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Takara Kabuto Single Speed Road Bike
Show more by Takara
Average Rating: 4.5 star rating (71 Reviews)
List Price: $229.99
Our Price: $219.95
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  • Fits riders from 5 feet, 10 inches tall to 6 feet, 2 inches tall
  • Rear Flip Flop Hub for fixed gear or freewheel
  • Tig-welded steel frame and fork; alloy rims with alloy hub; alloy side pull brakes
  • 31-inch stand over clearance
  • Fits riders from 5 feet, 8 inches tall to 6 feet tall
Product Description:
The Kabuto is all about keeping things simple and getting it done without breaking the bank. At the heart of the Kabuto you-Feetll find a strong hand crafted steel frame with horizontal dropouts that can handle the abuse of the big city. City riders told us that they didn-Feett need derailleur-Feets so we listened and outfitted the Kabuto with a flip flop bug so you can run it as a fixed gear or in standard freewheel single speed mode without having to worry about adjustments to temperamental components. The 32 hole alloy wheels roll on loud Kenda 700 x 32 tires that are capable of withstanding less than perfect roads. Front and rear alloy side pull brakes round out this spectacular model. Stand over clearance is 31-Inch.
An ideal commuter bike, the Takara Kabuto features a strong handcrafted steel frame with horizontal dropouts that can handle the abuse of the big city. The Kabuto has a flip flop hub so you can run it as a fixed gear or in standard freewheel single speed mode without having to worry about adjustments to temperamental components. The 32-hole alloy wheels roll on loud Kenda 700 by 32 tires that are capable of withstanding less than perfect roads. Front and rear alloy side pull brakes round out the specs of this bike that will fit riders from 5 feet, 8 inches tall to 6 feet tall with a stand over clearance of 31 inches.

Specifications:

  • Frame: Tig welded steel frame with horizontal drop out
  • Fork: Tig Welded 1-inch Threaded
  • Handlebar: Steel Road 42.5cm wide
  • Stem: Alloy Quill 1-inch 90 deg x 100mm
  • Seat Collar: Alloy
  • Seatpost: Steel 25.4
  • Brakes: Alloy side pull
  • Crank: Steel 3-piece 170mm 44-tooth steel chain ring
  • Bottom Bracket: Loose ball and cone, English thread
  • Hub Rear: Joytech alloy 16-tooth freewheel and fix gear, bolt on
  • Hub Front: Joytech alloy high flange, bolt on
  • Rims: Alloy singlewall 32-hole with alloy hub
  • spokes: stainless steel
  • Tires: Yellow Kenda 700 x 32
  • Pedals: Alloy cage with toe clips
  • Kickstand: Steel
  • Bar Tape: Cork
Customers' Reviews:  
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5.0 out of 5 stars.  LOVE IT!!!!!, June 28, 2011
By Rob (Dalhart Texas)
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93 of 100 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Epic quality beautiful finish, March 12, 2011
By jonny chimpdoe
THE best single speed in price range, flawlessly done, all parts high quality and top notch packaging during shipping.
pros: kendra all terrains, hidden brake lines in handle grips, chain guard removes easily for exposed sprocket look, comfortable seat, low price, unique color, easy flip flop hubbed wheel
cons: a tad heavy for a road bike but easily lighten-able, too many stickers (but they removed effortlessly) toe hooks don't handle extreme stress well (easily replaceable though), tire on flip flop wheel is directional (so it's backwards when in fixed geared position)

19 of 19 people found this review helpful

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  I really like this bike, September 22, 2011
By Pirus
I bought this bike to commute on a pretty flat campus, I was kind of worried paying only that much ($179) for a road bike but after using it, I just love it.
+: Only one speed means that you don't have to deal with gears (I had trouble in the past with cheap gears which broke quite fast) and riding it is not a pain at all, the gear ratio is pretty good. The style is GREAT, I really like the yellow tires, I got a lot of nice comments about how cool this bike was. Assembly was easy (first time I did it) and a bike store tuned the handle bar for me (I did not know how to do it). Tires are ok, a bit large which is good for chaotic roads but a bit slower than road bike tires, and the yellow side stays quite clean for a while. The bike is light, not carbon light, but very nice for this price.
-: Brakes are really crapy, made out of some sort of plastic, you'd better be ready to stop at anytime and not rely too much on those brakes, I am considering changing them. The yellow handle bar gets dirty quite fast, but the tires stay yellow for a while. Seat is a bit unconfortable but ok. The frame (54cm) was a bit small for me (I am 6' tall).

UPDATE: It just got stolen... proof that people liked it. So after looking for another bike, I decided to buy the same exact one (frame of 57cm this time), it's a bit more expensive now, but I really enjoyed it.

18 of 18 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great Bike, Loving it!, October 28, 2011
By Jeremy Wong (Davis, CA)
I've been riding mostly mountain bikes since I've been 10 years old and my trusty old mountain bike gave up it's ghost so I decided to spring for a road bike instead. I found this incredible deal online and purchased it immediately. The price dropped a few days later so I emailed the seller (Makais) and they immediately gave me a refund on the difference (awesome)! Been testing it out for a few days and will adjust this review should anything interesting happen. Shipping was a standard 3-5 day ship, got to me on the 5th day.

The Pros:
Extremely nimble bike, with very eye catching color scheme.
Provides for a very smooth ride on roads and will have you speeding past other people on mountain bikes in no time.
The bike is rather cheap (~$190-250) but rides like a much more expensive bike. I have gotten numerous compliments on this bike and they are shocked to find out it was such a great deal!
Assorted stickers come off easily for a nice clean black finish.

The Cons:
Brakes are a bit on the meh/temperamental side, I would recommend swapping them out for a better set
very heavy for a road bike (25-30 lbs)

Summary:
The bike (I have the 54cm) is made for taller people, so I would say anyone below 5'7" is probably too short for the bike, I'm 5'7.5" and it already feels a bit on the large side.
Brakes were very temperamental when trying to adjust them, I eventually took it to a shop and let the pros do that part, but the rest of the bike is fairly easy to put together.
Doesn't come with any tools, so to put this bike together, you will need: 1) An adjustable wrench, and 2) 5 and 6 mm Hex wrenches (allen wrench) 3) patience should take about 30 minutes to an hour.

Conclusion:
Definitely a great bike for the price! If you are even looking at this bike, odds are you don't care if it doesn't have the latest carbon fiber body and kevlar lined tires and you definitely aren't going to use this in a professional capacity. This bike is for riding around town and getting to work or school in the city on less than ideal roads. I highly recommend this bike to anyone around 5'8" looking for a great and cheap road bike!

Update:
Been riding it every day to and from class rain or shine for about 2 months now, had a slight issue where the pedals would "click" after every cycle, apparently some dirt got stuck in my pedals cause after a cleaning of the pedal bearings everything was buttery smooth again. The yellow grip gets dirty very easily but the bike itself is a solid and reliable way to get to class. Still loving it!

