retro s/s build or spanking new?

[KeepItSteel]

ive found myself torn between passing on all my retro bits, or keeping my fave frame (Explosif) a few choice goodies and building a single speed for the commute.
trouble is that ive added it up and the costing is coming in between £380 and £450 depending on spec etc...
scarily close to brand new Spesh Langster territory.

Is it sacrilege to even consider new? (I can see people quoting that line)
I used to own a Langster and it was perfect for the job. It would most likely be lighter than the Explosif s/s, and dare I say more reliable without the chain tensioner?

I cant bring myself to insult downgrade all the components to bring the price down much further, trouble is £20 here and £20 there and the price suddenly shoots up.

what say you?

 

[hamster]

Flippin' eck..that sounds like a really trick singlespeed :shock:

I built mine up for under £250. If you are commuting you don't need suspension forks for a start. I personally would avoid bling parts as it will all get covered with salt and have to sit in a bike park all day. Shimano Deore / STX is the level of stuff I'd put on it - functional and strong, but so cheap that it's no regrets when it wears out.

 

[KeepItSteel]

thats good advice.
unfortunately the frame and fork owe me £180 alone.
I have a lovely syncros stem and post to put on which owe me £50, but it seems silly to sell them to then fit parts which will cost £20-£30 anyway...and the same goes with most of my other parts.

thats the dilema I guess. fitting cheap as chips parts for the sake of a few pounds saved here and there, but then not really doing my favourite frame justice.

I should probably find a flebay bargain bike and s/s it, will cost alot less.

 

[barry2017]

You should have a hobby bike and a commute bike, really. A bike with high end parts will probably go missing.

 

[Jamiedyer]

retro or not

The bottom line to all of it, retro or not is whether you enjoy what your riding. You say the Langster you had was perfect for the job so I think you answered your own question

Jamie

 

[Pickle]

I should probably find a flebay bargain bike and s/s it, will cost alot less.

I sold this one last year on here for £100 ono (IIRC I got £90 or so for it).

A nice 18" steel GT Tequesta. LX V's, LX cranks, Avid levers, KORE stem, GT bar, Mavic rims, Vetta saddle and Magic tyres :shock: . Not a bad mid range spec really.

It was a perfect no frills ss bike, great fun to ride.

What more can you ask for for a £100?

Get looking!!!

 

[mikee]

keep the kona for good days and holidays and buy the langster as
a workhorse

the trick kona will only attract magpies anyway

 

[letmetalktomark]

To be fair there are much better buys than the Langster too.

 

[KeepItSteel]

To be fair there are much better buys than the Langster too.

Some of the special editions are rather nice, but I'm all ears to other suggestions... charge plug?

 

[Pickle]

Scrap the whole modern idea, buy a retro frame for £30-40 and SS it up for less than a ton.

Job done and hours of fun!