verdict on the masi fixed?
 

hey i know it was kicked around a little bit earlier, but since its been out for a little while i'm wondering if anyone has had much experience with the masi? i asked my lbs for feedback on it but they still haven't sold one to anybody. im thinking about being the first. seen any online reviews?

I love mine. It feels amazingly comfortable although most might say it's a bit small for me (6'2" and a 56) However, I've yet to ride any other off the shelf fixed gear (not counting my San Jose with the factory mistake flip flop)

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php...highlight=masi

i have personally built up about a dozen of these and loathe all the modern "masi's" being produced by haro. as i said in the other thread I linked above, any bike that comes with a seatpost shim is suspect.

modern "masi's" being produced by haro


WHOA! damn, i missed that part! i kinda figured the steel ones were probably being produced in a taiwanese factory, but i didn't know it was through Haro. are the aluminum coltello frames the same deal. ...are there no more "italian" masi track bikes?

i wanna know what you know, 128!

Again, I ask you- how and why? What is the problem with the bikes for you? Outside of the shim, that is. Again, we went with that set up so that we could use a thin wall, oversize tube that has a great ride to it and is reasonably priced. I'd like to use the Reynolds tubing or even the Deda, but then the price goes through the roof. I'm not saying we won't ever use it again, but it comes at a cost.

Seriously, please feel free to contact me directly to discuss- I'm all ears. tjackson(at)masibikes(dot)com

The last of the Masi frames we produced in Italy were in 2004. The cost was far too high at the small numbers we produce. The quality of the Taiwan made frames is on par with anybody out there- in my honest opinion.

Haro owns the Masi brand- they licensed it for 3 years and then bought it in 2004 and that's when they hired me to come "run the show" as the Brand Manager. I can honestly and sincerely tell you that we do all that we can to preserve the history and heritage (contrary to 128's belief that I should be pulled from my car and shot execution style for ruining the Masi name).

As for the Coltello frame, it is indeed made in Taiwan and I've never tried to hide that fact. It is a damn good frame, so don't toss it out before giving it consideration. I personally put a lot of track time into the development of the frame. As a keirin racer, I can attest to its great handling. It's a great race frameset worth considering.

You can still get a made in Italy Masi frame from Faliero's son, Alberto. He still runs the family shop in Milan. I have no idea if he still makes track frames or not, but if you are heart set on one, then he's the guy to approach.

I don't currently own a Masi Speciale Fixed, but I saw one in the shop and it has many features that I liked over other low cost single speeds. I am thinking of buying one for my nephew as a campus bike. The retro paint job and lettering make me nostaglic for Dave Stoller's bike from "Breaking Away". It seems like a great bike for its price and a seat post shim would not be a deal breaker for me.

My only criticism as far as marketing/specifications might be the solo front brake. For people new to SS/fixed, the empty rear brake drilling, empty top tube cable stops, and non-functional dummy lever perhaps make the bike look incomplete. I would have included dual brakes for $30 more and let the customer decide if he wants to remove the rear brake.

If the Speciale Fixed sells well, I think Masi should follow up with an Extra Speciale Fixed. Higher spec components on an upscale frame (lugged or chrome or both). Retain the SS/fixed capability and the retro look. I would buy one for sure.

I rode the Speciale Fixed the other day, and I'm proud to say that I'm going to be the owner of it within 48 hours. The other fixed gear that I rode was the Kona Paddy Wagon. The Kona looked cheap, felt cheap, and rode cheap. The components seemed like they belonged on a kid's toy. Everything about the Masi is nice. It feels and looks like a great fixed gear. I don't know about the seatpost shim...it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I will agree that it would be nice if a rear brake was included, but it's not the end of the world. I give the Masi Speciale Fixed two thumbs up, and can't wait to go pick mine up from the shop!

don't they have cable guides?
and have a head tube angle of like 54 degrees?


screw that thing ride a conversion.

thanks for hoppin' on the board and clarifying, tim! and yes, the last i heard, they were only doing road frames in the italian shop (its in milan, right?). this is why i was surprised to find out that the the coltello and speciale were being produced. taiwan production makes sense, and i didn't necessarily mean it as a criticism.

if i were to go with a modern aluminum frame, the coltello is still high up on my list.

Nah, the head angle is a moderate 72 at the smallest and 74 on the largest size bike. But you were close with the 54... oh, no... wait... you weren't close.