Update 2:
Still riding it everyday and some new things have come up. The yellow treads have worn out, hit a MASSIVE pothole that tore a huge gash in the treads and decided to replace them both. I got real racing tires for this bike and found that you can actually fit 700x 25c tires on this bike (thinner, but lighter and faster)! My times have improved and the bike just feels faster and more nimble than ever (though the occasional pothole isn't very pleasant).
I've also gotten a new seat because the old seat was rather uncomfortable for me (it's a unisex seat aka it won't satisfy anyone), this bike now feels like I'm riding on a cloud, amazing what you notice when you begin experimenting...

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  "A steal for the price.", May 4, 2011
By iankirby
I bought this bike back in Jan 11. Packaging for the bike was as expected, very solid. The set-up for the bike is nice and easy and required only basic tools to get her up and running within 10 minutes. So, with that that said, this is great for someone looking to buy an affordable, high quality, and stylish bike. Flashy colors, big tires, comfortable to ride, though maybe it is a bit on the heavy side, but nevertheless smooth, fast and simple and the flip-hub feature, which gives you the option of riding in fixed gear, is a great addition. I ride this in Austin, TX where there are a lot of hills and it is a little less than ideal, but very manageable once you become familiar with the area. So, maybe if you live in a hilly area and are new to biking then a single speed may not be what you are looking for (but to each their own!). Here in Austin there is a big bike scene so naturally a lot of people ask about the bike. They always seem surprised when I say it was only 220 and I keep hearing how much of a steal it was. And by the way, the colors are a huge hit; I get compliments on that all the time. Also, please take into consideration that you are not getting road bike tires. The tires seem to be cross or hybrid, meaning they are much bigger and thicker than road tires. Though, to be fair, I am not sure what the actual tire type is called. The tires also say 80 PSI max but that, to me, felt low and prevented the bike from catching that speed that I knew it had. So I ride mine at (the not recommended!) 110-120 PSI, which feels great and allows me to catch all the speed I want. Final note on the bike: the tires are a bright mustard yellow while the handlebars are a darker more true yellow.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  A nice bike, aside from some QC issues..., October 7, 2011
By M. Ram (San Jose, CA, USA)
I agree with the general view that this is a well-made, affordable bike. It rides smooth and fast and is made without overcomplicated components, just what I needed after months of hassles with the gears and brakes on my mountain bike. Riding the Takara takes some getting used to...I'm 160 lbs and the skinny tires and profile are a challenge on turns or windy rides; bending down and gripping a narrow handlebar can cause shoulder stress; having to reach over for the brakes is also very different than just having them right in front of you. I do feel it's worth the effort of getting used to though - I cut 20 minutes off of my old 2 hour time during my first major ride!

I had a few problems in putting the bike together. The main problem was the brakes, as the right arm of the front one wouldn't move (the pad also kept touching the rim) and the rear one was out of alignment out of the box. The instructions say to use an adjustable wrench (which is good for the tire bolts) but I had to use a socket wrench instead (see pic). How else are you supposed to pinch the brakes to the rim while tightening the adjustment nut at the same time? And for brakes out of alignment, you have to tap a spring with a hammer/screwdriver to move the one that's farther out back inwards, which is not a good design. I do admit that it seems to work though.

One notable negative is that the reflector mounts were very cheap. I tightened them to fit on the seat post and handlebar stem but the nut stress-popped through the plastic housing on BOTH (and no, I don't think I overdid it). Luckily I had bought two dedicated lights beforehand.

Aside from that, the right pedal strap has come undone more than once while riding (a clip system might have worked better than the sliding hook they used). It's been a minor distraction so far, and the left one hasn't given me any problems.

Some other notes:

+ It comes mostly assembled (see pic). You have to mount the front tire and a few other parts onto the frame.
+ It comes with a kickstand! It's crazy how many high-end bikes don't come with this simple feature.
+ The seat is more comfortable than I thought it would be.
- The handlebars are wrapped in that yellow cushion tape, but they'll still hurt your hands since your body leans into them.
- The middle treads on the tires get dirty fast (obviously). Mine had some marks right out of the box.
- The black parts of the frame (outside of the stickers) had some scuffs and a plastic chip out of the box.

EDIT: I've ridden this bike pretty roughly in the last few months, including over sticks and rocks and one turn right into a concrete curb, and it's held up very well. I haven't had the strap problem in a while, and the one flat I had was easier to fix than on a mountain bike (thankfully not having to mess around with a gear housing!).

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

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3.0 out of 5 stars.  Good frame, not so good tires...., December 17, 2011
By Oliver's Twist (I.B., CA)
Bike was easy to put together with minmal brake adjustment. Tires are beefy but innertubes are as bout as thin and non-supported as you can get. Only aired them up to about 90 psi. On second ride I blew my front tube and crashed. Further investigation found a slightly crimped tube and a complete 3 inch blow out along the seam. Good overall bike for money. But please check your tubes before airing them up!

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

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3.0 out of 5 stars.  Bad Spoke Nipple, January 7, 2012
By W. L. Laflamboy III (Ft. Worth, TX USA)
Rear wheel came with a spoke that is loose and the nipple threads appear to be stripped. Better QA would have been appreciated; I am unsure how that could be missed.

Otherwise, I like the bike; not a premium bike, but a great value, and should be a good get-around-town bike. Shipping was fast, packaging seemed well thought-out. Assembly was fairly straight forward and took about an hour.

I paid $15 to have the defective spoke nipple replaced at my local bike shop. I thought that was better than sending a whole new bike my way. Rallapati from customer service issued $15 refund.

The bike rides nicely. Front wheel is also slightly untrue.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

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3.0 out of 5 stars.  I love this bike with the exception of a couple frustrations., November 1, 2011
By skyforever
The bike is pretty sweet for its price. This is my first "real" bike.
Looks sleek. Rides smooth. All you can ask for except..

-The front brakes were installed incorrectly where it would grip below the rims when entails to nothing.. Easy fix after fixing the tightening cable which came loose at the same time.

HOWEVER THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHAT I STILL CANNOT SOLVE:

It rode smooth initially, however after 1 week's use, the right pedal made a click sound and knocked up against my right foot abit every time the right pedal was at its top position while pedaling so the problem was continual and very frequent. VERY ANNOYING!!! :{

If anyone finds a fix for this problem or has the similar issue please let me know, so I can fix it and give what this bike deserves, a 5 star and a happy rider without this problem @!#@~!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great Bike, Great Price, May 21, 2011
By Danny Lee (Clovis, CA, USA)
I've received this bike in a promptly manner; I have prime and it came on the date promised. Package was greatly put together, and assembly took no more than 15 minutes; albeit, I had to make few adjustments.

