JesusBananas

This is a totally hypothetical ~$700 bicycle purchase, because I keep drooling over both of these even though I have a perfectly good Redline 925. And because I am bored.

Incidentally, is it possible to compare the Reynolds 631 vs. the 725? The website goes on about "air-hardening" and "cold-treated," which means absolutely nothing to me. I sort of naively assumed that the bigger the number, the "better" (save for 4130, of course), but I don't know if that's comparing apples to oranges.

Every thread needs pictures (and links)!
'09 Sputnik



'10 Wabi Classic

TejanoTrackie 

The main difference between Reynolds 631 and 725 is that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 725 is higher than 631, allowing the use of thinner tubing to reduce the frame weight. This may in part explain why the manufacturer's stated weight of the Wabi Classic is about 2 lbs less than the Jamis Sputnik. I personally like the fact that the Wabi Classic doesn't have rear brake cable guides on the top tube for FG use w/o a rear brake. Also the Wabi Classic is customizable in a similar way to an IRO.

JesusBananas

Thanks for the info. Incidentally, the weight difference of the '09 Sputnik and the Classic is only 0.5 pounds, since the '09 Sputnik has a carbon fork. The '10 Sputnik went with a steel fork instead, which is part of why I prefer the '09 over the '10 version.

ashlandjet

I vote Wabi

Squirrelli

I'd pick the Wabi, mainly because of the tubing.

tFUnK

even though i am a sputnik fan, in this case i'd go with wabi

elemental

The '09 Sputnik is a very very capably specced bike. It was one my hands-down favorite in the off-the-shelf category until 2010 rolled around . . .

I think the pre-2010 Sputnik was perhaps the best iteration I've ever seen of a fixed-gear bike completely oblivious to the track. The thing is set up for fixed-gear road riding through and through. Admirably, the copy in the '09 catalog doesn't make a single reference to a velodrome. The Sputniks were set up for street, even fast "road" riding, and Jamis made no claim to track cred. On the other hand, it obviously sold poorly enough to need a Williamsburg makeover, so maybe I'm alone on thinking this admirable.

The Wabi is also a very nice setup, but at $675 (the rrp on the '09 Sputnik was up to $900), you might be better off comparing to the Wabi Special. Either way, the Wabi is much easier on the eyes (if only the Classic came in black . . .) with a much more "retro" style. Aesthetically speaking, the Wabis win hands down, but for my use the all-carbon fork and Ritchey cockpit are points for Jamis. Mmm, country road miles . . .


For me, it's ultimately a draw. You've picked two very nice but subtly different bikes, and you couldn't go wrong with either.

Azad

I've been wondering about this. Does anybody know for sure that those are braze-ons or are they just some sort of removable clip?

EDIT: I mean on the Sputnik.

adriano 

wabi lightning tubing is superior to wabi classic which is superior to the sputnik. however, you wont feel a large difference with any.

elemental

The fundamental difference in the bike-for-money equation seems to be frame material. The Wabis have very nice tubes on fairly basic components, while the Jamis features more name-brand parts (and a full carbon fork) but a more basic frame material (though 631 is hardly gaspipe).

adriano 

the tubing that will impress you is the lightning 7000 series scandium period.

ketto

Sputnik has no cable guides, the ones shown in the picture are removable.

dookie

eh? not steel?

LupinIII

2006 lemond fillmore.

adriano 

..

dookie

i've logged a lot of miles in my ~25 years of riding. there's maybe a dozen bikes in the stable (and the sputnik is the 'lowest end'). not a one is aluminum/scandium.

i've ridden some very nice alloy bikes (love #3, orbea, etc)...just not for me. at all. different, sure. preferred by some (you), sure. superior? depends on your criteria i suppose, but i suspect there are an awful lot of folks who would not make that claim.

apopuri

both bikes are siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick

JesusBananas

I don't really think that the Sputnik is worth $900 though, so at MSRP, the Wabi (Classic) would win for sure. However, if I were to hypothetically purchase an '09 Sputnik, I would be able to get it for under or around $700, which puts it in the same price range as the Classic. Hence the comparison to the Classic instead of the Special.

People seem to overwhelmingly like the Wabi anyway, and I'm guessing it probably has to do more with frame material than the difference in the retail price (which is really non-existent)?


Eeeeeexactly.

2su

wabi has the frame advantage... bu I loves my '08 sputnik though.

gusmore

If you can find one...

JesusBananas

Ooh, pretty.

gusmore

That's a 2007. Not 2006.

JesusBananas

That's whatever I found first in Google Images.

adriano 

scandium is pricey and not common. it makes aluminum lighter, stronger, and more durable.

illdthedj

yah it seems frame advantage wabi, component jamis.
although if you think about it, lots of people that buy complete fixed gear builds end up wanting to swap out components to make it there own. even if the components dont necessarily need replacing (so guilty of this myself. oh well i have a nice chainring collection going on lol) and for this i would get the wabi.