I know, I know, if I've been throwing out all different makes/models for y'all to comment on. I saw this one in another thread, so hit the Masi site to look this particular model over- https://www.masibikes.com/steel/speciale-commuter/. A SS should work, but if it doesn't, then it can be converted to gears rather easily. I do have a couple of questions for anyone who may know:

-Any idea how wide of a tire will fit?
-Is there room to run an IGH if I so choose?
-How heavy is the stock bike?

My primary LBS told me that the LHT is the best, most durable/versatile bike that they deal with, but the price of the LHT complete is out of my reach. The Masi frame looks like (to my myopic self) to be close, but rideable at a fraction of the cost. I can do upgrades as needs/wants/budget allows- only if the frame is worthy.

I don't know any answers to your questions, but looking at the geometry, I'm impressed. It has a slightly longer chainstay than the LHT which is nice. The trail for my size 49cm is 6.3cm which is about the same as the Trek 520 I'm riding which means it will still handle relatively faster than a LHT(6.91cm) in my size. You can run it as a singlespeed and a multispeed. Looks like it even has a mid-fork eyelet for a lowrider front rack. The only thing that would suck for me is the standover is high b/c of the horizontal top tube. I never really considered the Speciale as a contender to a Trek 520 or LHT, but looks like I overlooked it.

That was probably me, maybe you didn't see this: https://diabloscott.blogspot.com/2010...mute-bike.html

It comes with 32mm tires and plenty of room for fenders - I got the 45mm Velo Orange ones. Don't know what the max size is but I'm sure 37s would fit in there without fenders.
I think it's about 23 pounds.
I don't know about IGH.

Beyond really liking this bike, I think it was an incredible bargain.

This is a new category of bike called the adventure bike. Its a good all arounder and has rack and fender mounts. The leading bike in the category is the Salsa Vaya. My Schwinn Super Sport DBX is another example and then there is the Trek Portland.

I have this bike for my daily commuter. It comes with 32c tires and I have fenders on it. It is true you can turn it into a multi-speed bike if you want, including IGH, but more important is the forward facing rear dropouts for single speed. These are preferable to rear facing and fenders because when you have a flat tire you don't have to remove the fender to get the rear wheel out.

The bike is heavy, but what do you expect for the price. I lightened mine up by putting on a White Industries crank, pedals and SS freewheel. I also replaced the seat post with a Thomson, seat to a Specialized Avatar, bars to Raceface drops. Also put on a Sachs chain and Ultrega brake pads and shoes.

The most important things for me in any bike is the handling and this bike is not a sports car, it is a truck at best. It loves to go straight and takes a lot to throw into a corner. This is what I want and expect in this style of bike, I don't want a quick handling or twitchy bike for commuting. It is perfect for me. I would have liked a little longer top tube as I am really between sizes for the Masi's but what can you do. The bike may fit you better. All in all I like the bike.

Really? I compared a couple of the Masi models with the Surley Cross Check for a possible future purchase (window shopping) and all of the Masi models seem to have very little space between the brakes the the tire surface. I didn't see a Speciale Commuter but from the online photos it doesn't seem to be any different.

I was actually thinking of trading my Giant OCR1 for one at my LBS but something tells me inside to keep my Giant. The bike that they use on the site isn't very model worthy though. The stem bolts are rusty, there's tape leftover on the front caliper and the eyelet on the driveside dropout is scratched up? If that's what they use to show on the website, I hate to see what they send out. That's not very classy coming from a classy Italian company. The reviews are kinda wish washy also with the low quality parts failing. I realize for a $400 Masi it's not going to be top notch...lower components, very basic Taiwanese made frame. I would pick up the frame and fork if they sold it separately and build a decent geared commuter/tourer bike.

I noticed that about the stem bolts, but I think it is just grease not rust.

The names are kind of confusing. The "Speciale Fixed" versions are track end tighter clearance frames, but the "Speciale Commuter" has forward horizontal dropouts and is the same frame as the LHT-like Randanneur (Rando has canti brakes, Commuter has long reach calipers).

Mine

Catalogue

Masi also has steel cyclocross bikes that would be a better comparison to Cross Check.

Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to have to pass on this one.

I decided to brave the idiocy that is Black Friday and go to the local Sun & Ski. They didn't have it in stock, but said they could order with no problem. They asked what size I needed, and I informed them that I didn't have a clue as this would be my first roadie. Two guys looked at me and pronounced that I needed a 56- this without even having me straddle a different make/model in that size- strike one!

Then the guy walks me from the back of the store to where their in-store kiosk is at to check inventory. He pulled up the Masi and pointed out that it was on sale for $400 marked down from the regular price of $790... and that's for the '10 model, and not the '11. Strike 2!

I asked the guy if they had that info online, he responded what I was looking at was the store's intranet... I found that kinda odd, but decided to let it slide for the moment. So I came home without putting a deposit down (no test ride, no deposit) and hit the store's website. Guess what I found? This: https://www.sunandski.com/Masi_Specia...0056651010.htm Strike 3!

Oh well, the search continues...

I don't get strikes 2 and 3. Could you explain it again?