The bike it self rides very smoothly, and comfortably.It's a single speed, so no more messing with derailleur problems The flip-flop hub is a bonus, but I prefer coasting so I live it at that. I'm 5'10", and the 57cm fits me nicely; I suggest any body under 5'9" to get the 54cm and vice versa. Don't expect to turn into Lance Armstrong on this bike; it's on the heavier side. But if you are looking for a great commute bike, with style, and with the price that doesn't induce high blood pressure, this bike's for you.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Black and Yellow, May 16, 2011
By Kelvin Lo
I needed a new bike after my old but faithful mountain bike for 10 years finally died. I brought it because it was 20 percent off and I was attracted to the bright yellow tires. I'm 5'6 and this bike is a bit tall for me. My groin is literally on the top tube so I recommend it for people over 5'7" for the 54 version.

The yellow handle is more of a mustard while the tires are more of yellow. I agree with the other review. Pretty much everytime I am out biking, I got ask where I got it and shocked it was around $200 dollars. The yellow is subtle yet it will catch the eyes of people you will be zooming past.

It is a pretty sturdy bike, I love the hybrid tires. It is a mix of the road (fragile) tires and mountain thread tires so I do not have to worry too much about getting a flat but do not expect to go offroad.

The brakes felt a little cheap since they are plastic. Will be planning to change those soon. There are alot of stickers but if you take them all off, its pretty much a black frame with yellow tires. The rims are also black.

I had this bike for 2 weeks now, probably put a good 100 miles on it and loving it so far.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Solid Single Speed/Fixed Gear, October 2, 2011
By B. Ellis (Lexington, SC)
This is one of the most solidly-built bikes I've seen in the SS/Fixie market. Everything was in proper order when I received the bike (only extra work I had to do was stripping off the stickers) and the freewheel on the single speed side of the hub is whisper-quiet. Unlike most bikes in this bracket/price range, instead of coming stock with a "flip-flop hub" (I.e., without an actual cog on the fixed side), this one comes with a freewheel AND fixed-gear cog on each side. The tires can be easily replaced with slicker/skinnier tires for slightly more speed, but I've decided to stick with the 32C Kenda's. For right around $200, you just can't go wrong with this bike, so long as you're looking for something simple and sturdy (and VISIBLE). I highly recommend it.

UPDATE 4/27/2012: I have put quite a lot of miles on this lady, and she's held up well. For the price, you really can't beat the durability/responsiveness of the steel frame alone. The components are still strong with a little regular maintenance, and I've made a few additions/modifications:

-Replaced tubes/tires with Sunlite Thorn Resistant tubes and Michelin Dynamic Tires (700x28), so now the bike is almost completely blacked-out, save for the yellow handlebar tape.
-Replaced saddle with a Planet Bike A.R.S. 5022 Competition. This one is just better-shaped for my sit bones than the Vitesse saddle, which is still a decent saddle on its own.
-Added an Avenir Big Mouth seat bag with Park tire levers/adjustable wrench/patch kit, as well as a Topeak Alien II multitool and a spare tube.
-Added a pair of Red Line chain tensioners. You have to be careful with these...too much tension can cause undue chain wear, but a well-tensioned chain will give you much better power/control.
-Added various-brand lights (Bell Dawn Patrol on the front; Zefal rear light)

In the meantime, I'm looking into upgrading the brakes. As another reviewer has stated, eventually the paint will start to rub off the rims a bit. If you're a nut for aesthetics, you may want to invest in a different wheelset. For me, upgrading the brakes to something more adjustable like a Shimano Tiagra set will probably be fine. This is a great commuter/beater bike for the price, and even though it's heavy, I put more faith in steel than aluminum.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  First Road Bike, September 29, 2011
By Mr. TJ
All I can say is that I love this bike! I have ridden about 800 miles since i purchased this bike back in June 2011 and I LOVE IT. Ive had one flat when i switched to 700x28c tires and soon after i switched back to the original Kendas. My neighbor also purchased this bike after seeing mine. For the price and what you get it's a steal.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great Bike, May 23, 2011
By sentoyang
This is a Really good Bike for the money. Looks really good and rides smooth. One of the best bike i've ever bought. Would recommend for new riders or delivery services. The bike is also very rigid and can stand a beating. And being one gear, putting down the power on the pedal is great.

Only bad thing about the bike is that the brake is weak. Even after adjustment the brakes is still not as great as more expensive road bike. But again for less than $230-- can't beat it.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  50 Miles In..., April 18, 2012
By A. L'Heureux (Boston, MA)
This bike is fantastic.

I've definitely been in the cheap-bike market for a while, and I originally felt I wanted (needed) gears, so I tried a GMC Denali. It would have been fine except at this price point the derailleur just can't be good enough. Got that tuned up so it was generally usable, but wanted something that didn't require constant maintenance. The Kabuto seems to be fitting that bill quite nicely. I put it together in a relatively short amount of time. Had to tighten up both front and rear brakes (and re-align pads) from shipment, but everything else has been great. Stickers left some gunky residue when coming off that I tried to clean up with some regular household cleaner and it was mildly effective...still gotta work at that.

While I'm no veteran bike rider/commuter, I've felt safe taking the bike the 5.5-6.5 miles (depending on route) each way to/from work from north of Boston into the city. I've no interest in the fixie side of the hub, but the single speed setup is quite nice. I'd been concerned about not being able to travel at decent speeds, but I'm right with the rest of the pack except when someone is clearly booking it to work late. It is a bit challenging to start on a hill because the bike has a relatively efficient gear ratio for speed which makes low speed require a bit more torque to get moving. Significant grades uphill towards the end of my commute are still beating me up a little, but I think over time my body will get used to it.

I'd recommend this bike wholeheartedly to anyone looking to get something reliable, yet inexpensive. So far I've added an under-seat bag: Avenir Bigmouth Velcro Seat Bag (Medium- 55/73 Cubic Inches), removable rear-fender: SKS X-Tra-Dry Fender - Rear, front/rear light: Cateye EL135N/LD130 Head Light and Rear Light, U-lock/holder: Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 Standard Bicycle U-Lock (4-inch x 9-inch) with 4-Foot Flex Cable, and a portable pump: Schwinn Aluminum Frame Pump. I'm adding a bottle cage soon because I know I'm going to want water as the temperature heats up this summer. In the under-seat bag I'm carrying this kit: Park Tool WTK-1 Essential Tool Kit and will be adding in a spare tube soon, thinking of this one: Avenir Schrader 48mm Valve Tube (700 X 28-32C)

I'm also contemplating a rear rack/bag solution, but noticed that the racks attaching to both the rear wheel hub also attach to the frame and this bike doesn't have anything pre-drilled for those attachments. Does anyone have any suggestions for this? I really like the Topeak MTX line of bags (would probably go with the smallest [EX]) but have shied away from the seat-post attached versions as I don't want to deal with horizontal swaying. Any particular success stories on this particular bike? Thanks!

