Wait...you have a dog that can ride a bike???

I see what they did there . . .



Maybe they're related:

I'd ride the PK Ripper all day long.

I wrestled with hi ten vs cromoly. I have 2 Fuji's for just riding & exercise purposes, rather than ride and make a day of it as a tourist. The Fuji's could be the tourist too, but I'd be paranoid if either were locked unattended and out of sight for more than it took to buy a cold drink at a convenience store. Both the hi ten and cromoly frames are virtually indistinguishable to me. I avoid aluminum as I understand it's stiffer, but also because I don't like the fact that it's softer metal than steel. If I lock the bike to a rougher steel pole or a parking meter, I definitely don't want someone knocking it around or it falling over while attached to steel that is significantly harder and may even gouge the aluminum. Carbon, that's simply out of my price range. I used to say that about graphite shafts for golf clubs, even avoided purchasing them because I felt they weren't as durable or strong as steel. But again, there's a difference between golf culbs and bikes. And as I understand Carbon is a very stiff frame, like aluminum. So that leaves me hi ten or cromoly. Hi ten saved me a few bucks. Since I was after one that would be less attractive to theft, a lesser known brand made of perceived inferior components and materials works fine. Would I have liked to have bought it from WalMart for $ 150 or so, sure. But after RBO and BD, Republic and the $ 400 plus track bike outlets are the next step. And those are about the same as a BD track bike. And after that, you get into the $ 600-800 range track bikes of the more commonly popular name brand bikes. So $ 239 for a Vilano is very price point enticing.

As for the shill reviews, I found the reviews at RBO very similar to what I experienced, so they are candid and sincere for the most part. There were some that indicated superiority over Surly's Steamroller. But I took that claim as puffery. RBO's reviews tell some horror stories, even throw out a lot of the upgrade suggestions to get it to a BD track bike. The horror stories, I took those as worst case scenarios, they may be a little more common & frequent ? My experience was more of a horror story, but I found that customer support was exceptional for resolving any issues that I've had. So in that regard, RBO gets 5 stars. It's not pleasant to have to wait or do the email back & forth (even an 800 number) for any on-line purchase, but when the issues are identified, they get resolved eventually and within reason. That's the same with anything done over the internet. A similar example, if I build a computer and NewEgg sends a defective motherboard or cpu, I find that whole process isn't any less enjoyable, yet NewEgg does resolve those problems too. I'd expect the same from BD or any other on-line vendor.

I found the components aren't nearly as lacking in quality from lowest end Shimano or Sugino parts you find on BD track bikes, almost a matter of preference. The Tec 9 hubs and crankset don't have the name notoriety that Shimano & Sugino, but after a month of riding these components, they function, the finish remains as close to new as one could ride without incident to damage them. For a lower cost item, they are an option. Whatever is Neco on the Vilano also works and has retained finish after miles of riding. Take care of it, lubricate and clean them and there are no issues. The chain and Dicta freewheel are properly lubed and adjusted, no problems there. The brake components, levers and calipers are properly adjusted and low and behold they have zero issues.

Crap headset/fork ? Even Stem ? I don't subscribe into that. The fork arm are either aligned straight or they aren't. Headset on the Vilano is adjusted and lubed properly. Stem, it's Neco, but even there, it's properly tightened. As for handling is vague and not confidence inspiring ? The steering on the Vilano is responsively crisp, the handle bars being as short as they are make that a reality. The Vilano also can make an unbanked 90 degree left or right just the same as any bike. U-turns, same there, slow down and get enough pavement it will make a 180 degree about face.

Harsh ride ? It's on 700x32 or thinner tires with a thin and unpadded seat. It's going to be uncomfortable and harsh for anything more than a few city blocks. The best you can do for that is inflate the tires at the bottom end of the range, which might account for perceived frame flex ? But running these tires at max pressure on anything less than a freshly paved road or smooth concrete and it's going to be brutal going the same as any other high pressure & rail thin tire. That's what it's supposed to do, relay feedback from the road with a fork with no shock absorber and higher pressure tires that aren't balloons.

