jslug1234

This is really what it has come down to for me. I know more about the pista and i like how it looks but other than that i dont really know the difference. I dont really care about bang-per-buck between these two... just bang. Honestly which can handle it all and move better.

squeegeesunny 

Aren't Pistas known to have weak frames? Plus their unicrown forks are so ugly!
I am in a similar predicament with you, but I am ordering a Mercier over Bianchi. It seems like Bianchi's bikes are getting worse every year. 2006 Pista looked awesome.

Scrodzilla

I'd choose a Kilo over a Pista any damn day.

CharneK

^^^Agreed.

Middle ground though: Raleigh Rush Hour, Jamis Beatnik, Gutterball (not middleground but a good frame), Fuji Classic Track, IRO MarkV or Angus, or as will make scrod happy a MADISON.

jslug1234

Why is the kilo TT better? Spacifically... What's better that the kilo TT (if anything). Obviously people mess around with their bikes and make em a lot better but which is th best starter (or in general)

Scrodzilla

Thank you CharneK.

CharneK

I don't think its that the Kilo is "better" but that the Pista is not better per $$ extra. The Kilo is a surprisingly good frame for the money you spend on it. Its cult following is not for its looks but for its quality.

cc700

a pista's a great bike. i mean, it's not 'great' but it's fine for a beginner bike.

the kilo FRAMESET is definitely a cut above, but i'd rather have the pista complete if i was never going to change any parts.

i miss my kilo frameset so much. can't wait till it's back to me!

CharneK

Thats a good way to look at it.

Scrodzilla

I may be mistaken (due to lack of caring about Pistas) but don't the two completes come with practically the same components?

erichsia

The Kilo has water bottle mounts and eyelets for racks & fenders. This alone means it can handle more.

cc700

very close, but i think the pista has better wheels and bars and seat. everything else is VERY similar.

Scrodzilla

Not "better" enough, IMO. **** a Pista.

cc700

true. but seriously, to get a bike with wheels worth keeping you have to spend 700.

squeegeesunny 

How about a TT Pro vs Pista? Then Kilo wins fosssssssshizzle.

cc700

oh, easy. no contest.

but the tt pro isn't all that great. better than a pista is no huge credential, as mentioned.

Squirrelli

Since we are comparing bikes now....
I want to see what Scrod has to say on this one.

Madison or Kilo TT.

He would probably say Madison...

cc700

obviously, i think his opinions on both are well documented. plus the reason he sold one for the other.

tFUnK

both the pista and the kilo tt are reynolds 520 frames. the kilo tt has the aero downtube (not sure if the pista does too). i read somewhere that the pista has more aggressive geometry (can anyone confirm?). the pista comes with better wheels stock.

Dustintendo

kilo has a prettier fork

cc700

pista has had similarly lax geo since about 2008.

pista is 4130. i know there's no real tractable difference, but even if it's only a superficial distinction, i'm pretty sure they're not "both reynolds 520"

cc700

i meant to edit the above.
as of 2010, the geos are exactly the same for HT and DT angles, with varying reaches and wheelbases and such.

they're both similar.

CharneK

Seeing as how neither has a "better" frame material I think it comes down to components and such. The Kilo has rack and fender mounts making it more "useful". The Bianchi has maybe a little bit better wheelset but not loads better. They have the same crankset but the bianchi comes with a 48 and the Kilo a 46. Everything else is pretty comparable. The kilo comes in many more colors though.

All things considered, for a beginner, the Pista is just not a justified purchase when the Kilo is available.

cc700: I feel honored to have made your sig!

Chowbow

I bought a Pista recently and was choosing between that and a Kilo TT. This was my "real" bike - the others were all junkers for college and when I was a little kid. When I was researching, the Kilo TT was a pretty good deal. But I didn't know that much about bikes yet and assembling them and fitting them etc. So I went to the LBS to get their expertise and get fitted there and bought the Pista there. It's a little more expensive but I'm glad I got some help at the LBS and got fitted properly. Having ridden it for a while now, I did change the handlebars for comfort, got the proper brake handle for the handle bar, and the stem for a better fit. Otherwise, I didn't see the need to change anything else. I'm just a beginner though and using this as a beater exercise bike so my standards are probably quite a bit lower than some of the folks on here. Either way I don't think you'll go wrong - if you have some experience with bikes already and don't mind buying online and assembling yourself, I would say save a few bucks and go for the Kilo TT.

ichitz

I trued my stock kilo tt wheels and it hasn't been giving me a problem at all. But I also use my kilo like a beater so I'm not throwing too much money onto it. I'ld choose a kilo over a pista too.