Also, I'm posting a photo of my bike in its current state shortly.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Excellent Single Speed Road Bike!, July 11, 2011
By Travis Baldwin
This bike is everything that I expected it to be. The build quality is excellent, it's a snap to put together, and it looks great. The stickers are very easy to peel off if that's not your style. The only negative that I can think of is that the bike is a bit on the heavy side. From feel, I'd say it's between 25-30 pounds.

The 54cm size fits me perfectly, and I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Heavy bike, but it was a good price, April 12, 2012
By Me
I've owned this bike for a few months now, the orignal date I did this review I had owned it for a little while.
Im using it almost everyday for about 5-10 miles, works great, wish it was lighter and had a gear or two. Overall, I can't really beat the price. The tires still look newish, the brakes work great, the chain is still rock solid and all the components still work. Its still a great deal. This bike does feel like it will last for years.
I've had to replace both tubes, they not very durable, but I've put in heavy duty tubes and so far Im not having any issues (but the bike is heavier). All though when they both went, they did leave me stranded and I had to have a friend pick me up.
Update: 5/5/2012
-------------------
Well I bought this because I don't currently have a car as I sold it due to a reduced income and the economy and can't afford the $4 gas prices. I wanted to get a bike that wasn't to expensive to save money as well as if the off chance it gets stolen it won't be to difficult to replace it. I do use a heavy duty D style lock and a steel cable that goes through the back tire and connects to the D lock. Anyway back to the bike. It was easy to assemble, it takes allen wrenches and normal wrenches. The bike does not have the quick disconnect seat post or wheels, which is good because if your taking this to a public place it makes those parts harder to steal.

The bike feels solidly built and as far as I can tell is better then any of those bikes you'll find at your local big box store. I didn't like the stickers so I took them off. The seat is comfortable and the handle bars are wrapped nice.
The worse thing about this bike is it is really heavy. It will get you in shape because the gear is kind of high and the bike is very heavy. I have to ride several miles to get to the store down hill and up hill and this bike gets me sweating and super tired on the up hill due to the high gearing. The seat is comfortable.

Took Off:
Stickers
The shoe holder things on the pedals.

Stuff I added to it:
Bike light on the front, LED with 3 LEDs in it, it takes like a AA or something, but it works fine for the city and its not to bad in a area with not many street lights, but I can ride at night with it.
Blinking red light in the back, again LED takes like AAA, to keep cars from running me over at night, works great.

The tubes:
I don't know the brand of tubes that are in this bike, but they seem really light duty. I've had to patch and replace both tires only after a few rides and I had a friend take the bike around the neighbored and some how got a flat from that. One tire went flat 7 miles in the city from and instantly and it lost all air, I had to call a friend to pick me up. The next flat was also a pinch/snake bite style flat that I discovered right when I was about to goto to the store and the tire was completely flat.
I am switching to heavy duty tubes, even though they weigh more and the bike is all ready heavy.

Would I buy this bike again?
I think if I could find a 3 speed bike, I would go with that. I wish It had a front shock as well. For the price this bike is fine. It's getting me in shape and so far is working ok to goto the store. If I could find a job that was close enough, I would commute by bike, but right now I can't. I think my next bike will be a mountain bike with a shock and some gears. With the price if it gets stolen I won't feel as bad as I would if say I had bought a $600 bike. I do feel it is though higher quality then some of the Schwin bikes I looked at.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  You Get More than You Pay For, March 25, 2012
By Gregory J. Hamel
I bought this bike last spring because I wanted something sturdy and cheap for longer rides that I could use to supplement running for marathon training. It is a great value. The bike itself isn't spectacular in any way, but you get a lot for your $$$, which is the point for a budget bike like this.

Pros:

Amazing value (paid $176 due to 20% off sale on outdoor goods)
Solid frame
Nice tires
Looks good
Decent pedals, seat and handlebars

Cons:

A little bit heavy
Very cheap brakes (they are plastic and one of them partially broke during assembly)
Brakes don't work well--you wont want to go down any really steep hills because you cannot stop fast
You have to assemble it yourself
Instructions for assembly/documentation are lacking

Overall the ridiculously low price destroys the cons in terms of the overall value of this bike. Just don't expect anything spectacular and be happy knowing you paid 1/3-1/10 the price of most of the other guys on the road.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Great for the price, December 18, 2011
By smills827
Bike does what I need it to do. Very good road bike for the price. Easily put together. 57 cm frame perfect for me and I'm 5' 11". Single speed recommended over fixed gear option.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Quality bike for a good price, December 12, 2011
By Ben L.
The Takara Kabuto is an amazing bike. It is made of good quality material that feels strong when you ride it. For any of you who are hesitant on getting a fixie, trust me that this bike has a great gear ratio and can be fast when it wants to but also do hills as well. From riding a mountain bike all my life I can say that riding the Kabuto defiantly feels different but I do notice an improvement in efficiency when pedaling. It is very easy to pedal and this translates over into a good speed on the bike. Also this bike can coast for a pretty good distance at the right tire pressure. For the size I got the 57cm and I am 5' 11" and it fits me about right. The Kabuto is a fairly light fixie with metal brake levers and plastic/metal pedals. The brakes are only a minor issue on this bike. If you tend to use this bike on a daily basis a brake pad conversion is a must!

Overall a good bike and I am very happy with my purchase.

UPDATE:
It's been about 2 months now and the bike is holding up alright. However the right crank/pedal is clicking on me and it is real bothering. I added some lube and it went away for a day. I have no solution to this problem. If anyone has any ideas it would be appreciated. Other than that the Kabuto is a really solid bike. Tires are holding up well. I ride about 5 miles a day. Oh the bike scratches really easy! I wrapped the front fork with a clear plastic coat so it wouldn't scratch but the paint scratches easy.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Love it, October 29, 2011
By Jawn606
Just got it yesterday. Assembled fairly easy and arrived with no visible scuffs on the frame (that I could find). I'm 6'1" and I bought the 57 but in retrospect I would've been fine with the 54 as well (just raised the seat a bit). Overall a lovely bike and a very satisfied customer.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Amazing!, October 7, 2011
By Ryan T. Berry
Just got this bike and I must say it's the best deal out there for a single speed road bike. Everything about it is simple and to the point. I had a few problems getting the brakes adjusted to where I wanted them but it's an easy fix. Love this bike! I also removed the stickers because it is more beautiful without them. You won't regret it for the price unless you are a bike snob!

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great bike for the price...., October 5, 2011
By ZETAZEN (Maryland)
Wow...what can I say about this bike that others haven't already said. I love this bike. It has a smooth ride and it was easy to assemble. I purchased the bike last Friday September 30, 2011 for $217, it was shipped Monday October 3rd, delivered Tuesday October 4th, and I was riding by Wednesday October 5th. Not bad at all. This bike is worth the money, I actually like it much better than my husband's Mongoose Mountain Bike. The saddle is even better!

