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Pre-built singlespeed commuter bikes are all the rage. And with good reason—you get the best deal on parts when you buy a complete bike. But what about folks who like to roll their own, so to speak? Building a bike up from the frameset is rewarding on many levels, not the least of which being the ability to control every component choice. Here we have assembled a list of production frames—from mail-order bargains to top-shelf racing bikes. If you’re really choosy and have the money to spend, a custom frame is the next step up.
Most of these bikes are drilled for brakes, some aren’t. Most feature track fork ends, some use semi-horizontal dropouts. A few include a headset, seatpost clamp or even a seatpost. All frames include the fork unless noted with an *.
Eighth Inch Scrambler – $140
Mercier Kilo TT – $199
Pake Track* – $259
IRO Mark V – $269
Volume Cutter* – $350
Rawland Olaf – $350
Misfit Dissent* – $385
Traitor Luggernaut – $389
Swobo Sanchez – $399
Surly Steamroller – $420
Alien Frameset – $449
Milwaukee Bicycle Company Orange One – $500
FBM Sword* – $525
Salsa Casseroll – $550
Condor Potenza – $562
Masi Speciale Sprint – $589
Steelwool Sweet City LTD – $650
Civia Hyland – $650
Gorilla Hattara – $720
Brooklyn Machine Works Gangsta Track – $775
Soma Delancey – $795
Toyo Godzilla – $900
Giant Omnium – $900
Gunnar Street Dog* – $900
Planet-X Pro Carbon – $949
Van Dessel Drag Strip Courage – $999
Specialized Langster S-Works – $1100
Tonic Supernaut – $1150
Of course this list is not complete—nor is it meant to be. There are lots of other choices out there if you look, and sometimes your local bike shop can order you a frame-only version of a bike that’s only advertised as a complete. If you have a suggestion for this list, please add it to the comments below, along with a website and price if possible.
There’s also the Steelwool bikes:
There’s the Limited, for $800CAD (about $650USD) available in black or white.
And if the MisFit gets in, you might as well also include the Steelwool Tweed, their cross bike. $680CAD (about $550USD) It’s disc and SS friendly, with the same EBB as the Limited.
Rawland Cycles out of Northfield, MN.
http://www.rawlandcycles.com/
One of the fellas at my LBS (Cycle Cambridge) built up a Pake C’Mute. It’s a great looking ride, and can fit racks, fenders, canti’s etc. Thanks for the list, Jeff.
That being said, those Traitor bikes look really cool. Oh, to be financially independent with a large garage!
Don’t forget the Bianchi San Jose! I have commuted about 1,600 mi on this bike in last couple years as a fixed gear. Rack, paniers, fenders and all. Maybe you can order a frame only from LBS. Great ride.
http://www.bianchiusa.com/09-bicycles/09-d2-special/san-jose/09-d2-san-jose-pro.html
Oy, and one could buy the Civia Hyland as a frameset only… but that’s kind of overkill…
http://www.civiacycles.com/civiaframeset_hyland.php
it would be interesting to put them into “made in usa” and “made overseas” categories.
1. Who distributes/sells Gorilla and Condor in the U.S?
2. To the list above I’d add: A) SOMA’s ‘Rush’ frame, B) Charge’s ‘Plug Ti’ frame, C) Surly’s ‘Crosscheck’ frame (which, like Salsa’s Casseroll, can be built either as a singlespeed or a multispeed), D) Gunnar’s ‘Street Dog’ frame, E) Euro-Asia’s ‘Bare Knuckles’ frame.
I like the Steelwool stuff, but what the hell is up with those bottom brackets? Why not just build with the euro?
This boutique fixie/SS stuff must be great business for bike companies, priced at $500 but they gotta be cheaper to make than a $300 hybrid.
Lotta folks make do with SS beach cruisers. Skinny tire SS are a lot more efficient, and shouldn’t be any more expensive. With less material in them they should be cheaper!
I’m waiting for Wal-Mart to sell a hipster/trackie SS for under $100.
http://www.nashbar.com sels some frames and http://www.bikeisland.com has a some great fixie frames for great prices.
Must add the Kilo TT frameset for $199 shipped or complete bike for $350 shipped. Have to.
I have heard that EAI is discontinuing the Bare Knuckle…and replacing it with the Toyo Godzilla: http://euroasiaimports.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=1274&idproduct=8118
I can’t remember where I read, that, though…and can’t confirm the Bare Knuckle is going away.
Thanks, Jeff.
Great list! I am glad that Masi is available as a frameset only now. I didn’t even realize that.
One might also add to this list On-One’s ‘Il Pompino’ frameset.
Thanks for the mention and the pic!
Sitting here in a coffee house in Taiwan right now and saw this.
Just wanted to point out that the frame is built with the very same geometry as our Coltello track racing frameset, just with steel tubing, so it’s an aggressive ride. It can be used as a commuter of course, but it’s not like the Speciale Fixed that we make only as a complete bike- no cable guides for a rear brake, no bottle bosses and with a 30mm offset fork, toe overlap is a given with longer crank arms. BUT… it’s a great ride just the same.
It’s a great list and I’m proud we made it on it- great company to be in.
Great list! A simple search for “single speed commuter” on your site produced this result. It’s nice to have a ton of similar frames consolidated into one list – helps make choosing much easier. Now I have a good idea of what I want. Thanks!
Gotta love the fixies from Pure Fix Cycles