6:08 that Japanese says 「悪者は死なない」 (warumono wa shinanai) which means something along the lines of "bad people never die" or "an evil person never dies." Maybe you can get yourself a sticker that says 「とんカツラーメンともにごまとねぎ」if you're interested in tonkatsu ramen with sesame seeds and green onions.
Keep trawling eBay, Craigslist, local yard sales and similar, bargains can still be had. I just bought a full CF frame with Shimano 105 components for $110, also a Reynolds 653 complete bike with Shimano 600 for 80. Keep looking dude.
I kinda went the same route - my frame is a Cinelli Gazzetta (featured in one of Zach's bike checks), with a Kory York R28 flat crown fork, Sugino 75 cranks and BB, Sugino Zen chainring, Izumi V chain, a good sheelset built on dtswiss 370 hubs, Nitto nj-sp72 seatpost, Kashimax fivegold 8p seat (30mm rail), nitto nj89 stem, and nitto for shred bars.
@@sonymicronin thanks for asking ! I got Cinelli Vigorelli Shark. I got lucky with the sizing because 53cm with the seat all the way down is just right, glad I didn’t go with a 54cm haha. I can’t believe I’ve waited this long in my life to get a quality bike and not Walmart/Meijer bikes. Cheers !
When you're buying a used bike, I would add saftey relevant items to the top of your upgrade list. Stuff like brake pads, cables and tires and inner tubes, if they start to become brittle. And maybe also a new chain (your knee caps will thank you, I'm talking off experience).
Dude; I got into cycling and (specifically) into fixed gear bikes during the pandemic so hard I ended up setting up a (fixed gear oriented) bike shop. You (and Sheldon Brown) sure were mostly responsible for it so I'm thankful to you both (you being the one of both still alive). BTW (maybe I'm wrong but…) I've been wondering for quite a while how long have you been aware of being in the autism spectrum and how has FG helped finding people akin to you. Cheers from Veracruz, Mexico.
Perfect timing. I just completed a series of inexpensive upgrades to my inexpensive bike. It's an entry level 4130 double butted frame. I decided to buy a new wheel set on the cheap (Miche Xpress), Continental GP5000 tires, and a new handlebar and stem. It rides like a totally different bike now. My fixie points might be so low I'm in the negatives, but I'm pretty happy with the results on a very limited budget.
This is story as well. I hit 275 at the peak of covid and then refound my old passion of cycling, fought addiction and knocked off 100 el-bees over the last 2 years. A big part of that was on a $300 Fuji Track craigslist find that I also spend months staring at and ultimately replacing every component. Mine isn't as clean as this Feather but I'd say it's close with Nitto bullhorns, crew Carbon fork, mavic wheels, FSA ring on andel cranks and a wonderfully comfortable Brooks C15 carved saddle. And I found a matte black vinyl that matched the paint perfactly so the only graphics on the frame are the FUJI name making it look like a one of a kind build. This video made me tear up as it brought me back to my journey and it's a wonderfully clean bike that may better be called a rocket ship
I bought a mid tier 4130 bike myself and have been slowly upgrading the parts. The frame is great and until I’ve upgraded every part on the bike to be of better quality I see no need to upgrade the frame set. But when I’ve upgraded everything on this guy, a new frame will be all that’s needed. Then rinse and repeat lol
Just found a 83 atala campione del mondo barn find in good to a little better condition. Full shimano 105 groupset, galli rims on 105 hubs. Not the best groupset but complete and in working condition. 63 yr old disabled vet, just recently was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Swore I would get back into shape... 175 for bike, so a plus. Thanks for your content...
Thanks so much for doing this feather review I have one here in Toronto Canada and I have a brooks c15 awesome bike love riding it. Just wish we didn’t get horrible winters lol awesome videos
48/16 is a sucky ratio though 🤷 You literally have just one skidpatch on your tire with that ratio, swap the chainring for a 47t or a 49t one. Zach made a mistake there, the gear ratio is 3, with a single skidpatch
Sweet vid. I had a marketplace 2016 Fuji Feather dropped to my place when I was in iso for $150. Currently building it up and so far; comfy eastern bmx saddle I’ve kept for 12 years because I love it, blkmrkt badabing riser bars, 28c tyres. Can’t wait for it to be finished
More nuanced opinion on frame vs. parts. Below a certain point, frames make a BIG difference. Cheapest - circa 16 gauge .062" 1.6mm -- carbon steel tubing, no amount of fancy parts will ever compensate for. Next step up -- 18 gauge, .047" 1.4mm, carbon steel, you'll never get the full value of nicer parts. Another couple of steps -- butted 4130, sub 20ga, .040", 1.0mm, good enough to start thinking about good parts vs. better frame. But that;s already something like four steps above entry level, cheapest bikes. Bikes like Feather and Kilo TT are at that point. $100..300 bikes, save for a better bike, not better parts.
timely upload! I had a question for you.. I recently sold my natureboy (we both had that purple one) and got a new SEbikes fast ripper! What do you think of the wheelie bike craze that blew up in the last couple years?