You could ride a conversion. I have an old Bill Holland that I converted. It's sweet. My take on it all; ride what you like and happiness will follow... but I've also taken a lot of hits to the head over the years.

masiguy - check your pms.

im just not a big fan of resurrecting dead brands. if you want to make something amazing, put your own name on it. faliero masi, alberto masi, mario confente... they're either dead or doing something else. a brian baylis might be the closest to a traditonal masi one can get these days. let history be history.

I couldn't agree more, 128. It just seems like a ploy to attach a price premium to a bike.

Do you feel the same way about Ibis now that they're back?

not quite so much. ibis only started in the 80s and only took a hiatus in 2002. also, as i understand the original founder of ibis still has some input with the company. i will say tho, that the new carbon mojos are awesome, and a lot of fun to ride.

Alberto Masi isn't dead, or doing something else:

http://www.milano3v.com/

He can't sell bicycles as "MASI" in the United States, but he makes some fine frames.

I really, really like mine.

I know that Masi has caused controversy. Frankly, I couldn't care less who made it or where (unless it was made unethically). It's a good bike at a good price.

The Speciale is nimble, fast and beautiful.

Further, tjackson (see above), strikes me as a really great guy. He's been nothing but gracious on this and other forums.

Sure, its breeding might lead you to think its a mutt, but it rides like a thoroughbred.

That said
 

That said, it's hasn't been perfect--I thought I should let you know.

• It had a clicking sound in the rear cog until I lubed it up. No idea what caused it, but it's gone
• My bell broke off the first day
• The tire popped the second day because there were some shavings between the tube and the tire. I have no idea how they got there, but it wasn't me
• The front badge is a little loosely affixed

As you can tell, none of these are deal breakers. In fact, apart from the last one, they all could be the fault of my LBS.

A.

Saw the 08 Masi in a LBS last week. Fit n finish looked good, the price is a bit steep. I'd wait for the 08s to go on sale in the fall/early winter.

I think in these days of modern globalization it's a bit silly to get hung up on whether Mr Masi is still around or involved with the current company. Old man Ferrari is long gone, his company being owned by Fiat for ages. Lotus was owned by GM not that long ago. Damlier owned Chrysler, Chrysler owned Lambo, Ford owned Jag and now owns Volvo, Trek owns Gary Fisher, Bontrager and did own Lemond. The list goes on and on. In most cases the name does not get diluted unless it's simply mismanaged.

I think what is most important is that companies like Masi honor their past but live in the present moment which I believe they do a good job at. I've enjoyed riding and owning my Masi Speciale Commuter so much it prompted me to buy a Masi Speciale CX, when the single speed Soulville gets released I will probably buy one of them as well, the only cruiser on the market not using crap components. I work one of the largest bike shops in North America with a huge selection of bikes to choose from and the steel Masi's have the most appeal to me. I'll own a complete collection of them eventually I'm sure.

My advise to the OP is to get the Masi Fixed if it appeals to you, who cares what other people think unless they are pulling out their credit card to pay for it.

ROFL. Masi, the only thing going for that bike is Breaking away. Masiguy, if you really are with the industry, pm me for an assemblers prespective on how *wicked* your bikes are, note the fricking sarcasm.

Wow there's a bunch of bike snobs here. I'm biased because I own the bike being discussed so I believe my opinion matters more than anyone who decided to bash a product they only looked at online or at a bike shop. The seatpost shim doesn't matter to me, no one can see it and I have not had any adverse effect from it being there. The geometry is Waaaaay more fitting for a fixed gear than a conversion, even an IRO. It's not being sold or marketed as a track bike but rather a fixed gear city bike with the option to run it as a SS.

With that being said I would have loved to have bought the bike with 2 brakes and 2 brake handles. I ride it fixed with a single lever but I wouldn't mind being able to do some training on it as a SS without having to fork over the extra cash to do so.

Either way I love this bike, the color is awesome its strong and light and the ride is very comfy. I haven't had any problems with it at all and I'm not really a lightweight rider either. Buy one you won't regret it.

A few comments imply that the Masi Speciale is lighter than the average off-the-rack steel fixed bike. What, exactly, is the weight of this bike? I'm actually considering one.

Thanks.

Its built by Haro, I dont expect anything amazing from Haro. The only thing they have going for them is their high end bmx bikes.

I remember back when Haro was an amazing brand... back when freestyling was just emerging as a sport unto itself.

The bike *looks* cool. I've never seen one in person. I'd rock it, though. I mean... if the worst thing going for it is that onetwentyeight doesn't like that it's called a Masi, I think that's not too bad at all.