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Paul Budnitz Unveils the No. 3 in Stainless Steel and Black Cro-mo

Paul Budnitz No.3 Stainless Steel
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Paul Budnitz No.3 Stainless Steel

Paul Budnitz, the creator of Kidrobot toys, built his first bicycles in 2006. In 2011, Budnitz Bicycles was founded with the goal of manufacturing simple, built-to-last bikes. We covered the launch of Budnitz Bicycles here. Now, a new model is available – the No. 3. The first two models by Budnitz were Ti frames. The No. 3. switched it up, offering a choice between stainless or black Cro-mo steel. Both No. 3 models come equipped with a Gates Center Track Belt Drive laced to an 11 speed Shimano Alfine Internal Hub, Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes, and 29-inch wheels. The stainless steel version runs $3,600 while the Black Cro-mo version comes in at $2800. Budnitz describes the bike as lightening-fast, yet comfortable on the streets. They offer them in S, M, L, and XL.

Click ‘more’ for detailed images of the stainless steel and black cro-moly No. 3…

Paul Budnitz No. 3 Stainless Steel Detail

Paul Budnitz No. 3 Stainless Steel Seat TubeMounts for rear rack, fenders & a water bottle. Fits tires up to 2.35″ wide. Frame made by hand in the USA.

Paul Budnitz No. 3 Stainless Steel BarsIt took extensive trial and error to find a perfectly balanced titanium handlebar, built for both comfort and speed. Clean lines are matched by our handmade titanium seatpost and fork. We use Chris King’s top-of the line USA-made headset.

Budnitz No. 3 Cro-Moly Steel Frame

Paul Budnitz No. 3 Black Cro-Moly

 

Paul Budnitz No. 3 Black Rear

Paul hates getting his pants dirty. So he got rid of the greasy chain altogether, and replaced it with a mess-free and nearly silent carbon belt made in Germany.

Optional full-range 11-speed Shimano Alfine internally geared transmission requires almost no maintenance, is superfast on the flats and has a granny gear for hills.

Paul Budnitz No. 3 Black Front

Optional accessories:

  • Security – Pitlock locking wheel skewers, seat post clamp & stem cap. Abus mini U-lock, Germany.
  • Fenders – Lightweight & elegant C-Lite alloy fenders, Belgium.
  • Rack – Tubus handmade Titanium rear racks, Germany.
  • Bell – Bellini bell in real brass. Ding!

Check out the stainless version here and the black version here at the Budnitz website.

 

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38 Comments
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Meshkat
Meshkat
12 years ago

Heavy on marketing light on innovation.

Gillis
Gillis
12 years ago

Meshkat, not everything can be a carbon plastic wonder bike nor a NAHBS show stopper. This is a simple, nice looking, well-made, US-built frame/fork.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
12 years ago

@Meshkat – asking $3600.oo for what a balloon cruiser can do for 300.00 is innovative. but yeah, at that price it needs to be a show stopper, gillis.

CJ
CJ
12 years ago

How many will actually buy this bike??
Maybe 20 people in total??
NAHBS is neat but how much of this stuff is actually viable product?

RUSTYDOGG
RUSTYDOGG
12 years ago

Who buys these things!? Yes the bike is nice looking. Yes I can afford it, but I’d be embarrassed for anyone to know what I paid for it.

mkrs
mkrs
12 years ago

That is one beautiful bike. But can you please say the price again as I might have misheard it?!

whale_dimples
whale_dimples
12 years ago

“In 2010 Budnitz created Budnitz Bicycles, following up on his lifelong passion for bicycling. Often called the Astin-Martin of bicycles, Budnitz uses titanium to create the fastest, lightest, and among the most beautiful urban bicycles in the world.”

Astin Martin of bicycles?

Mentecato
Mentecato
12 years ago

Beautiful lines, great look, but it seems they did not spend much time on the fork. Looks unfinished and ugly

fred
fred
12 years ago

Where is the shifter and shift cable?

lalahsghost
12 years ago

A lot of his titanium components/accessories are picked off a menu from some chinese component maker. Nothing special here.

Does he actually build all of his own bikes?

Kovas
Kovas
12 years ago

Funny story – I actually met the social media director from Kidrobot outside my local grocery store just yesterday afternoon.

Pretty cool guy… Tell you what though, he wouldn’t stop about Kidrobot this and Kidrobot that. Talk about being totally dedicated to building the brand. And frankly, that’s who probably the target market for this bike is: Urban 30-somethings (yuppies, dinks whatever) who have bought-into the Kidrobot brand and now have the cash to kill on a bike like this. They’ve collected the figures, apparel and whatever else, and now they want the ultimate fanboy ride…

Personally – this looks too much like a Siren Twinzer to me. I’d rather have a custom Twinzer than a stock Budnitz.

