Best Fixed Gear Bikes Under $1000 Review in 2021

You need a fixie bike in your life. Although riding fixed will make your work harder in times, but you will get stronger and fitter because of that. You are bound to every turn of your wheels, which makes it a very pure form of riding.

And if you hate looking after your bike, fixies are the perfect choice for you. With that being said, if you don’t want to build one, and if you have some cash to spare, why not go with the fixed gear bikes?

The simplicity of a fixed gear drivetrain makes them one of the most beautiful bicycles out there. Not only that, but they are also cheap to maintain. Since there aren’t a lot of parts to wear out, this makes them perfect for winter riding and commuting.

And it’s a hell of lot of fun to ride fixed gear bikes. I wasted my time finding the best fixie under 1000 so that you don’t have to, and here is a list of them.

Choosing the Best Fixed Gear Bikes Under 1000 Dollars

Fixies are by far the most simplistic bikes on the planet. Basically, nothing can go wrong on them. This makes single or fixed the most reliable bike you can get.

Whether you do pleasure riding or regular commutes, fixies are the bike to go with. When it comes to complete fixed gears, there is a huge range of prices.

You can get them pre-built for 400 dollars, and honestly, that is what you should be aiming for. If you have 1000 dollars to spare, you are better off building your own by scraping together parts.

So why in the world would someone buy a thousand-dollar bike when they can get one for under 500 dollars? Is spending more, even worth it? Let’s talk about that briefly.

TL;DR: In terms of quality to price ratio, around 400 to 500ish dollars is the sweet spot. Anything more than that, you will get better value by building one yourself. Anything less is not worth buying.

Price Range < 500$

Let’s assume you are looking to spend only 500 dollars at first. Keep the extra cash if you want to improve certain parts of the bike.

At this price, the fixed bikes are pretty reliable for doing daily commutes and big rides. However, you need to keep up with regular maintenance if you want your bike running smoothly.

An example of a good budget fixie is this one –

Pure Fix Original Fixed Gear Single Speed Fixie Bike

Granted, the parts aren’t going to be fancy, but this bike can definitely handle daily abuse. On top of that, this one has a fully Tig-welded, high-tensile steel frame. You don’t get a good frame like this on bikes that have a similar price point.

Frameset

At this price, most fixed gears will either have 4130 Chromoly framesets or a 6061-aluminum frameset, which makes the bikes considerably lighter than high tensile steel.

However, there are some exceptions. Some will feature steel frames, and those will be the ones that are worth buying. However, these won’t be the stiffest, the lightest, or the most pleasant-looking bikes on the market, but they will be able to handle whatever you throw at them.

Ride Quality

Most bikes that are under 500 will have a pretty good ride quality unless you go even below that. Just avoid the ones that are under 300 dollars.

Some of the bikes that are priced between 400 to 500 will be lively or, at the very least, feel neutral to ride. This will be a considerable upgrade compared to something like a 200-dollar fix gear that can feel sluggish and bulky.

Brand	Size	Color	Frame Material	Wheel Size
Pure Cycles Store	available	Multi	Hi-Ten Steel	50mm

Related Guide: Road Bikes under $4000

Price Range < 400$

There are some bikes that are around this price range, and those are the ones that you should go with if you just want to enjoy riding single speed bikes but don’t want to get into any serious competition.

With top-notch components and smooth riding experience in mind, one bike that has been gaining popularity rapidly is this one.

Retrospec Harper Single-Speed Fixed Gear Urban Commuter Bike

For a steel frame bike, this one is surprisingly lightweight. However, if you want to go with something even lighter and possibly with an aluminum frame bike, check this one out –

Brand	Size	Color	Frame Material	Brake Style
Retrospec	43cm, xs	Atlantic Blue	Steel	Caliper

6KU Aluminum Fixed Gear Single-Speed Fixie

There is nothing but positive reviews about this one.

Drawbacks

In order to keep the price down, companies will often skimp on components. For example, you might want to upgrade the tires, saddle, or the pedals. It will be better if you can upgrade these components outright.

And that is why I’ve told you at the beginning to keep the extra cash in hand. Who knows, you might develop some certain preference for parts and want to upgrade some components to better suit your riding style.

Brand	Size	Color	Frame Material	Brake Style
6KU	X-Small	Shadow Black	Aluminum	Caliper

Related Guide: Best BMX Bikes under $600

Price Range> 800$

At this price point, you eliminate almost all of the cons of a mid-range single speed bike. However, you are paying almost double the amount, which could have been solved by simple parts upgrade.

In the long run, the expensive models will be a better choice, especially if you plan on upgrading a complete entry-level bike. For example:

Cinelli Gazzetta Complete Fixed Gear Bike

Complete entry-level bikes will almost always be the best bang for your buck. To build a bike like this one, it will cost you way more if you want to collect each of the parts and assemble them on your own.

Bikes that are priced more than 800 will be plenty reliable and very enjoyable to ride. As for the components, most of them will have sealed bearings on just about everything that includes the bottom bracket, the hubs, and the headset.

This means the bikes will run smoothly without you having to maintain them. You are paying a premium for a better design. More thoughts are put into the tubing choices to balance stiffness, weight, aerodynamics, and durability to get the desired ride quality and performance.

These bikes will be lighter and tend to be more reliable, and they will be more fun to ride. At least for me, a bike at this price leaves very little to be desired.

PROS

CONS

Brand	Size	Color	Frame Material	Brake Style
Cinelli	Medium	Blue	Steel	Caliper

Building a Bike Vs. Complete Bikes

However, to truly get the high-quality fixed gear bikes under 1000 dollars, it’s always recommended that you build one by yourself. Talk with the pros and see what components they are using.

You can even build up your own bike exactly the way you want it instead of getting a complete bike. Even with a lot of complete bikes at this price, there is more customizability in terms of handlebar type, stem length, and crank length to really dial in your fits.

Let’s not forget about tire options. By building one, you can get your ideal mix of speed, comfort, durability, and flat protection. It’s easier to get excited when you build one and ride it for the first time because you know that it has a ride quality that you enjoy pedaling.

Fixed Gear Bike Brands

If you are willing to spend a thousand bucks on a bike, you should rely on these brands below to make your purchase worthwhile.

These are just some of the most popular and also the most reliable bike companies out there that have a history of designing great bikes. Their bikes also tend to have finer craftsmanship and details.

For example, the All-City bikes are the intersection between practicality, performance, and craftsmanship. Dolans are purely track machines. Wabi bikes have custom-built levels of ride quality wrapped up in a really simple package.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to build your own bike or buy one?

It will always be cheaper to buy one instead of building one because you don’t have to pay shipping, taxes, and paying someone else to build the bike.

Is it better to buy a bike or build one?

Obviously, it will be better to build one instead of buying one.

Is it hard to build a bike?

Compared to other types of bikes, fixies are relatively simpler to build by yourself. However, you do need previous experience.

How much should I pay for a bike?

It depends on who you are. Let me answer this question with another question. How frequently do your ride? If I were you, I would stick around at 400 to 500 range.

Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that paying more for a bike means you will get a nicer ride quality and better components. However, at a certain price point, you will need to start thinking about building your own bike.

In short, there is no bike that can be deemed as the top-rated fixed gear bike under $1000. You need to get the one that will suit you the most.