I'm considering on buying a fixed gear bike. Don't know much of what's what. I took a Fuji track 08 out for a test ride, but don't really know what is expected? I thought it went well, the bike ride was smooth and easy to maneuver. Does anyone know much about this bike? Give me a heads up! Thanks!
---I took a 49cm bike out for the test ride? Does this size come with 650c wheels? I hear that there may be drawbacks with a bike with small wheels? Hard to find that size wheel? Should i go up a size and get the 52cm?
---I've tried to do research about the bike already, but it seems no one has posted a review for this bike?


Thanks again,
-KYTransit.

the 49 comes with 700c wheels, the 43 is the one with the small ones.

*****Forgot to add*****
I will mainy be using the bike to get around San Francisco. To and from school, work, and so on a so forth.

Cool. Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. I was wondering because i wanted to get an Aerospoke wheel, but I believe they only make the 700c? I've read a couple of reviews of other bikes and people say its hard to find the 650c wheels... What do you think overall of the Fuji Track 08?

one of my girlfriend's bikes is an 07. it's modified, but she loves it. got quite fast on it, too.
if you're going to upgrade, though, don't bother with an aerospoke.
i take it you're a small person-- making your bike heavier is probably not something you want to do, especially not as a beginner dealing with hills. there are smarter (and less obvious) ways to bling.
i'd start with something like a carbon fork (the track's fork is kinda heavy and stiff, not fun or forgiving on the road) and go to the drivetrain next.

in fact, skip the bike altogether. the more i think about it, the more i realize that the only thing worth salvaging is the frame. the drivetrain is RPM junk; you can do much better for the price. there's a thread about inexpensive bikes in this subforum.
for instance, check this thread. you'll get a similar quality bike for much less, and have more money to spend on upgrades.

The Fuji can be a good bargain trackbike if you get it at a nice price, but I just looket at the 08, and I have to say I'm not fond of the aesthetics of it any more. the new paint scheme is kinda blah, and does it really have eyelets on the fork?

The Sports Basement in San Francisco has it selling for $420. My sister's boyrfriend did this marathon ride? from SF to La and i believe he gets 15% off all bikes. Is $420 with a 15% discount work the Fuji Track 08? Should I jump on that deal asap?

If you can get it for $357 that'd be a great deal.

sticker price $420
w/ 15% discount $357
plus tax $28.56

grand total $385.56

what do you think?
should I do it?

if it fits, do it.

It does fit, but how is the quality of the Fuji Track 08?

where are you buying it? i live in SF too and this looks better then a conversion.

I've only had mine for about three weeks, and admittedly I'm swapping out parts with all deliberate speed (so far the bars, stem, seat post, saddle, and fork), but I ended up going with the fuji track over the mark v because my local shop gave me a damned good deal trading out parts to my specifications. It seems to be about as good quality as any other bike you would get for the price. The paint seems quality, and the crank seems to be the exact same one that you get on all fixed gears at the price point (mine actually came branded as FSA). I don't have any complaints about the frame being noodly.

Aesthetics are obviously subjective, but I wouldn't have considered this bike with the paint/decal schemes of past years. I do loathe the fuji logo on the downtube, but that is fixed easily enough. As is often the case, the stock photo does not do the color justice, and I think the matte grey looks quite attractive and understated when mated to mostly black components.

go for it. no need for a new rider to spend more than 400.
i think it's a decent bike.

I still think it'd be nice if it came with a b-b-b-brake, even a cheapo one. My boss won't let a Fuji Track leave the shop without one.

i got mine for a deal. and they offered to throw on a front brake.
don't most shops throw one on for free?

That's what we end up doing. Interestingly, a lot of the customers order a brake to go with it anyways. I guess that's what you get for having a shop adjacent to perhaps the most dangerous hill in town to be brakeless on.

so you really need a bike that will be $350 (give or take with 15% off) so that you can have money to put a $300 aerospoke on it? and you're just getting into fixed gear bikes? ...

I think it's pretty interesting that Fuji went from the nutty Walmart mountainbike graphics to such a quiet paint job. I approve.

yea... my friend rides fixed gear and in his apartment he has about 4 aerospoke wheels laying around in perfect condition. he's willing to give me one of them. so yea. not much like $300. more like $free. but hey... thanks for the comment son.

Hey KY

I think you might have PMed me earlier. I too test rode the Fuji Track at Sports Basement. A few things to note. There are 20% off coupons that Sports Basement gives out from time to time. Keep your eye out for them or ask your friends who are into running, biking, etc. My non-profit sometimes gets them for volunteering with SB. Also, if you buy any other parts (ex: brakes, new saddle, etc..) when you buy your Fuji, Sports Basement will give you 10% off the price of the item and install it for free.

Good luck. I still haven't pulled the trigger yet. Still can't decide if I should just get the Fuji or step up and get a better bike. It is my first bike and I don't really care about brand, just want something to ride.

Cheers.

Yea, I'm in the same boat. It would be my first bike, the Fuji Track 08 is a nice bike and is also affordable, but I wonder if it's really better to spend a couple more hundred for a better bike? Yea my friend had one of those 20% off couponds, but it expired this month on the 5th. Do you live in the city? Sports Basement on Bryant or Presidio? When do the coupons come out? any specific days? and since the Fuji doesn't have a front brake, would they add it on for free? is it negotiable? thanks.

A fuji track was my first bike. The frame is great (I think it is on it's 4th owner now. 7 years of city use and going strong). The headset and rear hub were the only parts that ever demanded replacement. Everything else was ugly but worked fine. I still use the crank and front wheel as backups and for random short term builds.

#1. You ain't my daddy. #2. Does your friend like to collect aerospokes? And why do you think that you need one? #3. Good luck with your bike. I wish you all the cool points your little heart desires.

Rarely does one see something go so far over another person's head.