Compared to the natureboy the ripper is as ugly as can be. I don't like the "wheelie" scene. To me cycling itself is primary and posing is secondary. I feel like all these wheelie kids wouldn't even cycle if they can't show off.
So beautiful I’m currently getting my Fuji upgraded my self getting the crank soon got some decent Cinelli risers and FSA head set and stem but contemplating on Chris king head set bars
Ive been building my first fixed gear with a mentality of balling on a budget on a gifter trash frame, so ive stripped the paint of my wilier frame, a racebike frame yes so i gotta f with 100 to 110mm conversion but ill manage, actually bought my rear wheel just now a dura ace carbon closed wheel! Ill send u some pics once im somewhat finished but for now im struggling with budget😬
I got all the high end components I can get sugino 75's /sugino zen carbon deda cockpits carbon wheelset etc. on an engine 11 frame. Im saving up for something special for the frame
I couldn't find reliable info if Suzue Promax hubs can be built up with radial lacing. If manufacturer doesn't explicitly endorses it I wouldn't take chances.
This mindset is true for geared bikes aswell. But they have an even worse habit of selling bad carbon frames with shit components for more than steel or alu with good ones. If you even can find good metal bikes that is. Allez sprint and the Caad 13 has quite a bit of markup.
So I flat out don't ride a fixie and I'm guessing there's something I might be missing here.... Why is a lockring half way up your list of upgrades? Surely it can't be doing much
Hey Zack, thanks for all the videos. Have you heard of polka bikes? Polish bikes, the frames are from Taiwan. They look great but there are no reviews online. Was hoping you can take a look at their site, especially the polka pista model. They weigh around 20 lbs. And they look great. Please let me know your thoughts as I'm thinking of buying. Thanks.
Hey Zach, thought on nitto V4 / V5 stem ? Have you seen builds with these ? It's like a bullmoose but only for the stem, you can install dropbars or whatever with it.
Are tubulars right for a fixed gear? Aand ive got shimano 501 2speed cranks if i put a new single blade on it would that work or is the spacing different?
No zach, the bike that I never ride which is my TT bike averages about 45 km/h . Why? because it stays on the back of my pick up truck. since everyday is a perfect day to ride fixed it seems. well I do ride it once a months just to look baller with a skin suit and all.
Really? Upgrading cog , chain and lock ring? I have too notch components and cranks but have always went for a dirt cheap cog and chain. Does that really make a difference?
It differs both in longevity and ride quality. Used to go for El cheapo crap myself back in the day, but for the last bike I built I decided to save up and go bonkers, and it's soooo good. I had a genuine "oh-moment" on the first ride
I’d always heard wheels make the bike, so that’s where the money should go. And not everyone who reflected that sentiment was trying to sell me wheels😂.
You know if you would just put a nexus hub on your fixies, you just might be a little more laid back. You know you want to and your knees will thank you. Do it I know you want to.
I enjoy riding a cheaper frameset with quality parts. Owning a expensive frameset makes me worry about crashing/cracking the tubes. Owned a Dosnoventa before.
Zach, you should absolutely reconsider your relationship with Wabi. They have zero inventory to offer. You put so much passion into your reviews, but they essentially offer nothing to your viewers. I feel like they are using you to to sell a product that they have no desire to offer.
@@paullacey2999 well you can skid with just a single skidpatch, only thing is that the tire will wear out on on that one point 🤷 What kind of pedal setup are you riding? Cuz it's easier to learn on plateaus with straps, as opposed to clipless pedals. It's not that hard to skid once you made that click in head. To start skidding just lift your butt off and in front of your saddle, with your pedals at about the 3 and 9 o'clock position lock your knees, you can also clinch them against the top tube, maybe alternate with which leg is forward and which one behind to find out what works for you. Good luck ;) Also, there's no shame in not being able to skid, I couldn't do it for a long ass time myself. For me the first time happened when a lil kid ran into the street in front of me and I just froze 😅 Fortune smiled that day
@@psychoaiko666 Many thanks for all the info,I run Onipax pedal straps on my DMR pedals,I can bunnyhop easy enough,but I will need to change stuff as youve explained !👍👍👍
Why hate something people never really use? I guess 'skins are only in some 15 years old fixie history. Maybe some poor chaps have to use them in nail and glass littered ghetto.
I’ve ridden them for years in nyc before deciding this. The have the most harsh ride quality and sure I didn’t get many puncture flats but still got flats. I switched tires. Have not had a flat since this either and much more enjoyable rides on a bunch of other tire brands.
