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Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 4:04 pm
by Wild Goose
PLEASE NOTE: This thread is now archived.
You can refer to the newer discussion thread on Bicycles Network Australia about Chappelli bikes here >


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Hi all,

Am after some advice as im in the process of researching for a new bike. Looking at a single speed for getting around, nothing too serious at this stage as my knowledge is limited and id like to work my way up to something more substantial in the future. Have looked at a few bikes online but im not always sure what i should be checking for so if youre able to give me any pointers or recommendations that would be greatly appreciated. i like the look of the bikes on the below link but not sure if these are cheap/bad quality?? hoping to spend in the vicinity of $500-700 if possible. any advice would be great, cheers

http://www.chappelli.com/products.html

Key Features:

* Deep silver, painted alloy rims
* Sealed bottom bracket
* Flip/Flop hub to convert to fixie
* Front hub 46T, Rear hub 16T
* Steel frame, 13kg total weight

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:23 pm
by Fletcher
Sorry, I grew up with Greg Chappell as the Australian cricket captain, his elder brother occupying the position before him. These guys pop into my head whenever I hear the name Chapelli. The name has forever been tainted for me. Sorry for the hijack, I just had to put that out there. Carry on folks.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 10:15 pm
by ghettro
I would guess that the Chapellis are about the same standard as the $99 industrie bikes, cheap, lowish quality mostly to catch onto the fixie fad (quite late now). Probably fine for a beater or just to get around on though.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 11:35 pm
by Mulger bill
Heavy little buggers.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:27 am
by brauluver
Drop into bike exchange www.bikeexchange.com.au

Type in you state and search.

In your price range you'd be better to with a Fuji track classic or an SE lager for value.Cro Mo frame etc....
Aluminium frame then Giant Bowery is a well priced choice.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:49 pm
by nickobec
Wild Goose wrote:Steel frame, 13kg total weight
That is more than 3kg heavier than my steel single speed (converted 1990 road bike - note cost about the same for donor bike, parts and painting excluding labour)

I have not seen a Chappelli in the flesh, but the extra 3kg and those old style single pivot brakes are a warning signs to me.

Still if the finish was good and I did not want to ride more than 5km, It might be an option.

For $200 more, ie $600 you can get a Maurice Cro-Mo, Cell Mallet or Fuji Classic Track (and front brake)

For $800 a Gaint Bowery or Felt Brougham.

Personally I like the looks of the Mallet, plus I am a steel fan.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:13 pm
by rearviewmirror
A Giant Bowery is in your price range, hell my used Bianchi Pista is too. These bikes, Chapelli and Industrie are the bottom of the barrel, don't waste your time.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:33 pm
by Wild Goose
thanks all, will continue to research.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:18 pm
by Wild Goose
thanks for the suggestions, quite like the fuji feather too. any similar suggestions would be great! have a friend that works at a bike shop so might run these options past him, just didnt want to take too much of his time up when i should be doing the research!

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:08 pm
by brauluver
oops wrong post :oops:

removed it now.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 12:23 am
by hartleymartin
It is a lot cheaper to find a suitable old road bicycle that you like and kit it out with a set of flip-flop wheels. It'll probably end up with better components too.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:26 pm
by 531db
Fairly low spec SS/FG, you could definitely do better.

Gotta love the BS connecting a young Roberto Chappelli riding a UK time trial in 1960 (which would have only been associated with the Tour de France by vitue of the time of year) to the current goods on offer.

Some will be suckered though.......

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:57 am
by munga
wow they are almost like stepping back in time. so similar to a 1960's tt bike.. :roll:

the fixed gear apocalypse is nigh!

the fixed gear apocalypse is nigh!

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:23 pm
by Tom@Chappelli
Hi,

I'm one of the two guys behind Chappelli Cycles and have been following your posts with interest. Thanks to all those who have shown an interest in what we are doing. My business partner Pablo and I launched Chappelli with a view to creating a quality online bicycle retailer in Australia, offering good looking bicycles direct to the public and passing on the savings, as our view is that bicycles in Australa are too expensive. Our first range of bicycles is a single speed bicycle that is fairly simple and as pointed out not spec'd out to the highest level as we didn't want to over spec the bike and make it too expensive for many people. We have taken care to use the best possible parts and made several revisions to our original spec including better quality pivot brakes and an closed bracket hub. Our manufacturer currently produces bicycles for a couple of well known and reputable brands in the US and Europe so the quality of the bicycles is good. I've been riding mine around Bondi and eastern suburbs to test it for about 6 months without any issues. For a special launch price $399 I think our single speeds offer great value for money.

