Masi Speciale CX

Price Paid:  $1095.00 at Ozone Bike Dept.

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Wherever I need to be

Bike Setup:
Stock + Brooks Saddle + Expedition Rack w/Panniers, MKS Touring Pedals(for my big feets)

Summary:
My bike is a 2009!(the website didn't have that as an option...). GREAT BIKE! Everything I wanted and needed in a commuting bike. I ride it up to 32 miles a day. It stays comfortable and sure-footed when I take it through "short cuts".

Strengths:
Quality steel frame, fork has tons of rake to smooth the ride!, braze-ons for racks and fenders, good components. The geometry is just right for me, which is rare.(i'm a knuckle dragger)

Weaknesses:
I wish the fork had more tire clearance. There is plenty in the rear, whats up with that Masi?

Similar Products Used:
I rode a few other steel bikes with drops the shop had, and this won hands down.

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Freewheel bikes SF

Favorite Ride:
from the beach to the pueblo

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
First of all I have to say I've got very limited experience riding road type bikes. The majority of my riding experience has been either off road or on dirt roads with mountain bikes. I recently decided it was time to let go of the car, it had been a while since I biked anywhere but Burning Man. I did a ton of research and ended up very happy with my purchase. Mine is the 2009 root beer flavored beautiful metal flake brown. I wanted the most versatile and fun bike I could get for less than $1200 and I think I found it. I rode the Cross-Check, the Bianchi Volpe and the Masi Speciale CX. It was a very close call and the Masi won out for a few reasons, slightly better components, absolutely beautiful and it just fit me the best of the three. I'm totally happy with this bike and it's obvious that I'll be riding it for years to come. The majority of the riding I do is in San Francisco, either commuting to work or running errands. The versatility of this bike opens me up to the possibility of touring, going off road (it is a cross bike after all) and setting it up in any one of a hundred different ways just for fun. One way or the other I know this bike will still be rolling straight and true when most aluminum and carbon frames have been retired due to damage. There is the trade off of a few pounds more to pedal, but I'm not racing to work. So far I have only had problems with the saddle, the one part of the bike that doesn't seem to fit me, I'll be replacing it ASAP. Eventually I'd love to upgrade components, maybe I'll go crazy and jump into a campy set up. All I can say for now is that this bike is truly a beauty.

Strengths:
Wonderful steel frame and crown fork with a lifetime guarantee, lugs for fenders and racks, wide range of versatility, good components in this price range.

Weaknesses:
The saddle, but it could just be how it fits me. Realistically at this price point there isn't anything to complain about.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $900.00 at Bike Alley, Worceste

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Stock.

Summary:
So the bike is a 2008 but I didn't get that option... I wanted one bike for all my pursuits: centuries, loaded touring, rail trails and some modest fire trails. The Speciale CX has the braze-ons for front and rear racks when necessary, nice steel ride and decent components. By swapping tires I get my kicks in all kinds of weather and a number of different road/trail conditions.

Strengths:
Adaptability to different terrain, braze-ons, comfortable ride.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at Ski Market

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Boxford to Andover

Bike Setup:
Stock, added fendors, Axiom rack, Banjo brothers saddlebags, and some steady reelights which are pretty cool.

Summary:
Ok. I had a job about 35 miles from house which was a bit too far to commute, but when I landed a new job only 15 miles away I put the purchase of a commuting bike at the top of my list since the Specialized Stumpjumper (I love) that I had for years wouldn't cut it.

I wanted a bike I could commute to work with but also something I could put some panniers in the back and go on a 2 week ride. I have to say that I am a Mountain biker and prefer to be thought of as such when I ride on the roads. When in college though, I took some time off and biked in Scotland for several months on a steel no-name Italian bike that my friend David Herlihy lent to me. So when I looked at bikes I wanted a bike that could live up to the durability and strength of that old italian bike that was so reliable. I found it in the Masi Speciale CX which was exactly the bike I was looking for. Everything works smoothly. I can put 25 pounds of crap on the back and still get thing up to 25mph easy... It is a cyclocross bike but has all the dropouts for touring and fits my frame, which is a bit little bit long in the torso and short in the legs, perfectly. The paint the quality of the welds, the components, so far after about 200 miles works flawlessly. Of course, I wanted a steel frame, something solid and an all around "cool" bike that I could live with for a long time. I have to say that I have found it in the Speciale CX and although made in Tawain, for all those purists out there, I have to say it brings me back to riding that Italian, steel bike in 1981 in the north of scotland! Of course, sometimes the guys with the carbon frames do come by me, for now, until I get in shape, but they always check out this bike. I am not a salesman for the bike company if the bike sucked I would tell you. We'll see what happens in the next few months and how the parts hold up, but for now its the start of a love affair!

Strengths:
Quality frame, good components that work, best value for the price. Nice speedmax tires that work on any kind of terrain. Wheels have stayed true so far even off some 1 foot drops off of curbs and such...
value, value, value!

Weaknesses:
Only one set of brazeons for both fendors and rack on rear. Don't really understand that since the front has 2, Would be nice to have 2 in rear but have but on the fendors and rack on the same ones and works good.

Similar Products Used:
Mountain bikes, looked at Surly LHT, Jamis Aurora, fuji.. (the masi blows them away)