Updated October 22, 2024
Single-speed or fixed-gear bikes have the simplest most basic design that harkens back to another era. Attractive for ease of maintenance with fewer moving parts, they can provide excellent basic transportation and exercise without the necessity of changing gears. In fact, many love that aspect for recreation and others enjoy the competitions organized for such designs.
If you are looking for a vehicle to get you from A to B or even a high-caliber racing model, the quantity of single-speed bikes on the market today is large enough to make the right selection to suit your needs a bit daunting. To help with that, some of the top fixed-gear bikes are reviewed below as an introduction, starting with a comparison table, descriptions, key features, photos, and videos, and finishing with a simple buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more information on bikes, please check these reviews:
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Best Single Speed Bike Reviews
- Takara Sugiyama Flatbar Single Speed Bike
- Schwinn Kedzie Single Speed Bike
- Kilo TT Mercier Reynolds 520 Steel Single Speed Bike
- Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Single Speed Bike
- State Bicycle Co. Black Label 6061 Aluminum Single Speed Bike
- Schwinn Stites Adult Commuter Single Speed Bike
- 6KU Aluminum Single Speed Urban Track Bike
- Pure Fix Original Single Speed Bike
Best Single Speed Bike Comparison Table
| Photo | Bike | Best For | Frame | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Takara Sugiyama Flatbar Single Speed Bike | Commuting, City Biking, Road | Steel | 4.5 | $ |
  | Schwinn Kedzie Single Speed Bike | Commuting, City Biking | Steel | 4.3 | $ |
  | Kilo TT Mercier Reynolds 520 Steel Single Speed Bike | Track | Steel | 4.6 | $$ |
  | Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Single Speed Bike | Track, Road, Training | Aluminum | 4.9 | $$$$ |
  | State Bicycle Co. Black Label 6061 Aluminum Single Speed Bike | Crit Racing, Track, City Biking | Aluminum | 4.9 | $$$ |
  | Schwinn Stites Adult Commuter Single Speed Bike | Commuting, City Biking | Steel | 4.4 | $ |
  | 6KU Aluminum Single Speed Urban Track Bike | Track, City Biking | Aluminum | 4.8 | $ |
  | Pure Fix Original Single Speed Bike | Commuting, City Biking | Steel | 4.6 | $$ |
| Photo | Bike | Best For | Gear Set | Rating | Price |
Takara Sugiyama Flatbar Single Speed Bike
The Takara Sugiyama has a simple design with a sturdy handcrafted tig-welded steel frame and fork with a flip-flop hub that allows a choice of fixed gear or freewheeling single-speed modes.
The 700C x 32 tires run well on less-than-perfect roads and are great for city biking and commuting.
It comes in 2 sizes suitable for riders from approximated 5’7” to 6’1” and 3 eye-catching color combinations with quick-stopping front and rear linear-pull brakes and flatbar-style handlebars.
Pricing is low.
- Best For: commuting, city biking, road use
- Weight: 35.783 pounds
- Frame/Fork: tig-welded steel
- Tires: 700C, Kenda brand tires
- Wheels: 32-hole alloy
- Flip Flop Hub: for fixed gear or freewheel single-speed modes
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull hand-brakes
- Handlebars: flatbar-style
- Available in 2 Sizes: 58cm-L, 54cm-M
- Colors: black/blue, orange/yellow, blue/grey
- Rating: 4.5
- Price: $
Schwinn Kedzie Single Speed Bike
The Schwinn Kedzie Single Speed Bike is a modern minimalist-style adult bike from the famous Chicago bicycle maker.
Low-maintenance and constructed from durable Schwinn steel, it has a 700C 32-hole alloy tire and wheel set-up and 48T x 18T single-speed flip-flop hub for your choice of fixie or freewheel riding around the city or commuting.
Equipped with a comfortable urban seat and grips and effective caliper brakes, it is designed to suit the size of most adult men.
Available in colorful blue or matte red, pricing is low.
- Best For: commuting, city biking
- Weight: 31 pounds
- Frame/Fork: steel
- Tires: 700C
- Wheels: 32-hole alloy
- Flip Flop Hub: 48T x 18T single-speed for fixed gear or freewheel modes
- Brakes: alloy front and rear caliper
- Comfortable Schwinn urban seat and grips
- Available in 1 Size
- Colors: blue, matte red
- Rating: 4.3
- Price: $
Kilo TT Mercier Reynolds 520 Steel Single Speed Bike
The Kilo TT Mercier Reynolds 520 Steel Single Speed Bike is a durable fixie with a classic style set up for track use.
