While there’s certainly an appeal to a full suspension, carbon framed, electronically shifting bike with all the high-tech bells and whistles, sometimes simplicity can be equally striking. By adorning their basic, clean shapes with broadly varying color schemes, commuter bikes can easily be made into eye-catching bicycles. And since these bikes don’t have to be high-performance machines, we might as well make them look cool!
If you’re in the market for a sleek city commuter, Brooklyn Bicycle Co. has just released their Wythe fixie in a new raw color scheme that’s drawing some interest from the photography and high-fashion industries, and State Bicycle Co. has updated their Core 4130 line with two new models- The Ashton and The Trooper 4.0. You’ll probably like the looks of the price tags on both brands’ offerings as well…
Brooklyn Bicycle Co.
Last year Bikerumor checked out Brooklyn Bikes’ Wythe commuter bike in Matte Black paint, but the company has now released the Wythe in a raw finish with white accents. The new color scheme is already catching the eyes of aesthetic experts- The raw Wythe was recently featured in Suit Supply’s “New York Fashion Week for Men Takeover of SoHo”, as seen in the images here. Photographer Nathan Michael also rode and featured the raw Wythe during his bike-friendly tour of Chicago for the Instagram-based “With The Locals” tour guide.
The Wythe features a Chromoly frame and fork, and with a size large listed at 24 lbs. the company says it’s their lightest fixie model. The bike is equipped with a flip-flop rear hub for fixed gear or single-speed freewheeling, and includes front and rear brakes.
The Wythe’s bottom bracket and hubs roll on sealed bearings, and the wheels are secured with axle nuts (the seat post clamp is also bolted). Quick-release Tektro dual-pivot brakes should make wheel removal simple, but with Kenda’s puncture resistant 700x26c tires you won’t likely have to do it often. A riser bar keeps you looking up and out of danger in the concrete jungle, and Brooklyn’s brass riveted saddle adds a classic touch to the bike’s appearance. Frames come in sizes S-XL, and the complete Wythe is available online for $499 USD.
State Bicycle Co.
State Bicycle Co. aims to produce quality bikes ‘at an honest and fair price’, and with a quick look at these stealthy steeds, their $450 price tag seems pretty fair! The company has just released two new models called The Ashton and The Trooper 4.0.
All frames in the 4130 Core Line are built from double-butted chromoly tubing. Every model features flip-flop rear hubs for fixed-gear riding or single-speed cruising, and although the photos don’t show them front and rear brakes are included. The 4130 Core models also come with alloy Wellgo pedals, sealed bearing hubs and die-cast dropouts with integrated chain tensioners.
Buyers have some options when they purchase a State Bicycle Co. bike- First you’ll have to choose between four different handlebar styles- Bullhorn, Drop, Riser or Pursuit (essentially a bullhorn bar with some drop, this option adds $20). Then there are further options to upgrade the pedals and saddle, plus you can accessorize with bottle cages, toe straps and even lights or bike locks. These add-ons all come at an additional cost.
State Bicycle Co.’s frames come in six sizes that should accommodate riders from 4’10” to 6’6”. For both of the above models, a size 55 frame is listed at 22 lbs. The Ashton and Trooper 4.0 are available online for $449.
