upgrade game will cost you so much more money than one single big purchase.

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I was under the assumption that se drafts were complete crap and evetytjing was better, but if it's relatively similar.... I may end up saving for the big blocks then. I found a kilo tt complete on craigslist for abput 170. How does that compare to my current bike (se draft stock everything except alexrims r450 and diff handlebars).

I would put the money into a new saddle, or lighter wheels.

I think the draft is a really sturdy frame. I agree on upgrading components first. Maybe go for a carbon fork or something if you want to upgrade part of your frame set.

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I was under the assumption that se drafts were complete crap and evetytjing was better, but if it's relatively similar.... I may end up saving for the big blocks then. I found a kilo tt complete on craigslist for abput 170. How does that compare to my current bike (se draft stock everything except alexrims r450 and diff handlebars).

Dont upgrade for the sake of upgrading. It'll get you nowhere. And don't assume somethings a piece of crap just because you heard it was. If the bike is working for you just fine, then you dont need upgrades. Ride. With time you'll come to a better understanding of what upgrades are needed. Then your upgrades will amount to more substanative improvements.

Not sure about the Draft, but I've got a 2010 Lager that has seen 10,000-15,000 miles. It's gotten to know a few cars on personal levels, and it's been with me in four states. it's solid for the price. Components are fine if they're well maintained, but I'd swap them before the frame.

I ride an old Draft with an American sized bb. I picked up the frame dirt cheap and the only thing that's SE is the frame everything else is stuff I had laying around the shop. It's a heavy tank of a bike, I never put it on a scale, but it's solid and has treated me well.