Overall, the bike is easy to ride, fast, light and flashy with the nice yellow tires.....you will not be disappointed if you cop this ride.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  takara kabuto, August 7, 2011
By dt
This is a good bike sorta flashy. Need to be at least 5'7" to ride it or i believe. Cant really say anything bad about the bike. Its cheap it rides well and overall i used it to its full potential. I like to note that the stickers on the bike are removable so those who want a clean nice look can have that. Really the only problem i had with this bike is that the pedals are kind of sharp so you can get scratched by that. that's really it as long as you are careful or if you replace the pedals i think you are fine.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Must have-awesome bike!, July 12, 2011
By EzraAriel
I just ordered this bike, and it's an amazing bike! Easy to ride, fast, light and very eye catching. First time out, and no even out the front of my apartment complex, and a girl gave me props on it. Awesome commuting bike, but definitely not made for hill prone areas. Still lightweight and economical.

Overall, AWESOME bike.

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2.0 out of 5 stars.  Nay, December 4, 2011
By Ern
Not trying to be a jerk or anything but the only people who would buy this are the hypebeasts that dont know anything about a quality track bike and the people who are on extremely tight budgets.Just think for a second people......cheap items are always going to equal low quality no matter what.This bike is a mass produced peice of junk.I honestly can't believe all the good reviews this bike is getting.And how is this bike good looking in anyway???

Two stars for at least working.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Excellent for the money, June 15, 2011
By REM
So far the bike has been very good. Good construction, parts, etc. As another reviewer said, the stickers look dumb, but I removed them out of the box without any trouble. If you are using the fixed gear setting it is necessary to tighten the lock rings on the bottom bracket and the rear hub, or else the crank will slip and tilt. Overall very satisfied.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Awesome bike, April 30, 2012
By Jeremy
I received this bike three days ago, and am very happy with the purchase.

I was looking for a decent roadbike that wasnt going to set me back $600. After reading the reviews, i thought I would take a chance with this, and am very happy I did so. The bike rides great, looks great, has great speed, and is overall excellent.

Assembly: Assembly was very easy. The bike comes partially preassembled, so putting it together is just a matter of connecting a few basic parts. You just connect the front wheel, the handlebars, the pedals, and the seat and you are set to go. Very easy assembly, and nice to learn a little about how your bike is put together in the process.

I was a little leary about getting a single speed (I am riding it freewheel as I do not want a fixie), but have found it to actually be very enjoyable. I havent ridden a bike in about 3 years, and was able to climb a very steep hill after a 6 mile ride with no problems. The gear ratio is such that your power transfers very well. Also, since the bike doesnt have derailers and other related hardware, there is less to maintain and you get better quality other components.

I took another reviewers reccomendation and inflated the tires to 100psi (rather than reccomended 80). After inflating both tires, i walked away from the bike and heard a loud explosion as one of the tubes popped. I would stick with the reccomended psi if you dont want to have to replace the tubes before your first ride.

I dont like road bike handlebars (the curved ones included on this bike), so bought a replacement straight bar at a local bike shop and swapped out the bars. I did this for two reasons. First, I dont like the bars that come with the bike as I find them uncomfortable and awkward. Second, I attached a "Wee Ride" front infant seat to the bike and needed better access to the brakes since I cant lean over with my son attached.

I am very happy with this new setup.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Good Bike, April 27, 2012
By Yves V.
I purchased this bike with the intentions to exercise and get to know my neighborhood better. I think its a great bike for the price and it gets a lot of attention from other bikers. However, customers should factor in that this is a single speed bike that is a little on the heavy side and it can get pretty tough to ride going up hills.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great head-turner for the money, April 16, 2012
By Yellow Cake Cone
If you are looking for a fast single-speed for under $500 then this is your bike. Assembly is straightforward for the most part (although assembling the handlebar is confusing for the uninitiated at first but you can figure it out after a minute or two), and once you tighten every bolt you'll be ready for a great ride.

What I love the most about this bike is that it comes with a nice and sleek black frame (all stickers come off easily as others have mentioned), so if you aren't crazy about the yellow tires and handlebar then simply replace those for $20 and you can have the custom color scheme you like. At first I was going to do that, but right out of the box I loved the yellow - plus, I've gotten 2 compliments on the bike from strangers on my first test ride around town.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Great bike but a little too flashy, April 8, 2012
By hihihi
The bike itself is great, gets me where I need to go very quickly.
for the price its a really nice bike.
However, its design and color is a little too flashy. Ive already had someone attempt to steal it. He was already through the lock but luckily my friend caught him b4 he got away.
So bottom line is that its an amazing bike and looks really cool but it does make you stand out to theifs. so just keep that in mind. seriously.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  So Far So Good, March 26, 2012
By KLR (Vicksburg, MI)
After quite a bit of research, I settled on this bike because of the good reviews and also because the bike is pretty sweet-looking and eye-catching with those yellow tires. I've been riding the bike now for about a week and so far so good! I haven't been disappointed at all. It's a smooth, fast ride and seems to do fine over the bumps and holes on our country roads here in Michigan (if you live in Michigan you know about the bad roads).

I would have to agree with other reviewers here that the brakes are only mediocre but seem to do just fine so far. I think eventually I will upgrade them but for now am happy with them.

I think people will be generally very happy with this purchase overall.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Awesome investment, March 17, 2012
By maiqtheliar
I bought this bike (54 cm) as an intro to road bikes. I live in the city and wanted to get back into cycling but only rode mountain bikes before. This is one fun ride. After getting used to the freewheel I'm going to try out the fixie side soon. Cant go wrong with this one. Take of the decals for a sick stripped down look.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a smooth rider for commuting or just for fun. Its easy to put together and adjust the brakes with an Allen wrench and an adjustable wrench (or a 17 mm combo wrench) The bike is heavier than a traditional road bike and but you probably wouldn't notice unless you were used to much more expensive bikes. For the price its a steal, but DEFINITELY do not cheap out on a bike lock. Another reviewer bought this bike and it was stolen in a month.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Zippy bumblebee!, March 8, 2012
By Jeremy Wawo
First and foremost, I love the bike!
As a passionate mountain biker of 2 yrs. I decided to purchase this single-speed road bike to get a feel for road-biking. A friend had invited me to join him on Turf-to-Surf bike trail and I was blown away by the long stretches of bike-designated paved roads and contrasting landscapes along the way. But with my wide-tires & XC MTB geometry, riding long flats was slow & non-optimal.
Thus after reading other glowing reviews of this top-seller bike, I made the plunge to get my feet pumping on a faster, smoother-rolling bike.
This was my first single-speed/fixed gear bicycle, and flying around on this this speedy "bumblebee" was a TON of fun. With a minimal mechanical design of just one gear and no derailleurs, I was delighted by the direct drive-feel. The hybrid tires wrapped on 700C wheels made it plenty zippy to buzz around town & campus. Now on the same Turf-to-Surf trail's long straights--with a higher cadence it was possible to keep up with (or zoom past) my road bike buddies! And with the gearing, I was able to flatten most hills with ease. (although that may be due to having MTB experience, nonetheless for non-MTB'ers the single-gear is a good way to strengthen & train one's legs.

