Masi Randoneur thoughts
 

I am looking to buy a used bike to use for commuting, although I would like something that could also handle some light touring - preferably a steel frame bike with rack mounts. I've been looking on Craigslist for quite a while now, and I think I might get this 2010 Masi Randoneur that is for sale (http://knoxville.craigslist.org/bik/3662430864.html). Just thought I would see if others had any thoughts on whether or not this is a good deal. Thanks for your input!

Great bike for good price if you are 5'7" - 5'9" 'ish.
Classy, Versatile.
Ride.

Looks like a nice bike for a good price, if it fits you. No bike is a good deal if it's the wrong size, however.

A 53cm? Maybe if that 5'7"-5'9" person has really short arms.

I'm 5'7", and that's my size (33 inch sleeve in dress shirt). Think I should make a road trip? ;)

You are probably right. I had another tab open on craigslist/austin w/ a listing for a Masi Speciale CX, 53cm. Just smaller than what I like in a cyclocross frame. Usually ride a cyclocross frame around 2cm smaller than touring/rec road frame. Forgot/cornfused that OP stated masi randoneur, not special cx, I had been looking at. Bikes look pretty similarly visually, btw.....

Anyway, yes.......and ride the bike and only buy if it fits and feels good...
Body geometries, stated frame sizes, frame geometries, all vary......

That came out a little snarkier than I intended... just felt like it might be on the small side for the average 5'8" person, so the OP ought to at least try out that beautiful bike before committing to buy. :thumb:

I think its a great bike--go look at it! :thumb:

I have the sister of that bike, the Masi Speciale Commuter. I think the only difference was the brakes. I am 5' 8" and I ride the 56. I had the 53 for a year and it was just too small. The 56 has a 55.5 top tube, so not really a 56. I loved this bike so much I bought a second one. Of all the bikes I have owned and I have owned many, this is the nicest bike I have ever had.

I did see the bike you are looking at and I think it is a great bike, if it fits it would be a great acquisition. I think the Masi's are quite undervalued right now. They have great steel frames and it is amazing how comfortable the bike is. I wouldn't have any hesitation buying that bike.

Um... I'm 5'10 and ride a 53 cm 80s road bike. You need to figure out top tube length before you say the bike is too small.

As well, you can always swap out for a longer stem if need be.

That's a pretty nice bike at a nice price. I'd be out there right now trying it out with some cash in my pocket.

Thanks for all your replies. Hopefully I will get to see the bike soon. 53 cm is my best guess at a good fit for me. I'm 5'9" but I have really short legs. So I have a slim margin of bikes that I can stand over without feeling overly cramped. In fact, I think this bike might actually have some contact when I stand over it, but I don't want to go any smaller. I think the best for me might be something like this, and swap the stem if I need a few inches extra of TT length.

I found a geometry chart for that bike and the 53 has an effective top tube length of 53.5.

On a good day, I'm 5'9" and ride bikes with a total reach of ~65cm, so usually my top tubes are 54 and I use 110mm stems. Any longer than that an I feel too stretched out. For reference, my cycling inseam is 31.75 inches.

Like gerv, I would be looking at that one.

I said "might"! ;)

Interestingly, I use the same amount of total reach as megalowatt, I just use a larger frame with a shorter stem...

Win. Snap it up before someone beats you to it.

Great bike. Price is OK, for very lightly used. IF it fits, go for it.

Is that before or after the vasectomy? :lol:

x2. BTW, there are many ways to measure fit on a bike, but for me, the top tube length is the most important (standover is nowhere near as important...). I'm 5'10 or so, and am quite comfy on a 54cm or 55cm road bikes with a 110mm or 100cm stem (my current bike has a true top tube length of 54.8cm). If I were a couple inches shorter, I would not hesitate to try a 53cm bike...

I saw and rode one of those in Rapid City over the summer..... lot of bike for the price, I almost brought it home with me. But my son looked at me and said I had enough bikes.

It's funny. I do Sunday rides with a friend who is exactly the same height as me. He rides a 58 and can't go smaller. I find a 58 too large.

For older bikes, you often had a choice between a 21 and a 23 inch. I chose the 21 with the longer stem.

Great bike! If it fits you, grab it!

Of course, as you can already tell, nobody really knows what the heck they're talkin' about when it comes to fit and frame size over the NET, so I'm afraid that you'll just have to test-ride it for yourself! :D

IMO, discussing relative frame sizes is like talking about god. Nobody really knows for certain. Many of us claim knowledge, which only amounts to faith. Most of us have absolutely no idea what the heck we're talking about on the matter. And some of us, don't give a damn, as long as we feel no pain when cycling and we don't cycle into harms way.

However, just like god, frame sizes do exist, and you should never doubt that fact...

That sure is a nice picture -- is that marketing content from Masi, or is this seller some kind of pro photographer? I'd be prepared for the bike not to look quite so nice.

Also, I'm confused about what's going on in the shifter department; no downtube levers, no STI, so it must be that stuff piled on top of the brake levers but the pic is too small to see clearly -- what is that?

RubeRad you're right. I think they are supposed to be bar-end shifters on that bike but the picture doesn't show any at all.

It does have STI's you can see the cables come out from the side of the shifters. But after looking at the bike again, I don't believe it is the Speciale Randonneur but Masi's Speciale CX which is cyclocross bike. Cantilever brakes, top tube cable mounting, that clearly is their cross bike.

Still a great bike but I suspect shorter stays than the Randonneur and a slightly higher bottom bracket. It would make a great commuter bike.

Let us know if you buy it.

Unless I'm missing something, the picture shows STIs.

Yes I see the shift cables, which means the shifting mechanism must be up there somewhere, but I see no STI inner return-levers. Probably what I failed to consider is the possibility that these are Sora brifters, that use a thumb-button for return-shifting, and that little button is just not visible in the pic.