Gyro_T

I built up a KHS "Flight 800" (Reynolds 853) frame for my wife some years ago. I discarded the carbon fork it came with because it was getting old. With a CrMo fork the bike still weights just over 20 pounds and is a delight to ride. Started looking for steel road bikes online and finding they are almost non existent now. Friend not in a position to get a custom made frame. Trying to find something that would be as light as an 853 frame in a production bike. It this even a thing anymore?

Gyro_T

I built up a KHS "Flight 800" (Reynolds 853) frame for my wife some years ago. I discarded the carbon fork it came with because it was getting old. With a CrMo fork the bike still weights just over 20 pounds and is a delight to ride. Started looking for steel road bikes online and finding they are almost non existent now. Friend not in a position to get a custom made frame. Trying to find something that would be as light as an 853 frame in a production bike. It this even a thing anymore?

Shadco 

This one is 18.75 without the seat bag or bottles, it’s not for sale but it is a Gunnar Roadie in 56cm. You might be able to find one used.




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Gyro_T

Well, I found pretty close to what I was looking for with the Niner RTL 9 Steel. Not a dedicated road bike, but with the right tires, should satisfy her need for speed.
Any other suggestions or comments would be welcome. Thanks

fishboat

It's still a thing. New and used.

The most readily available used 853 bikes/frames I know of are Lemond from the late '90s to 2008. Various Lemond models changed in frame materials in these years between titanium, steel, aluminum, and carbon or carbon/AL or Ti composites. . 853 steel bikes to look for are:

Maillot Jaune (853)
Zurich (853)
Buenos Airies (853)
Alpe d'Huez (853)
Croix de Fer (OX Platinum)
Nevada City (853)
Poprad (853, CX design, also OX Platinum)
Sarthe (853)
Tourmalet (853)

The models also vary in tube weight or design (round or ovalized tubing, Poprads had a thicker wall tube I think), as well as steel, aluminum or carbon forks, and 853, 525, 725, or OX Platinum seat and chain stays and component groups.

For build specifics, see Trek, Fisher, Klein, Lemond bike catalogs, bicycle brochures

CliffordK

You don't need to cross-post your messages. It creates a mess of responses.

A budget is always a good starting point.

For big name manufacturers, Colnago and Bianchi still make steel bike frames. Probably quite a few others too.

There are several small builders around, including a few in the Northwest. I saw a cool looking blue-green bike at a bike show in Portland a few years ago.

https://www.bikeforums.net/22119364-post23.html

I think it is a local Portland company with very clean lines on the bike.
https://www.speedvagen.com



There is an annual Handmade Bike Show up in Portland. And, it looks like 2023 has a big one planned.
https://bikeportland.org/2022/07/27/...xt-fall-360448

For used bikes, LEMOND made quite a few 853 steel bikes. A few other brands will pop up too.

Paul Barnard

Bikes direct is seeing some of their 2023 Premio series steel bikes come in. The Ultegra equipped one should register under 20 pounds.

Save Up To 60% Off Pro Level Steel Road Bikes FREE SHIP 48 STATES ON ALL BICYCLES FREE SHIP* Motobecane Gran Premio Expert New Shimano 22 Speed R8000 / ULTEGRA + DT SWISS WHEELSETS Reynolds High Grade Steel Road Bikes

csport

https://fairlightcycles.com/product/strael3-deposit/
https://www.somafab.com/archives/pro...endurance-road (not Reynolds 853)
Disclaimer: I have not had any of these myself

DangerousDanR

For me a couple names come to mind:

Ritchey: nice bikes. I have 3.
Rodriguez: light weight steel. Not sure why I have never bought one.

garciawork

Check out all city. Maybe not the lightest, but I like their stuff.

Bah Humbug

The Fairlight Strael 3.0 is what I'd get if I needed a steel bike..

Iride01 

If light is an important part of the equation then I'm wondering why you only want a steel bike? You'll find new and lighter bikes in carbon fiber for certain and even some aluminum models are down in the sub 18 pound (8.2 kg) realm.

bruce19

If you can find a used Guru Sidero that might work. Mine is down to 17.5 lbs w/ SRAM Red 10sp mechanical and tubeless wheels.

RGMN

My Ritchey Logic RB is my favorite bike. 18.5 lbs ready to ride, and can easily get it under 18 lbs with different wheels.