Pros: Light, sturdy design, easy to assemble, decent 700C wheels on hybrid tires flip-flop hub for those who want to switch between fixed or free-wheel.
Front and rear rim brakes.
Loud & bright color-scheme, (stickers/decals are removable btw)

Cons: No quick release wheels, or quick release seat post.
4 stars because: Front wheel arrived with one slightly bent spoke, wheel was not 100% true, and wheel retainer nuts mentioned in assembly instructions were missing.

TIPS: Adjust brakes! they do not arrive from factory all set-up. Drop-bars can be adjusted to an angle of one's preference, (for better aerodynamic or comfort posture)
I'm 5'11, and approx 170lbs, the 58cm model fit me just right. But I found that I needed to inflate the tires to at least the maximum pressure of 80psi, any less, and I could sense the bike wasn't fast-rolling to its potential.
If riding for long distances, I recommend a gel-seat cover or padded bike shorts, as the seat is very firm & stiff & can be uncomfortable after a while.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  fun bike, January 12, 2012
By fernee
Got my bike a few days ago, set it up in minutes. I noticed like a few thers on here that with the 54 bike the front wheel touches the bar on the frame. I just fliped it upside down, put a piece of wood between the wheel and the frame, tightened it and rolled the bar or wood out. The only problem I have is that I had not read up on smaller frames so I had no idea the wheel would hit the pedal on sharper turns. Im sure i'll get used to not pedaling on turns, almost fell off the first time it happened. Other than that the bike itself looks nice, and even better without the stickers in my opinion. The brakes were a little hard for me to adjust in the front but are pretty solid now. I believe the tires are about 65-80 psi. I filled mine a little over 70 and had no flats yet, and I took it over a super bumpy road just to see if it could handle it. So far its been fast fun and sturdy so no complaints here. Definitely worth the money.

UPDATE: I turned the fork around for the front wheel and NOW the brake is on the front side... the right side... haha, and I love it even more. no more pedal overlap :D

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Reasonably priced, solid ride, November 30, 2011
By jlui21 (Louisiana)
Although the bike is on the borderline of flash and glitzy, I like the bike. It rides well and for the price, I would say this is a great one speed bike. The packing, of course, is well put together. Installation wasn't difficult, but for a amateur, adjusting the brakes seemed to be the most elusive. What could have taken 10mins took me an hour (of half working hard).

Pros:
1. Price
2. Yellow tires -- crazy, but I like 'em.
3. Rides well

Cons:
Nothing that really stands out thus far -- but I will update in the future if something goes awry. Who knows, I've only ridden for a few weeks (since 11/2011) so only time will tell.

Overall, great bike. It has an interesting look and ride really well. I should mention (and it could be just me) that when I ride, I am not sure if there is Resistance somewhere, possibly where the brakes meet the rim. It feels that way, but when I just spin the wheel (mid air) it flows pretty smoothly -- spinning for a good half minute or more. So either this feeling of the "brake resistance" might be in my head OR I'm just out of shape.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Excellent fixie banger, November 27, 2011
By Jerry James
I love this bike!

Pros:
- Looks awesome (once you peel off the stickers)
- Flip-flop hub, its very easy switch between the fixed gear and the freewheel
- CHEAP road bike for commuting/exercise
- Decent clip-less pedals

Cons:
- Heavy
- Brakes are good quality, but difficult to adjust until you learn how to do it well.
- No brazed eyelets for mounting pannier rack - solution: 1/2inch rubber coated p-clamps on the seat stays.

Summary: If you are aware of the pro's and con's, its a great bike! when you pay $180 for a bicycle you shouldn't expect it to be the same as a $2500 racing bike bought from a shop, you're going to have to have some tools and time to tune this up before you ride it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great bike for the price., July 2, 2011
By darlene b.
I ride everyday and this is the bike I use. The price is great and it rides like a dream, plus I love the colors.

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3.0 out of 5 stars.  Good bike, paid $50 more than I needed to, October 25, 2011
By Edward Castano (San Francisco, CA)
I purchased the 54cm version of this bike 9 days ago, only to find Amazon listing it for $189 instead of $240, a few days later. All the reviews were based on the $189 price (for the 54cm version) and I purchased it for $50 more. I would say at the $189, the reviews are fair, it's a great bike for the price. However, at $240, I feel like the reviews are misleading. I wouldn't have purchased it had I known the reviews were based on a much lower price.

At the $240 price, it's just ok, call it 3 stars.

Let me elaborate:
The brakes aren't great and difficult to adjust. They rub again one side unless you loosen them up a bit, in which case the are less effective.
The wheels are bolt-on. I would expect something better for $240.
The frame is pretty heavy. For a road bike, it could have been made slightly thinner.

If you see the 54cm version of this bike for anything more than $190, hold off on your purchase. If you can get it at $190, you've got yourself a great bike for the price. Then you can trust the good reviews. However, for $240, the reviews are misleading and you should consider looking elsewhere.

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1.0 out of 5 stars.  poor quality, March 12, 2012
By usaldwy
we pay to match for what we got,better to get a bike with speeds and you can get them cheaper then this one.

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1.0 out of 5 stars.  54 cm frame is too small for the front tire, June 21, 2011
By loves two day shipping (San Francisco, CA USA)
I know this sounds somewhat ridiculous, but, when I assembled the 54 cm frame bike and inflated the tires, the front tire hit the downbar (the bar of the frame that is at 45 degrees to the ground) when the handles were turned.

I don't know if this was an anomaly of the particular bike I got. The front tire failed to clear the downbar by a margin of half a centimeter or less. All the same, to assemble the bike, try to figure out if I could fix the problem, disassemble the bike, and re-package it for return was a hassle with which I was displeased. I am only happy that I received a full refund.

