Is there a noticeable difference between high end and low end fixies? I want to start riding to work but i dont want to take me nice bike due to the high theft rate in Chicago. Simply for commuting, can I get away with buying a cheap $200-300 fixie or will I regret it?

may get blasted but to me fixie is fixie. One gear. Get a cheap one that fits and ride on

Thats kinda where my head is at too. I cant imagine there is much difference outside of weight. Thanks!

I have both, a $300 Bikes Direct model, and a $1000 Wabi. Not a whole lotta difference, other than a few pounds. (4-5 in my case) Both ride nice and haven't broken or worn out.

The biggest difference is I won't leave the Wabi parked anywhere unattended, even with a lock!

That's what I wanted to hear! yeah I am just looking for something that I don't have to worry about locking up in the city but still have a decent ride. What model did you get off BD?

I got the Cafe Fixie, I think it was called, but that was over two years ago. Put $57 (each!) Compass tires on it, along with some other minor touches. Rides like a dream.



Lettering did not come on the bike, I had 'em made up.

Oh nice! looks sharp. I bet it does with those pillows you have it riding on!

There is a noticeable difference between high end and low end fixed gear bikes.

A Cinelli is not going to be the same as an Aventon and a $200 or $300 bike of any type is not going to be very good. The fact that it is a fixed gear bike isn't going to change that.

Wabi makes an amazing bike for the money. Bikes Direct Kilo TT is also a nice bike for the money but I wouldn't go any lower than that. A cheap bike might be the way to go however, if there is a good chance that it is going to be stolen.


-Tim-

+1

The risk of seeming pretentious, I'm going to quote something that I just said in the "Egads Wal-Mart" thread As I think it is somewhat relevant here as well. I said basically that better than buying a bike from any sort of Big Box store are two options that I outlined in my post. Quoted below was the second of those two options.

"... Buy a new rigid fork and frame mountain bike / hybrid / road bike [including an FG/SS road bike] from the following online sellers of lower budget bikes (the-house.com, Bikeisland.com, Bikesdirect.com, citygrounds.com, and possibly others that I haven't heard of). I'm no shill nor am I connected with, employed by, or making any money anyway from any of these companies. It's just that, from what I can see, for the same money, you get a much better, more serviceable, actually rideable bike from these companies. And, [...] I would say that anybody buying a bike from one of these online retailers should factor in the cost of a Pro Assemble and the headset, bottom bracket, and hubs being greased from their LBS as part of the budget for the bike or be willing to do it themselves at a local co-op or with a cycling knowledgeable friend."

I agree with Almost Trick in that the consideration of possible bike theft... and going further than that... damage, wear and tear, and all that on commuter bikes is something that needs to be factored into the decision on what bike to buy.

But mostly it is up to you. Do you have a friend or two who own the type low budget of FG/SS bikes that we're talking about here that would allow you to ride and test out their cheaper bikes? If so, and you can test ride one of these lower end bikes then, you will then know if it's the type of bike you could get by with every day on the commute. Or if it's the type of bike that you wouldn't want to ride at all.

Buy the Kilo TT. I would not go below this. Put a front brake on it. You should post this in the Fixed Gear Single Speed forum.

My issue with the Kilo is the frame geometry. It's more track design than road. Big (uncomfortable) mistake for a bike you intend to ride on the streets. Especially rough city streets. High speed descents, if you ever ride any, will be twitchy too. Some say they like it this way, but I believe the choice is made more for what they see as the proper "image". To each their own.

I'd just go with a cheap Fixie. I'd still lock it though someone might take it just because its not locked.

excellent! Thank you all for the input. It has been very helpful. I definitely have some things to take into consideration. any thoughts on aluminum vs steel frame? I currently ride an aluminum frame so I am used to it but i know steel is stronger and have heard it is a more comfortable ride. Thoughts?

On the cheap bikes you won't notice a difference. Test ride some and see. Only the fancy, more expensive steel bikes offer a more comfortable ride, but even here I find tires make a much greater difference than frame material. So even a cheap bike can be comfortable, but only IF it fits you.

My $800 Bianchi Pista has a buttery smooth ride compared to my aluminum road bike.

