IRO MARK V PRO vs MERCIER KILO TT PRO
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IRO MARK V PRO vs MERCIER KILO TT PRO
I'm looking to buy one of these, but thought I'd ask you guys for some helpful input. The tt pro has 520 chromoly and the iro pro has 631 steel tubing, but check them out for yourselves
https://www.irocycle.com/index.asp?Pa...ROD&ProdID=196
https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_pro.htm
i looking towards getting the partial build of the mark v pro. Anybody have any useful information/opinions? Pros and cons and what not. thanks!
https://www.irocycle.com/index.asp?Pa...ROD&ProdID=196
https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_pro.htm
i looking towards getting the partial build of the mark v pro. Anybody have any useful information/opinions? Pros and cons and what not. thanks!
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reynolds 631 is lighter and more expensive than reynolds 520; but the kilo tt is a better deal as you're getting an entire bike not just a frame.
And if you're just gonna upgrade the kilo tt pro you might as well get a normal kilo tt as it's just the components of the kilo tt "pro" that makes it "pro"; as they both share the exact same frame aside from the paint.
And if you're just gonna upgrade the kilo tt pro you might as well get a normal kilo tt as it's just the components of the kilo tt "pro" that makes it "pro"; as they both share the exact same frame aside from the paint.
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I for one love the exclusive pro colors, and I am not a fan of the original's chrome accents, but thats just me.
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i could be totally wrong, but i was under the assumption IRO made better bikes than mercier....plus everyone has kilos....if it were me i would spend the extra money on the IRO partial build. but thats just me, and im a newb to the fixed gear world. perhaps you shouldn't listen to me and i shouldn't be posting lol
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i could be totally wrong, but i was under the assumption IRO made better bikes than mercier....plus everyone has kilos....if it were me i would spend the extra money on the IRO partial build. but thats just me, and im a newb to the fixed gear world. perhaps you shouldn't listen to me and i shouldn't be posting lol
As for the frames themselves, they each have their pros and cons. IROs are made from slightly better quality chro mo but the kilo has a prettier crowned fork. And personally I think that the kilo has a much tighter, agile, and fun geo as compared to my friends Mark V, which feels a little bit more like a road bike. So the frames are definitely competitive with one another, its mostly based on preference.
When decided to go fixed I had to decide between an IRO and kilo, but after a few months of evesdropping on this forum, I couldnt really justify the extra cash on the iro apart from the fact that a lot of people have kilo tts. But hey, they are popular for a reason, I love my kilo.
Last edited by gobby1095; 03-20-10 at 09:30 AM.
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IRO's are also popular lol.... but not as much as the kilo tt.... and worst of all IRO's colorways are very limited when compared to the kilo's and then its variations which do have their own colorways as well.
Talk about embarrassing when you come to a light with a guy riding the exact same bike as you! Sure it's okay and funny with say a higher end pista concept but a cheap common bike makes it all awkward and stuff in my opinion....
Talk about embarrassing when you come to a light with a guy riding the exact same bike as you! Sure it's okay and funny with say a higher end pista concept but a cheap common bike makes it all awkward and stuff in my opinion....
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I think the Kilo is more popular on this forum than in real life. I've only ever seen 1 in Seattle. Never seen an IRO. I've seen A LOT of Surlys, Masi, Raleigh, Bianchi, Trek, Specialized, etc. But the kids going to internet bike forums enjoy getting bikes over the internet too i guess.
is there a reason why you've ruled out a LBS? There are a lot of benefits to buying local..
is there a reason why you've ruled out a LBS? There are a lot of benefits to buying local..
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more like cheap 'n' cheesy but hey to each their own. and they're not as cheap as people think, after you gear it down, get some decent pedals and saddle, pay for a few truings, etc
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i've honestly never seen either one. everybody here rides crummy mountain bikes (in the WRONG EFFING GEAR!!!!) on the road. i like the iro more just because of the tubeset. 631 rules.
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The $350 I paid for the bike was just the beginning really... I had better wheels, and tires, and had to buy a new stem, bars, brakes, cog... it adds up fast! It is now a happiness machine and worth every penny. Great bike.
-J
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Out of the box my kilo did not feel cheesy at all, have you owned one preston811? Some of the parts were cheap and clearly needed to be replaced fast, but this is the case with most new bikes. Most of the parts are perfectly rideable if you have decent mechanical skills.