I know it sounds as though I'm the only one defending the Vilano & RBO, probably because I am the only one defending it. But by the same token, I'm probably one of the few, if not the only one to acknowledge that I own one. Just trying to give it a fair assessment. Nobody's going to beam over a $ 230-240 base price cheapie SS/FG. But I had 3 other options at local bike shops, beyond the internet purchases. At one shop, $ 600 plus tax choice of the Schwinn Madison or Giant Bowery '72. The next closest shop had the Specialized Langster Tokyo model for $ 850. All three are superior products to the Vilano just from appearances. But are they $ 300+ to $ 550 better ? I don't think any of them has that kind of price differential that the ride is going to be that vastly superior on the same size & width wheels with identical air pressure. Add that the seat is the same unpadded rail and I certainly want to ride it 30+ miles round trip to confirm the handling is superior and so is this comfortable ride that the Vilano gets slammed on for being so harsh and unforgiving ? Be fair about the review of the bike and if the Vilano is 90 or more % of a $ 600-850 track bike, it has to be a great value for around 1/3 to 1/2 the price ?

fuji86,

How much was wrong with this bike out of the box? What had to be replaced? How many hours invested in getting it working properly? How much pain in the butt factor? Not my idea of a bargain. It sounds like a pure piece of crap that you made functional through bulldog like perseverance and an overriding desire to prove it could be made into a functional item. Good for you and all and I certainly hope you enjoy it and it remains safe. But, given what you went through I can't see how you could possibly recommend it. Clearly, you made it work - after significant pain. That's not my idea of a selling point.

I still haven't figured out why anyone needs a new bike when they're on a budget. That seems to be the new trend. As it's been said in this thread and since the invention of money, you get what you pay for. Why not just buy an old bike in good shape and spend the rest of your allocated money cleaning it up?

+1

On another note, these pk rippers are appearing at bargain bins everywhere....

I'd ride one for maybe half a day. We've got one here at the shop and it looks better than it is.

moto, to put this in perspective, consider the price of a new bike vs. the price of a new car . . .

I appreciate the sentiment of "you get what you pay for," but don't rag on people for having budgets. </petpeeve>

I'm a full time college student busting my ass doing two jobs to eat. I was in no way ragging on anyone i can't even afford the bikes discussed in this thread right now. Which is why I ride my old grand record.

I have the Gavin Solo which has been a pretty solid bike. I keep it SS and swapped out the pedals. Other than that it's been fine, feels lighter on the road than it actually is on a scale 23-24#.

The Solo has welded track ends, not crimped. I can't see spending much more on a bike to just rip down to the corner liquor store or some crap like that.

what if Darwin was wrong?

I think the bulldog perseverance is relative to any bike. The wheel trueing, all of them need that. The local bike shop does everything that I did and buy their new one, I guarantee you'll go back for tuneups and so on like I had to perform over about the same time period and even if it's less than what I went thru, they did a better job getting it done going onto the showroom floor, but $ 600+, that was paid for ? This or for the most part any internet bike is a DIYer and what you can't you throw a few bucks more at. Within a couple of weeks the tweaking, riding, breaking in, and adjustment/readjustment process and I'm sitting around $ 300 including the lock. I agree this one had it's share of broken out of the box, but RBO made that right everytime and response was overnight (they in St Augustine, FL, me in Miami, FL). I can recommend it, because it's $ 300 not $ 600+, even with what I went thru. Anyway, nothing comes perfect, they all need the work & TLC. Just a matter of whether you or another sweat the details of it.

Thanks for all the updates on this bike. Ive been looking to buy this for a while, but ive been hesitant. Im an idiot when it comes to bikes, so im not sure if i can keep up with it as well as you can. I just want a fixed gear that i can ride around town with friends. I also dont want to spend to much on a bike and this is obviously a great price, so im asking you if this Vilano bike will do the job? Is it worth it? Thanks for the help!

