Stripped down to the basics of bike design, a fixie bike leaves you in total control but has no room for laziness.
Light enough to hoist over one shoulder and nearly alive when you try to coast, fixies aren’t just for the quirky hipster. Read on for our 6KU fixie bikes review.
Quick Comparison: 6KU Fixie Reviews
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1. 6KU Fixed Gear/Single Speed Urban Road Bike |
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2. 6KU Fixed Gear/Single-Speed Urban Track Bike |
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Who Should Buy It?
If you’re expecting a list including the word fad somewhere, you won’t find it here.
The truth is fixies have been saddled with an unfairly bad rap for a long time. This is mostly due to bike snobs loudly denouncing fixies as fads and fixie lovers as posers.
Fun fact: most bike messengers and cycle couriers do their rounds on fixies. A fixie is extremely lightweight, which is a huge bonus to exhausted messengers.
They can also channel their inner Joseph Gordon Levitt and simply cycle backward.
That said, there are two groups of people who should steer clear of fixies:
- People with knee issues
- Out-of-shape people
Why Buy a Fixie Bike?
If you’re wondering why fixie bikes are still going strong, here are a few things that tip the scales in their favor every day.
The Ultimate Workout on the Go
Riding a fixie forces you to keep up with high pedal revolutions.
You develop and hone the ability to adjust your own power at the drop of a hat. You also gain better aerobic efficiency while your resting heart rate decreases.
Fixies keep you working nonstop, from your legs to your upper body. Cycling uphill is all you, because a fixie has no bailout gear to help you out.
You build on your techniques quickly, especially those related to pushing and pulling with your legs. This means you’ll be consciously alternating muscle groups.
Going downhill requires just as much focus and control, this time the counter-force exerted by your legs.
The bottom line? Riding a fixie is the equivalent of a hard workout at the gym and will make you stronger and fitter in the end.
A Mental Workout as Well
Riding a fixie means thinking ahead and staying alert. This is especially true for the city.
Affordable
Because fixies are stripped down to the bare essentials, they’re incredibly cheaper than geared counterparts in the same range.
Low Maintenance
Fixies are so low-maintenance they could be considered zero-maintenance. With no gear cables, derailleurs, or hanger, a fixie is a dream of a simple bike.
Safe from Thieves
Fixies are insanely cheaper than their geared counterparts. This means it’s much safer for you to chain up your fixie to a light post and meet a friend for a smoothie without worrying about sticky fingers
Simple
Before freehubs were invented, fixies were the only game in town. Riding a fixie now is as simple as it was back then. There are no gears to worry about and shift between. You simply get on your bike and go. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
6KU Fixie Bikes Review
Take a look at our reviews of two of 6KU’s most popular bikes.
1. 6KU Fixed Gear Single Speed Urban Road Bike
Description
This solid road bike is a fixie with a stylish makeover and relaxed geometry. It comes with a flip-flop hub so you can switch from fixed-gear to freewheel riding depending on your mood.
It’s equipped with a raiser, wide handlebar for easy handling, allowing you to keep a casual, relaxed position. This makes it an excellent option for competition biking or simply an invigorating ride up and down that hilly road.
It has reliable pre-assembled brakes, good frame welds, and decent tires. It’s also quite easy to put together even if you’ve never assembled a bike before. This is one generously sized bike, so you might want to order one size down.
Features and Specifications
- Steel frame and fork
- Fixed/freewheel flip-flop hub
- Gear ratio 46/16
- Raised handlebar
- High-quality aluminum components
- Front and rear caliper brakes
- Smooth TIG-welds and classic tubing
- Tool kit included
- Weight: 24 lb
- Warranty: 1 year
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Smooth ride
- Low maintenance
- Free maintenance and service tools
- Wide selection of colors
- Lockscrews in track ends
- Easy to assemble
- Affordable
Cons
- Some customers are not satisfied with the overall quality of the bike
- Plastic pedals
Video: 6KU Fixie Review
2. 6KU Fixed Gear/Single-Speed Urban Track Bike
6KU Urban Track Bike Review
This solid track bike is equipped with a flip-flop hub so you can switch from fixed-gear to freewheel riding easily and quickly. Because 6KU designs and makes their own bikes, they control the quality.
It comes with riser bars rather than drop bars. This ensures optimal stability and comfort as you navigate the city for work or pleasure. The neck’s short length and angle give it that coveted aggressive feel.
This 6KU looks extremely high-quality thanks to its assembly and uniform matte finish. We like 6KU’s guide marks to show you the proper alignment, making assembly a breeze.
Features and Specifications
- Full aluminum frame and fork
- 30mm deep-V double-walled alloy wheels
- Comes with front and rear brake
- Replaceable stainless-steel dropouts
- Novatec flip-flop hub
- Gear ratio 46/16
- Raised handlebar
- Front and rear caliper brakes
- Tool kit included
- Weight: 21 lb
- Warranty: 1 year
Pros
- Lightweight
- Low maintenance
- Affordable
- Smooth welds
- Free assembly tools
- Comes with manual on basic construction and maintenance
- Well-calibrated brakes out of the box
Cons
- Large, cheap pedals
- Shaky wheel reflectors
Video: 6KU Urban Track – How To Build
Difference Between Road Bike and Track Bike
Road bikes and track bikes may look similar chained up to a post, but there are several significant differences between them.
Use
Track bikes are typically used in endurance-based events.
Priorities
Track bike riders want stiffness and maximum speed, with all full-power transfer through the pedals. On the other hand, road bike riders favor stability and comfort on their commutes through the city.
Gears
Track bike gears tend to be lower than those on a road bike. The goal here is a higher cadence, especially for long-distance events.
