41ants

As it looks, my budget isn't going to allow me to build a bareknuckle ground up, which would end up costing me well north of $1,000. This will also be my third bike this year and the wife is going to think i am nuts...

Anyhow best solution is one of this off the rack jobs. I narrowed it down to the 08' Sputnik & Pista. I am totally unfamiliar with two, but seems they are close. Both have 59cm sizes with top tubes 57.5ish that would fit perfect for me, so geometry/size isn't an issue. I would lean more towards the pista if I could still get it in that ghang green, but for 08' its navy blue and chrome (bling/yuck).

I think the frame material of the sputnik is higher quality, but not sure about craftsmenship. Help

deathhare

i would choose the pissta

noisebeam

I have an '06 Sputnik (purchased Jan-07) and it is great - especially the frame. But the only stock parts beyond the frame are the fork, spacers, seatpost and stem. Not that the stock parts are bad, just how it evolved.

Al

curiousincident

You say bling like it's a bad thing...

Though I'd say chrome pistas don't really count as bling at all.

41ants

I just seems blingy for my taste. Not that its a bad thing, its just not my thing. I don't know if this is true or not, but i also read that the chrome tends to chip off. Could have been an isolated issue.

ryanlovesyou

https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=1922

Sale on 59cm Gang Green Pista at Bens.. $499

I have a gang green Pista and I love it.

doofo

get a volpe

134k

I have an 08' Pista. The frame is actually clearcoated. I wanted a GangGreen one back in 07', but afer seeing it in person..I changed my mind and by then it was too late and the 08's were already on the way in. So I'm happy with my chrome one. Besides that all black and gunmetal compenents seem to go well with my bike. If color is an issue, then your choices are much more wider with other bikes out there...IMHO. I opted for the Pista, because I wanted a "track" framed bike and not one with "trackish" geometry. Does that make sense? Sure I haven't been on a track, but I have enough road bikes, that justified getting something different, and affordable.

snafs

I love my '08 Sputnik. Its subtle, light, and appears to be very well made. The carbon fork is a plus, its a pretty smooth ride. I say got for the Sputnik haha.

Landgolier

Generic cromo and steel fork vs. Reynolds 631 and carbon fork? No contest, get the Jamis. They're both made by the same Taiwanese company, so construction quality isn't an issue.

dogpound

Get the Jamis, my gf had both, sold the pista.
Love the jamis.

Ken Cox

I love the handling of my Pista.

I've never ridden a Sputnik, but the Pista has an uncanny combination of nimbleness and stability that ought not coexist with each other, but they do.

If I had a custom fillet brazed frame made by Mercian, I'd ask them to duplicate the geometry of my Pista.

curiousincident

I understand the novelty of having a one of a kind frame, but isn't half the reason most people get custom built frames the fact that they can get their own geo that can't be found on mass produced frames?

chase.

geometry and frame size combinations, plus craftsmanship, and a few other things, would be my reasons for a custom or semicustom frame.

i think you get more for your money with the jamis, but that only applies if you're buying the current model at retail price. i take it the sonik is out of your price range? my shop isn't carrying jamis anymore because of some supply issue, so i can't check it out.

Ken Cox

Yes, and I've arrived at that time in my life when I can afford any frame I want.

I have about $2100 in upgrades on my Pista, and I still ride a Pista.

A great frame.

I could probably get a lighter or stiffer frame from a custom builder, but then, not that much lighter or stiffer, and the bike theives would start taking a closer look at my bike.

If I could change anything on my bike, I'd get rid of the King logo on the headset and the Cane Creek logo on the wheels.

I'd rather people looked at my bike and just saw a Bianchi Pista.

sfcrossrider

Jamis

cosmonaut

I tested both and thought they were great bikes, but I bought the Sputnik. The frame is really nice, and combined with the Easton carbon fork the ride is excellent. Good parts too, but you'll eventually want to replace the wheels.

41ants

Thanks! That's a nice deal. I went ahead and placed my order this morning for the last one. I can use the $200+ that i saved over the sputnik for some upgrades.

stevenwk

wow someone in cali representing bens...nice...

i've heard good things about the sputniks however i rode a pista for 2 years before i built my own bike and i must say, besides the stock back cog it's a great bike. i would highly suggest getting a new cog however. you'll thank me later.

akaio

They will both be good bikes. If possible maybe try test riding them both.

I have owned my Sputnik for over a year and love it. Ive only ridden a pista for about a block, and the ride quality wasnt shockingly different, but I would take my Sputnik over it.

Southernwayfare

FYI someone in Boston is selling a EAI Bareknuckle

41ants

Good eye on that, but I pulled the triger on the Pista. Thing that I hate about craigs list is you can't do a one click nationwide search.

jdms mvp

parts list?

NitroPye

He mentioned a cane creek wheel set earlier... I think that covers most of the $2,100 right? Those suckers are 1k+?

Landgolier

Nah, the volos are under $500