Best bike for your buck.

Hey all,

Just a quick question, if I have around £400 to spend, what is the best quality/nicest looking bike you can get?

Was looking at a moss green ss Tokyobike (http://www.tokyobike.co.uk/index.html), but looked at a thread on here and many advised against?

I just need it to commute about 3 miles to and from work really.

Cheers!

Would be more helpful but I've got lots to do this lunchbreak.
Take a look at the The definitive OTP ( Off-The-Peg ) List (<£500 and <£1,000 sections). May help you out.

The Charge Plug Grinder is £329 at Wiggle at the moment. Much better than a Tokyobike, I think.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-grinder-2010/

^this

Brilliant thanks for the help you lot, the charge one just better quality parts or something?

Cheers,

Better parts all round, and a threadless headset/stem which is preferable to the quill on the Tokyobike. Also, unless you're pretty small, the 650 wheels on the Tokyobike don't make a whole lot of sense.

I don't know anything about the tokyobike. It looks fine- accept for the odd wheels.

Your question was:

if I have around £400 to spend, what is the best quality/nicest looking bike you can get?

The answer is to buy second hand. Here: http://www.lfgss.com/thread55433.html#post1792889 a guy is selling a Condor Potenza for £460. That is allot of bike for the money.

The £330 Plug is good value. So is a Fuji Track. But neither are in the same league as that ^ imo.

But as 6pt said look at the OTP list. Then work out what you want, and like the look of, then try and see which one you like the feel of.

^ true, if you know what you're buying.

I have heard Fuji Tracks aren't a great choice for commuting, I don't think the bearings like the rain. A friend of mine has had quite a few problems with his. They are cheap though.

Yeah second hand is always plenty value for money, but it depends if you really want a new bike or what. I would never buy a brand new car, pretty much same as a bike, but plenty of people do. But yeah that Condor is lively.

tut, tut, iamecks. Why are you viewing this thread and not the OTP one?

Get over there now!

In all seriousness though, Regal has raised a good point - "if you know what you're buying". TBH this also applies to OTPs.

Do you actually know what you want?

SS/Fixed bikes come in a range of styles, from hardcore track to cross-style ones. If you've chosen the Tokyo ones then I guess you want something that looks like that, but it really is worth trying out different ones.

Do you have a bike at the mo? What is it? What do you like and dislike about it?

EDIT: Also FWIW I'd look to go over or under the £400 mark. Right now, something like the Plug/Fuji at the lower end, or the Boardman Comp at £450. Which looks like a really good deal. Light frame, carbon forks, decent wheelset - as oposed to the usual off-brand shit you'd get.

Whoa, thanks for the advice guys. I've always had second hand bikes, and just fancied something new for a change, for a treat. I converted an old raleigh arena to ss about a year ago and that's what i've been commuting with, but its just grotty and a bit dodgy so just going to bung it on eBay and start afresh.

I wouldn't know where to start with brands etc, the only reason I know charge is because i've got their brown seat and brown bartape on me bike now.

Yeah i definitely want something that looks like the tokyos, just nice and simple, well designed.

Cheers!

Then it sounds like you should go to a shop and try the Plug and the Fuji and see which you prefer.

Brilliant, think i'll do that. Thanks for your help all.

These are from The List.....and all less than £400.oo.

Specialized Langster 2010 - extremely light, and known to be quick
Fuji Classic Track - steel, and all the better for it
Claud Butler Courier Sport - only offered in 56cm though
Giant Bowery 72 - a good choice if you're not much over 16 stone [http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giant-bowery-72-2010/]

Schwinn Cutter - more leisurely

Great, thanks!

The only one that takes my fancy out of these ones is the Fuji really, but is it true they're no good for commuting?

I have heard Fuji Tracks aren't a great choice for commuting, I don't think the bearings like the rain. A friend of mine has had quite a few problems with his. They are cheap though.

Thanks!

The answer is to buy second hand. Here: http://www.lfgss.com/thread55433.html#post1792889 a guy is selling a Condor Potenza for £460. That is allot of bike for the money.

He's got a point

But if you're dead set on buying new On One Pompino is on sale at £435, far superior to charge and the fuji (and you can pre-order the glow in the dark model!)

As recommended directly above, the Pompino is a great bike for the money. The Fuji's hub bearings are not a problem to have replaced in any bike shop. There's a list elsewhere on this forum of SS / FG hubs that also has a link to common bearings used. They're cheap to buy online.

Style wise, not my cup of tea though i'm afraid. Guess it all comes down to the iPhone vs Blackberry argument. The iPhone doesn't have as many features and probably isn't as good as the Blackberry, but it is way more fucking beautiful!

Same goes for entry level OTP bikes possibly?

Great, thanks!

The only one that takes my fancy out of these ones is the Fuji really, but is it true they're no good for commuting?

Thanks!

commute/cycle everyday over a year in rain and snow on my Fuji and it has required minimal maintenance. even done wintry trips brussels-amsterdam and dieppe-paris.

i'd recommend it.

Yeah, replacing the bearings isn't too much bother. FWIW, in terms of handling/geometry and (stock) gearing, the Fuji's the only real track bike of those, whereas the Pompino wins at commuting I'd say (canti brakes, mudguard eyelets etc.). Horses for courses and all that.

....Horses for courses and all that.

Exactly.

If it was me, I'd go for either the Fuji or the Boardman. I'd really love a Pomp, but (and I know this sounds totally illogical) I'd only get one if I already had another bike like the Fuji or Boardman.

And as for the random stuff about Fuji's bearing etc. My impression was it was one of those finds where you've got a frame that's good enough to warrent upgrading when the parts go. Whereas my impression of something like a plug is it'd be a bit of a waste. But this is all based on interwebzrumur.

I'd look at Charge bikes.