However we can always improve and so value all the comments and input. We are currently working on our next range of single speeds and so appreciate all the feedback. We will look at different brakes, how to make it lighter and also perhaps have a better cog ratio for Sydneys notorious hills. Incidentally the 54cm bikes are 11.6kg and the 56cm are 11.8kg not 13kg, which is the boxed weight.

We are also looking at how best to expand the range but we wanted to launch with something simple which we understood to start the brand and understand the market better. Please tom@chappelli.com with any comments ideas or comments you don't want to post.

Cheers
Tom

PS. Roberto Chappelli is my business partners dad - he has been over here from the UK helping us launch the business and assembling the bicycles and he still rides a single speed bike, although not as fast as he used to. :)

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:30 pm
by brauluver
Tom@Chappelli wrote:Hi,
Incidentally the 54cm bikes are 11.6kg and the 56cm are 11.8kg not 13kg, which is the boxed weight.
Crikeys that's heavy, comparable to a SE draft(anchor).

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 3:04 pm
by Lark2004
Have to agree with Brauluver here.... 11+ kgs for a single speed is a bit on the heavy side.

My S/S is only a converted Repco Superlight, so only the main tubes of the frame are Cr-Mo, and straight guage too, not butted (although I do have a nice set of Pinny forks on it, but they are only 300g lighter than the originals), the stays are just Hi-Ten steel. The whole bike comes in at 9.5 kgs... and it's not really made with light weight parts either (the Kalloy Uno seatpost for example, is still 300mm long, about 2/3 of it is in the frame, and the Kenda Koncept tyre's are certainly not a light option).

Maybe you could reduce some weight through a different wheelset?

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 3:44 pm
by Verbs & Nouns
Image

Those red rims are going to a) look like crap once you start braking on them and b) probably not provide the best stopping ability.

Maybe google "unipack" and see what happened in London with cheap complete bikes.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 4:50 pm
by brauluver
Tom@Chappelli wrote:


We are also looking at doing a womens bike as well as multiple speed internal hub bikes to expand the range but we wanted to launch with something simple which we understood to start the brand and understand the market better.
Cheers
Tom
I know this is from the Market place, but I'm wondering if your post matter doesn't breach some of these guidelines? viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1116

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:42 pm
by Tom@Chappelli
(AT) Brauluver - Thanks - Hopefully I've removed the offending parts.

Regarding the rims - I've been riding a bike with white rims for six months and it has very minor markings on the rims left by the black brake pads. Every two weeks I give it a wipe with a wet cloth and remove the build up and they are still in pretty good condition. I've been trying to find someone to supply colored brake pads but to no avail. The photos of the bikes were taken using the sample bikes that we have been riding around on so the wear and tear on the rims from the brakes is minimal. As to brakeability - obviously the brakability is reduced slightly as the rims aren't flat and so the pads don't grip as well as on machined rims. Its something that we considered but it removes from the aesthetic of the rims and there didn't seem to be much demand for it. But happy to look at that if its a big deal. For those that will ride it as a fixed wheel it shouldn't be a problem.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:09 pm
by rustychisel
I'd have thought you ran the response past a moderator first, but...

Re: Brake pads. Colour of pads doesn't matter. It's the material and the fact they'll wear or scuff the rim anyway.

I'll disagree on one point, if you're riding fixed gear it's critical brakes work as well as possible, and to my mind that means a machined rim on the front. I say again; critical.

[brakes and fixed gear are a necessity, not a dictate of fashion. Said with the experience of 7 years riding and commuting on fixed gear bikes, always with one brake - the front].

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:39 pm
by hot
Saw one of these in the flesh the other day. No new comments other than what's been said. Really heavy. Welds looked pretty rough. Bake set up was really wierd. Like they were from the 70's, contacted about halway down the rim. The guy said the cranks or bottom bracket was all loose or stuffed after only one ride. I guess you get what you pay for, looked like a kmart bike with some nice colours. I'd be looking at something else.

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:10 pm
by LOUDERPLEASE
hot wrote:Saw one of these in the flesh the other day. Really heavy.
You can weight things by looking at them?

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:56 pm
by rustychisel
I can, can't you?

Often during summer I'll be at the beach and say to myself 'don't get many of those to the pound'. :wink: :wink:

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:59 pm
by brauluver
rustychisel wrote:I can, can't you?

Often during summer I'll be at the beach and say to myself 'don't get many of those to the pound'. :wink: :wink:
You old scoundrel you! :lol:

Re: Chappelli Single/Fixed Speed

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:10 am
by LOUDERPLEASE
We can all see a fat chick and have a stab at the poundage.....but a bike? I dunno - maybe I'm not hipsta enough to care.?

Edit: Besides - unless you're a jockey (or silly fat man from Brighton in spandex......) can you really feel the diff between a couple of kilo's either way?

If the answer is "yes" - man up.....or ride back from the bottle-o with a 6 pack to compensate.