Pake Urban 6 speed
05-13-07 | 09:17 PM
#2
tired
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,651
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Breezer Uptown 8, U frame
I wrote up a little comparison of the Pake to the Electra Amsterdam on a bike forum that is local to me. Hope it helps...
Here's a pic of the Pake. I think it's really a nice bike.
Originally Posted by donnamb on another forum
I've had the opportunity to ride them both, and I enjoyed the ride on each one. Let me try to summarize the differences:
- Drivetrain: Both Amsterdams have a 3 speed Nexus hub, the Pakes have a 6 speed derailleur.
- Crank placement: Both Amstersdams are mildly crank-forward bikes, the Pake is not.
- Frame: You can get an aluminum or steel frame in an Amsterdam, steel only in the Pake.
- Brakes: Both Amsterdams have a rear coaster brake, Pake has front & rear V-brakes.
- Chainguard: Both Amsterdams have a full chainguard, Pake has a partial.
- Both Amsterdams and the Pake have metal fenders, a bell, a sprung saddle (nothing special).
- The steel frame Amsterdam model has a rack, skirtguard, a bottle generator with front and rear lighting, and a front mudflap. The aluminum Amsterdam and the Pake do not have any of these things.
I liked the Amsterdam best. I think it is a somewhat better quality bike overall compared to the Pake. It just seems sturdier. I also prefer an internal hub gear drivetrain. That said, the Pake is a sweet little bike. To me the differences are mainly a matter of personal preference, so anyone considering buying one or the other ought to try out both.
- Drivetrain: Both Amsterdams have a 3 speed Nexus hub, the Pakes have a 6 speed derailleur.
- Crank placement: Both Amstersdams are mildly crank-forward bikes, the Pake is not.
- Frame: You can get an aluminum or steel frame in an Amsterdam, steel only in the Pake.
- Brakes: Both Amsterdams have a rear coaster brake, Pake has front & rear V-brakes.
- Chainguard: Both Amsterdams have a full chainguard, Pake has a partial.
- Both Amsterdams and the Pake have metal fenders, a bell, a sprung saddle (nothing special).
- The steel frame Amsterdam model has a rack, skirtguard, a bottle generator with front and rear lighting, and a front mudflap. The aluminum Amsterdam and the Pake do not have any of these things.
I liked the Amsterdam best. I think it is a somewhat better quality bike overall compared to the Pake. It just seems sturdier. I also prefer an internal hub gear drivetrain. That said, the Pake is a sweet little bike. To me the differences are mainly a matter of personal preference, so anyone considering buying one or the other ought to try out both.
__________________
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
05-13-07 | 11:47 PM
#4
tired
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,651
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Breezer Uptown 8, U frame
Originally Posted by dwoloz
A 6 speed? Seems kind of weird, like they just had a bunch of 6 speed freewheels lying around they needed to get rid of
If you're going to go the derailleur route might as well slap on a 9 speed
If you're going to go the derailleur route might as well slap on a 9 speed
__________________
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
05-14-07 | 01:28 AM
#6
The Legitimiser
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 6
From: Southampton, UK
Bikes: Gazelle Trim Trophy, EG Bates Track Bike, HR Bates Cantiflex bike, Nigel Dean fixed gear conversion, Raleigh Royal, Falcon Westminster.
Originally Posted by dwoloz
A 6 speed? Seems kind of weird, like they just had a bunch of 6 speed freewheels lying around they needed to get rid of
If you're going to go the derailleur route might as well slap on a 9 speed
If you're going to go the derailleur route might as well slap on a 9 speed
05-14-07 | 11:04 PM
#7
tired
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,651
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Breezer Uptown 8, U frame
Originally Posted by deputyjones
, really? That would be perfect for my wife and for my running errands bike....hmmmm.
While there's no Pake dealer in MI, see the part about shops who have accounts with a certain distributor. 
__________________
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
05-15-07 | 08:30 AM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland
Bikes: Pugsley, fixie commuter, track bike
Originally Posted by Sammyboy
Not really. 6 speed parts last a lot longer.
I guess the slightly wider teeth and chains may be better than a 9 speed but an 8 speed uses the same chain width.
6-speed hubs use a freewheel which means the hub bearings are further inboard and more likely to have a bent axle. The axle width is also narrower at 126mm which means there is not much if any advantage in wheel dish.
My guess is they used a 6-speed drivetrain because it was cheaper. I still see cheap bikes with 6-speed derailers so I'm guessing the system costs less than the more modern 8-speed drivetrains.
I'd rather have the hub gear with additional rim brakes.
Craig
06-04-07 | 01:51 AM
#9
what.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
From: SD, CA, USA
Bikes: raleigh rush hour
i'm looking into getting one of these for my girlfriend and was wondering(from those who have rode them) how they are weight-wise. i know it's not a feather but she has an old varsity that's a freaking anchor. we would like to avoid that again. thanks.
