i'm stuck between a 56cm Cream city frame or a 54 Bareknuckle. Has anyone had any particularly good/bad experiences with either? How does the Versus tubing of the Milwaukee compare to the Dedacciai tubing? or is this a toss up?

Buy the Cream City. Support a US company. Ben's is a small shop that produces fine quality bikes. I've ridden Burd's and LOVED the way it rode.

Agreed. The new Milwaukee frames are BEAUTIFUL. I was in Ben's the other week and they had one freshly built up and it was really nice. Built in Milwaukee, a plus, as stated.

I think those frames are one of the nicest and most affordable fixed gears made in the US...

The Cream City seems pretty legit. Not that the Bareknuckle isn't, but this could be your chance to own a Waterford track bike!

I don't really have a lot of firsthand experience with each, but they both seem like viable options.

+1

And these frames look great. Good street geometry.

+1.

where's the bareknuckle built? waterford ftw.

I wonder if it would be possible to just buy the frame badge.

I <3 my bareknuckle - much more responsive that my old steamroller.

I put a carbon fork on it and it's light as heck now.

Only complaint is that the paint is superduper thin.


Italian economy needs support too! lol

I was going to say it's beautiful, but you kind of beat me.





Also the beautiful Wisconsin on the seat tube.

Milwaukee FTMFW!

how many of you actually own/ride a milwaukee or bare knuckle?

doesn't the milwaukee have a lot of clearance between the rear tire and seat tube? the brass knuckle's is pretty tight. is it true that waterford was bought out and doesn't have the same high quality is used to before? just curious because i'm also looking at both of these frames.

not me. a couple WF-built paramounts though.

to my knowledge, false. schwinn dumped the paramount brand in the early 90s, and the waterford facility took the flag and ran with it under the waterford brand name and with the same attention to detail. i've spoken to waterford very recently regarding a paramount restoration and they're still the same group, led by richard schwinn.

I have ridden both and I like the Milwaukee's better. And by the way, we're talking about a BAREKNUCKLE not a BRASSKNUCKLE.

The bareknuckles are good bikes. They dent very easily and I don't really care for them that much. I'd still rather get a bike that's a more comfortable ride, can accept fenders and that's hand made in the US. Call me an idealist....

I have to go with the general consensus that I'd get the Mil, I looked at getting both about a year ago but ended up picking up a used Jamis Sputnik frame off a dude that I'm riding lately. All in all i think they are both pretty comparable frames with the Milwaukee having a bit more versatility in setup maybe, really depends on your riding style i guess, and rather you want to buy an American product.

+1 on Bareknuckles denting easily.
I had mine powder coated and came home with a little dent. Within the first 50 miles of riding I had 2 more dents (although all of them are very small and not noticeable until pointed out....damn gravel and stupid rocks!!!) It's a fun bike though. I ride it a lot and I think its aesthetically pleasing.

Aesthetically pleasing is the new "zen"

haha

I actually was looking at the Orange One frame not the Cream City back when i was shopping for a frame. Fixed Gear Gallery has a review of both the Cream City and the Barknuckle you may want to read if you haven't already.