I think the 2010 and 2011 models are the same, maybe except for the 2011 models having the adjusters on the shifter braze ons.

Here's the link you're looking for: https://www.sunandski.com/Masi_Specia...0056651010.htm
But they don't have 56cm 2010 (I may have gotten their last one!) and I don't see any 2011s on there.

Strike #2 relates to the price of the bike. They are offering '10 models on sale for $400, marked down from their normal price of $790. Note that the '11 model's MSRP (per the Masi site) is $545. Little to no changes as far as I can tell between the two model years.

Strike #3 relates to how the sales guy inferred that the info displayed on their kiosk screen was off of their intranet and wasn't available on the internet.

I just took another look at the Sun & Ski site. I looked at all of the road and hybrid category pages. There was a total of 4 2011 models listed in road, none in the hybrid.

On a side note, I did use the dealer locator- there is a real LBS that handles Masi, but they would be like a 2 hour drive...

i think that the $400 2010 is a better deal than the $545 2011, whether spec is the same or if there's been a downgrade.

I also think that if you work at Sun & Ski, and you're online looking at inventory, it probably *is* the intranet. That the same info is available online to everyone is a pretty cool thing, and i'm not surprised that dude didn't know about it. Uninformed, maybe, but not dishonest.

The weird "conventional wisdom" of the internet, about how there needs to be a complex voodoo ritual to size ppl to a standard framesize, has perplexed me for at least 10 years. You probably *are* a 56cm. Most experienced ppl can make this kind of guess with a fair amount of accuracy. They have a buttload of these 2010 masis (masii? Masapotami?) , which is why they're half price, and why the 2011 model is 2/3 of the 2010's msrp. f you think you're too tall for the 56cm, ask brotherman to order you a 56 *and* a 58cm. Tell him you'll buy whichever one fits you. No skin off their back.

And, yes, it is totally possible that the 56cm frame will fit you, but you might want a different stem/bar/saddle.

What i'm getting at is, don't get all bent out of shape b/c the sun&ski guys didn't give you the 3-ring circus that a lbs would've. The lbs also wouldn't special order you a 2010 model for half-price. I'd have given these guys maybe one strike, for not knowing their store's website. If you like that masi, buy it.

But, my out-of-nowhere suggestion? Buy a used bike in good shape, and ride that. Paralysis by analysis will prevent riding; don't let current retail prices complicate things. Get an early/mid eighties roadie with braze-ons, eyelets, and tire clearance. don't look back.
-rob

The main beef that I had about the price difference is that I suspect the store hyper-inflated the normal msrp to make the sale price appear even more attractive. Don't get me wrong, the sale price of the '10 is cheaper than the msrp of the '11. It's just that (for whatever reason), I'd be more comfortable if paying $400 for a $500 bike, than being tricked into believing that I'm getting something for half of it's original price.

But you do have a point about the "paralysis by analysis" thing. Guilty as charged.

Thanks for the clarification!

Oh wow. I really like these geometries on these masi's. The top tube shorter than seat tube. Just about every bike I see will give me a 56 seat tube and then a top tube of 56.5 to 57. These masi's give you a 55 top tube with a 56 seat tube. Works good for deformed people like me that have longer legs compared to torso. Could even go with a 58 and have minimal saddle to bar drop and will be really comfy.

That blue one complete bike is a steal for $400.

what are you riding nowadays?

-rob

'06 Kona Smoke. Stock, except the rear fender has been removed and the other things can be seen here-

$400 looks like a really good deal, I'd pick that up. Unless I'm missing something, this is Masi's version of the sadly discontinued Bianchi San Jose, an extremely smart bike that makes an outstanding commuter, with some added features like taking gears and low riders. A single speed touring bike is pretty much what I would recommend for a no nonsense commuter/grocery getter if you live in terrain suited for it, and for that matter I take my San Jose on rides up to 120 miles. Don't sweat the shop's shady markup policy, just make sure you get something that fits and make sure you have basic new-bike work done (grease the threads, apply a frame saver, retension the wheels, etc.) since you can't take that for granted when getting a bike somewhere other than a trusted bike shop.

That's a great looking bike. Reminds me of my Bianchi San Jose I converted with an 8-speed IGH hub.

I think the Masi would make a great commuter.

here's mine before some of the latest additions:

cool bike. so, why are you even looking at the masi? Just ride the smoke, pinch some pennies, save up for that dream bike.

-rob

ps-why did you take the fender off the back?

1. I find my bike lacking in certain areas.
2. I want to experiment with the whole 700c/29er vs. 26" debate for myself.
3. I have heel strike issues.
4. I feel that I've been stricken with the n+1 bug.
5. The Masi appears to be one helluva versatile frame for the money; unsure if my current frame is truly worthy of making various reconfigurations/upgrades.

I took the rear fender off when I installed the rack. They have to share the same braze on, but the screws weren't long enough for them both at the same time. Plus, IIRC, that fender wasn't ajusted too well and made all kinds of noise.

EDIT: Also, see this other thread- https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post11848351

Sheldon Brown's famous San Jos8 - a San Jose built with a Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub. He observed that few people tour on single speeds so there's a quick way to build a version of it suitable for touring.