Has anyone else had this problem with the 54 cm frame bike? I imagine it would not be a problem with the larger frame.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Very Satisfied, June 13, 2011
By gradms (Vidalia, LA)
This is the first bike I have bought as an adult. I'm 28 years old and had not ridden much since childhood. After a couple weeks, I must say that this bike provides a wonderful mode of urban transportation. I assembled the bike without any problems. All that was needed was an Allen wrench set and few other wrenches. Given my inexperience with adult sized bikes, it has taken me a while to get everything properly adjusted, but now that I'm satisfied with the seat height and handlebar placement, the bike is very comfortable. Since I'm starting over almost with regular riding, I set the bike in the fixed gear mode, after trying out the freewheel. Fixed gear is the way this bike is meant to be rode. All your power goes into the bike when fixed, and you can just slow down if rest is needed. So much more fun as a fixed gear. For urban setting, coasting is not needed anyway. Only downside with this bike is that the paint scratches quite easily. However, scratches can be masked with a black permanent marker or even better automotive touch up paint.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  What an Awesome Bike, June 13, 2011
By Billy Mills
When I purchased the bike, I was willing to pay a good bit because I needed a reliable bike for the summer. Now that I have it I couldn't be happier. I ride it nearly everyday and it is so much fun to use. Awesome design, perfect for everyday riding. Can handle less than ideal road conditions and is easy to use. Though if I had to complain about anything it was how it was delivered. The bike poked two huge holes in either side of the box and a piece of plastic (not sure what it was for but not that important of a piece) was shattered in the bottom of the box. With that aside, after I assembled it, there hasn't been much time that I'm not on it. Great Bike.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  My Boyfriend Loves It!, June 13, 2011
By Naomi
I got this for my bf for an anniversary gift. He loves it so much! It was relatively easy to put together but he had a difficult time adjusting the brakes. He goes really fast on this bike and literally leaves me and my hybrid in the dust. Perfect for commuting, going on a bike path or just running errands. Definitely recommend it. It came with a lot of stickers but they came off really easy. Everyone stops my bf and asks about this bike or comments on how awesome it is.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Solid single speed bike for commuting, May 27, 2012
By A. Whitwam (Jacksonville, FL)
I purchased this bike two weeks ago and already put ~84 miles on it. For some that might not sound like much but this is now my primary mode of transportation to and from work, being seven miles one way. While it has been an effective tool for its purpose I am not an experienced biker not really biking at all for the past ~15 years.

On the first day out the back tube blew. The next day I had the tires, tubes, and tire/tube tape replaced at the bike shop. This would be my first and highest recommendation, have your tires and tubes replaced with puncture-proof or resistant variations designed for whatever it is going to be used for; I had road tires put on the bike which are designed for 115psi compared to the ~85psi of the older tires. The tape between the wheel and the tube is also an important detail which I wouldn't have known about, also the most likely cause of the flat to begin with, and should be replaced.

While the tires and tubes aren't great for the type of riding I was doing I do highly recommend this bike if you aren't looking at dropping a ton of money into a fancy bike which may very well be overkill depending on why you are looking at buying it.

I plan to get a picture up showing the alterations, etc. to help complete this review in the near future.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  there is a problem in my bike(already solved), May 9, 2012
By PJ
Yesterday I got this bike and I assemble it correctly. I checked my bike. Find out the pedal and front wheel they interfere while turning! There's should have enough space between them. Besides the front wheel and frame should also have enough space between them. However, this almost no space in my bike. This is not the same as I saw on Amazon. What hell! I will show you in the video.
But now I will give 1 star until seller solve my problem. Contact me soon, seller!
already solved!

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Good enough, April 15, 2012
By Daniel H. (Houston, TX)
I own a an expensive bike for racing, and needed a cheap bike to ride around town. So I went to Amazon for the cheapest possible option that wouldn't fall apart like a Wal-Mart bike.

It's heavy, but I was expecting that. In fact, the bike is exactly as I expected it would be based on the reviews here and the price. There are a few flaws in the paint job (I removed the stickers), the bottom bracket has rough points in the crank rotation, etc.

Below are other things I noticed that weren't really mentioned in other reviews.

The rear hub on mine doesn't spin very freely. Not worth fixing. However, the bolts on the rear wheel were way over-tightened from the factory, and the wheel was set too far back. There should be a little slack in the chain. Make sure you check the rear wheel before riding it for the first time.

The braking surfaces on the rims aren't machined. Over time the brake pads will wear away the paint on the rim, giving it a worn look (not an issue). But the main problem with non-machined braking surfaces is that the stopping power will never be that great. Also, the brakes don't offer anything in the way of angle adjustment relative to the braking surface, so until the brake pads wear a bit, expect less than stellar braking performance. Having said all of that, I'm riding in an incredibly hilly area and I just need to brake very early.

UPDATE: Today someone came up to me and asked me if the bike was from Amazon. I thought it was funny. I have also had compliments such as "nice bike". Nobody can believe it when I tell them it's a $200 bike, even the guy at the local bike shop thought it was a good value for the money.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  thanks, April 9, 2012
By Cristian
The bike is great i made two changes the handle bars and the brakes in order to be on the safe side when speeding,and its really great and i am glad i bought and made the changes, is not that i have another bike, the same bike but with this new device is better and safer
i recommend this bike and you will enjoy it because is a different bike and simple

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Good Bike, April 2, 2012
By KStevenson02
I just recieved my bike today and so far it is a good bike for the right price. Unfortunatly when I was putting it together I found that the wedge nut for the handle bars was missing. I called the company and they had me send them a copy of my reciept and they are shipping me the part. Great customer support. Other than that the bike was easy to put together. Can't wait to get out and start riding.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Steal of a deal, March 26, 2012
By Tim N
Was looking for a cheap singlespeed road bike and decided to check out Amazon, not honestly expecting to find anything worthwhile. I was drawn in by the overwhelming positive feedback a $220 bike was receiving so I decided to go for it. Amazed at the quality, everything was great right out of the box, was riding it 20 minutes after delivery. Color scheme is great, stickers suck but they came off easy enough. If you were to go to a LBS and try to buy anything similar you'd be spending $500+ without a doubt. Only thing I will say is that this bike is pretty heavy for what it is, but I'm still giving this thing 5 stars because it was 220 shipped. Look no further

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Super Awesome Starter Fixie For The Price, March 26, 2012
By Talia Day (Wynwood, FL)
I got this bike as an V-Day gift and had been looking at it online for some time. I was worried about putting it together myself because it is my first fixed gear. Well the shipping was fast, the bike arrived well packaged and it took me maybe an hour to put it together before I was out on the street riding. After some minor tweaks...the bars kept coming loose and it was all my doing. I was in love. The only complaint I have is that the seat is superrrr uncomfortable but other than that I love it. I plan on getting a new seat soon. I get compliments on it everywhere I go! I would buy it again if I had to.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  MY NEW ROAD BIKE, March 17, 2012
By Ace Man
Been riding my new road bike to work for about 4 weeks now, i ride about 15miles a day and i love every minute of it, people at work and on the street have told me what an awesome bike it is... i did how ever take the stickers off my bike, i highly recommend this bike to any one looking for a cool looking bike that ride well and at an affordable price.. i'm very happy with my new road bike

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  p neat, March 16, 2012
By whelp
I've ridden mountain bikes my entire life without exception until I bought this. Maybe I just don't know any better but its fast, light and so much fun to ride. I love it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  nothing but the best, March 14, 2012
By NCaste45
the bike came earlier than expected by amazons estimate. assembly was simple and was riding in no time. only warning i would give is difficultly adjusting brake pads, otherwise great purchase.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  The Kabuto is Awesome, March 12, 2012
By DanO
I received this bike, put it together and had it on the road within an hour of opening the box. I purchased the 57cm frame which is working perfectly for me, as I am 6'2, 210lbs. I read some reviews stating that the bike was a tad on the heavy side, but to me its not heavy at all. I easily carry it up stairs going in and out of my building.

