dk2ck

Shoot. Maybe it's time for me to jump on a 49cm frameset before they sell out...

adriano 

thats a shame. the lightning is what made wabi special. the steel options are a yawn. its too bad the small lightning has a hilariously short heat tube and a hilariously massive spacer stack.

adriano 

it has 20mm less bottom bracket drop, 30mm shorter fork, no 30mm headset, and an actual head tube length 10mm shorter than the 100mm of the 47cm kilo tt. therefore, its like a kilo tt with a 100-10-30-30-20=10mm head tube. terrible.

Scrodzilla

Doesn't it also have 650c wheels though? Too lazy to look.

adriano 

it does. that doesnt affect the bb to top of head tube calculation.

adriano 

directly.

bb drop + fork length + head set + head tube.

walnutz

Yeah, I'm bummed. I recently got tired of dealing with track frames and wanted something more forgiving on longer rides, and the idea of a super light bike was really appealing. Oh well. Maybe it wasn't selling?

icyclist 

I don't see anything about discontinued sizes online. A lighter, steel version is in the works? I've recently seen a prototype steel Wabi bike with Columbus tubing that I think was supposed to be lighter than the current Reynolds versions (and more expensiveL). Maybe that's the bike - TIG, not lugged - it looked good.

adriano 

apparently theyre discontinuing the whole line. im just saying the small lightning head tube missed the mark by three maybe four inches.

walnutz

Sounds like the one.

TejanoTrackie 

Well, I'm happy I have my Wabi Lightning with 650C wheels that weighs only 15 lbs complete. The headtube length is not a big deal for me, since I can achieve the desired saddle to bar drop and reach that I want. There is a bit of flexing and creaking when climbing out of the saddle due to the 50mm spacer stack, but that could be reduced to almost zero by flipping the stem up. If it's true that it will be discontinued, that's a real shame, since there not a lot of 650C wheel models to choose from, which is bad for short folks.

adriano 

plus a 20mm headset cone for 70mm of spacer, 1:1 spacer to head tube ratio. you are on the upper end of the target population, but even if they were targeting people six inches shorter, 40 to 60mm more extension wouldve been accomodating enough and mechanically more sound. aesthetically, the dimensions as is would be a candidate for a threaded setup, but the frame is internal only. after all that, id still consider one if they had a closeout sale.

hamfoh

feels bad man / feels good man

I have some sad news and some good news- sad first: The Wabi Lightning will be going away, at least for the foreseeable future. It's a great frame/bike, with a lot of happy owners out there, but supplier issues are forcing this change.

Good news: I have been looking for an option to build a lighter weight steel frame for some time, without the crazy cost of 953, and am proud to announce a new Wabi, the Lightning SE, made with Columbus Spirit tubing, in the tig welded format to reduce the weight, along with a carbon fork. The first production should be here in May. I have been riding a sample for a couple of months and it is what I was looking for- very light responsive machine with the ride that only high end steel can provide. The weight will put it between the Lightning and the Special, at ~17.2 lbs for a 55cm bike w/o pedals, with drop bars and both brakes.This would probably be sub 16 lbs w/o brakes.

jdgesus 

TOO BAD MY LIGHTNING HAS A HUGE ****ING DENT IN THE TOPTOOB

rip lightning, i'll ride mine till it explodes

hairnet

Where does it say the Lightning will be discontinued? I'm looking around the site but I havent seen anything. FFFFFFF that bike is everything I want in a Al fixed gear

icyclist 

I got a look at the prototype Columbus Wabi a month ago. It looked great. Too bad about the supply issue - I hope it gets resolved one day - Wabi sold a lot of Lightnings.

spitfirees20

Wow, that is some disappointing news. I just got my 49 Lightning complete a few weeks ago, and I feel like it's the BEST bargain for a fixed gear out there right now, hands down. Seriously, $875 for one of the lightest complete bikes out there (in the price range), with a fantastic geometry, decent components, and some of the best customer service I've ever dealt with? I have some friends that have been into the FG culture far longer than I have, and even they were surprised at both the quality and weight when they checked it out. Not to mention that specs aside, it rides like an absolute dream, and this is coming from a steel frame previously. Oh well.

Kind of a random aside, but I think it would be cool if the Lightning SE came with a threaded stem. Kind of a far out idea considering none of his other current bikes have one, but I think it'd look better than the current threadless setups he's running on his steel bikes which to me look a bit out of place.

hairnet

I see on facebook

JesusBananas

But 953 is so extravagant and preeeetty. *drool*

adriano 

953, awesome, but if you wanted something smooth, light, stainless, expensive, and difficult to weld, mother nature already had you covered with titanium. i heard 951 will be similar but easier to work with and cheaper.

JesusBananas

I know. That doesn't mean I can't lust after both.

Mr. Mcshiny

I have been riding my Wabi Lightning for about 2 weeks and it. Is. Awesome. Super light, super stiff. I would be very sad if they discontinued them.

djpfine

I ride an aluminum FG (Tricross) and am looking to switch to something steel. Seems real tough these days to find nice steel FG bikes at a good price, and I thought the Wabis fit the bill. What makes the steel options a yawn in your mind? Do you have any better alternatives?

Do you guys think I'd notice a big difference compared to my Tricross?

hamfoh

Adriano just doesn't like a lot of things

markaitch

@djpfine...one of my riding buddies has a classic & it is a really nice bike. if i didn't already have my steel bike & was looking for one - it would be my 1st choice.

on a side note, i want a lightweight alu bike to compliment what i already have so was one of the many that were disappointed to miss-out on the lightning. i just visited wabi's site to see what they are up to...

it shows lightnings available in all sizes?