6KU Track Fixed Gear Bicycle - Single Speed Urban Commuter Bike for Men & Women - Perfect for City Riding, Fitness & Fixed Gear Enthusiasts

There were hundreds of options on Amazon from established makes like Schwinn to pastel-painted 'retro' items, but the 6KU had loads of good reviews. Also, it didn't appear to be harking back to a simpler, bygone age or aiming itself at bearded Hoxton tw4ts, being a clean, modern design.I wasn't sure what size to go for; at 5'9" with short legs either the 52 or 55cm were going to be OK. I was trying to replicate the riding position of 'Aryton' as closely as possible; obviously the best results come from trying the bike for size but I had to make a decision. I prefer physically small bikes; I like to get my weight over the headset and chuck the thing about, so I went for the 52cm. There were a couple of colour options that looked good but I decided on the blue & black option.I've never bought a bike by mail order, not for myself anyway! There's something lovely about unwrapping new stuff, especially when it's as lovely as this. For $249 I really wasn't sure what I was going to get; previous purchasers speak of high quality but their definition might be different to mine.:ohmy:I initially couldn't believe the quality for a budget bike. OK, not having gears saves a lot of cash, but for just over £200 (I complained about shipping and got it free) it really is a great product. The frame looks superb in its satin blue finish (there's a bit of a scratch on the top tube but no way am I sending it back) and all the components are decent, 6KU branded items that gel with the bike. Even the box of stocking fillers aren't too bad; decent, flat pedals (plastic, obviously) that I haven't used because I brought my own SPDs and shoes, also wheel and front & back reflectors. They've even addressed a minor complaint from a past customer that the front one has nowhere to mount; no such difficulty for me.This isn't some BSO thrown together by bottom-line chancers; it's a serious bike designed by cyclists and initially I'd say more than the sum of its parts.OK, the frame design isn't revolutionary; very stiff (it is called a 'track' bike) 6061 built in the far east, with straight stays and straight fork blades which will probably give me a hard time on Gloucestershire's finest Range Rover test tracks. The wheels are a bit unresponsive (I'm spoilt) and the front is out of true, but I can live with that for the limited time I have left over here.There are no bottle cage bosses; I've tiewrapped a cage to the seat tube for now. Someone complained that the back tyre is the wrong way round considering the bike arrives with the back wheel flipped to the freewheel side; I don't think they realise how unimportant the tread is on a road bike tyre!I wasn't sure what handlebars I'd get; the manufacturer said they were going away from bullhorns to the MTB low rise ones I got. I would have preferred the bullhorns as these risers are slightly too wide but I do have quite narrow shoulders. The brake lever came set up LHD as per the American convention (front brake on left); I swapped them over straight away, obviously, but the levers themselves are now upside down- they're not slotted, and swapping the cables over is beyond my capability with a multitool in a hotel room! :laugh: hence the clamp bolts visible.There's some lovely details; cams on the brake calipers plus adjusters with rubber o-rings, adjustment marks on the seatpost and seat, 7deg flip over stem with 31.8mm bars. Even the saddle seems OK so far, being a similar shape to a Charge Spoon/Fabric.It comes with a 48 x 16 gear, both sides, which some will struggle with. I'd say the terrain around where I'm staying isn't much different from where I live (in terms of the steepness of hills, not counting the Cotswolds) but compared to 'Aryton' I can certainly feel the one fewer tooth at the back taking the edge off the acceleration. I'm sure the heavier wheels and my being a bit out of shape aren't helping.One aspect that nearly caught me out on the first ride, in the hotel car park, was toe overlap. It's not something I've ever experienced and I instantly thought 'serious design flaw.' My attitude has softened a bit since then, though; it seems fairly common on modern bikes with aggressive geometry, and now I know it's there, it hopefully shouldn't catch me out. Maybe the 55cm wouldn't be afflicted but I'll never know.I'm planning to do a couple of proper rides at the weekend; I've only ridden locally and from the hotel to the airport and back three times. I should be able to elaborate on the ride a bit more on Monday!