The durable Reynolds steel is a bit heavy but the design includes double-walled alloy rims and high-flange hubs with a sealed ball-bearing axle.
It has a flip-flop hub for fixie or freewheeling options, however, no single-speed freewheel is included so you will need to provide your own if desired.
In addition, for road use, you will probably want to install front and rear brakes.
The manufacturer makes it in a range of sizes at a fairly reasonable price.
- Best For: track
- Frame/Fork: Reynolds 520 Cromoly steel, custom flat crown track fork
- Wheels: double-walled alloy rims
- Flip Flop Hub: 16t 1/2 x 3/32 single-speed cog, no single-speed freewheel provided
- High Flange Hubs with Sealed Ball Bearing Axle
- Brakes: for street use, it is recommended to install brakes, drilled for front and rear
- Handlebars: drop
- Available in Several Sizes in Limited Quantities
- Color: black
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$
Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Single Speed Bike
The Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Single Speed Bike is a race-ready high-quality track and road bike.
Constructed with a lightweight aluminum frame and carbon/aluminum fork, it too has a flip-flop hub for fixed or freewheeling.
The performance design has a small rake, vertical angles, and extra-long dropouts for the best chain tension.
You’ll need to add your own preferred pedals and it is recommended to get a professional to help you with assembly and tuning.
Pricing is high, as you might expect for this level of quality.
- Best For: track, road, training
- Weight: 27.42 pounds
- Frame/Fork: Columbus aluminum alloy frame, carbon fiber/aluminum alloy fork
- Tires: 700 x 25c
- Flip Flop Hub: 17T – fixed, 18T – single-speed
- Brakes: standard front and rear road caliper
- Handlebars: drop
- Pedals: not included
- Available in 4 Sizes: 47cm-XS, 50cm-S, 53cm-M, 56cm-L
- Color: touch of gray
- Rating: 4.9
- Price: $$$$
State Bicycle Co. Black Label 6061 Aluminum Single Speed Bike
The State Bicycle Co. Black Label 6061 Aluminum Single Speed Bike is ultra-light and designed to be great on the corners, perfect for crit racing, and maneuvering tight city turns.
It has a robust 6061 aluminum frame and carbon fiber fork with drop handlebars and pedals with toe-cages, and comes in 6 sizes to fit riders from 4’10” to 6’6”.
Great for experienced fixie racers and beginners alike, the flip-flop hub allows for fixed-gear or single-speed (freewheel not included).
Currently available in matte red, the pricing is not cheap but it comes with a 1-year warranty.
- Best For: crit racing, track, city biking
- Weight: 19 pounds
- Frame/Fork: double-butted tig-welded 6061 aluminum frame, carbon fiber fork
- Wheels: 43mm deep-v style, mid-profile
- Flip Flop Hub: sealed low-flange hub, fixed gear, or single-speed (requires the addition of freewheel)
- Brakes: standard front and rear road caliper
- Handlebars: drop
- Pedals: alloy with toe-cages
- Available in 6 Sizes: 49cm, 52cm, 55cm, 57cm, 59cm, and 62cm
- Color: matte red
- Warranty: 1-year manufacturer’s
- Rating: 4.9
- Price: $$$
View More From State Bicycle Co.
Schwinn Stites Adult Commuter Single Speed Bike
The Schwinn Stites Adult Commuter Single Speed Bike is another rugged, low-maintenance bike great for getting around town.
A little bit heavier than the Schwinn Kedzie reviewed above, it has a sturdy steel frame, high-profile alloy rims, 700C tires, caliper brakes, and a flip-flop hub for freewheel and fixed gear modes.
It comes in 55cm and 58cm frame sizes in matte black or white.
The pricing is affordable and is backed up by a limited lifetime warranty.
- Best For: commuting, city biking
- Weight: 35.27 pounds
- Frame/Fork: steel
- Tires: 700C
- Wheels: high-profile alloy rims
- Flip Flop Hub: 48T x 18T single-speed for fixed gear or freewheel modes
- Brakes: alloy front and rear caliper
- Comfortable Schwinn urban seat and grips
- Available in 2 Sizes: 55cm and 58cm
- Colors: white, matte black
- Warranty: limited lifetime
- Rating: 4.4
- Price: $
6KU Aluminum Single Speed Urban Track Bike
The 6KU Aluminum Single Speed Bike is ultra-lightweight with a sturdily welded high-quality aluminum alloy frame and fork that will work well around the city and as a track bike.
