Steamroller complete or Kilo WT?

I'm looking to replace my 70s 62cm conversion with something more my size (53cm). As I understand it, these bikes have exactly the same geo, and similar frame and component quality.

The main differences I am aware of is:
Price difference ~= $250
WT has fender/rack mounts
WT has weird seat tube sizing
Logos over clearcoat on Steamroller, under on WT

I plan to ride as a fixed with a front brake, I have full planet bike road fenders on my current bike, I live in a rainy area right now but I've heard about some decent clip on fenders that planet bike also sells. Ideally I'd like to be able to take off all the logos or cover them up? Have people successfully done this on Kilos?

I ride around town a lot (don't have a car) and play polo occasionally. I am just having trouble deciding between these two bikes. Am I missing some glaring difference?

clip on fenders have nothing on real full coverage ones if you're actually riding in the rain a lot. overall the kilo is a more versatile option but the steamroller is definitely more refined stylistically. the seatpost isn't really that big of a deal. if you really feel the need to upgrade, thomson has a 26.8 one. if it were me i'd get the kilo and put the $250 towards making the changes/upgrades to suit your style.

WT

Short of repainting, no. You can wrap the tubes in tape or something to cover the logos but there is no way to remove them without repainting.

These are excellent clip-ons. They are cheap, provide almost as much coverage as full fenders, don't flop around, and take about 15 seconds to install/remove. I use mine on rainy days, and take them off on clear days. You should be able to get this to fit on either the WT or Steamroller.

https://ecom1.planetbike.com/7001.html

WT if you're cost conscious, Steamroller if you're brand conscious.

WT comes freewheel, so add a fixed gear cog and lockring to the cost. And I would plan to get better pedals and saddle than it comes with. They may work for you but don't have high hopes. Are the fatty tires your thing? 700x32, vs the Steamroller's more reasonable 700x25.

The Surly can do full fenders using p-clips.

The glaring difference is the factor of: do you want "cheeze" or "balls". You know what I'm talking about or you wouldn't be asking about taking off the BD logos. No they don't come off. The best you can do is cover them up with some dark reflective tape or something. Or you can get at them under the clearcoat but I do not recommend that.

Surly all the way if you can afford it.

I was in exactly your same situation when considering. I went with the WT due to price. You get a full bike for less than a Surly frameset.

The WT is surprisingly quick in handling, but it has more toe overlap. The plus is it has larger tire options (which was another big point that had me sold). Strangely, the seatpost can fit a 27.2 on my bike, but I don't know if it's an exception (of course I had to drill my own compression slot due to a factory defect). Overall, I thoroughly enjoy it. You're going to have to paint over it if you want the logos gone/

Like.

Well conceived, well executed, looks like fun.

Get the WT and save the money. Surly makes a great frame but not $250 better than any Kilo frame. Only style differences are the curved chain stays on the Surly and again that to me isn't worth another $250.

you could also get this:
https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1184
and build form the frame. just an option to throw out there.

If the aesthetics are an issue, look for some powdercoaters in your area. There's a guy around here who supposedly does frames starting from $40 and I've heard good things (though I've never seen his work). $250 of savings is definitely enough to get some custom color going, and your options are virtually unlimited.

If the frames are the same size, and cranks the same length, how is there more toe overlap? Is that just because the kilo ships with larger tires?

Any thoughts on how noticeable throwing some white primer or even like nail polish would have over the Mercier logos? White duct tape?

Fork rake + bigger tires. (actually scratch that now I think their fork rake is the same). I can confirm it's true too, my 56cm Steamroller has 0 toeverlap but Gyeswho's 56cm WT does.

If you get a white WT just put some white reflective tape over the logos.

I've got the 62cm WT in white. Really like it thus far.. Comes with fixed and the freewheel. Wheels seem pretty good thus far..
Overall the quality is much higher than I was expecting. I ride a 63cm C-dale road bike and find the 62 to be pretty close in sizing. The steerer tube comes extra long, which gives you alot of options on stem height without having to run a stupid high rise stem.. you may want to cut steerer down eventually.. great to have the option.

The saddle it comes with is crap.. but that's to be expected.. I got the white colored rise sette saddle for $40.. the bike is perfect with it.

Have no clue what they're talking about with pedal overlap.. like I said, its pretty much same as my crack-n-fail.

Kept up with my riding friends on their geared bikes with NO PROBLEM.. amazing.. the big tires really didn't slow me down at all.. zilch..

You would have a sweet bike with the SteamRoller as well.. also a good bike, my friend has one, not sure how well it would fit someone tall like me.. in terms of headtube/steerer length.. I usually have troubles with that..

the miche seatpost looks nice with that saddle. nice ride!

DOH! edit: meant for gyeswho.

I wonder if that has anything to do with your monster frame

I've got a 53cm WT and with clipless pedals and size 10.5 shoes the pedal overlap is a non issue. If I actually try really hard I can make the front tire barely catch the toe of my shoe. In normal riding, even circling at stop signs waiting for traffic to clear (one of these days I've got to work on my track standing), I've never caught my toe with the front wheel. I'm sure that with toe clips there is a little bit more of an issue but not a whole lot.

I really, really like my WT. I had a Motobecane Messenger for about a year and then upgraded to the WT because I wanted to spend some time exploring a bunch of gravel roads near me. Rode 29 miles yesterday with about 6 miles of freshly graveled roads and the bike did great, but my legs not so much. Definitely in my fat and out of shape winter mode. I'm even impressed with the stock tires and they've held up well, as well as everything else on the bike, over the first 500 miles I've put on it. My 27.2 Thompson seatpost fit fine on the WT. I really think the 26.8 spec on the Bikes Direct site is a typo.

The bottom line is I don't think you can go wrong with either bike. I had the same decision and went with the WT due to the cost savings.

Roland

I have 62cm Steamroller and I'm 6 foot 3". It fits fine, I'm sure somebody even taller would be good on it as well.

Hmm another difference appears to be that Steamrollers sport a 3/32" drivetrain while the WT comes with a 1/8".

WT or FCU, hands down from a value perspective.

My friend is considering this bike. Would a 49cm or 53cm fit better for someone who is 5'6?

I never understood why people would want to hide the logos? Is it because you want people to think your not riding a no name brand like Mercier? Because 99% would probably think you have really aexpensive bike since american logic is anything french sounding=expensive. If its for style, I don't see it it either. I rather have a generic logo than a dinky anomaly on the frame. I think the logos look great, much better than a lot of others on BD. Personally I think if you have to money always go for the better brand like Surly, because I am sure the parts would be better than the WT if I was going to get a bike that I would at least get the WT5.

I have a Surly Steamroller and I really love it. The stock saddle was terrible IMO but other than that the bike has been great. I have the creamroller and the paint job is great. The super thick paint hides scratches pretty well. If you do want stickers they don't last long since you can scratch them off with your fingernail. I left the main "Surly" on the down tube and scratched them off everywhere else. I don't know much about the WT but the Surly frame is really solid.

Yeah, why hide the logos? I want everyone to think my $400 Mercier is really a $1500 bike that way I can have a lot of them stolen and brag about how many bikes I have to replace 'cause I'm all posh.

tThere is one option to repainting if you want to cover up logos. You can get an uncut vinyl kit like this for $20 and you can either try to match the color or make striped "panels" in a different color. If you're patient you can make some pretty cool designs.