Red Horn

Anyone have experienced based comments on the; https://www.masibikes.com/steel/speciale-cx/ ?

I kinda have my eye on it for DC around town riding and hopefully a little racing if I get strong enough. Steel seems to be regarded as having the supple ride characteristics I desire.

cs1

Never ridden one but one of my LBS Century Cycle https://centurycycles.com/product/09-...cx-52675-1.htm has them in stock. They look real nice. If I needed a bike that would be at the top of my list.

meanwhile

This is another cycling myth:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-materials.html

https://www.63xc.com/scotn/metal.htm

- Basically, geometry trumps metallurgy.

If you want "supple" then the threads per inch count and rubber compound used for your tyre matter more than frame material.

Red Horn

I have experiences riding steel. My first quality bike was a Peugeot lugged 10 speed in the 70's. Followed by a Trek 12 speed in the 80's. My first and only alloy is an M2 added mid 90's. I would not enjoying riding is without it's suspension fork. My heavy cruiser is made from what I presume is cheap steel. It rides nicely none the less. I have ridden cruisers made from what I would equally assume is cheap aluminum that did not put a smile on my face ride/comfort wise. Yes width of tires and pressures have a lot to do with supple rides. All factors being similar and experiencing various ride characteristics I still have a strong attraction to a well designed steel frame.

With this in mind care to toss some ideas my way for bikes that are available below $1400 that feature nice CroMo frames and worthy components?

Loose Chain

You will not mind if I disagree, "metallurgy" does indeed mater.

Unagidon

I love that Masi. If I needed a another steel cross bike, that would definitely be top of my list, ahead of surly since it already comes with STI. And it looks cooler

cs1

I've seen it in person at my LBS. They are beautiful. I only wish there was a better selection of colors. Browns are in vogue now. Whatever happened to really bright colors? Still, it's a really well executed bike. You could do worse.

Red Horn

I am in good position. Looking at the site photos I would be happy with either the wine or rootbeer color ...

meanwhile

Sure. Some bike frames ride soft, some ride hard. But it is tube profile and geometry that determines that. Read those links if you want to understandy why.

Captain Jake

Aluminum as a material is more supple, however as a bike material it is best utilized in very larger very thin tubes, resulting in a stiffer frame. Steel doesn't have the necessary properties to make lightweight larger tubes and therefor steel frames tend not to be as stiff as aluminum. Of course there are some very nice riding aluminum frames out there, and they are certainly nicer riding than they used to be, but when choosing between similar geometry aluminum and steel frames, the steel is likely to be the more forgiving frame.

Saddle Up

I like mine

eippo1

Lol, Saddle Up, I did the same thing with mine with getting a Ritchey carbon fork. I also put on Rival components and Aksium wheels. It rides really nicely and feels great at top speeds through the woods. I do wish it was slightly lighter for me to flip the rear end around, but the weight helps its predictability. It's a really nice bike and weighs about the same as Surly and only a little heavier than a Presidio.

fietsbob

Diameters and wall thicknesses matter a lot, 80s AlAn frames were standard diameter heat treated anodized tubes screwed into Lugs and Glued in.

lots of teams rode them to the podium .. Light, for steep run ups, forks, supple to a fault , and were readily pressure Hosed down By the support crew
and handed back to the competitor. some places, the pits guys, waded into the lake and dunked them to get the Mud off.

those look like oversized tubes , so Expect a bit rougher ride , But heck if it's too rough, throw the thing over your shoulder and run with it ,
what ever gets you around the course .

cs1

I like it too. What upgrades did do? It definitely isn't stock.

Saddle Up

Now that you've asked I realize only the frame is original

Ritchey Pro stem and seatpost, Pro Biomax handlebar, Comp fork
FSA Gossamer MegaExo crank with 46/38 chainrings
XT cassette and Shadow derailleur, Campy NR FD
Dia-Compe barend shifters, XTR/Duraace cables
Tektro CR720 brakes, RL520 levers
Mavic Aksium wheels, Vittoria Randonneur Hyper 700-35/32 tires
Brooks B-17 Imperial

Red Horn

As do I ...


I visited a LBD here in DC after they told me they had a Masi CX I could check out . Unfortunetely it was the typical sales B.S. to get you into shop. They do not stock a single Masi but are a Masi dealer . "We can order you one" they claim. Visit wound up not being a wasted trip since they had a 54cm Cross-Check that fit and actually seems very nice. A few upgrades down the road and I would be happy for a while.

bruce282

Is it OK to ask which shop? I was also looking at the Masi CX and would like to avoid a useless trip downtown.

Bruce

meanwhile

Mail Masi and tell them that one of their non-stocking dealers is using their brand to get people in and then selling them other bikes. And buy the Cross Check somewhere else.

fietsbob

Only the 3V volumetrica AFAIK, is Italian, the MASI name was sold off a while ago its an Asian frame now,
so Its not much different than a Cross Check that QBP gets made there too, Contract builder may be the same

Only some details may be different + paint and logos of course..

A dealer can claim the area dealership for a brand, but sell so few Or lack the funds to stock yet another line of bikes
they rely on the wholesalers warehouse to back them up with stock.
Distributors prefer Pre season orders and get import contracts based on the number commited to in pre season orders.,at the trade shows

Red Horn

City Bike in Adams Morgan. They say they have Masi's at their other shop.