Brother cycles... Cheap as chips frames

Having ridden the Brother for a few weeks now I’d deffo recommend it. Even though the price is pretty low, nothing about it says ‘cheap’. It’s hand built, really well finished and has dropout adjusters, DROPOUT ADJUSTERS!

Ty
http://www.thefootdown.co.uk

Hi guys - really hate it when people come on here to promote their products. But just to let you know I run Brother Cycles with my brother (surprisingly!)... so if anyone's got any questions just PM me. Cheers - Will

Frosty, at least you did it in an honest up front way. You could have easily pretended to be a punter and given a Brother cycles frame a glowing review. It's been seen before...

Haha... yeah I've seen it and it makes me cringe.

Here's my predicament, maybe those who've ridden a Brother frame can help me...

I'm not sure whether to go for IRO or Brother for my first build...

I really like the IRO's (Pro Mark V or Angus) but availability is scarce and like the idea of supporting the British based Brother Cycles.

Has anyone ridden both or can anyone vouch for one or the other?

Taiwan made frames. Made by maxway as you can see on this pic of dropout. Same factory who makes the alien-frames, BLB classic frames, Kazane, and lots more...

I would say price is still ok, for these frames.

Did you buy one of these. Thinking about it. Want something cheap and classic looking.

They have a new one coming very soon: http://www.thefootdown.co.uk/2011/02/17/brother-cycles-track-frame-2/

That prototype looks pretty sweet, nice forks.

looks so good. wonder if this would be a good upgrade from my batavus in the future?

Isn't your Bratwurst built from Reynolds 653 (or something tasty)?

Reckon a Surly Steamroller might be a better choice...

What over a 631 classic undrilled track frame with super tight clearances?

They sound like two completely different frames which will build up two completely different bikes.

Anyway, I like their style:

Brother Cycles have released more details of their new frameset and it’s enough to make even the trolls on LFGSS salivate. “Angles are steeper, clearances tighter and we’ve used British Reynolds 631 steel to reduce the weight and improve the ride”.

Reynolds 631 main tubes
Reynolds fork
75 degree head angle
32mm fork rake
55mm bottom bracket drop
Tight clearances for 23c tyres
Long point lugs
Undrilled front and back

It will be available from the beginning of July with pre-orders taken from mid June, SRP to be in the region of £475. For more details and photos go to the Brother Cycles Blog. I love it, do you love it?

Isn't your Bratwurst built from Reynolds 653 (or something tasty)?

735 i think.

This is a 735i.

Your's is probably built from Reynolds 753 – a step up from the tubes used for these bikes. Nice as they are.

its got a Columbus slx sticker on it whatever than means. nice retro bmw.

saw one in cheltenham, where i live. what are the chances. i think its an omen that i need to get one.

Thinking about getting the Steel Track Frame. Has anyone got one and would they recomenned it?

I rode one for about four months this past summer and sold it maybe a month back. I liked it a lot, rode it both around London and at Herne Hill. Tight angles, they build up nicely. I sold when a rare opportunity came along for something nicer. What else are you considering?

So collective hive mind... do I get a Brother 725 track frame or the Bob Jackson Vigorelli... or are they uncomparable?

Good question, I have been looking at this lately - as far as I can tell the Brother 725 will be a little stiffer and less springy compared to the 631 Vig. Also the frames look to have similar geo but the Bob Jackson fork (based purely on images) looks like it has slightly more trail. This is in no way an informed opinion though.

I like the look of the Brother 725.

I should add, speaking to the guys at Fitzrovia Cycles, they felt the Brother would be a sharper ride and more focussed handling, where the bob might be a little more relaxed.

Vigorelli have sensible geometry and decent tyres clearance, Brother's more of a slavery.

Bob would be more nimble than the Feather actually.

Bob is more sensible, Brother looks way nicer (I wish they hadn't done the new frames in white though).

I had a Vig and it was a good all-purpose fixed (room for mudguards & pretty big tyres) but it wasn't a pretty bike.

Bob would be more nimble than the Feather actually.

That would be down to the extra trail no? Also the Vigorelli is a lot cheaper than the Brother