Thoughts on the Masi Speciale Commuter?
11-28-10 | 08:50 AM
#26
It's MY mountain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 4,229
From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/bianchi-sanjos8/
Sorry. The Bianchi/Harris San Jos8...
...Is no longer available.
...Is no longer available.
11-29-10 | 11:54 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Masi Speciale Randonneur, Fuji del Ray, Co-Motion Speedster
I recently bought a Masi Special Randonneur, which I believe is the same frame built up as a multi-speed bike. I'm really happy with it so far. The handling is just right -- very smooth, but not sluggish, and it carries a load pretty well.
It's also (IMO) one of the nicest-looking production bikes around.
As for your specific questions:
It comes with 32mm tires and fenders. It's a pretty tight fit -- you couldn't use anything larger unless you remove the fenders.
I believe the rear dropouts are 130mm, and IGH are typically 135mm. But it's steel, so you can always spread the dropouts.
I haven't weighed my bike. It's not racing-bike light, but I wouldn't call it heavy, either. Certainly fine for a commuter, and I doubt the Cross-Check is noticeably lighter.
It's also (IMO) one of the nicest-looking production bikes around.
As for your specific questions:
It comes with 32mm tires and fenders. It's a pretty tight fit -- you couldn't use anything larger unless you remove the fenders.
I believe the rear dropouts are 130mm, and IGH are typically 135mm. But it's steel, so you can always spread the dropouts.
I haven't weighed my bike. It's not racing-bike light, but I wouldn't call it heavy, either. Certainly fine for a commuter, and I doubt the Cross-Check is noticeably lighter.
11-29-10 | 12:29 PM
#28
It's MY mountain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 4,229
From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Tire/fender clearance and horizontal dropouts for fixed gear were my main criteria - this is the only complete bike I found that gave me those... there are a few more options for bare frame.
Last edited by DiabloScott; 11-29-10 at 12:40 PM.
11-29-10 | 12:37 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Masi Speciale Randonneur, Fuji del Ray, Co-Motion Speedster
Nope, the Randonneur also has caliper brakes. I think that have a cyclocross model with cantis.
11-29-10 | 12:59 PM
#30
It's MY mountain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 4,229
From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
https://www.masibikes.com/steel/randonneur/
Not just the brakes, bar-end shifters moved to the down tube, taller head tube height and they sloped the top tube. All the specs in the geometry table are still the same though.
Last edited by DiabloScott; 11-29-10 at 01:07 PM.
11-29-10 | 01:08 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: Masi Speciale Randonneur, Fuji del Ray, Co-Motion Speedster
Wow, I guess I bought just in time. The 2011 is a very different bike. They went from calipers to cantis, bar-end shifters to downtube, and compact double to triple -- all changes for the worse as far as I'm concerned (at least in the context of a long distance/light touring bike).
The new green color is nice, though.
The new green color is nice, though.
