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I was in the middle of collecting parts to build a cheap winter SS bike build but given the faff and the fact that I’m no longer very “free time rich” I’m half considering ditching that plan and just buying an off the peg SS bike.
The Kona Unit 29er has caught my eye, they seem to be getting discounted to ~ £450 now. I have fond memories of 90’s Kona steel frames and the rigid/disc type spec makes sense for what I want… Also I’d like to give the 29” thing a try for myself but it’s not the major priority.
What else is out there for sensible money? (Sub £450) On One’s SS builds seems to be a touch steep to me…
I just want a rigid frame & fork, no gears and cheap, don’t care about frame/fork material, wouldn’t mind discs (but V’s are OK if there’s a proportionate cost saving to be had) 26” or 29” wheels for winter off road, low maintenance, mud plugging…
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/io09-33815 ]Genesis[/url]
+ 1 for Genesis. Last years model bought for £495. Does what it says on the label, not the best spec but a good ride at the price range.
The IO Looks very tidy but unless I can find it with £150-200 knocked off then not really a contender. Cost is genuinely a factor I’m afraid, got to be sub £450 and I cant find the IO for under £500…
Unit is still the front runner at the minute...
Diamondback mojito, ss, 29er, Tektro disks,rigd fork, can be bought brand new for about £200 with delivery. Gets rave reviews.
I'm planning to buy one in a week or so as next winter's bike, cos after riding a mate's, it felt like a lot more quids worth of bike than it actually costs. A few other folk on here have them and seem to love them.
That's more like it!
Uses a Sprung tensioner by the looks of it, Any cop? Worth replacing with an STS?
Are the Wheels made of straw and wishful thinking? Never mind I could not assemble a similar bike for the same price, weak components can be replaced if/when they fail… the DB ticks many boxes and I could easily raid my spares box and double it's value...
Cheers for that…
Those DBs. They look good for the money. A sub £500 SS is looking distinctly rare these days. You might want to try 2nd hand?
Can I be honest here?
Mrs PP has a Genesis IO singlespeed, and of all the SS I've ridden, this is a real pig to get uphill. Heavy (26.5lb out the box) and draggy and it seems very lethargic. I've managed to knock 1lb off with some tyres and a seatpost I had lying around, but the wheels are rather heavy and I can easily knock another 1lb off buy swapping the front wheel and rebuilding the rear using the same hub.
It's a lovely bike, it handles well, is well specced and looks great, but it needs money spending on it.
I have 2 mates with Unit 29ers, and I've ridden both (Neither are anywhere near standard mind) and they are superb bikes. I'd have one like a shot. For £450 you should be ripping thier arms off to be honest! :0
I ride a genesis io and have no issues with hills. You need some stronger thighs 😉 mine was a £299 new bargain 2 years ago.
I ride a genesis io and have no issues with hills. You need some stronger thighs
No, I really don't! I'm an experienced SSer. 🙂 You sould compare it to my 18 year old Cindercone, which climbes like a spanked rat in comparison. The Genesis just feels slow and heavy uphill. I've put it down to very draggy tyres and a heavy wheelset.
Is yours standard, or have you changed anything?
I'm an experienced SS officer
Totenkopf? Einsatzgruppen?
PP, the rims aren't much over 450g so how do you get another 450g off the front rim and spokes? interested rather than challenging! )
the frame is no lightweight compared to the Kona but a CEN comaptible cr-mo frame is rarely under 4.8lbs now.
i ride a standard io often and i have got a lighter fork lined up for the 2011 version, but beyond that, the RF crank and a basic post there's nothing excessively heavy on it for the price.
my TiO however... like a rat with a firework up its +@$
When your used to riding agressively on a motorbike doing speeds of upto 140mph then I'd imagine a single speed mtb does feel heavy and draggy
I've had a genesis io. The frame wasn't overly heavy. I built it up with mid-range sensible parts and it rode fine. The parts are all on my soloist frame and incidently weighs 24lbs. I'm running 521s, a bit overkill but I can get something back with skinnier and lighter tyres.
My 09 unit 29er wsa a bit of a tank, but for £450 it may be worth it...I'd have thought SH would get a better bike cheaper tbh.
I have to say I’m still quite keen on the DB it’s cheap, and you’re getting a whole bike for minimal pennies, the weight doesn’t worry me really, 28Lbs-ish isn’t it? To me that seems light and I’m sure after one winters use I’d be considering changing wheels/Cranks/finishing kit to loose some weight…
Looking like a real winner for my needs at the moments…
That DB looks phenomenal for the price, I'm sorely tempted but don't think I can justify another MTB and I'm still in the honeymoon period for my newest one.
Hmm. Was going to suggest a Charge Duster SS, but out of budget.
PP, the rims aren't much over 450g so how do you get another 450g off the front rim and spokes? interested rather than challenging! )
Stans Cresta Rim -126g
Tripple Butted Spokes -50g
Tubeless -150g
Almost 1 lb.
Where are you seeing Kona Unit's for £450?
Rode io standard for ages then got carbon forks they have gone and now have recon races. Everything else is standard. Bloke on a carbon giant was gob smacked at the weight considering the cost i dont think its heavy at all.
Where are you seeing Kona Unit's for £450?
[url= http://www.bikes-by-mail-order.co.uk/products.php?plid=m5b10s2p1222&rs=gb ]Here[/url]
The unit looks like a good deal but I'm probably just going to opt for the DB as I can raise the funds quickly and easily by flogging a few spare bits and saving a couple pennies, rather than raiding the joint account so I should keep the missus happy-ish, and still get another bike... it's only a winter SS and a bit of an experiment for me, plus if I decide I like 29" wheels but want gears, the DB can easily be switched...
The DB are alright, I had one a couple of years ago. It now lives with a mate who much prefers it to his On One. Had to change a few bits from new but nothing drastic.
Gearing ... was something like 38:16
Saddle ... just didn't like it.
Bars ... very narrow.
Stem ... very long.
Brakes ... very crap. (ok so perhaps that's slightly drastic)
Front QR ... nut was machined on p1ss so kept loosening under braking!
PP: what year iO? My '09 iO 17" was that weight (26.5) with front suspension (32 float) and no other spec changes, it's not super light but your claimed weight seems a touch out... With the rigid fork I had it at 25lbs.