single speed road on a budget
 

Nashbar Hounder
Schwinn Cutter
SE Draft

None of the shops around me carry either of the above mentioned. I understand that there is nothing much to a $200 single speed, but it is my budget and would like to know which of the three would be a better choice. Thanks.

If your budget is $200, there is really no point in getting a new bike. You are just going to regret it and want to upgrade it. The parts will break off, they wont work, they will make noises, etc..

Try checking your Craigslist. You will probably be able to get a decent conversion with good parts or like a used motobecane messenger, moto track, etc.

Out of the three, I like the Draft best. Personally I'd save up an extra hundred and go for a BD bike though.

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah, I figure I'd be better off with a Windsor Clockwork...

I agree, you'll prolly find a sick vintage bike for 200-300 on craigslist. I understand that you're looking for a new bike, here are some better options. Oh and I didn't put it up here but if you're read these forums at all...look up the Kilo TT.

Motobecane Track
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cane/track.htm

Motobecane Messenger
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...essenger_x.htm

Windsor The Hour
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../clockwork.htm

If you just save up 100$ more you could get a lot beter bike like http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../clockwork.htm

I say this in nearly every thread, but I can't get over how solid the Clockwork is. Relaxed geometry, responsive handling, great looks, and able to put up with an insane amount of abuse. You won't be disappointed.

I'm not familiar with the Schwinn, but have put some seat time on both the Hounder and the Draft. I personally don't agree with Squeegeesunny, I think you would be perfectly happy with either bike and would not regret it. I would probably give the slight edge to the SE, but the Hounder won't disappoint.

Also as some people noted above, an extra $100 could put you into the Messenger, Kilo TT range will give you MUCH more.

I think if you could get that extra hundred over the course of the next few weeks go that route, if you will miss out on a whole summer of riding before you can scrape the cash together get the Draft. The few months of riding will be worth it more.

Hope this helps!

Thanks everyone. From what I've read, the Hounder has a couple of the tubes to be chormoly (probably the seat tube and down tube I would hope?), vs. the Daft and Cutter to be all hi-ten. I would think that the couple of chromoly tubes of the Hounder to be just a bit better of a ride over the ohter two, no? Then, the Cutter is said to have Schwinn's N'lightened tubing process - I have own Schwinns before with this tubing process in aluminum, but never in hi-ten so I don't how this would affect the lower grade steel.

I'm sure I can coax the boss into letting me dish out another hundred or so for the Clockwork (I'm sure a nice dinner out can do that :)). I'm riding a conversion right now (a few year old BD Windsor Dover with single speed chain tensioner), so if need be I can wait a tad longer. I'm a believer that the importance of a bike is in its frame and a full chromoly frame is what I would rather have. Heck, I even have enough parts lying around so as if I was just to buy a frame/fork, I could put together my own bike. I believe Nashbar has a single speed frame/fork (SE Lager I think it was) on sale right now for a bit under $200... I'll have to pop over there and check it out...

KHS Urban Soul.

I like the KHS Urban UNO, with reynolds 520 double butted chromo too. Gold highlights, $489, I think...

http://www.singletrackworld.com/revi...1/DSC_2465.jpg

Also comes with mudguards, and a flip-flop hub to run SS or fixed. It's a step up from the Hi-Tensile fork on the KHS Urban Soul, as this UNO comes with a chromoly fork.

http://www.khsbicycles.com/06_urban_uno_10.htm

Hey BFloyd -

So which one did you end up getting? The Clockwork or the Hounder? I'm in the same situation as you -- only have about $200 to spend for now and would prefer to buy one of these and then upgrade the components at a later date than to buy a beater on Craigslist and not know what's in store for me...

Check craigslist for old road frames. A conversion would probably be of better quality than a brand new bike at that budget.

There's the Dawes SST AL from BD as an aluminum option with a carbon fork. It's basically a road frame with a slightly track oriented fork. Comes in a few colors as well. $360-70 I think.

I have a 09 SE Draft and I had to put all new components on it to make it a good bike. If youre looking at SE at all save a bit and go with the Lager it's cromo and has nice components.

Your recommending a 500 dollar bike for someone looking to spend 200.

Your not building up a SS with a old frame off craigslist for 200. Any built up one (in the price range) wont be any better quality than a modern complete in the ~200 range.


All in all your gonna get junk for 200. Unless you find someone who needs cash bad, or doesnt know what they have, you wont find anything special for 200. My advice is to up your budget to around $300 and look for someone's complete that is a few years old/used, which retailed in the $5-600 dollar range when new.