How to Spot the Best Beginner Fixed Gear Bikes

After watching this video, you'll be able to tell whether any beginner fixed gear bike is worth your money.

The marketplace for fixed gear bikes is saturated with tons of bikes, but only a few of them are really worth your money. These cream of the crop entry level fixed gears will be great out of the box and can withstand daily abuse.

It pays to spend a little bit more when buying your first fixed gear. The sweet spot for quality and price is $450-500; you can get a lot of bike for your money.

Great Beginner Fixed Gear Bike Checklist

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[ZachGallardo]

After watching this video, you'll be able to tell whether any beginner fixed gear bike is worth your money.

The marketplace for fixed gear bikes is saturated with tons of bikes, but only a few of them are really worth your money. These cream of the crop entry level fixed gears will be great out of the box and can withstand daily abuse.

It pays to spend a little bit more when buying your first fixed gear. The sweet spot for quality and price is $450-500; you can get a lot of bike for your money.

[MortificantVD]

Double butthole cannoli, got it. Thanks for the helpful tips

[dannybodros]

Zach's best video. Helped me get into the fixed gear / single freewheel scene

[Tilldeathwedream]

You’re like my daily fixed gear class. Thanks Zach!!

[richardking]

Another fabulous vid! But I am already loving life on my Wabi that you told me about! Thanks, Zach!!

[spoudaois]

Just got a Tribe Messenger. Its great. Changed the stem and it fits like a glove. Its triple butted steel. I've ridden it every day since I got it.

[orirbjrk]

Build your first fixie...As in buy an old road bike-for next to nothing-strip it down and make a fixie. It's a right of passage for the hobby and I guarantee you will enjoy riding 100x more on a bike you've built yourself. Not to mention you get more say in customization and better familiarity with the parts your depending on. You should not under any circumstances have to spend over 300 dollars on your first fixed gear, what has this world come to...

[JeremyLCrabtree]

I dunno, I think 80 burritos would make a strong portfolio for the hungry investor.

[Torsan]

Great video! My bike (Riva Basement) checks pretty much all of those marks. Didn't know what kind of hubs I had, so thanks for that info! Mine was a bit more expensive though.

[fiatlux]

I bought an old steel frame (Старт-шоссе 1968). And un-26 bottom bracket, novatec hubs, mavic rims and spokes. kmc chain, light crankset and spd pedals.
And some brutal factory workers painted it for 150roubles (2.6$).
It weights ~9-10 kilos.
My budget was 200$

[briangallegos]

For 360 dollars you can find the BLB Low Pro complete, frameset double butted 4130 chromoly and lugged chromoly fork, Novatec sealed hub, KMC chain; Sugino crankset, sealed bb, etc.

[timeslowingdown]

Having only owned $400-600 bikes my whole life until a month ago, I have to say I don't agree with the diminishing returns thing. My newest bike (single speed) probably cost me a grand total of about $1700 including some help from a bike shop installing the fork to the frame. And I can honestly say that after tuning everything up and breaking it in a little, it's a night and day difference from a $500 bike. I really wasn't expecting such a huge improvement in the quality of the ride, but it's huge. It's noticeably more aerodynamic and lighter than any of my other bikes, braking is better, the fork and bars prevent vibrations going into my hands/arms, and the most shocking part of all: the power transfer from pedaling into forward motion just feels so much more efficient. Every other bike I have access to right now (which are all in the $400-800 range) have a very noticeable "squishy" feeling while turning the cranks. I don't know if it's the frame, or the wheels, the chain, or the cranksets themselves, but on the cheaper bikes it really feels like energy is being wasted. It's just so much more enjoyable and exciting to ride the more expensive bike that I think it's worth it if you enjoy riding at all.

$500 bike is good for a beginner to get into it and see how they like it. But if they enjoy riding it, I'd recommend to anyone to sell that $500 bike after a few months, save up some more money, and buy a $1000+ bike, the experience is so much better. HOWEVER it's also important to check where that $1000+ is going. If it's all going into the frameset, then yeah it's still going to be a garbage ride even if it's a nice frameset. I'm starting to realize that an increase in quality in all the little things combined is what makes a really nice bike.

[naga]

A Very useful video... Thanks a ton...

[jyosiefus]

Great video, Zach! I'm searching for my first fixed bike right at this moment, so perfect timing. Thank you!

[jacobjames]

I've been a lazy but today and yesterday. Been watching your vids though. I got my bike cleaned and prepped, so I will be making a twilight ride later. I'm to try to get in on the next full moonride in December. Cheers.

[oomnara]

Hi Zach! How about Araya rims? Especially the SA730 or the AR719?

[mdgott]

At the 5:00 minute mark: "bikes made in Taiwan are going to be higher quality than bikes made in China." ONE CHINA! Booo hiss...just kidding. I was speaking at a Chinese university once and made the mistake of calling Taiwan, the "Nation of Taiwan" and man did I hear about it! My interpreter, saved face by saying that it was "interpreter error." :) Great videos!

[sopasdagreat]

5:12 is that a Naniwa Os Lugged Fork?u can see it in the Steerer tube to check(sorry for my bad english)

[ErnestoTheThird]

i know i should've been studying this quarantine, nonetheless, hearing that intro, i could very much relate to it, lmfao.

[clementbonne]

I don't know about the US but here in france it's very very easy to find very
good quality vintage frame for less than 100 euros. Turning those into fixed or single speed bikes might be the cheapest way to get a bike here.