i'm looking for a really cheap bike. nothing for any serious riding.. just to mess around. The SE Draft for $179 is really tempting.. but what about the Republic Bikes one for $399. I KNOW both are heavy and have crappy parts, but i'm not looking to win any bragging rights or anything. Just something fun to ride with friends on weekends and stuff.

i think theres more options between 179 and 399

If you're dead set on SSFG, https://urbanvelo.org/singlespeed-com...ikes-for-2009/ was, for me, a good place to at least start looking at options in my price range (LBS being the best, ofc). Add the Schwinn Madison because they don't include it for some reason, and if you can find one used they can be a steal.

You Bikes Direct is the other source that everyone will probably point you towards (Kilo TT and Messenger being the names I see pop up most often), but I've no experience with them.

they're both low end, but replublic bikes uh, "bikes" are laughably terrible. schwinn cutter at performance is like 250 if you want to ride hi-ten.

bikes direct windsor is the best bargain fixed gear for 300 shipped. throw another 50 in for brakes.

kilo tt's from bikes direct $350 also seem to be a favorite, i know i love mine.

$400 sounds ridiculously expensive for what's offered by Republic Bikes.
If you have to choose between these options, take the cheaper bike.

Neither they're both crap. I finally handled an SE Draft in person at Performance this week. It's incredibly heavy. I knew it would be, but I was still shocked how bad it was.

Nashbar has a couple reasonably priced fixies/ss's too.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200274_200348

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200274_200348

One of them is aluminum too...

I have a SE Draft (paid $199) and I would never buy one again. Even though it's a big steel frame. I am going to put a few bucks into it until I can afford a better bike.

My wife just bought a bike by Scattante and it's world's better then my Draft. The ride, the components, etc.

If you're not sure you're going to ride a lot, get the Draft. I just outgrew the bike too quick and you might do the same.

I'm hoping to find better deals on 2009 as 2010 hit the shelves.

At first, I was attracted to the Republic Bikes, I love the look. Then I realized that it seems like a deal to good to be true. A nice bike for $400. I still find them attractive, but will never buy one.

look at a bd bike, or maybe a madison, i got mine for 370, the steel is much better than the hi-ten crap on the cutter, draft and republic

Isn't republic the company making those urban outfitters insta-fixies anyway?

Urban Outfitters recently started selling Republic Bikes, yeah.

Republic Bikes has been selling these for a while though.

I'm still waiting to see a bunch of republic bikes hit the streets. But none so far.

I bought the 2009 SE Draft pretty much because I needed a cheap bike and didn't want to get one at Wally World. I've had to throw more money at it to get better wheels and moved my Brooks B17 Imperial to it. I wish I had a bigger budget when I got it but I have had a lot of fun on it. I rode my first century on that bike and other then the wheels and the paint (really cheap with no clear coat) it's been fairly trouble free for the amount of riding I do on that bike.

Finally a somewhat good review on the Draft.

I've seen a bunch at davis, many people seem to think all bikes are equal, and any price difference is for looks. Seem to definitely be walmart quality. I haven't ridden one yet, but the bike shop on campus had a couple in at the same time for work. I overheard the mechanic saying they were both about 2-3 weeks old and the hubs, bottom bracket, and headset were all shot. you'd figure parts alone would be at least 200 if buying online. if dealing through a bike shop with them doing labor it could come up to the cost of a new windsor.

I've seen them locked up and picked one up (i know, bad karma handling a bike when the owner isn't around, but i was curious) and it was heavy, reminded me of my hi-ten moto conversion with steel wheels. grips looked shoddy, tires looked cheap, everything just seemed overpriced.

really, to get the look just do what has been done for forever. buy a complete and change parts out over time or save up more and piece the whole thing together yourself. if you need insta-cred, go with mission bikes, which is also overpriced but at least the product is passable.

thanks I just checked ou the links. It seems the new bikes for $400 like Republic aren't great bikes? They look neat but forum posts say they ride badly, which is a bit vague but I'll just have to take their word for it.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/1309774246.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/1308489483.html

any thoughts on these? the city's nearby and it's in my budget and frame size.

Save your self the pain and get Kilo. You SHOULD love it. I am going to get one when I sell a couple of my personal bikes. You cant beat the price and aside from the tires, I guess the components arent half bad. Decent frame too.

this was in reference to the republic bikes. just.. don't


no



the first looks heavy and like it has a cottered crank. the second isn't even a fixed gear.

get a windsor. 300 bucks and you get a brand new bike. done.