Kovas
Kovas
12 years ago

Quick google shows that Lynkskey builds the Ti Bikes for budnitz…

Scott
Scott
12 years ago

Best part ever is when I read a review of the bikes that spoke about the detail that Paul Budnitz puts in “even adding his name to the brake levers”. Yes, they do say Paul, but that is a totally different Paul. It does, however, point out who their target market is; idiots.

For a good laugh, check out the Abus u-lock upgrade on Paul Budnitz site for a smooth $120. According to the site, it is vastly superior to “the knock-off” Kryptonite mini u-lock.

Ed
Ed
12 years ago

Curtis has been making that frame for almost 20 years now….

MTB
MTB
12 years ago

Oh, all the haters come out in force today.

Let me guess:
1) Never ridden a Budnitz bike
2) Do not have the money to buy anything expensive

Hey, at least he’s creating jobs here, instead of shipping jobs to china.

Meshkat
Meshkat
12 years ago

@gillis and @satisFACTORYrider What satisFACTORYrider said is basically what I was getting at. My bikes are currently steel CX bike, steel CX bike, steel road bike, aluminium/carbon CX bike so I love me some steel but I am not about to pay Budnutz $2800-$3600 for a cruiser frame.

cw
cw
12 years ago

All these custom bikes with cable guides that were filed for 14 hours and stem bolts sourced from a 98 year old cabinet maker in switzerland are nice, but can somebody make an inner pad adjuster for BB7’s that isn’t red?

MB
MB
12 years ago

How is the belt tensioned on this one?
The “original” used the same system Black Sheep uses, although who knows who came up with it. Heard it was used way back in the day on BMXs?…

And, yes, I agree, not worth the cash. I could buy another better looking custom and have some left over.

MB
MB
12 years ago

@cw – Spray paint or nail polish….

Joe D
Joe D
12 years ago

What am I supposed to do with that?

mtb4me
mtb4me
12 years ago

Yawn….ya, best I can do…

bikeindustrydude
bikeindustrydude
12 years ago

Absolute bull**** – I have been to the overseas factory that is making this product, and I can guarantee you absolutely that it is not made in the USA.

As for the components, they are off the shelf from said factory, and I have ridden that seatpost when SDG put their name on it. It sucked then, and it still does.

A poke around the site is a laugh a minute – cold forged handlebars? nimwits don’t know the difference between cold forged and cold worked.

Anyone paying that much for an asian cromo single speed defines “a fool and his money……”

King County
King County
12 years ago

Its got a Masi Soulville look to it. The Masi has one top tube, and no disc mounts,

craigsj
craigsj
12 years ago

What about this bike makes it “lightening-fast”…and what does that even mean?

“This bicycle’s geometry is both powerful and comfortable…”, another gem from their marketing department.

@MB the belt is tensioned via EBB.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
12 years ago

craigsj- my guess – “powerful and comfortable” means if the rider is somewhere in between “chuck norris” and “the most intereting man in the world”.

Gillis
Gillis
12 years ago

@bikeindustrydude: You are full of bull****. They are all made in the USA – I can guarantee you that. Why do I know? Because I know the builder. That’s why you are full of bull****.

@meshkat/satisfactory: So you see value in your cx and road bikes, so what? You can go to walmart and buy a $300 road bike too. This a city bike. If you’re someone that ride city bikes a lot and appreciates what a nice bike can do then this might be of interest and worth the price. Just because you don’t value it doesn’t mean it has none.

Gillis
Gillis
12 years ago

@bikeindustrydud: Almost forgot, one more correction for you: cold forging is a process that falls under cold working (aka work hardening). So its kinda the same thing.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
12 years ago

gillis- i just can’t get my headspace into a 3k “city” bike. having spent time in nyc, seattle, portland, and sf, never have i once thought my commutes could use anymore than a second hand clapped out sled at best. for me CITY needs to be utilitarian but that’s just me. this bike screams useless for me.

Willis24
Willis24
12 years ago

The stainless model with an Alfine 11 has great potential as an awesome Gravel Grinder… if only the price point were around $2300.

Paul Budnitz
12 years ago

Hello everyone. Thank you for the comments.

While I respect many of the opinions above, I want to post a clarification note from the people who are actually making this bicycle:

The No.3 frame & fork is made by hand in Washington State by R&E/Bushnell. We’re using True-Temper Cro-Moly & USA-made KVA stainless steel.

The Stem and many other Ti parts on the frame came from Paragon Machine Works in Oakland.

Chris King Headset, California. Paul Components levers, California. Rims are by Velocity, now manufacturing in Florida. Out Ti bikes use White Industries hubs, also California.

Cranks by Sugino & Reaction Cabling from Japan. Belt drive from Gates & Schwalbe tires are German.

