Im looking to build up a second bike with some extra parts, and im interested in a size 53-54 frame. Ive seen a fair amount of steel frames out there but not a lot of inexpensive aluminum ones, maybe a few. Probably looking at ~$200, maybe a little lower, maybe slightly over, but thats what im working with. Lower is always better of course.
I am not set on any specific geometry, a little slacker would probably be more ideal but im not picky. Any good suggestions??? even good sites to look at, i havent been in this ss/fg scene very long.

I bought a 52 cm cromo bike from Junky Rusty bikes. I had it built it up with a S2C Sturmey Archer wheelset. Its a no name frame with a somewhat slack angle. Frame is versatile enough to be built up any way you want and what I like about it is fat tires can be installed with no problems. The price is $299.00 for a complete bike, cheaper if you decide to order a frameset.

Check out the Nashbar cross frame. Seems like people in teh Cross forum are pretty happy with it - and last I looked it was $99 and you can probably get 20% off that if you wait a day or two for a sale/coupon.

Yes, Nashbar frames are decent. Inexpensive but not "cheap". My commuter is built around a $99 Nashbar MTB frame and I like it. It has good finish, tough paint, lots of attention to detail: lots of braze-ons for everything, well designed rear dropouts with well placed and strong eyelets for rack and fenders. The Nashbar cross and touring frames get good reviews as well.

I am thinking about a bikeisland.com frame like the Jury. Not so slack, takes big tires, rack braze-ons, $214 to your door (chrome is $255) for frame/fork/headset:
https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1184

Another nice choice is the Pake c'muter. Slack angles, lots of braze-ons and canti/v-brake studs. Combo it with a Dimension disc fork, get the universalcycles.com 15% discount on orders over $300 (VIP15):
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=2155
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=4158

Single speed/fixed or regular derailer bike?

For a regular derailer bike, you can't really go too wrong with a Nashbar touring frame. It has all you need for a very good commuting bike.

I can't help much with fixed but there are some on Fleabay.

Do you need a track frame for your bike? If not you could get a whole aluminum road bike used for less than $200 (maybe $100 or less) and covert that. One of those old Cannondales would be pretty sweet. Why Aluminum?

It would be tough to find a used aluminum road bike here for under $200. By the time aluminum became a common frame material road bikes declined in popularity and there just aren't as many around as old steel ones. Occasionally you'll find an old Cannondale but those were pretty harsh riding and they'll still often go for over $200 unless they're in bad shape. I think a lot of Aluminum's reputation for a buzzy ride came from those original Cannondales.

Have you seen the IRO Phoenix, it's 180$ if you get it in blue. It's got braze-ons for internal gear hubs but otherwise it'd be fine for FG use.

Im definitly looking for a ss specific frame with a 1-1/8 headset.

I just like the look of aluminum frames as well as the no rust factor since its stored in a garage year round. However, i am not opposed to a cromo frame.

There's this one from Fleabay.

Good find. That Dawes aluminum frame you posted is $199 at the BikeIsland online store. Here is a link to their frames.

https://www.bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BK...Framesets-Road

Craigslist.
Bought a R300 Cannondale frame for $60 off CL (fork tweeked).
Performance carbon fork was on sale, couple little parts and Kane Creek headset with a 15% off cupon on top of it was out the door for under $125.
Bought a very low mile Novara Trionfo with a Full 105SC group and good tires for $125 for the rest of the parts I needed except the 44cm bars I had.
Nickel and dime stuff including cables and tape $70
Sold the Trionfo Tange Prestege frame and Fork for $75.
So $305 in the bike.

I had a 89 R600 with an aluminum fork and that thing would rattle your teeth.
Most of that reputations is the Aluminum forks from the 2.8 and 3.0 Crit bikes of the very late 80's early 90's but that was also the stiffest frame of its time and won a LOT of races. The Steel Forks and Carbon Forks take the harshness out. That R300 frame I just posted rides wonderfull with that Carbon fork.

yeah, i saw that on bikeisland.com. I wish they'd sell the all black and all white ones that they sell as completes...

i check craigslist in my area pretty daily just looking for anything worthwhile. I really doubt id find anything there... kinda sucks in these parts. Loooots of garbage.

JUST realized i posted this in the commuting forum. although applicable, i for some reason thought i was in the singlespeed/fixed gear forum. STILL, any suggestions are welcome!