*extra*Well, it seems fine after 65 miles! Seat is more comfortable than the Fabric one on my Cannondale, and just a few creaks and bangs to contend with, mainly when heaving on the bars. I'm sure it'll go away when I have time to grease/lube everything and set it up at home. I'll probably be changing the bars and stem anyway, and I'll have to get the front wheel trued.All things considered, it's been a really good buy and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Well worth the money and a great basis for future upgrades.I needed an inexpensive, light commuter bike and at the price, this was almost a no-brainer. I chose it over a handful of others based primarily on the weight (about 21 lbs) but I'm overwhelmed by the quality, handling, maneuverability, etc. It's a great value. You'd have to spend more than double to get this quality.This bike has one speed which would be somewhere like the mid range of a 21 speed bike in terms of effort or gearing. It is lightweight and easy to ride. I use it for 13 to 15 mile rides on mostly flat bike trails and have no trouble getting around in the same time as with my 21 speed bike. I am 5:10 and I chose the 54cm frame as recommended. I think 56 cm would have been a better fit.I bought this bike about six weeks ago and I have ridden it many miles since. I am using it mainly as a commuter bike to get around in the city, and it has served me well for that purpose so far.Likes:- The frame is solid, the welds look great, and it is very light. I can easily lift it in one hand, open the door to my apartment with my other, and carry it in for storage. The light weight is also an aid to speed and agility on the road.- The bullhorn handlebars allow for an aerodynamic position in the wind and down hills, but allow for agile steering in traffic. For those who skid stop, being able to lean out on the bar ends makes it easier to take some weight off the back wheels to skid.- The 48-16 gearing makes it possible to ride at high speeds on flat ground and makes it easier to ride down hills without having to pedal furiously. This bike is modeled on a track bike, so it is meant to go fast. This gearing may be a little tough to accelerate with for those who haven't ridden in a while, but I find it manageable.- The logo is small and inconspicuous, and the fact that 6KU isn't an extremely well known company may make this bike less of a target for thieves. Apart from the aerodynamic front forks and bottom tube, and the bullhorn handlebars, this bike looks pretty plain, which is a big plus for anyone who will be locking this up in city bike racks.- The wheels and tires are a good size for fast city riding. The 700 x 25c Kenda tires (they look like Kwests) that come on this bike roll well on pavement, have enough grip to be okay on some gravel or loose dirt, and are tough enough to handle a decent amount of street debris. I just replaced my rear tire after six weeks because my skid stopping had worn it down to the fabric and it blew out, but the front tire looks almost new. I replaced my rear tire with another just like it, though I may switch to a Thickslick next time. Some might like to switch to a 700 x 28c tire for greater shock absorption.Complaints:- The handlebar tape and seat are brutal. You will probably want to replace them pretty soon. This bike's stiff and light aluminum frame doesn't absorb much road shock, and your butt and hands will notice. The seat is fine for about ten miles, and then it starts to hurt a bit. I haven't replaced it yet, but it is on my to-do list. The handlebar tape is thin and cheap, which is to be expected. I replaced it SRAM Supercork tape and my hands are much happier. I would also recommend riding with decent gloves.- In general, the components are bargain basement quality. Don't take that to mean they aren't functional. The brakes work, but they are a bit more difficulty to adjust and they don't give the solid feel you might get from a more expensive set. I took the rear brake off and my front brake is still sufficient to stop me in emergencies. I use it only about 25% of the time right now anyway. Most of my slowing down and stopping is done by skidding or just resisting the pedals. The rear hub is fine and spins well, but the bearings aren't spectacular. The bottom bracket is smooth enough, but it does make the tiniest bit of mechanical noise. The pedals are acceptable.These complaints do not decrease my rating of the bike because they are in