Sometimes people want simple things. They want something fuss-free, with no special frills, that’s easy to live with and maintain. And that’s where the Takara Fukiyama Flat Bar Fixie bike comes in. It’s a simple bike that won’t break the bank—hell, not even your much tinier wallet.
Derailleurs, of course, have their utility. Believe me, as an avid biker, I know of their utility. And sometimes one can’t reasonably go through certain trails without them, at least not without a whole lot of effort. But sometimes—well, let’s just admit it at this point, most of the time—one doesn’t really need derailleurs. Especially if you’re riding in-and-around the city, and don’t want to have to deal with gear shifting or the various maintenance issues that derailleurs naturally come with. And if you’re someone who falls into this latter category, then the Takara Fukiyama Flat Bar Fixie Bike might be a great all-around beater for you.
And since we’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this bike, we decided to get one and do a review. We’ll try to get deep into the details, so you, our reader, can decide whether this is the bike for you.
Frame and Design
The Takara Fukiyama is made from tig-welded steel that’s light and balanced. We know—trust us, we know—that many prefer bike frames made from aluminum or carbon fiber. Well, carbon fiber will break the bank, while aluminum is good but isn’t exactly leaps and bounds better than a good, handcrafted, steel-framed bike that’s been made with love. So, trust us; the steel frame on the Takara Fukiyama is fantastic and lightweight enough, even for our very discriminating tastes.
The overall design of the bike makes it stand out, too. We’ve gotten stares because of it. Its three-toned design gives it an edge, design-wise, over many other more expensive bikes on offer. We loved it, to say the least. There’s also an array of three-tone colors to choose from. We chose the one with a gray frame, orange inner tires and pedals, and black handlebars and saddle. It was a head-turner, and we didn’t infrequently get asked what brand of bike it was. That, in a nutshell, tells you all that you need to know about the Takara Fukiyama from a design perspective.
Easy Flip Flop Hub
Whether you want to freewheel or ride fixed-gear, you can do it with this bike, too, as it has a flip flop hub that allows riders to switch between these two modes with ease—you won’t even have to sweat changing any component out because it’s all there for easy switching. Just loosen the bolts of the rear wheel, remove the chain, then flip the wheel. And that’s it! There’s nothing complicated about the Takara Fukiyama Flat Bar Fixie Bike, nothing at all.
Brakes and High-Performance Tires
The bike came with 32 hole alloy wheels and 700/32 tires designed by Kenda, which was larger than most road bike tires, making this bike suitable for tall riders. Their grip was reliable and consistent, too, And we literally have no complaints about them; they are as smooth as can be. Truly, these are quality tires.
With regards to the braking, well, you won’t need them when on fixie riding, but if you’re more of a freewheel rider, then you won’t have any issue with these brakes, too. The front and rear alloy pull braking systems are smooth, and the modulation is consistent.
Some Cons
Like we mentioned, the wheels the Takara Fukiyama come packaged with are relatively big—bigger than what one will typically find on standard road bikes. This will be a boon to taller people, negligible to those with average height, but a deal-breaker to the vertically challenged. In fact, if you’re 5’5″ below, you might want to look elsewhere, since this bike might be a tad too tall for you.
Another con might be that—and it’s not really much of a con but more about the reality for bike brands at this price range—there are a lot of other offerings at the price range of the Takara Fukiyama that offer a ton of features, too. So you might want to check out those bikes as well and see which is best for you before going for a Takara Fukiyama.
Bottom Line
Some of us liked it, and some of us loved it. As an urban commuter bike, you definitely can’t go wrong with the Takara Fukiyama Flat Bar Fixie Bike. It provides a fairly smooth ride as you weave around traffic. And the design—oh boy, the design—is one thing that I, in particular, liked about the bike. I would buy the bike for the unique design alone, but that’s just me.
In any case, if you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-live-with daily commuter/beater bike, and if derailleurs are not your thing, then by all means check this one out. To me, personally, it is one of the highest performing bikes at this price range. Sure, there are many other options on the market, but this one can do everything the top performers at this price range can do in a better-looking package.
