mzkovo

I'm looking to buy my first SS - going freewheel not fixed - and I've been doing a lot of research, but I'm a bit stuck and hoping for some advice.

Some background info: I live in Boston. My longest commute is about 10-12 miles each way. I'd be willing to spend up to about $750 on the bike, all-in, but I'd prefer to get it done for $600 if possible. I'd prefer to buy a ride-ready bike rather than build one up, though I don't mind swapping a component or two. I'd be totally happy with a year-old model or a used bike in good shape (if I could find one quickly).

Leaving out fixies with no back brake mount, really low-end bikes, bikes I'm not interested in after test-rides, and bikes listed at $800+, this is what I've narrowed it down to:

Fuji Track - $570 at lbs.
Pros: Rode it and liked it.
Cons: I read that it's a good buy at $400, but may be overpriced at $570. Would also have to buy a brake set for it.

Raleigh Rush Hour - $700?
Pros: I love the styling the best of all the bikes on the list.
Cons: I've found little review info, though it's mostly positive. No test-ride yet.

Jamis Sputnik - '09 is $900 online, up from $725 for the '08.
Pros: Reynolds 631 steel. Lightweight. Reviewed as the best SS frame in my price range. Nice styling.
Cons: Cost! No one seems to have one in stock anywhere near me, so it may be tough to find a test-ride.

IRO Mark V - $650-$725.
Pros: Reviewed very well.
Cons: None so far. No test-ride yet.

Those are my main choices. I'm leaning toward the Fuji Track, because I like the ride and could get it set up for around $600. I'd really like to test-ride the Sputnik. I'd consider an '08 at $725. I'm looking to test-ride the others as well. Given equivalent fits and components, cost is likely to be the deciding factor.

I have 3 major questions right now:
1) Are there any specific reasons which justify the extra $100-150 the Raleigh, Sputnik, or IRO would cost me over the Fuji?
2) Are there any instant component upgrades you think I should consider before buying any of these bikes?
3) I've seen lots of posts regarding people buying bikes (including these) at well below MSRP. Other than ebay, craigslist, and bikesdirect, are there other ways to get good discounts that I should be familiar with?

I've already considered and rejected numerous other ideas like the Pista, the Surly, Specialized, Schwinn, Mercier, and even building up a Soma (which was tempting), so I'd appreciate it if people just stuck to giving advice about the 4 bikes I've mentioned.

Thanks for the help!

Understanding

if you're settled on the fuji, you might want to consider the the Winsor Hour.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm

unless you're all about supporting your LBS, this is a way to go. It should be identical to the Fuji.

If you rode it and liked it though, you should go with the Fuji Track, but search through ebay, i've found a few going for $470.

HandsomeRyan

Advice, that's what we are here for...

This sounds liek a pretty reasonable budget.

What is everyone obsession with swapping components on brand new bikes?! The reason the manufacturer included _all_ the parts of the bike is so it _could_ be ridden as-is.

When you say "low end bikes" what specifically are you referring to? A motobecane messenger with some 28mm tires will be pretty similar to the Fuji Track you are looking at but for a lot less money. The BD bikes are made in the same factories of the same components as the name brand bikes you've listed. There is nothing that makes these bikes any more "low-end" than any other sub-$800 SS.

As a poor person myself, I completely understand this.

Admittedly the raleigh looks hawt but I'm not sure this justifys the extra coinage.

Get the bike and see what feels good or doesnt! I may love the stock saddle and you may hate it. I love SPD clipless pedals but you may prefer clips/straps. There is nothing that is "unridable" about any of these bikes and you should upgrade stuff as you feel it needs upgrading, not because a bunch of punks on the interwebs told you that neon green deep v's would get you more street cred.

Some bike shops deal in used bikes.

This will never happen. If you can wait a little longer, there is a new BD bike called the Kilo WT coming out. It's basically a knockoff of the steamroller (which is arguably the best platform for a commuting bike listed in your post).