Sy Reene

Overseas perhaps, bounce around their website - maybe you'll find something
https://www.condorcycles.com/collections/sale-bikes

vespasianus

If you are in the USA, and want stock steel, there are two easy answers. First is Ritchey. And second is Ritchey.

veganbikes

Tons of great options out there that are not full custom. A lot of bike blogs frequently talk about them. Soma/New Albion, Surly, All City, Ritchey. Columbus/Cinelli all come to immediate mind for non-custom but plenty of lower cost custom builders as well. Dave Levy of TiCycles comes to mind a lot because he has been doing it for a long time and builds at very reasonable prices in both Steel and Titanium and is a nice guy. Loads of other stuff as well that is semi or full custom that is reasonable and some that is quite expensive. Tell us what you want and some sort of budgeting and we can help better.

Not saying any of these are specifically Reynolds tubing but a lot of it is decent tubing and some do use Reynolds but I would probably hazard a guess that most higher quality steel tubes ride pretty well and are somewhat similar in a lot of ways. I haven't done any scientific testing or anything but own a bunch of steel bikes and they all have great rides and I don't think if all the bikes were build relatively the same I would notice one to the other while riding. I am sure some of them are heavier but they are built for different things.

Rolla

Came here to suggest these. Would also add Milwaukee and Gunnar. Too bad Fairdale isn't still making the Goodship.

amazinmets73

Are you open to used frames? If so I strongly recommend a Lemond 853 frame. They're ridiculously cheap considering the quality. I would pick one up, add a new fork and build it up.

Koyote

These are all over eBay (probably CL, too) and they are terrific frames. My '03 Tourmalet is the best-riding bike I own. Note that some of the lower-end models (like the Tourmalet) might have 853 main triangles and 4130 chromoly stays -- but they are still relatively light and ride beautifully. My Tourmalet, built with nine speed components (nothing high end), comes in at 20.5 lbs complete with pedals, bottle cages, computer and pump mounts. With a newer groupset and a couple other well-chosen substitutions, it could easily be a couple pounds lighter.

For a new frameset, try All City. I'm not sure if they currently have anything in Reynolds 853, but they offer a similar steel (they call it ACE tubing -- seamless and air-hardened, like 853) and their frames are very nice -- especially nice paint jobs.

mstateglfr 

Don't buy a Niner if you want lightweight. That's an oxymoron.

Ritchey road frame has been mentioned and its a good option as its one of the only production steel road frames to still use a smaller head tube and a 1 1/8 steerer. This makes the bike lighter in weight and feel.

A Fairlight Strael 3.0 is what I would buy if I were getting a new frame right now. I have a Fairlight Secan for my gravel frame and that brand is incredible when it comes to details and design thought.

All City Zigzag is cool. Not the lightest, from what I've read, but always cool paint.


New production frames need to pass resting which inherently makes the frames heavier than what is ideal. Custom frames don't go thru the testing and weight noticeably less since they don't need to comply with the testing certification.

Again, don't go Niner. It's 853, but heavy 853 due to design/intended use.

Russ Roth

For more affordable check out Milwaukee cycles or Gunnar, both made by Waterford here in the US. My daughter's Milwaukee is currently 20.5lbs, though lighter would be easy with the right parts selection. The carbon rims aren't any lighter than a set of alloy Velocity A23 or Mavic Open pro, the Rival electronic group isn't exactly light with the batteries installed and when it had road tires and not its current cross tires it was 19.6lbs. Milwaukee has the cross frames on clearance for a nice price to boot. Carbon fork of course but I believe a steel is available. Their road frame is lighter and with a better/lighter groupset and parts pick under 19lb would be easy.

Redroseimports is having a sale on Carrera and Olmo, both will net you a sweet Italian ride that with a decent groupset and lightweight wheelset will get you into the 18lb range easily. My first Carrera steel frame/fork with Record 10sp and select parts was a 17lb build.

Money isn't a worry, go custom, my Rock Lobster is a mix of 853 and heavier duty tubing and weights in at barely under 20lbs with road tires on. Once the chain and cassette wear out I've got a replacement pair that should drop over 1/3lb making it solidly in the 19lb range. A lighter weight wheelset would do wonders but I built mine to handle a hefty guy dropping through anything a NE cross course could offer without worrying about the wheels.

DangerousDanR

I just looked at your avatar... There is also Co-Motion Cycles in beautiful Eugene Oregon; the place where the nuts hunt the squirrels. They are not cheap, but they are steel and they might be in your neighborhood. And, they do make single bikes as well as tandems.

Gyro_T

Everyones help is very much appreciated. I am a bit embarrassed that I did not search diligently before posting. Either way I learn a lot and am very surprised. I will work toward finding dealers in my area now. Thanks again,

bampilot06

Ritchey. It has already been said, and the only one that needs to be said.