Hey Guys, looking for a steel track frame to start building a new commuter for 2016.. Doesn't have to be the lightest in the world, but totally looking for a bargain. Any suggestions for a Frame/Fork Set under $500 will greatly be appreciated!

Wabi Classic Frameset - Wabi Cycles

Wabi classic or kilo wt would be my choice. Also check out Murphy cycles. Cheaper and with some options for racks/fenders/tire clearance.

I'm still drooling over that 650c Classic....

Go here: Retrogression's Frame Page

Soma Rush, Surly Steamroller, Brick Lane Classic-R... complete steel frames, all under $500. (Pake Rumrunner too, WAY under 500.)

I've been saving to buy Ice T.

https://www.retro-gression.com/products/ice-t


-Tim-

On-One Pompino.
Cheap as chips and a great frame capable of taking up to 35's.

The all-city big block comes in at $500 and is a steel frame with track geometry. Very comfortable frame yet lively frame to use on a daily basis.

I am guessing they prolly had a good reason for changing but I think the earlier versions with wishbone seatstays were a lot cooler than this model. One of my riding buddies had one he loved and let me ride it once - was great. For that kinda money was worth getting one just to keep around as a spare, but I had recently moved to a small(er) place and was in N-1 mode

PS...love your Silverado saddle - had one for a bit but I am a long-time SST & Rocket V fanboi & couldn't get used to the change...

Is Wabi the new Kilo for go to Fixed? Did the Forum grow up and embrace more comfy and practical, less "speedster AlleyPro" or is it because it's relatively new?

Wabi looks cool. Wish they had a size between 42 and 49.

Apples to oranges comparison, but at least you're still in the produce section at the grocery store. The Kilo is a good value and the Wabi is a great value. The Kilo is less than half the price of the Wabi, so what's that tell you?

Depends where you're at in the hobby, I guess.

My old teammate chose a Wabi Classic for the sorta-annual FG Century ride that we do, where it suits him well.
As a formidable track rider in his day he knows the differences and the requirements for a long distance FG road bike vs. a track-like.
One is not the same as the other in ride comfort on irregular surfaces over distance, stability on descents and in cross winds.

-Bandera

For $500... some nice vintage steel frames might show up on E-Bay.

And that's the rub. Painful too. As I noted in another thread, it'd be nice if someone would start mass-producing old-school road frames again. Give us the old roadie back. The one with a quill stem and the option to run geared or fixed or singlespeed. A nice old-fashioned road bike with 125mm dropouts, or 128. Whatever.

I want one that's half the price of the Wabi.

Surly Cross Check, everything you said except a quill stem. Or a Soma Wolverine, does damn near everything.

I wish Wabi made a bike that had road bike style horizontal dropouts and fit larger tires.

Yep.
I reckon those Wabi's are expensive.
Compared to the Pompino especially.

On-One Pompino V4 Frameset | On - One

I'm not sure about horizontal dropout road fames. Vertical dropouts work nice on he road. Perhaps the IGH market will push that some, but I presume not with ultra narrow spacing.

Old quill stems are nice, but not much advantage over the 1 1/8 stems. What hits me is the lack of support for 26mm bars, but there are a few that come close. I snagged a Soma Highway bar for my next project.

There are quite a few "fixie" frames out there, but most are apparently rather cheap. Maybe many of the fixie riders don't have unlimited budgets.

Custom builders will make whatever you wish, but at a cost.

Lots of good, off-brand ex-road bike frames in the $100 to $200 range.
But, quite a few Fixies in the $500 range.

I'd carefully look at a few used aluminum frames, or perhaps an import CF frame.

Titanium fixies occasionally show up. This auction is finished, but they do show up periodically. 650c bikes are often underpriced.

Victoria titanium track fixedgear frameset frame pista titan fixie 56cm | eBay

I've also occasionally seen a Colnago Pista show up for < $500.

Keep in mind that the OP is building a commuter bike and likely needs bottle cage mounts.

A pure track bike isn't going to have that.

Or brakes (which for many will be a must).

OP has left the building.

Those a Cross/Gravel bikes. Not road bikes in the traditional sense.
It'd be nice to see Wabi step up with a bike like that, and not with the boutique roadie.

Nor is a traditional track bike though.

Ok.