Comments on: Fixed Gear Friday: KHS Flite 100 Review

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 08 May 2011 12:38:34 +0000

How does the flite 100 handle corenerign clearance?

How aggressive can you corner on streets without impacting the pedals?

As this bike is predominatly track (hence emphasised track geometry) – does it have a low BB or does it have a high enough clearance?

And, what is the chain adjustment like on these bikes?

Cameron

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 08 May 2011 12:03:27 +0000

I am about to buy one of these babies – 2008 model with Campagnolo veloce brake calipers, Tekro levers and 175 mm FSA cranks fitted.

I am 6’2 and the frame is 60cm size. This sized frame should be OK, correct?

Cameron

By: Tyler Lentien

Tyler Lentien — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:42:05 +0000

QUESTION: I want this bike, but a fixie means i cant pedal backwards right?? so how can i make this into a single, just change the rear cog??

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:06:07 +0000

Prophet,

hubs (such as the ones on this bike) can still qualify as “sealed” but be cup-and-cone. Most traditional cup-and-cone hubs have some type of rubber or labryrinth seal to keep gunk and water out. I think the real distinction is if they are “sealed cartridge” rather than merely “sealed”…funny how bike companies play with those terms to potentially mislead a customer.

By: Prophet

Prophet — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:41:46 +0000

Thanks for posting the review Moe.
I Just picked up a 09 60cm in mint green (Australia). A couple of things to add to the specs:
The hubs are NOT sealed. I had a look at the cup seals in the shop and thought they were. I asked my salesman and he turned the wheel on the floor stock bike and said – “yeah they’re sealed”, I can only guess they must have beded on that bike already. I appreciate what Ghost Rider has to say about sealed vs cup and I’ve always enjoyed maintaining my bike, however it would seem that in basic quality – sealed sets a high benchmark in smoothness. I just thought I was getting sealed.
Also the chain ring that came with the Driveline (not Vero) cranks is BCD 130 popularly used by Shimano. The bottom bracket is English thread. For those of you who may consider replacing the cranks with something really nice like a Campagnolo track crank
There’s a lot of decals on this bike, if you’re thinking of stripping it back then you’re facing a challenge, from what I could ascertain they’ve been lacquered over.
It’s certainly good value, I was attracted to the Reynolds 520 tubing with traditional forks. The down tube is oval, the top tube is oversized/tappered, so the main frame is not so traditional, I can only assume these features are to compensate for the fact that it’s welded instead of using crowning to join the tubes.
Hope that fills in the blanks for any fastidious researchers

By: it

it — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:51:39 +0000

I have had this bike for over a year and have not replaced any thing on it (except for tires and the seat).I was commuting 9 miles a day in NYC. First off riding a fixed gear is great you have to learn how to ride it safely,But as long as you don’t ride like an insane messenger its safe enough. When I bought this bike I didn’t really know the difference between track and road frames,but I do now.To be honest once you get used to the tight frame and the fixed thing you have just as much control as any other bike.I’m planing on doing NYC century on it just to show that track fixed gear can be done at any distance . The new flight 100 ’09 does not come with brakes which sucks,because while there is no problem in ridding a track bike on the road,riding with out a brake sucks. Especially when you been pedaling 9 miles and you want to stop.But this 08 is a great bike highly recommended to anyone

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:20:55 +0000

Why in the world would anyone want to commute on a bike with track geometry? It would be the most uncomfortable bike you could possibly ride. And I’ll give KHS a $100 for every messenger they can prove uses this bike.

It’s a track bike pure and simple. If you want a commuter or messenger bike look at the KHS Urban Uno.

It’s silly to pretend track bikes make good commuters or are good for bike messengers. A bike messenger needs to see and stock very quickly. The racer style geometry is not designder for a large field of view and track bikes are not designed for using brakes.

Come on peeps, using your head is not a crime. it is a very cool track bike, period.

By: brent kirk

brent kirk — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:07:01 +0000

I bought this as a sweet deal.I thought I was getting a single speed but it end up being fixed gear 48×16 gear ratio.I had to relearn how to ride a bike for a couple days,But once I got the hang of it,I decided not to change it to single speed.If you live in NY city the tires do suck.Just keep your air pressure up and its golden And I changed to a 48×18 ratio and It is perfect for fast take offs and climbing hills.Great Bike!!!

By: fish

fish — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:57:48 +0000

I love this bike. I live in LA and ride 12.8 miles round trip from Hollywood to Culver City every day and I’ve never been in better shape. I bought my 57 cm Flite 100 about three months ago and It’s my first fixed gear. I love everything about it; it’s fast, it’s pretty and it’s very solid and well put together. It feels like an extension of my own body. I’ll never go back to gears!!

By: Ringer

Ringer — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:06:25 +0000

I ride a singlespeed on moderate hills in NH, and I love it. Sure, there are some hills I have to stand up on, but you get used to it. And people think you’re cool. I have an SE Lager, and I find that the gear ratio (not sure what it is off the top of my head) works pretty well on various terrain–except really steep hills, of course.