The black version of this bicycle costs $2800, not $3600 (that’s for the stainless steel version). I challenge anyone to find another bicycle at this price with this level of componentry!

Finally, some general thoughts about the price and how we choose to look at bicycles.

All of us over here totally respect spending $300 (or less) and building up a beautiful fixie out of used parts. We also respect going to the flea market and spending $80 on an old 60’s Raleigh (beautiful!). And we respect anyone who genuinely just doesn’t like one of our bicycles, either the look or the ride.

What we don’t respect with is the attitude that $2800 (or even $5500 or more) is too much for a well-made city bicycle. Millions of people spend $30,000 on an ugly new car and don’t blink. $60,000+ for a luxury car is normal.

Our perspective is that beautiful, well-made bicycles are worth investing in. If we as cyclists want respect from the non-biking community (in the form of more bike lanes, bike parking, more aggressive enforcement of traffic laws that respect bicycles on the street) we need to start by respecting ourselves.

Self respect is admitting that we probably deserve to ride something decent if we’re going to spend a few hours or more on a bicycle every day (instead of a car). Personally, I identify with my bicycle, which is how I got into this. I see my bike as an extension of myself, and caring about myself, I don’t like the idea of riding something cheap & aluminum that handles badly, looks ugly, and that I’ll have to replace every few years.

Respect is also recognizing and supporting good craftsmanship and design. We think $2800 is probably not a lot of money for something handmade that you use every day of your life, is a hell of a lot of fun, and that will last you a very long time.

We’re based in Colorado and offer test-rides in our showroom. We’ll also offer bicycles for test riding beginning later this summer in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Everyone is invited to come visit us and try one out.

Come ride with us.

Paul Budnitz
Founder
Budnitz Bicycles

Noordkaapfujin
12 years ago

I’d like to remind you the first of april is close.

Willis24
Willis24
12 years ago

Your response were great until you reached your general thoughts…

ICEROAD
ICEROAD
12 years ago

Lots of skeptics who haven’t done their research and can’t see quality. Just opinions. It’s a great bike! I bought one.

Steve
Steve
12 years ago

Criticism can be useful, but it’s most useful when it comes from one’s peers.

These are gorgeous.

I am grateful there are people in the world like Paul who follow their muses. Even if I can’t buy one now, I’m happier for knowing these bikes exist. What would life be if we had no aspirations?

Mike Leone
Mike Leone
12 years ago

I think this bike looks really f*cking nice. Not sure how people can hate so much on something they’ve never been on? Bike snobs are the coolest people on earth. Keep enjoying life!

I’m glad Paul Budnitz is trying to make the best city bike in the world. Out of all the other brands people here have mentioned, I still prefer the look of these Budnitz Bikes…

The price is high, but definitely not some sort of rip-off that people here are insinuating.
Look at all of the components Paul listed above. I would love to take one of these for a test ride.

Tellef
Tellef
11 years ago

I am a Norwegian, and bought a No.1 titanium. This is a very expensive bike, but I have no regrets. My car-driving fellow workers use this bike-price on extra equipment when buying a new car. The bike will probably last for my lifetime, a car for 10-15 years. It is a beautiful bike. I have never before seen people turn their heads for a commuter! The ride is incredibly comfy, and with belt.drive and 11-speed Alfine it is dead silent.

mid west
mid west
11 years ago

I ordered a No. 1 titanium. I think it is a beautiful bike. I ride about 4-10 hours a week year round in the midwest. When I started biking about 20 years ago I bought my first new bike for $700, touring. Loved it, or more correctly I loved biking! Simple fact was I had very little experience knowing whether I loved the bike or not. 20 years later I own a Pivot mach 4, a dream to ride, a motobecane ti road bike, super fast like driving a ferrari, and now a No. 1 too.
On the way I learned that a well made bike, built for a specific purpose was a joy to own and use. The Pivot is a sweet as can be a much nicer to ride than other MBs that I had owned. The quality of components and the light weight of the moto really got me hooked that paying for a light, very well made bike absolutely made sense. But sometimes I just want to get on my bike and cruise around, by myself or with my kids. Without the clip-less pedals and hyper agressive posture. But I don’t want to do it on some tank with crap components. I love ti and I’ve grown to love bikes enough that I’m happy to pay for one that will last a lifetime, looks beautiful to me and rides well. Is $6k a lot of money, sure. But I’m happy to pay it for something that I will use every week and enjoy the hell out of. Do I love the style of the No 1 absolutely. Did I buy it to show off, not possible where I live. Far west Chicago suburb, no one will know but me. Which is fine as that’s who I bought this bike for.

Robert Sutterman
Robert Sutterman
11 years ago

(not so) Glad to see the rip-off from Black Sheep is producing bikes…

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