line with what I expected. I bought a new bike for $250, so I wasn't expecting top end components. And part of the fun of a fixed gear bike is in tinkering with it and customizing it, so I expected to slowly replace most of the bike's parts eventually anyway. The bike has everything you need to get out, pedal like a bat out of hell, have fun, and learn how to ride a fixed gear. By the time you have burned out a couple rear tires, replaced your brake pads, and wrecked one of your pedals, you will know what you want to change.I also have to note that I have not ridden this bike on the freewheel for a single second. The flip-flop hub is a nice option, but I have not taken advantage of it and I have no idea how this bike rides as a single speed.10/10. Great bike, easy assemble, very fast, no squeaks or weird noises while riding. Also, I save hundreds of dollars a month on gas with this bike.Only CON is that I get stopped a lot for compliments and questions about where I purchased it from.First bike of my adult life. I'm 5'9 and it's borderline annoying to get on. Seat is all the way down to its lowest point and I got a MEDIUM. I can't put both my feet fully on the ground when seated.Received this item after 3 weeks.. I am still salty over that so -1 starBike was EASY TO ASSEMBLE. Instructions attached aren't the greatest. Just watch the assembly video on manufacturer's website. That's super easy to followBike is very LIGHT(main reason for my purchase)LOOKS GREAT (matte finish on rims looks nice)HANDLEBAR GRIPS feels cheap but easy to REPLACEOver time I will also REPLACE PEDALSTires are equipped with PRESTA VALVESOverall I like this bike and it's fun to ride. I will add a star once I establish the durability of this bikeDay 3 Review Will Update In a few months or if something goes wrong that's not my fault. Ive had this bike for a few days its my first fixed gear and im transitioning from a heavy mountain bike, this is about 20 pounds compared to my 40+ pound mountain, can throw it over my shoulder no problem and carry it. The packaging it came in is so nice well packaged they thought of everything. Only thing you have to do is put on handle bars and front wheel. I Didn't take it to a mechanic because I knew what Im doing but if you want the warranty I definitely suggest you take it to a mechanic if you dont know what you're doing. The matte black is the best low profile if you dont want to stand out. Seat is more comfortable than any other seat ive ever been on but thats my personal opinion. The pedals they come with are just standard plastic ones that are very comfortable but youll probably want something better later on. The BRAKES are the smallest things ive ever seen! (since im coming from mountain bikes) And thats a good thing! They're very powerful and responsive and have quick releases to open up a bit for when you're taking off the wheels. I know this is a Fixed gear and youll only ever need the front brakes but im keeping both on for now since im new to fixed, you can ride freewheel to get used to the feel of the bike first if it doesn't feel right. If you care about branding and stickers they actually look cool and are low profile but they're not removable incase you want them gone anyway. Thats it for now, ill add pictures when I do my review after riding it for a few months.I am very happy with my 6KU fixie bike. I ordered large and it does just fit. I am 6 feet with about a 33" inseam to the floor.The bearings in the hubs are not the greatest but expected at the price point. The pedals are trash, don't even install them.Definitely double check all of the bolts throughout the bike for tightness and also check all the spokes.Came exactly as pictured and described.I am happy with purchase and will enjoy upgrading this bike over the years as parts wear and tear. The frameset is worth it. It is amazing and light. Will be worth having this frame/fork and slowly upgrading the components as necessary.Excelente relación calidad/precio, el cuadro se ve y se siente muy sólido, los frenos no tan buenos, el sillín ya se lo cambie así como los pedales, pero insisto, por ese precio no se puede pedir más.Update: la bici continúa funcionando perfectamente, pensaba cambiarle las bielas y el BB pero han funcionado muy bien así que los dejé, prácticamente el único mantenimiento que le doy es ponerle aceitito a la cadena, a también le cambié los frenos.Love a single speed and this one is a solid buy. Light and easy to carry. The matte black looks so good. Made from good parts and was easy to put together.