I doubt I was helpful, but on the off chance that I was- you are welcome.

mzkovo

I meant bikes like the Schwinn Cutter and SE Draft - lower quality, not just lower price. I've heard a few people like these bikes, and they may be worth their $300 price tags, but after reading about them, I'd be happy to spend a little bit more money to get a higher quality bike.

I don't care about street cred. I'm going to be riding this bike 100 miles a week, so I just need it to be comfortable and reliable. I can figure out the comfort myself, but being less familiar with the parts, I was just wondering if anyone had insight about a particularly unreliable component on one of these bikes. If there aren't any real worrisome parts, then great!

Yeah, I figured, but it never hurts to ask.

I've thought about buying from DB. I'm not sure how I feel about that - I would like to support my lbs, but saving money is a big consideration too. Any input on DB bikes - does the quality compare to the originals? Do they skimp on components? Does the company stand behind the bikes if there are problems?

I guess that's it for now. Thanks for schooling a noob.

noglider 

Find out for sure that you can put brakes on the Fuji. Not all track bikes can accept brakes.

mzkovo

Yes, the Fuji Track is drilled for rear brakes. Surprisingly, the Bianchi Pista is not, but the Pista Flat Bar is. I liked that ride too, but for nearly $300 more than the Track, plus the need to swap out the bars, it seemed like more money than it was worth.

Andy_K 

If you've got an REI near you, you can get the Raleigh One Way for 15% off right now (about $640). Maybe not what you're looking for....

palu

Yeah, I saw that REI 15% off, too. Would be a good deal. Raleigh One Way looks sweet.

Out of your list, I would go with either the One Way or Sputnik. I was CLOSE to getting the Sputnik. It's a nice ride. But decided to build up a Steamroller. I like the frame better on the Sputnik than One Way, so I'd sway that way. Fuji is also nice, but more of a track frame and you'd have to mess with getting brakes. By that time, you're only $50 or so away from the prices of the Sputnik and One Way. Oh, also, you get a carbon fork with the Sputnik. Definitely worth it.

Also, I would definitely sit and ride on the bike first, which means staying LBS.

clink83

Fuji Track, SE Lager, Dawes SST=same frame, and the SST/Lager are the exact same components. If you're on a budget, and don't mind supporting BD's shady ass, the SST is one of the best deals out there. Swap out the seat, pedals and brake pads on the SST/Lager and you're good to go.

mzkovo

I saw the REI deal too. The One Way is a nice bike, but not really what I'm looking for. I know I'm trying to narrow down my choices, but in looking for deals, I came across the Jamis Beatnik. Seems very similar to the Fuji Track, and for only $30 more comes with both front and back brakes, and bullhorn bars (which I prefer anyway).

So, for $570, I can go with the Fuji, and buy brakes. For $600, I can get the Beatnik and ride it all set out of the shop, which sounds better IF I can find a shop that carries it. I found a Rush Hour available for $670 online, which is similar to the IRO - any tips on that comparison? Then, for $725, I can get the 08 Sputnik, with the same setup as the Beatnik, but with a lighter Reynolds 631 frame, and slightly better components...again if I can find one. Since I won't buy a bike I can't test-ride, the decision may simply some down to what I can find available at my lbs.

Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know how it goes.

fluidworks

I think you confused the SST with the Kilo. The dawes and fuji track are nothing alike, Dawes geo is far more relaxed. Kilo TT/Fuji/ KHS are all nearly identical.

davewins

GET THE FKN SPUTNIK!!1

1. reynolds 631(difference between 4130 and 520 is huge! I can only imagine what 600+ feels like)
2. carbon fork
3. nice wheelset(i rock a pair of formulas and love um)
4. installed brakes(tektro quartz brakes and bar-end levers ran me $70 at my lbs.)
5. and still has 'track geo' kinda.

DO IT!
search ebay and cl within a 100 miles for a 08.
if not maybe you could save up a lil more and get the 09.