06-21-07 | 08:34 AM
#10
usuallyfixed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Saint Paul, MN
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Trek L200 Roadster, Peugeot PX10
Pake Urban 6 review
My wife uses the Pake Urban 6 for her daily commute. She's had it for about two months now and really likes it.
We had to buy it site unseen, special ordering from one of the shops listed on the Pake website. Considering the price, it's a pretty nice bike. Good ride and handling. Fairly lightweight. Smooth rolling tires. Two of our neighbors (hybrid riders) have ridden it and thought it was great, loved the upright position. On the downside it does have low-end steel hubs and derailer but they work fine.
Complaints:
- A bike like this should have a KICKSTAND. We added one.
- The seatpost is TOO SHORT, at least on the step-through model. She's only about 5'6" but we needed to install a longer one to get a comfortable position and decent leg extension. It's just a cheap tubular post so a longer one could have been spec'ed at negligible cost.
- The gearing is WAY TOO LOW! The 33/14 tooth high gear is only about 63 gear inches, about the same as Raleigh puts on their beach cruisers. Any tail wind or down slope has you topped out. Changing the chainwheel/chainguard is not feasible so I am installing a 11-28 Shimano 7 speed freewheel (11 tooth not available in 6 speed) and 7 speed twist shifter. This will give her an appropriate 81 inch gear, but the bike should have come that way.
Despite the complaints, I like this bike a lot. It's perfect for the urban environment. America needs more bikes like this. (I ride the Trek L200 "citybike" https://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/l200.jsp picked by Bicycling magazine as one of their bikes of the year then quickly discontinued by Trek.)
We had to buy it site unseen, special ordering from one of the shops listed on the Pake website. Considering the price, it's a pretty nice bike. Good ride and handling. Fairly lightweight. Smooth rolling tires. Two of our neighbors (hybrid riders) have ridden it and thought it was great, loved the upright position. On the downside it does have low-end steel hubs and derailer but they work fine.
Complaints:
- A bike like this should have a KICKSTAND. We added one.
- The seatpost is TOO SHORT, at least on the step-through model. She's only about 5'6" but we needed to install a longer one to get a comfortable position and decent leg extension. It's just a cheap tubular post so a longer one could have been spec'ed at negligible cost.
- The gearing is WAY TOO LOW! The 33/14 tooth high gear is only about 63 gear inches, about the same as Raleigh puts on their beach cruisers. Any tail wind or down slope has you topped out. Changing the chainwheel/chainguard is not feasible so I am installing a 11-28 Shimano 7 speed freewheel (11 tooth not available in 6 speed) and 7 speed twist shifter. This will give her an appropriate 81 inch gear, but the bike should have come that way.
Despite the complaints, I like this bike a lot. It's perfect for the urban environment. America needs more bikes like this. (I ride the Trek L200 "citybike" https://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/l200.jsp picked by Bicycling magazine as one of their bikes of the year then quickly discontinued by Trek.)
06-21-07 | 11:14 AM
#11
Why you guys picking on a 6 speed??
I've got an older Bridgestone "Carmel" 6 speed mixte that is a wonderful
upright city/urban bike. A 6 speed is way better than a 3speed hub that
most city/urban bikes offer and is lighter that a 7speed hub.
I've got an older Bridgestone "Carmel" 6 speed mixte that is a wonderful
upright city/urban bike. A 6 speed is way better than a 3speed hub that
most city/urban bikes offer and is lighter that a 7speed hub.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
06-21-07 | 12:06 PM
#12
Originally Posted by donnamb
The step-through model is a real cutie, DJ. That's the one I rode. While there's no Pake dealer in MI, see the part about shops who have accounts with a certain distributor.
While there's no Pake dealer in MI, see the part about shops who have accounts with a certain distributor.
06-21-07 | 10:51 PM
#13
tired
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,651
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Breezer Uptown 8, U frame
I was pleasantly surprised at their comfort when I tried the bike out.
__________________
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
11-02-08 | 11:29 AM
#14
Cheese State Poseur
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Waukesha, WI
Bikes: Cervelo R3-SL, Serotta Colorado II, Trek Equinox 9.0, Bianchi San Jose, Pake Urban 6-Speed (grocery getter)
I own one of these and use it strictly for going to the grocery store and running quick errands. I've tried commuting on it, but found its combination of gearing, crank length, and rider position cumbersome after about 4-5 miles (FWIW I'm 6' 2"). Instead I commute with my Bianchi San Jose, which is a SS cross bike, and enjoy it very much. All that being said, you can't beat the Pake for the price. I dropped an extra $50 for a rear rack, a pair of steel baskets, and a set of riser bars, and it instantly became an excellent utility bike.
