Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO

[crossnut]

I have both and they are different, but the same, beasts. The Nature Boy gets the nods for the fit/finish, but the Moto Fantom Uno STILL gets the nods for quality at an uber-cheap price. They ride's pretty comparable. Now only if BD would build the Fantom Uno in Ti........ Still dreaming. But, while I dream of the Uno, Seven is happily building me a Ti Mudhoney based on my experiences with the Fantom Uno. IF BD would build it, I think MANY would go for a Ti version of the Fantom Uno... Heck, I finally went to Seven after years of waiting...

[bigbenaugust]

You guys really need to stop selling me on this bike.

[crossnut]

It really is a great bike. Even stock. The Motos just get a lot of undeserved bad raps. It can do most anything you ask of it. I always wished they'd build it in Ti or do the Mercier Kilo WT with cantis. I think they'd really have something in those two. Of all my bikes, the one I grab most often is the Uno.

[bigbenaugust]

I was thinking of getting the UNO and the Alex SUB wheelset that comes on the Kilo WT.

[geeter]

It really is a great bike. Even stock. The Motos just get a lot of undeserved bad raps. It can do most anything you ask of it. I always wished they'd build it in Ti or do the Mercier Kilo WT with cantis. I think they'd really have something in those two. Of all my bikes, the one I grab most often is the Uno.

Hmmm...So between the Nature Boy and the Uno would you say there isn't much difference? Since you own both, is the wheelbase on the Uno pretty similar to the Nature Boy? I rode a Swobo Crosby yesterday and thought it was pretty nice. I love the SRAM Torpedo hub that it comes with stock, but it is also near 1K.

The shop I went to also had a Raleigh Roper, which is the same frame as the Furley single speed. It also has discs and comes in at around 800 bucks pre tax. That is still more than double the Uno after taxes........and I have had great results with my previous Bikes Direct purchase in the Kilo Pro. Other than bars, tires, and saddle I run that bike stock and it is so quick.

I could build a cross check up myself for the same or less than the Nature Boy I believe. I realize that Surly has a cult following, but if the Uno gets the job done for 399 shipped I can save some serious cash.

[mfredrickson]

Re: cross check v. uno: The advantage of the Surly would be that you could convert to a geared set up later if you wanted (132.5mm rear spacing). If you only ever want a single speed, then the Uno (120mm rear spacing) seems like it is a good value and would do the job. There are of course other differences, but this seems like the first question to ask yourself.

[geeter]

Re: cross check v. uno: The advantage of the Surly would be that you could convert to a geared set up later if you wanted (132.5mm rear spacing). If you only ever want a single speed, then the Uno (120mm rear spacing) seems like it is a good value and would do the job. There are of course other differences, but this seems like the first question to ask yourself.

I thought about that. I just worry that the geometry for the Uno is similar to a track bike and I want to get away from that. I am having a hard time justifying the extra 500 bucks I will have to shill out for the Nature Boy or Cross Check build. But I am believer in spending more upfront to get what you will be happy with down the line.

[Bianchigirll]

I am on the fence about picking one of these up for cost purposes alone. The specs of the components aren't much different than an All City Nature Boy. I don't know about frame quality from either but the Nature Boy is more than double of the Fantom Cross as bone stock. Has anyone compared the two in terms of ride quality, geometry, and overall value? I know it is hard since the Moto is not available in stores.

I don't visit this forum much so I may be a bit behind the topic but.. Whne I bought my Uno I really wanted a Bianchi San Jose but $800 was just tooo much for a SS so I got the Uno instead. I do not use it nearly as much as I should but I don't really just run down to the cafe' or the corner bar that often. Great bike though.

I really considered a IGH for it too but then decided against when I realized I didn't want to hassle with clamps for the cable routing.

One thing I did find annoying was that I had to use P clips for the fenders as I could not use the provided screwhole with a chain tensioner

[bigbenaugust]

Ordered. I don't think mine will get a lot of off-road use other than the occasional gravel road, but it's been shipped.

[geeter]

Those of you who own more than one cross bike, does the Moto have a shorter wheelbase and compact geometry like a track bike?

[bigbenaugust]

Those of you who own more than one cross bike, does the Moto have a shorter wheelbase and compact geometry like a track bike?

At least mathematically, the UNO's wheelbase is shorter than that of my Fantom CX. But it's longer than most (all?) track bikes. It's also longer than my mini-velo, which should be long enough for my purposes.

