Elvo

You can use the search function as there are dozens of threads on this topic as opposed to waiting for people to spoon feed you.

UltraManDan

Im not the OP bud. I know how to use a search. Thanks

heymatthew

Thus the LOL.

Amiright!? Guys?

Guys...

Seriously, am I right?

I'll just show myself out.

hockeyteeth

I work at a shop that sold Vilanos for one back-to-school season. Worst. Bikes. Ever. Brakes did not really work because of crappy levers, crappy single-pivot calipers w/ terrible brake pads, and to top it off cables and housing with way too much friction. Wheelset had the softest spoke nipples, no name spokes that break at the heads with even moderate use, rims that were not very round and terrible seams where they were joined (noticeable pulsing when braking and wears pads too quickly). All bearings were of very low quality and bearing surfaces wear very quickly, resulting in terrible pitting in hubs. Cogs and chainrings were not round so even chain tension could not be achieved. Many chains broke. And on and on... We have been regretting selling them for two years now and everyone hates seeing them come in for service.

This is the same case for all these ~$300 SSFGs. They use the worst quality components intended to match and look flashy to the uninitiated. They generally have no name branding on them, and thus no reputation to maintain when their parts fail prematurely. These bikes are department store quality and people keep buying them for 2x what they should really sell for. I don't understand it.

As I said above, almost all these parts are unbranded and made as cheaply as possible with no regard for longevity or serviceability. Seriously, return this bike if you can and buy a nicer used bike and learn to fix it up. You will get double the quality for the same price and learn many skills in the process.

mizzanthrowpe

Can we get this post set up as a sticky since it's the best summation of the reasons we call those cheap bikes junk?

veganbikes

I wonder if there is like a pimp/hooker sex forum and people ask "is this cheap prosti worth it" every day?

jhess74

There is, and she's not. But she taught me a lot of cool ****.

spectastic

I got my aluminum bike (windsor knight) from bikes direct. I've had it for two years now, and it's a great bike. I thought I was getting the same type of value when I bought the "projekt fixie". It didn't really have main brand names, but their components aren't listed with plain generic names either. ie. the crank is called projekt crank, and has good reviews on amazon. the hub is KT Quando, which is a chinese brand (don't know how good it is). well.. here's are its specs

Specifications

• Frame: Ultra-strong, High Tensile Steel (Tig-welded)
• Fork: Straight, High Tensile Steel (Tig-welded)
• Headset: Neco Threadless Set, Alloy and Steel
• Handlebars: Projekt Fixie Bullhorn Handlebars, Lightweight Alloy
• Stem: Projekt Fixie Alloy
• Grips: Lightweight Black Handlebar Tape
• Saddle: Projekt Fixie Performance Saddle
• Brakes: Radius Alloy Front Brake
• Crankset: Projekt Fixie 3-Piece Sealed Bearing. 44t 170mm
• Pedal: Projekt Fixie Platform Pedals
• Hubs: Projekt Fixie Lasered, KT Quando
• Chain: KMC Chain
• Tubes/Tires: Kenda Kwest 28x700C
• Wheels: 50mm Deep-V Rims, 16t
• Valves: Presta 60mm
• Assembly Kit Included
• Disclaimer: Bottlecage sold seperately

I probably won't return it, because it was only $240, and shipping would probably cost 1/4 of that. we'll see how good/bad this bike really is when it arrives.

heymatthew

Every day? No. Maybe for birthdays and special occasions though...

hockeyteeth

Yeah, I jusr repacked a Quando hub yesterday for some guy. Instead of using the conventional nine 1/4" ball bearings it used 10 7/32" bearings, which wear faster, and the chrome on the races in the hub was beginning to flake off so the hub still felt like **** with one new cone, new bearings and fresh grease.

Also, I'm assuming that most of these good reviews are posted very shortly after receiving the item and not after being given lots of abuse.

But at least that Projekt ***** comes with "Lightweight Black Handlebar Tape."

spectastic

so then what's a good value on a fixie/ss, kilo TT?

heymatthew

At first I thought the "fixie censorship" went into effect, and I was like, "Oh ****, they really did it. Hockeyteeth is a revolutionary!"