Just riding around town is one thing, but for a serious experienced cyclist, fixed gear seems to accentuate ride quality. Without distractions such as shifting and thinking about shifting, senses get tuned to things like road feel, frame flex and responsiveness.


I've been riding fixed gear for a year and almost bought a high volume cheap bike at a closeout store. Instead I found a frame that instincts told me would be good for a fixed gear bike. So glad I built one instead of bought one.


I've been upgrading it since I built it to enhance the ride quality. The rims cost each what the frame cost.

I have a Wabi Lightening SE which is an $800 frameset and a Chrome Motobecane Jury which is a $250 frameset. The wabi frame is vastly superior in every way. Parts are just parts. You can hang them on any frameset. I commuted for years in Chicago on a 1992 Schwinn cruiser, so I'm a big fan of the beater approach to theft prevention. The crappiest fixie I would ride is this $450 kilo

Yes, as with other types of bikes, there is a noticeable difference between low-end and high-end models. But whether the differences justify spending the additional money is something only you can decide. If you haven't ridden a fixed gear bike before, start with a used or less expensive model so you can be sure you like ridding fixed and that doing so will fit your needs. If you're going to be leaving the bike locked outside, don't bother looking at high-end models as your bike, regardless of model level, is likely to be stolen, stripped, or vandalized at some point. If you can bring your bike inside your home and workplace, a higher end model may prove to be more satisfying in the long run.

I bought a Matte Black III from State Bicycles about four years ago. I know it's got about 8K on it now, so I ride it a good bit. (I've got several other bikes too-only one FG/SS). Anyway, never had issue one out of it. It's steel framed so it's heavy, but it hadn't stopped me from doing three centuries on it-one of which had about 4,700 ft of climbing. I don't have anything else to compare it to, but I like it. It was around $450 shipped. I do want to build up one with an aluminum frame and a carbon fork just so it will be a little lighter.

IMO there is a massive difference between low-high end bikes.
'77 Fuji special road racer I build to be fixed gear
Waterford RF frame (re-branded/sold by my LBS as Macatawa bike works "sofa king"

the grade and weight in steel is noticeable. there is so much diffeence its hard to explain, you'll have to experience it really.

I would suggest building one of you own, an old frame isnt hard to come by for cheap (with some searching you know what you have and to expect) additionally you can find components to complete the bike close to the same cost your willing to pay with the benefit it not be too flashy to where it catches a thieves eye.

Cheap one will hurt less when it's Stolen.

There are certainly differences.
A good bike will have a nice light and sometimes more comfortable or much stiffer frame (stiffer for the track) it will have a nicer drivetrain which tends to be quieter and more efficient and not perform like a wet noodle. It also will likely last longer due to better quality parts that might not just be stamped out of metal. Typically they will used sealed cartridge bearings throughout the bike though in some cases they will use high quality loose ball stuff (Sugino 75 bottom bracket for instance).

As far as theft, bikes tend to only get stolen if you let them get stolen. If you practice good locking and use a top quality lock system it is less likely to get stolen. Using things like Pitlocks and heavy duty u-locks or motorcycle chains and don't lock near transit areas in visible places like outside a coffee shop or place with lots of onlookers who are not a constant new crop of people you will be better off. Granted you still might want to build up a lower cost commuter rig for that purpose but I would still practice excellent locking.

Of course there are, and to varying degrees those differences will matter more to some riders than they will to others.

The biggest jump in quality and ride is between cheap department store bikes, and entry level bike shop bikes. (or bikes from some of the better online suppliers, like BD) Above this level, differences are not so profound… especially on a simple fixed gear bike.

Don’t forget too, the power of the Placebo effect. After doling out loads of cash, the urge to “feel” a faster, stiffer, (yet more comfortable!) ride is very strong. And too, when friends or forum members give us the high five of approval for our choice of $$$$ bikes, that only increases the “difference” felt.

Again, I’m not saying there is NO difference, just that it can easily be exaggerated. I'm sure I've even done it.

But our economy is built on consumers spending more, even if that means taking on debt. So it’s all good!

Many of us have been riding long enough where we can feel the difference between a cheap bike and a nice bike as soon as we start pedaling.

Exactly.