I got $1200 in my flite100 and its not as nice as the jamis(that 631 is fancy ish).
wish i had known about it before i got my khs. love my khs tho..

rarebird

you've got a pretty good list of candidates. you'll be happy in some way with any of those. Don't buy bikesdirect, just search to find out why. smoke=fire=fire to be put out by shils and chumps but still smoldering leaving a sharp stench of ----

CCC

Have you looked at Redline's 925 at all? I know you didn't mention it as one of your choices, but you didn't list it as one of the bikes you looked at and tossed out either. I test rode it around a little and I really liked it. If you wanted a comfortable commuter as your primary purpose I would say check it out.

Otherwise I would say get the Raleigh. I think they look awesome.

EDIT: also, there are three redline dealers within 10 miles of Somerville. You can find them on the redline website if you are interested.

jmio

Not F'ing true at all, I have a messenger and a kilo, both have over 3 thousand miles on them now and BOTH are stock(except tires of course), I'm very very happy with both and will never try to persuade anyone from dealing with them.

mzkovo

I checked out the Redline as well as others I didn't mention - just so many bikes out there. The 925 seems alright, but not for me.

I've decided to stay away from BD for my first bike. No knock on anyone who's bought from BD and likes his bike, but I think I want to stick with my lbs if possible.

As for the Sputnik, it looks like a great bike, but I can't find one anywhere. I went to 3 Jamis dealers near me, and not one has a Sputnik or a Beatnik in stock. CL and ebay are bare too. I'm going to expand my search a little bit, because I really want to try one out. There are a couple of Raleigh dealers close by, though, so I should have no trouble finding a Rush Hour to try.

rarebird

LoL, that's sweet, you say that all the trouble people have had with those scoundrels isn't true. Because it would reflect on you....how?


I bought a german car once, but I still know their history.

All I 'm saying is anyone who thinks that it is a good idea should search, see how many complaints they get, here, there, the BBB, everywhere. If it gives you pause and you wonder why other online dealers and real shops don't get that kind of response good on you. If you get that if your transaction isn't A+ perfect that they will be there to ank the ladder out, then you are wise.

BD is a risk, buying stuff doesnt' have to be

clink83

Nope. The Fuji Track, SE lager, and SST use the exact same frame. I know, because the local SE/Fuji dealer I bought my Lager from had the Lager and Track on display next to each other, and they are the exact same frame. Same head/seat tube angles, same seatpost and TT lengths too.

jmio

all i'm saying is that i've done two seperate purchases from them, and BD has came through both times without any problems. I don't know what they did in the past, (i've heard some stories) but in the 'now' I don't think buying from them is a risk

CharneK

I commute on my Lager which is the same frame as the Fuji Track and I really like the way it handles. Its a great commuter bike. I've got new tires, cranks, chainring, pedals, clips, straps and brake pads though. So it rides smoother than stock now. I think you'd be happy with the Track. Every one of those bikes is a solid choice, congrats on actually coming to us with good research ahead of time. Most don't bother to do that.

How I would decide is to determine what you have available to you, and decide based on price. If the prices are very similar decide based on components. If there isn't much difference there either then go by looks.

palu

Good thinking!

My LBS was selling their '08 Rush Hours for ~$500. Check them out.

HandsomeRyan

[threadjack]This isn't entirely true.

I had a fine ordering experience with BD. There was a small part missing (a screw that likely rattled loose during shipping) when my bike arrived and they remedied the situation quickly and to my satisfaction. No complaints and i would certainly buy from them again or recommend them to a friend.

OTOH-

I spent $800+ on a bike for myself and another $500+ on a bike for my wife at one of my LBS's and they screwed me so bad shortly after the sale of the second bike I purchased from them that I'll never darken their doorstep again. I take both bikes to another LBS and pay for service that would have been free at the original dealer just to avoid going there anymore. Lucky for me there are many (good) bike shops in town so I have a choice.

• Buying from BD doesn't ensure a bad transaction.