Like the other models here it has a flip-flop hub for use as a fixie or freewheeling one-speed bike.
It is easy to maintain and comes in a wide range of frame sizes for riders from 4’10” to 6’6” in 4 colors and combinations.
Pricing is reasonable and it comes with a 30-day hassle-free return policy.
- Best For: track, city
- Weight: 19 pounds (shipping)
- Frame/Fork: double-butted aluminum alloy with smooth welds
- Wheels: 30mm deep-v double-walled alloy rims
- Flip Flop Hub: 32H F/R hub for fixed gear or freewheel modes
- Brakes: easily removable front and rear
- Available in 6 Sizes: 47cm, 49cm, 52cm, 55cm, 58cm, 61cm
- Colors: shadow black, crisp white, tennis ball yellow, satin navy blue/black
- Warranty: 30-day hassle-free return policy
- Rating: 4.8
- Price: $
Pure Fix Original Single Speed Bike
The Pure Fix Original Single Speed Bike has a high-quality steel frame and fork comfortable for urban use and commuting.
Reasonably lightweight for a steel-framed bike, it has sturdy deep-dish wheels and 28C WTB thickslick tires for excellent control and contact.
Name brand components include Wellgo pedals and a KMC chain on this model that comes in a range of sizes suitable for riders from 4’11” to 6’6”.
Like all the models reviewed here, it has a flip-flop hub for your choice of fixed or freewheeling. Pricing is fairly reasonable and the warranty is generous.
- Best For: commuting, city biking
- Weight: 22-25 pounds (depending on size)
- Frame/Fork: tig-welded high tensile steel
- Wheels: 40mm deep-dish
- Tires: 700 x 28C thickslick
- Flip Flop Hub: 15T fixed, 16T single-speed
- Brakes: front alloy dual-pivot, optional rear brake
- Available in 7 Sizes: 43cm, 47cm, 50cm, 54cm, 58cm, 61cm, 64cm
- Colors: a large variety
- Warranty: lifetime warranty on the frame, 1-year warranty on components
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$
Single Speed Bike Buying Guide
Single-speed bikes use the classical gear system that can be found in a range of styles that includes bicycles for children, BMX, cruising, track racing, commuting, cyclocross, road, mountain biking, and more.
Single Speed Versus Fixed Gear
A single-speed bike runs on one gear ratio without any gearing components like hubs, shifters, or derailleur to enable changing to another gear ratio.
When the term “single-speed” is used, the gear will have a freewheel mechanism that allows the rider to pedal or not pedal to propel the bike or coast.
A “fixed-gear” bike (or fixie) has a gear that is firmly attached to the hub such that when the wheels move, the gear and pedals will also move in the same direction, either forward or backward. If the bike is moving, the pedals are moving.
Flip-Flop Hub
Some bikes are set up so that you can run them as single-speed or fixed gear. This involves the use of a hub that has a drivetrain on each side. All that is necessary to switch from one style to the other is to flip the wheel over and engage the gear you want to use, either the fixed one or the freewheeling one.
Frame Materials
Frames and forks for top models are made of steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber. Steel is the classic material used and is durable but the heaviest of the three. Aluminum is much more lightweight than steel but more rigid which is not as forgiving for the comfort of the rider. Carbon fiber is also very lightweight and exceptionally durable, as well, and does a better job of absorbing vibration than aluminum. The big disadvantage of carbon fiber is increased expense.
Sizing
The size of bikes is listed in centimeters and the number refers to the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the centerline of the top tube, measured along the seat tube. Manufacturers often list the sizing with the corresponding height of the person it will suit.
Wheels
For the single-speed/fixie bikes reviewed here, 700c wheels are the most common size with 26-inch wheels also frequently used.
Tires
Single-speed/fixie bikes use road bike style tires usually sized between 23cm to 28cm. Wider tires add to the comfort and traction but are slower than narrower tires, so you can make your choice based on your preference and purpose for riding.
Handlebar
There are a variety of handlebar types to choose from based on how upright you want to be and the type of riding. Popular types have names like flat bars, mustache bars, pursuit bars, bullhorns, drop bars, and riser bars, all with their benefits. For a detailed look, check out this article: Different Types of Handlebars: A Primer
For more information on bikes, please check these reviews:
Beginner Road Bikes Bike Computers Comfort Bikes Children’s Mountain Bikes Women’s Mountain Bike Helmets Mountain Bike Helmets Affordable Electric Bikes Women’s Mountain Bikes BMX Bikes Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Beach Cruisers Gravel Bikes Under $2,000
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