dankni

Hi. I"ve been lurking here for a couple of weeks but now I need to ask a question. What is the better bike for the money. The Kilo TT Pro or the Dawes SST AL? I'm looking at the total package....frame and components. I wont be swapping out rims and crankset anytime soon so the whole bike is what I'm looking at. Or should I cough up more dough and go with a IRO Mark V Pro complete? Also, I've seen some mixed reviews with people buying from bikesdirect...is this a safe place to purchase from? Thanks for any and all information.

xavier853

IRO V

But if you were going between the Kilo tt pro and the dawes sst al, id go with the dawes

cc700

bikesdirect is perfectly safe but customer service can be slow. same with IRO and basically any one, two, or four man shop. bikesdirect does a lot of business though, so you'll hear horror stories that usually result from both customer and company making some foulups.

i'd get the IRO mark V too.

the kilo pro has nice wheels and frame but dumb saddle and costs a lot. the sst al has a (imo) dumb frame and nice wheels. both feel like a frame with stickers and components kind of awkwardly slapped onto it, and the mark v is way more of a 'complete' thought-out bicycle.

the kilo frame is better than the other two frames but you said you care more about the whole package... to me that means iro.

shenny88

PLEEEEEAAASE do not start the bikesdirect argument, anyhow...
I was in a similar boat quite a few months ago and ended up going with the all black SST AL
Im real happy with it so far. Youll want to change the saddle immediately though. Not very pretty welds but definitely solid ones, and everythings arrow straight. Holding up well so far.

avner

I'd strongly suggest an Iro.

https://www.irocycle.com/angusbuild-a...heelset-1.aspx

Prebuilt, 400 if you're either a 56 or 59. I've heard a lot of grand things about Iro's, if I wasn't on my sputnik i'd want to be on an Iro. Otherwise yeah, go Iro for over all value.

jtgotsjets

To me this is practically apples and oranges. Do you want steel or aluminum? There's your answer.

Squirrelli

^ +1

I'd pick the peach though.

yummygooey

IROs are very nice bikes. Does the Mark V have the shaped tubing? Or is that the Angus + Reynolds 631?

cc700

the mark v is shaped. the angus doesn't look quite as shaped, but it's not straight guage lamesause either.

dankni

Thanks for the response's. Honestly I was leaning toward the IRO...read some good things about them. But then I found bikesdirect...and the Kilo Pro and the Dawes stood out to me...seems like they both have nice components. Are the wheels, hubs, crankset on the IRO just as good? This will be a commuter bike to work for me...about 10 miles a day. Not into doing tricks or anything..but I ride fast. I figure anything will be better than what I have now...Backward Circle....CHEAP...components. Dont ask why I got a BC...now that I've been doing research I realize there are WAY better choices out there.


As far as apples and oranges go...I ride steel now...but I've ridden aluminum in the past (though not a track bike). I just want something light...I figure both will be sturdy enough...I'll go with the lighter one.

cc700

if you want light you aren't going to find it for 350.

the sst-al with a new set of racing tires and if you can, a used road front wheel is about as light as it gets under 400. of course, brakeless, with no bartape, and chop your bars to 8".

vigilanthony

I had a Dawes before I got hit by a car and now have a Kilo. First thing to go on both is the seat I'll tell you that. I really liked the Dawes and was bummed they didn't have it when I needed another bike. I liked the aluminum frame frame because it was stiff and you can really rip into it and go.

The Kilo is good for what you're paying too. The steel frame is a little smoother ride and not as responsive as the Dawes I've noticed. I have swapped out nearly all the parts on the Kilo since I got in it January. The only thing stock on it now is the chain, fork and handlebars. I didn't like it at first but after I made all the changes I have really begun to like it a lot.

yummygooey

How light do you want? I think you can easily get a Kilo under 20 lbs.

tFUnK

iirc my kilo (not the pro version) was about 19 lbs stock. a friend's dawes al sst felt lighter and more responsive, even though the geometry was slightly less tight.

both are good bikes, but i think the dawes al sst is better for general road riding (and better value price wise).

DrakeHawton

i ordered the dawes sst the other day and should get it in soo, what do you guys suggest i do to upgrade it? looking just for weight and performance, ill be riding a front brake for sure though. i haven't gotten it yet so i just want to hear some oppinions on what to do when i get it.

calv

Well what someone said just a few posts up is that the saddle should be changed.

Philthy Bastard

I've been on an SST AL for the last few weeks. Change the saddle first thing. The stock saddle is wonky! I picked up an All-City Gonzo with a leather cover and Ti rails for cheap. A new cog and lockring are also in order to replace the stamped steel/aluminum combo. Enjoy the new ride.

cc700

https://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.asp...C160&Prod=7034

buy this first off, then take off the brakes and bartape. that will get the bike under 17 pounds.

then buy these:

https://www.wheelbuilder.com/store/cu...ack-wheel.html
https://www.wheelbuilder.com/store/cu...ack-wheel.html

that should put you around 15.5 lbs

then buy this
https://www.google.com/search?sourcei...F-8&q=felt+tk1

and you'll have a light bike.

DrakeHawton

That's stupid, you cant barspin bro.

time bandit

This is about the only reasonable post i've seen on this issue.

vigilanthony

The 5 or 6 months I had my Dawes the only thing I changed out was the seat and that was right away. I liked the way everything else felt so I left it. I really miss that bike. You should be the one to determine what needs to be upgraded after riding it by finding out what you don't like. I will suggest a u-lock and maybe some lights though.

Or if you're going to buy a bike and then spend more money upgrading it right away, use that extra money and just buy a better bike that doesn't need upgrades.