Geometry
Track bikes usually have a shorter reach, a shallower fork rake, and a shorter top tube compared to road bikes. Track bikes have a higher bottom bracket to better handle velodrome corners.
This ensures a comfier, less aggressive riding position, which is especially important in longer and tougher endurance-based events.
Tube Thickness
Track bike tubes are thicker for aerodynamics and the stiffness
Brakes
Track bikes have no brakes. You don’t need to brake out on the track where everyone’s hurtling in the same direction.
Road bikes are legally forced, in some places, to have brakes.
Wheels
Track bike wheels are heavier and thicker than road bikes, especially with some cyclists on the bigger side.
Tires
Since track bikes move on the smooth surface of a velodrome, their tires are incredibly smooth. This makes them unsuitable for the road. They can tear or even explode if used around the city.
Road bike tires are far more durable in order to handle the unforgiving streets.
Fixed Gear and Single Speed, What’s the Difference?
People tend to use both terms interchangeably, but single-speed is a broader term that includes both types. This means that all fixed-gear bikes are technically also single-speed bikes but not vice versa.
That said, a fixed-gear bike, also known as a fixie, typically means a bike with one fixed gear. As long as the wheel is turning, the pedals will move. This means you can’t cruise or coast unless the fixie is equipped with a flip-flop hub.
A single-speed bike typically refers to a bike with only one freewheeling wheel. This kind of bike can move because of its momentum without the pedals moving, letting you coast if you want.
What is a Flip-Flop Hub?
A flip-flop hub comes with both a freewheel and a fixed-gear cog. This allows you to switch from fixie riding to freewheeling, depending on your needs. If you want to ease into cycling, shift from fixed gear to freewheel. On the other hand, if you’re going to pedal backward, simply flip back to fixed gear.
FAQs
We’ve compiled a few frequently asked questions about 6KU fixie bikes. Read on for the answers.
Is 6KU a good brand?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer? A more detailed yes. Unlike most bikes on the market, 6KU bikes are manufactured in the US. They own their materials, and therefore, can quality-control their products. This is why it’s no wonder that 6KU bikes are some of the most popular beginner bikes on the market.
An excellent buy for the money, 6KU bikes come with many colors similar to competitors at roughly half the price. They have the aesthetics and options for customization and upgrading that appeal to beginners.
6KU has also managed to make affordable bikes without scrimping on safety. They’ve done that by using the highest quality materials to make the bigger components of the bike. The remaining bike parts are made of inexpensive materials.
The neat thing about this is that if you decide to upgrade or customize, you can do so without feeling bad about expensive components.
What is an urban track bike?
Urban track bikes are basically tracked bikes gone glamping, but make no mistake: An urban track bike has to be track-worthy, even if it’s never seen a track in its lifetime.
Are fixies dangerous?
If you’re a beginner trying out a fixie on busy city streets, you might be in danger of not being able to stop if you suddenly have to. In addition to that, there are three dangers that come with fixie bikes.
1. Pedal Strike
Because you can’t coast on a fixie, you may instinctively push too hard on your pedals when you’re taking corners. This can lead to a pedal strike. If this happens, the pedal can force your rear wheel off the road, and you could fall.
You can avoid this by leaning your upper body to the inside of the turn. This will compromise the steering of your bike but will keep you safe from a pedal strike.
2. Derailment
If a chain is derailed off the chain wheel, it can tangle, hang, or sprocket around the rear sprocket. This can, in turn, make the wheel lock up and cause you to crash.
You can avoid this by adequately tightening your chain and checking that your chain line is straight.
3. Catching Fingers or Clothing
Avoid hand-pedaling your fixie. If your finger or an article of clothing gets tangled with the sprocket or the chain, the wheel momentum can cost you that finger.
Are fixies bad for your knees?
Fixies are only a danger to people who are out of shape or who already have knee issues.
If your regular commute is uphill, you’ll end up pedaling up and down inclines quite a lot. Since you can’t coast on a fixie, this will put additional strain on your knees. A fixie with a flip-flop hub can be the answer to this.
Are fixies faster?
The bike you ride the most is the bike you’ll find is the fastest.
Your fixie’s speed depends, for the most part, on your ability to pedal. Granted, fixies are far lighter than their geared counterparts, which can indirectly contribute to their higher speed. That said, fixies can’t zoom around corners like geared bikes.
This means that if both cyclists are at similar skill levels, the geared bike will come in slightly faster.
Review Summary and Best Offer
Basically, a spin class on the go, fixie bikes are growing in popularity, and their lovers rarely go back to freewheelers. They’re lightweight, affordable, and extremely low-maintenance.
Our top pick, the 6KU Urban Track Bike, stands head and handlebars above the rest. It’s the best offer, hands down.
This solid track bike is made of aluminum and is light enough to be carried up and down on your way out. Thanks to its flip-flop hub, you can switch from fixed-gear riding to coasting whenever you feel like it.
Best Offer
The riser bars ensure optimal stability and comfort, while the neck’s short length and angle give it that coveted aggressive track feel.
The front and rear brakes are well-calibrated out of the box to stem any legal worries.
The Alternative
If our two 6KU models doesn’t exactly float your boat, the Pure Fix Original Fixed-Gear Single-Speed Fixie Bike from Pure Cycles can be a worthy alternative. Lightweight and stylish, it’s a great bike that can handle the city streets and can take you for a relaxed ride around the block.
Pure Fix Original Fixie Bike
The fully Tig-welded high-tensile steel frame and fork bring a higher price but longer-lasting durability. The front alloy dual-pivot brakes let you stop quickly if you need to.
It comes with a flip-flop rear hub for a quick and hassle-free switch from fixed riding to freewheeling and vice versa. Taking corners like a dream with components that cut no corners, this bike is hands down the best alternative.