Vilano will do the job. But I also hope that you've been reading what an internet bike is about, even what you may have to go thru with the local bike shop for a name brand bike has been my point throughout this thread. Pick a price point, what you feel comfortable with. Here are some options:

https://www.roadbikeoutlet.com/
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm
https://www.republicbike.com/

I understand you're looking for a pain free guarantee. I can tell you that my experience with RBO for out of the box was the product had defects. But I will also indicate as defects are identified, customer support/service was behind it every step of the way. After those pains, I have an inexpensive bike that is what it is in that regard. Every bike is the same in terms of having to be built, adjusted, tuned or whatever. Buy a name brand from the local bike shop and they have taken as much of that pain for you and you are going to pay for it. I have yet to find a SS/FG track bike for under $ 599 at a local bike shop and many will be even more. In that regard, the Vilano kept me around $ 300, but I turned wrenches and spent time on it too. Even a WalMart bike is going to have to go thru this building and adjustment process.

Another option, buy a used bike where somebody else has already lived thru the pain.

About the only bike style that I've witnessed go together out of the box with minimal hassles are the beach cruiser styles with a coaster brake. But that isn't what you're after. With the track bike, a non mechanical type individual might be challenged by a caliper brake adjustment process ? Anyway, understand when you buy an internet bike, that there will be things you can fix, for what you can't the local bike shop will do. RBO, Republic or BD will not send a bike technician out to your house and it's not like AAA where there's roadside repair service included. It's why I did my riding & adjustments a few blocks around the neighborhood, because 3+ miles away is a miserable place to be if any of them breakdown. Getting the bike roadworthy can be a slow & painfull process. That's my advices.

Noooo, don't recommend republic bike! The bikes are utter garbage and cost far more than they are worth. The cheapest option is $440 with shipping, and for $200 less, you can get pretty much the same bike from RBO (the Vilano).

Both are hi-ten frames, and I personally would recommend any of bike direct's chromo offerings (lighter and better quality steel) if you're looking for a new budget bike.

Some people don't give a **** about quality at all, they just want a bike with pretty colours and ride around the block once awhile, then once they get sick of it, they'll sell it on CL.

I realize that, but there is difference between having ignorance and propagating ignorance.

I'm going to get off my "elitist soapbox" now.

So, RBO uses Tec 9 components and Republic Sugino and so on. It's not a recommendation just throwing some options around for various price points. Also compared to the Republic, now you're saying the Vilano is a deal ? At the end of the day RBO, BD, Republic & your local bike shop is going to move the lowest end of the components they chose to build any bike for the most the buyer can pay ?

Thanks for the help man!
Coincidentaly, the day you gave this advice my friend offered to sell me his fixed gear.
Its a Dawes SST with updraded handlebars, grips, pedals, and tires.
Hes giving me a good price at $275 and i wont have to deal with all the hassles of an online purshased bike.
Maybe ill get the Vilano as a back up, and thanks for the help again!

Cool, enjoy your new Dawes SST, that's one of the offerings that BD has for just under what you'd pay BD for it, no need for a Vilano as a backup. I have the bikes I do for riding with the various interests of the people I know. I wound up with 3 bikes, spent around $ 800 for all over the years, but if someone calls up and wants to ride trails, tour multiple cities/townships (I can ride North to Ft Lauderdale or South to South Beach Miami and all smaller cities/townships in between on the same day and still have the afternoon to do as I please) or just make it an all day trip and hang out, I have reliable bikes for the social occasions, that's really what it's about for me, who you ride with and the exercise. And along the way, I meet new & interesting people too. Kind of like riding different pedal versions in a Harley Davidson club/group ?

There's alot of doom and gloom on maintaining (or assembling) an entry level bike. No matter what you spend on one it will need to be maintained. If you can't true your own wheels there's something wrong, plus they come with a little repair manual. I assembled my Gavin, rode it maybe 20 miles and went over the wheels, etc. Haven't touched a thing yet besides the seat/bar adjustment.