yeah, heaps!

$250-$350
Alright...we're all friends here. Will one of the Aluminum haters out there (i know i'm speaking to the majority) explain why these steel frames you have all listed would be better than aluminum (lighter and stiffer). My price range is from $250 to $350 for frame only. Help out or hate....list me some frames!!!

Wow, There is alot of hate on here...
For those that dislike, have you ever riden either of these bikes? Or is it just not cool to have an aluminum/sloped top tube/intergrated headset newer style bike? It seems like some people only like the older conversion stuff, some only like the pistas, and other only like the kilo tt, but there are some that like the newwer style stuff. He obviously likes that style of bike, or he would have had listed more of a variety. Now, don't get me wrong I'm a firm believer in "to each his own", which is why when I see a post about kilo tt vs. winsor I don't comment. I let the people that are have/had those bikes take it.
If I could pick whatever I wanted I proboly wouldn't have gotten the Bowery, but funds were low and it rode great...Not everyone that like aluminum can afford a pista concept!
I don't want to piss anyone off, but just because it's not your style doesn't mean it's crap...

If you ask a question like the OP did, you're bound to get a range of responses.

I wouldn't say I have anything against aluminum, nor particularly care about the bikes' styling, and I can say nothing for the other bikes people have listed off. However, if a person is at all handy, which a person looking to purchase a frame likely is, I think you could do better than buying bikes that exist largely to take advantage of trends (note Giant's claim that the Bowery was designed for professional messengers: something tells me the marketing department cooked that up).

If the OP is willing to a little snooping on Ebay, etc... I think they'd find something that would serve them better in the long run. In many cases I suspect, if the rider will be riding it on the street, that taking a decent-to-nice steel road frame and slapping the appropriate parts on it would leave them happier.

i rode a singlespeed conversion for about a year which is steel and i wanted something similar that could withstand some abuse and just be an all around sturdy bike so i discovered the steamroller and i love it

not keen on the look of the bowery or the langster...aluminium is too stiff
for a complete bike the steamroller is an excellent deal and from reading all the posts about the kilo i started to become attracted to it but the geo was a bit aggressive for what i want to do

I just bought a Bowery. Haven't ridden it much, but I like the look of it. It is a bit heavy, but it's hard to say if that is from the frame or the wheelset.

The Bowery reminds me of the movie Gangs of New York for some reason...that's why I don't like it.

Damn, for that kind of cash you can get a killer frame made of lugged Columbus steel, chrome stays and fork, a real pedigree.

I've got nothing against aluminum frames but if you are willing to get a used frame I'd definitely spend the money on a lugged steel frame.

Better in terms of the ride characteristics. Good quality steel is as light as an aluminum frame unless you spend mega bucks for something like the Orbea Arin. The deadening of road vibrations is noticeable but it is not like you are riding some old beach cruiser.

If you aren't racing, then "lighter and stiffer" don't mean squat. The weight of a frame matters little once you have added bottom bracket, cranks, wheels, bars, stem, saddle, etc. Steel frames are plenty stiff.

You want that steel frame to weigh as much as the aluminum one? Pour out half of one of your water bottles.

IRO Jamie Roy. It's very fun to ride. Smooth, quick enough and nice handling. Plus the JR will allow you to put on larger tires if you want to do other types of riding.