[joshpants]

You guys really need to stop selling me on this bike.

x2. I keep coming into this thread and tempting myself.

[bigbenaugust]

Mine arrived yesterday, all safety cone orange, along with a set of Alex SUB wheels from the Kilo WT and a Nashbar order of fenders and Panaracer Pasela TGs. I just need a little time to assemble it.

[joshpants]

Nice!

[bigbenaugust]

Packing job is typical BD/BikeIsland, lots of cardboard, tape, foam, and rubber bands. I will be spraying some FrameSaver on the inside of the frame tonight before I assemble it tomorrow.

No pics until it's done.

[geeter]

Did you order the Alex Sub wheels separate from BD? If so, how much were they?

[bigbenaugust]

right here at bikeisland

They are also available with tubes, 700x28 tires, and 17t free/18t fixed cogs here.

[geeter]

right here at bikeisland

They are also available with tubes, 700x28 tires, and 17t free/18t fixed cogs here.

Oh thanks! That is solid! You can run 40's on those suckers for a great winter commuter.

[bigbenaugust]

First ride this morning. Impressions:
- Brake levers are terrible. Too narrow, they hurt the hands after 8-10 miles. Will chuck them as soon as I can stand to recable the brakes. I will probably swap with the equally-generic but far more substantial C-Star levers from my mini-velo. Or get some Cane Creeks or something, because these are bad.
- Toe overlap is about the same, maybe a little less than my Fantom CX.
- No heel strike on the panniers under normal load. (This was my biggest worry.)
- Fit is fine. I ride a 54cm Fantom CX and the 54cm Uno fits just fine. Bottom bracket is MTB-high, though.
- BikeIsland forgot to ship a stem with the bike, so I used a Ritchey I had spare. I might swap in my old Nashbar Adjustable to get the reach just a little shorter.
- Cranks are 175mm and 39t (specs say 170 or 172.5 and 38t). I was expecting 172.5 like my 54cm Fantom CX. My knees don't seem to care, though.
- Everything else is solid. No actual complaints other than the brake levers.
- Orange color is kind of silly... in a fun sort of a way.
- Alex SUB rims (not stock) are kind of deep. I'll need some valve extensions to get over 70-80psi in these Panaracers... my pump head kept blowing off.

I will take the gravel road route home and see how she likes it in the rough.

[GeoKrpan]

Good looking bike. I have a black one but I think the orange is much prettier.

I guess I got my UNO in 2008. I have beaten it to death on the trails but haven't killed it yet.
I bent the stock rear wheel immediately and got some cheapo 30mm Vuelta wheels which have held up to major abuse.
4 years later my UNO looks like hell, a true beater now.
I used a WTB Mountain Road bar on mine for a long time and now I'm running a Nashbar moustache bar which I like better.

[ambulance_andy]

Looks great bigbenaugust,
I wanted the orange, but they'd sold out, so I went with the white.
Mine should arrive today via UPS, can't wait =]

[bigbenaugust]

By my math, I have 148 miles on the bike so far. This has included commuting, messing around town, some gravel road and a lovely suburban gran fondo of 68km/42mi last Monday (Sunnyvale-Stanford-Campbell-Sunnyvale).

Some more observations:
-The SUB rims need 48mm valves. But these aren't the stock rims.
-38x16 is a good gear.
-I think I need some MTB-style toe clips like my other CX bike has... these road ones are pretty flimsy.
-Brake levers still suck. After 42 miles on them last Monday, my hands were cramping. Brakes are good, though.
-Wished I hadn't bought gumwall tires... should have gone with black tires like the Panaracer UrbanMax tires on my Fantom CX.

[dalhopgood]

Yo! Any one out there 5'10" with an 30 in inseam own one of these bikes. What size did you get?

[bigbenaugust]

I got a 54cm... I am 5'9"ish with a 30in inseam. I needed a fred stem to shorten the reach a bit.

Which reminds me, I broke 1100 miles on it this week and I love it. Even with a rack and panniers.

[bigbenaugust]

So after 1400 miles or so, I yanked the narrower non-ergo bars off of my mini-velo, brake levers and all, and transplanted them onto the Uno. I like the non-ergo bars quite a bit. The width is better for me and the brake levers feel much better in the hands. But the reach is a little longer, so I am working out the fit all over again.

I finally also managed to knock one of these SUB rims out of true and will be getting it trued Friday.

Still, nothing but love for the bike.