And Ill bet money that in a blind test between 520 and 631 tubing 90% of people on this forum wouldnt be able to tell the two apart. Especially to someone new to fixed gears/bikes.
And Ill bet money that in a blind test between 520 and 631 tubing 90% of people on this forum wouldnt be able to tell the two apart. Especially to someone new to fixed gears/bikes.
Last edited by gobby1095; 03-20-10 at 01:20 PM.
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You can always make a project out of repainting the frame you buy to the exact color you want.... or if you have money have it professionally done....
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I have a Kilo, so I am offended by your comment. No one like to be thought of as a person who's taste favors the cheap and / or cheesy.
The $350 I paid for the bike was just the beginning really... I had better wheels, and tires, and had to buy a new stem, bars, brakes, cog... it adds up fast! It is now a happiness machine and worth every penny. Great bike.
-J
The $350 I paid for the bike was just the beginning really... I had better wheels, and tires, and had to buy a new stem, bars, brakes, cog... it adds up fast! It is now a happiness machine and worth every penny. Great bike.
-J
Another thing about buying locally is that most shops will help fit you to the bike not only prior to but after the sale, this includes taking your measurements, swapping stems at no cost, etc.
And you get a [theoretically] pro assembly. Not some throw together job in Asia where you're left on your own to make sure everything's right n' tight.
And you can actually test ride first! Not every bike is perfect for every rider believe it or not, some you just like more than others. Would you buy a car without test riding it?
And service after sale. If anything goes wrong with your BD bike, good luck playing email tag with them and have fun shipping it back and waiting for a replacement. With a LBS bike you just walk in and they fix you up immediately for nothing. They also usually tune you up for a year after the sale.
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Whoever said the thing about differing geometry made a good point. Geometry translates to the ride pretty directly. At this level, the differences between 520 and 631 are negligible.
And as for everyone else who mentioned the "colorways" and how the bikes look...well, it's SSFG so I guess it's a pretty good point too. I want my bike to look hella pretty when I'm walking it up the 9% grade that I can't climb.
And as for everyone else who mentioned the "colorways" and how the bikes look...well, it's SSFG so I guess it's a pretty good point too. I want my bike to look hella pretty when I'm walking it up the 9% grade that I can't climb.
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I've had a Mark V for several years now and am thrilled with it.... that being said, my girl is pretty stoked on her Kilo TT.
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I guess that's a niche that BD bikes are good for too: GF's, coffeeshop biking and hipster posing. I guess I just assumed that people want to ride a bike like I do, hard. How many miles have those girlfriends put on their bikes, honestly.
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Seriously? I commute and joy ride around 10-20 miles daily with my kilo, rain, snow, whatever in pothole-ridden nyc. I have never had any issues with the stock parts although I have gradually switched them out to fit my comfort tastes, I absolutely love the frame. I have tried iros, pakes, pistas, steamrollers etc, and the only frame I enjoyed ride-wise as much as my kilo was the surly. Dont bash if you have never owned one.
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From my and my guys experience, all bikesdirect bikes are as good as any typical LBS retail bike. All bikesdirect bikes are made at the exact same factories as many expensive LBS brands. Take for example kinesis who makes some of bikesdirect's road bikes also happens to make bikes for that famed british bike company called raleigh. bikesdirect bikes are cheap because you're not paying for the brand while you're getting the same exact quality.
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Seriously? I commute and joy ride around 10-20 miles daily with my kilo, rain, snow, whatever in pothole-ridden nyc. I have never had any issues with the stock parts although I have gradually switched them out to fit my comfort tastes, I absolutely love the frame. I have tried iros, pakes, pistas, steamrollers etc, and the only frame I enjoyed ride-wise as much as my kilo was the surly. Dont bash if you have never owned one.
Ok you got me. the Kilo TT is the perfect bike for everyone. I'm the one giving bad advice, I mean heaven forbid someone actually visit a bike shop and test ride some bikes.
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From my and my guys experience, all bikesdirect bikes are as good as any typical LBS retail bike. All bikesdirect bikes are made at the exact same factories as many expensive LBS brands. Take for example kinesis who makes some of bikesdirect's road bikes also happens to make bikes for that famed british bike company called raleigh. bikesdirect bikes are cheap because you're not paying for the brand while you're getting the same exact quality.