from other pictures, it looks like the grip surface only extends to a bit down the shoulder - where that tape starts.

you can't tell from the photos but
the lower part (drops) are coated with textured 'no slip grip'
it is really grippy too!

woah. totally cool, i'm curious to feel it. i guess it's a preference thing. i was thinking it would be odd to have a surface on the tops and shoulders, but figured maybe it was there as an addition to a rider's preferred tape/grips in the drops.

the surface on the top is smooth.
the surface on the drops is textured.
also the bars are 'finished' (no openings for bar end plugs)

They are pretty snazzy

damn roscoe. they sound lusciuos.

they are pretty nice. I've got 'em on my track pro. doesn't make me go any faster though

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCKKKKKKKK FOO!

Hey

I just bought a Otis from Swobo. Ultra Cool type bike. Minimalistic, rugged, black, cheap tires, 3 flats in 3 rides. Kinda Ultilitarian underground bike.
Expensive now that I think about it.

I like the idea of the galvanized finish but it didn't seem to get carried through
as a global design concept.

Galvanized = street tough so. . .

wtf with the 28 spokes or thereabouts?
saddle? C'mon.
no brake? for a complete you are targeting a demographic that doesn't already
have a fixed-gear and who will ride on the street so therefore a brake is a good place to start.

A much better marketing campaign would have been to ask long-time fixed riders what
they want and then use a viral marketing scheme by giving away free bikes to opinion
leaders--this thing has a low substance/bling ratio despite being an ok bike.

I think its a good looking bike. Besides, it will be good to see something new on the streets.

it should be brown.

I dig the Otis--a cooler bike than the Sanchez IMHO.

I rode the Folsom today and totally fell in love with it. It's a lot of fun to ride, and it's solid well made bike. The saddle didn't work at all for me though.
I'm not so sure about the Otis, I didn't dig the whole 3 speed coaster brake combo right away. How is yours working out thinline?
I still haven't seen the sanchez.

I absolutely love it. People always ask me; " Whats that". I say a SWOBO Otis 3SC. They usually get this dumbfounded look on their face and say O.

I put a SKS rear fender on it and a carbon fiber h2o cage.

So I have been thinking about a SANCHEZ for my first fix gear.....I just have a road bike...I am looking from something this winter to train on....

So my question....buy the frame for 399 and build OR complete bike for 599?

I built my road bike and dont mind doing it again....I will probably spend more than 599 but I am ok with that too....you get what you pay for in my opinion...

I don't think the sanchez was designed to be a velodrome track bike, rather an upright basic street cruzer.
Something to ride down to starbucks on with minimal effort and no real flash.
Having their Otis, which I just love, SWOBO did an admirable job of creating a urban bike for the knowledgeable masses. Not cheap but not terribly expensive when you think of entry level chinese crap with multiple gears that are loud, junky, no preciscion,and disposable frames.

Thinline - regarding your Otis, does the three gear hub help or impede you on hills? You mentioned earlier a few flats. Did you replace the tires? Would the Otis make a good winter bike?

IMHO, you can't go wrong with the complete bike. $400 for that frame is definitely a rip, but wheels, drivetrain, and cockpit for $200 is kind of a deal. So split the difference and get the complete.

Banning's Bikes in Fullerton, CA has the Sanchez in stock (and to address an earlier post in this thread, my first thought upon seeing it went along the lines of, "Well... what happens if you ride it through the mud? Is it a Dirty Sanchez?") It actually looks really cool in person. I was impressed. Didn't get to ride one, but they had an extra set of the risers from the Sanchez that I bought and put on my bike.

booooooooooo!

The 3 speed hub is OK for moderate hilly conditions of little length....200 yards or so. In no way could you do a hilly 100 on this machine. I would say it helps on the hills, the spacing is wide and at times I find myself spinning thinking the chain came off...but only in 1st gear.
I replaced the kenda's with conti country's and so far not one flat. Would make an awesome winter bike, not a lot of noks and crannies to get bogged down with snow, grit, mud, etc.
I love it!

don't mean to be a wet blanket, but am i the only one that thinks swobo is trendy junk? they seem like the epitome of a bike company started and funded by a larger company just to rip off and trick people into buying into the latest trend.

first off, their bikes are made in taiwan (or china, can't recall from sticker at lbs). if you don't understand what's wrong with that then i can't help you. but the company pretends to address this issue in their FAQ section of their website by saying this,

"Where is this stuff made?
Different products are made in different places. Merino wool comes from New Zealand and is cut and sewn in Fiji. Socks are completely made in New Zealand, Blasphemy jerseys are made in San Diego, Cottonwood jackets are made in San Francisco. And the list goes on… if you want more info, send us an email and we’ll talk further."

Here's a little about their history,

"Tim Parr first started Swobo in 1991 when nobody else would hire him."

Now, you're advertising the fact that the founder was not employable?

"In the Fall of 2001, Tim sold Swobo to Santa Cruz bicycles, and then walked the Earth like Caine in Kung Fu, leaving no stone unturned. Fast forward to Fall of 2004, Tim partners with Rob Roskopp to re-launch the Swobo brand and form a new company. After spending most of the year deciding which shade of blue is best…Swobo was launched back into the market in November, 2005."

Sounds like the makings of a high quality bike manufacturer. These types of companies make me sick. To all you who like SWOBO, they don't give two *****s about biking. they only want your money and they are willing to deal you a pile of vomit with a trendy logo in order to take the biggest profit. I'm choking on rage here, just go rescue a frame from the garbage and spray paint it pink and I garan-fuking-tee you that you'll have a better bike than anything swobo has to offer!!!!!

Sounds like every other major bike company out there. They only reason they care about bikes is because THEY SELL THEM. Aside from a gunnar or the milwaukee bikes, you'd be hard-pressed to find any american-made ss/fixed gear bicycle that isn't a custom. Sounds like your other main complaint (the marketing) should be directed at Surly as well, because they basically play to the same crowd.

The bike isn't any crappier than any other entry-level fixed-gear bicycle out there.

I just like the way it looks...

most big companies started off with a great vision and awsome bikes but were lead astray by their thirst for profit. trek is a perfect example. swobo is a company founded not to build quality bikes but for the purpose of tapping into a fad. it's wrong to sell overpriced junk made in a foriegn country for pennies on the dollar. having looked at their products up close, i can safely say that their bikes are crappier than other entry level bikes. and i never said i liked other bike companies, but unlike swobo, surly has come out with some inovative stuff like the fixer and the dingle.