• Buying from a LBS doesn't ensure a good one. [/threadjack]

SSBully

I work for the LBS, we are Jamis dealers, and I can tell you with absolute certainty, that the Beatnik(based on your budget) would be the way to go! As you stated, it's already setup how you want it, and they have great warranty service, should you need it. Their 520 frameset is a comfortable one to ride, and fairly light, too. If you get one, and don't like it, then flip it on ebay/cl, and move on to your next choice.

mzkovo

So I've done a bunch more research over the past few days, including FINALLY test-riding a Sputnik. Here's what I've concluded:

Let me start by saying that the vast majority of bikes I test-rode were quality bikes. I think anyone who owns/rides any of the bikes anywhere on my list is likely very happy with his bike. Certainly styling, fit, and geometry will play into any purchase. My conclusions about these bikes are based largely on what I saw as value for the money.

The Fuji Track, Jamis Beatnik, Raleigh Rush Hour, and most other SS bikes in the $500-900 price range have very similar frames. Each has slightly different geometry, but most weigh within .5 lbs of each other built-up. Of all the bikes I tried, only the Sputnik's frame stands out. In addition, the stock Sputnik justifies it's $900 with a carbon fork and the best components on this list. The '08, at $725, isn't really any more of a bargain, as it doesn't include any brakes or the flip/flop hub, which the '09 does.

Dropping down from the $900 price point, it seems most of the bikes in the $700-900 range are offering significantly less than the Sputnik. The frames in this range are all standard 4130 chro-mo, instead of the lighter Reynolds 631. Components vary, but none offer builds better than the Sputnik's. Some of these bikes are excellent bikes, they just seem like too much money for the value when compared to the Sputnik. Unless you love the styling or ride of a particular bike in this range, I'd suggest spending the extra few bucks for the Sputnik.

The other option is dropping down a few dollars. In the $500-700 range, Jamis also seems to offer the most value with the Beatnik at $600. The Fuji Track has an equivalent frame to the Beatnik, but for only $30 more, the Beatnik has a better wheelset and comes with both front and back brakes. The IRO build that I saw most comparable to the Beatnik listed at $670. That's also the lowest price I found the Rush Hour '09 for. I could definitely see spending the extra $70 for the Rush Hour based on styling alone, but value-wise, there's no other justification for the extra cost that I can see, except (maybe) slightly better brakes.

So, to wrap it up:

Jamis Sputnik ($900) - I was surprised that the most expensive bike on my list totally justified its price tag upon closer inspection. If you have the money, this is the bike I would recommend.

Raleigh Rush Hour ($670-740) - to my eye, still the hottest bike on the list. Equivalent value to the IRO and Surly Steamroller. Better value than any equivalent Bianchi I found (there are at least 3 equivalent steel SS Bianchis, but all cost between $750 and $850.

Jamis Beatnik ($600) - great value at the price. There is a quality drop off from the Sputnik in both frame and components, but the Beatnik is on par with the $700+ bikes.

Fuji Track ($570) - nice bike at the lower end of the price range. Significantly better than anything in the $300-500 range. Unfortunately, just not as good a value as the Beatnik.

So, in the end, I've decided to go with the Jamis Beatnik myself. I loved the Rush Hour, but there's no value reason to spend the extra money, and ultimately, I was worried the Rush Hour would be more likely to get stolen. And though the Sputnik was awesome, it's really outside my price range.

I'd like to thank everyone for their input. I hope others find this thread helpful as well. I'll update you all after the first 100 miles to let you know if I still feel I made the right choice.

Final Note* - just a reminder that I'll be using this bike as a freewheel commuter. I examined all of these bikes with that in mind, not for track vs. road geo, training purposes, best fixie ride, or anything else. Thanks for not flaming!

palu

Nice. You'll enjoy that bike. You can do a lot with the $300 that you didn't spend on the Sputnik (even though, like you said, is a VERY nice bike).

Post up some pics!