And then I saw this ^^^, and I was like, "Oh... I guess they didn't. No bother, Hockeyteeth might still be a revolutionary..."


Also, is it revolutionary or revolutionist? Auto correct accepts both.

europa

Quando hubs are rubbish. End of story. My opinion comes from suffering two of the things and both wound up with buggered threads thanks to the cheese they use to make the bodies of the hubs. And before you point fingers, they're the only hubs I've had this trouble with.

spectastic

I just got the projekt fixie today. can't say I'm very impressed.... the bike weighs 24 lbs out of the box, and the wheels are heavy as hell.

Dave Cutter

No actually the Bikes Forum is pretty nice.... TONS of world class expertise and [what could be] endless volumes of knowledge.

But this is a difficult subject and often asked question by noobs at the forum. Cheap Chinese single speed and/or fixie versions of the popular intercity "hipster" bikes. Sort of like BMX trick bikes.... that big kids ride to bars now-a-days. And.... which one is best?!?!? Maybe there is some humor there... maybe it was just injected by otherwise serious cyclists. But no... not a joke.

heymatthew

I agree... I'm fairly new to this forum and I've learned that people here are extremely willing to help out. What I also learned (the hard way, I might add) is that people here are not as willing to hold your hand and baby step you through the bike buying process. Just this morning I saw yet ANOTHER thread comparing one $200 bike to another. The answer is, they will both get you from A to B, but the number of times is really luck of the draw. You may never have a failure on a $200 bike, but chances are, you will. And chances are, it will be catastrophic.

It only takes a few minutes to do a little bit of research on your own, yet this escapes most people. A quick Google search outside of this forum regarding anything bike-related almost always, at some point, directs you back here to find the answer you need. It's annoying that people just aren't willing to even try. I'm not being a dick. I did the same thing and learned. I'm a member of camera and fountain pen forums as well and many times I've had to direct people to existing content and it sucks to do it over and over and over again.

Also, "This or That" threads and "What do you think about [INSERT SUBJECT HERE]" threads are just festering pools of opinions. No one bike is perfect. No one bike works for everyone. You'll almost never get an overwhelming majority of people that choose one bike or component over another. You have to take a little initiative and sort through the information given and make a reasonable decision based on the information you have accrued. Sometimes it takes a little work. I mean, thank God Louis Pasteur didn't just give up on vaccinations when he didn't get an answer handed to him, or we would all be over on the wheelchair forum trying to figure out how best to get around with polio.

Does any of this make this forum a joke? No. And it's insulting for you to say so. You jump in a thread that isn't yours, bring no valuable information and insult the entire community in less than 10 words. You don't like it here? Stay the hell out. I'm with Dave Cutter and many others on this one.

Here... You guys can have your soapbox back now. I'm done with it.

katsrevenge

My fiancé has one of these, in black. He's used to to commute to work, pleasure riding, all sorts of stuff. I'd say he already has the 100 bucks of fun/saved gas $$ out of it. Still going. No rust but it does live inside.


I am going to rebuild it this winter, as a fun thing to do. Parts are still fine though.

jhess74

*nods in approval, starts cheesy '80s movie slow clap*

TejanoTrackie 

@heymatthew - I think you've got Louis Pasteur confused with Jonas Salk. You won't get polio from unpasteurized milk.

heymatthew

I was referring to vaccinations in general, but you're correct. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine.

I could have worded it, "Thank God Louis Pasteur didn't give up on vaccinations otherwise we'd all be on the rabies forum trying to figure out how to not end up like Old Yeller."

hockeyteeth

'sup?

heymatthew

Before and after pics, please. I'd love to see someone build one of those up.

JamesCraps

i dont think ive ever seen you post without posting your bikes

jhess74

Well, duh... they're beautiful bikes and Howeeeeeeeeeeeee is very proud of them. If we're lucky, he'll post some more pics of his bar wrapping technique.

howeeee

I am not sure that the strength is that different, the chromoly is more flexible giving a better ride, like difference between aluminum and chromoly.