My only complaint so far is that the shoe clamp's on the pedals are cheap. One of them fell off on my third ride. But this is to be expected at this price point. They are easily replaceable.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Very nice, March 9, 2012
By steelers rule
I bought this bike for my son for Christmas. After reading the reviews about problems with the tires we were fully prepared to buy new tires when it arrived. But my sons has gone on several rides and has several hundred miles, maybe a thousand miles on it and the tires are fine. My sons loves the bike and it's his profile pic on Facebook.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Great Bike, Everyday Use to Work, March 6, 2012
By Robert
This bike is just great. I received it within the same week and bought the bike for $189 + purchased around $120 worth of accessories.

I went to local bike shop to purchase the accessories and watched a gentleman purchasing $4,000 bike.

After purchasing this bike, I am very satisfied with the price I paid and the quality of the bike.

Yes, it is steel frames but the minor weight really doesn't bother me.

If you want a bike to ride it on weekends or everyday to work/school, this bike will do just great.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Excellent beginner bike, February 24, 2012
By Rojas
This is an awesome beginner road bike. You won't find a better bike in this price range. The seat is a little uncomfortable and some of the mechanics are lacking in quality. The single gear side felt a little rough when spinning backwards and now the pedals are clicking on the fixed gear side. Don't expect a perfect bike for $189. Most certainly needs some tuning out of the box. Look up some YouTube videos and you'll be fine. Btw, I'm 5'8 and the 54 version is almost too tall for me but useable. The only thing that could make this bike better other than what was mentioned is if it was made in the USA.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Good!, February 21, 2012
By mony
I ride 6 miles a day on this bike its great so far no problems not to heavy and the ride is so smooth :)

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3.0 out of 5 stars.  one problem, February 13, 2012
By Yong
The bike is sturdy at the beginning. But after riding it for about 50 miles, the crank shaft start to click every time when the left pedal is close to the bottom position when I am pedaling. Both of my feet can feel it, especially the left one. It is very annoying. And I do not know whether the crank shaft will be broken soon or not.

The bike is good if this problem can be fixed. Any one knows how to solve it?

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Awesome!, February 3, 2012
By Lcarr800
I love this bike. Very light and fun to ride. I am 5foot 7inches and I purchased the taller of two options and I still love it. You may need to buy a new seat because the factory one can be uncomfortable. I took off all of the stickers, purchased a rear and back light, and added an awesome driver (me) and the bike is ready to go.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  VALUE, January 31, 2012
By M
I bought this bike on a budget for a commute to college and I could not ask for more on how it performs. Once you have adjusted the bike for you (which is quite simple) it is a very comfortable ride. The single speed is great because there is less things to go wrong. The brakes need a bit of man-handling to set up so make sure you have a set of allen keys. 15ml spanner for the wheel nuts. Great Buy!

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Pretty Awesome for the Money, January 28, 2012
By Cody
So i bought this bike and received it in two days like promised. This was my first assembly ever of a bike and it took me around 45 mins. I took the bike out as soon as i finished assembly in fixed wheel. This was my first time ever riding fixed wheel and i almost died haha but it was a great experience! I switched it to freewheel in less than 2 minutes. I have rode the bike approximately 20 miles. I have a list of Pros and Cons

Pros - Overall great bike for the money.
- Relativity easy assembly.
- Pretty fast for its weight.
- Feels sturdy.
- Looks badass.

Cons - Brakes are so so
- If you have never used pedal straps..... get used to em because i fell twice so far because of them haha.
- Weight

Overall - I would def recommend this bike to anyone!

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  a very good bike for the price, January 16, 2012
By alrey4la (Cabo San Lucas, MX)
I got this bike for my 14 years old son for Xmas and he loves it.
It is quite a good bike for the price, and after removing the stickers, it looks as cool as any. Even the brakes are quite decent.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  awesome, January 9, 2012
By Peoplestink0
I have just received the bike today, put about 5 miiles on it right after i put it together, and after a 2nd tune up to fine tune brakes and whatnot. had to buy it to replace a old 78 tour de france that i had after i got hit by a car and my bike was wrecked. Definately rides better than my old hunk of steel, not as heavy as some people said although my old bike was a few pounds lighter. Puttin it together was a peice of cake, took me like 15 minutes. Over all i say this bike is amazing, especially for its price, the only road bike i could find cheaper than this anywhere was on walmart and it was sold out and only had a larger frame that would have been too big. the brakes are smooth, although they do seem pretty cheap and might not be as good after more use, love the bright yellow tires even after the center tread gets dirty from use they look awesome. the back brakes were pretty much set up perfectly and i only had to adjust the front ones but i expected more. As of now i would reccomend this bike to anyone who wasnt looking for a multithousand dollar bike and is lookin for some easy transportation, or fun.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  Worth every buck, October 19, 2011
By Tony
This bike is worth every dollar. While most road bikes go way beyond the retail price of this particular model, this one provides the quality comparable to the best road bikes around. The bike is a great height for anyone around 5'6" to 5"10 and is excellent for everyday use. I ride it to school each and everyday. Not only is it reliable, it is also an eye-catcher. The yellow is very bright and contrasts beautifully with the black. The best features include the flip-flop hub which makes the bike a "fixie" and it's lightweight frame.

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  great bike!, October 14, 2011
By Simon
at first i was facing the same problem as one of the previous customer mentioned that the front tire hits the downbar, but after checking out the video i found it was my mistake to have the steering tube rotated the wrong way, haha, after i fix it the bike was perfectly good and i really enjoy riding it!

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5.0 out of 5 stars.  Solid and a good value, June 23, 2011
By J. Wells (USA)
I bought this bike as an everyday rider and so far it has held up well. The only part that is lacking is the brakes. They do not hold very well, but I fixed that problem with some aftermarket parts- no big deal. One thing... if you don't like being asked "where did you buy it?" and "How much did it cost?" avoid this one. I get stopped and quized everytime I go out on it. It is a nice riding and nice looking bike and a steal for the money.

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3.0 out of 5 stars.  Beat up during shipping?, April 1, 2012
By Stilbon
I love this bike, but am still waiting to be able to ride it.

I opened the box and got the bike assembled for myself (other than the back tire which was already on)

then realized the back tire was immensely wobbly and out of true, the bolts keeping the back tire on must have been put on by machines because it took a big guy some time getting them off.

I'm currently waiting on some vehicle transportation to bring me and the bike to a bike shop where it can hopefully be repaired at a low cost.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  nayce, November 8, 2011
By slowloris
This bike is pretty nayce... Its my first fixie, so Im a noob, but theres nothing wrong with it as far as I can see. The seat is a little bit uncomfortable, but after you go numb its not really a problem.

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4.0 out of 5 stars.  bike wheels to large, October 18, 2011
By Daniel wei
I just ordered this bike as my first one into the road biking world, however as I was assembling it i noticed that the front wheel was touching the frame, and as i tried to turn it would hit the front pedal. How would i fix this?

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