$1,095.00
Wabi Special
The Special is our lugged frame option with that unique look and feel of lugs that can go more vintage or modern depending on how you build it.
Our Summer 2020 colors are Autumn Copper, a orangish copper, and Sandstone Silver, a light, golden silver. Custom colors for a $250 upgrade are also available as an option. See more info below.
Get the latest here on lead times for builds and when we'll get new inventory.
| RIDER HEIGHT | FRAME SIZE | STANDOVER HEIGHT |
| 5'4 - 5'7 | 49CM | 30.2IN |
| 5'7 - 5'10 | 52CM | 31.3IN |
| 5'10 - 6'1 | 55CM | 32.5IN |
| 6'1 - 6'3 | 58CM | 33.6IN |
| 6'3 - 6'6 | 60CM | 34.8IN |
Description
BUILT FOR THE PURIST
For many cyclists, the ultimate bicycle starts with a high quality steel frame, using low temperature brazing and lugs to join the tubes. Lugged steel bike frames offer a road feel unlike any other design, but not all lugged steel frames are created equal.
The Wabi Special uses a fully hand-brazed frame, built by specially trained frame builders in Taiwan. The difference in the Wabi Special is that these builders are trained by one of the top hand-built frame builders from Japan.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
The retro vibe of the fully lugged, Reynolds 725 frame is like nothing else you'll find - especially at this price. The workmanship (clean joints, mitering of the tubes, drop outs seamlessly integrated into the stays) is outstanding, and the resulting ride is buttery-smooth, with amazing stability.
PICK YOUR BUILD
Every Wabi is assembled to order, so you can have drop bars, riser bars, bullhorns, compact drops, all at no extra charge. Tell us what gearing you want, upgrade your wheels or tires, or let us know about anything else you've seen on a Wabi (or another bike) and we'll build your bike the way you want it.
For Summer 2020, the Special is available in Autumn Copper and Sandstone Silver. For custom colors, see our topic on how to choose a color. Put the color in your checkout comments. You can also choose your component colors as black (with black chain) or silver (with gold or silver chain).
SOLID SPECS
- Fully lugged, brazed construction for the ultimate ride
- Reynolds 725 double butted, heat treated tubing
- Lightweight, responsive wheels (1725g/set)
- Total bike weight of about 19.7 lbs (55cm size)
- Road racing inspired frame design for a fast but comfortable ride
- 700c wheels and flip-flop hubs
- 46/18 freewheel (default on drive side) and fixed cog.
- 28mm Kenda tires (fits up to 32mm wide tires)
Looking to customize gearing or a brake or crankset upgrade? Contact us at support@wabicycles.
Components
| Crankset | Andel RSC1-7102 | |
| Bottom Bracket | TH BB-7420ST, 68/103 sealed | |
| Headset | Tange Seiki RDC-82 Threadless | |
| Stem | Leadtec LCS-7091, 4 bolt, 0 degree rise | |
| Seat post | Kalloy SP-248D, 27.2mm, 250mm long | |
| Brakes | Tektro R540 calipers w/ Jagwire cables | |
| Chain | YBN S20G2, gold, 1/2'x3/32' | |
| Lock Ring | Joy Tech BC1.29X24 /UCP | |
| Fixed Cog | Andel FW-710S CNC | |
| Freewheel | Cold-forged Long Yih 3 pawl |
Individual components subject to change. Ask us if you need confirmation on specific items.
SIZING
We highly recommend review our sizing page before purchasing. We recommend looking at both your height and your actual inseam / standover height. The guide below can also provide some general guidelines.
| RIDER HEIGHT | FRAME SIZE | STANDOVER HEIGHT |
| 5'4 - 5'7 | 49CM | 30.2IN |
| 5'7 - 5'10 | 52CM | 31.3IN |
| 5'10 - 6'1 | 55CM | 32.5IN |
| 6'1 - 6'3 | 58CM | 33.6IN |
| 6'3 - 6'6 | 60CM | 34.8IN |
You can also find a complete geometry chart on our tech / geometry page.
FAQ/IMPORTANT LINKS
Check out our FAQ/Knowledge Base for most questions.
Assembly. Note that our bikes come 90%+ assembled and most customers can assemble themselves. This saves you the time and cost of taking the bike to a bike shop for assembly.
Upgrade options explained. This will help explain the upgrades in the dropdown menus and well as other options that are not on the menu.
Steel
We use Reynolds 725 and Columbus Spirit. These higher quality grades of steel allows us to use less of it, so you get a lighter, more responsive frame.
E.D Coating
Our steel frames are E.D. coated to act as a rust preventative and a primer. This high-performance rust inhibitor is applied inside the frame and out.
design
Wabi frames are road-designed with upright angles, and short wheelbases, which creates comfort, efficiency, and predictable handling. Our road frame design gives you an agile and fast ride.
Details
We love the detail of our frames. You'll find cast-brazed dropouts, machined head tubes, brazed seatpost collars, bottle cage eyelets, and brazed forks.
CanadaFirst off, I want to commend Wabi for their incredible customer service. I placed a pre-order for a custom coated Wabi Special in the summer of 2020 and waited patiently for several months for my order to be shipped out. Bikes were, and still are, in very short supply worldwide so I didn’t mind the wait. Unfortunately, the frame that I received had a minor scratch on the head tube, possibly incurred during shipping, so per Wabi’s advice, I shipped it back and awaited a replacement. Fast forward a couple of months and my replacement arrived in perfect condition. I took it out for a couple of rides, winter was fast approaching here in Toronto, and instantly fell in love with the ride. Compared to my previous bike, it felt stiffer in some areas and more flexible in others, both of these being upgrades. Peddling hard up a hill no longer felt “mushy”! Normally, this is where the review would end, but unfortunately, I got dinged twice on import fees. Once for the original shipment and a second time for the replacement. I had already paid the fee on the first shipment and wasn’t really sure what to do about this second one. It was a replacement so there shouldn’t have been any additional fees! I contacted Wabi and while it took a bit of time to resolve the issue, they reached out to FedEx and made sure that it was taken care of! In the end, I only had to pay the import fees on the original shipment. Thank you Wabi for building some of the best fixed gear bikes and for offering such incredible customer service!
United StatesI have a 60cm Lightning in red - very happy with it so far, the ride is spirited. Ordering a bike on line went well - just had to muster confidence around sizing and geometry without test driving. The ability to choose your preferred component parts is terrific. The wheels on the Lightning really spin up quickly and climbing is actually fun. Perhaps I would have been just as happy with the Classic (considerably cheaper and has additional clearance for 32mm tires) . . . but then I'd forever be wondering about the Lightning. Sigh.
SpainThis will be a quick addendum to a previous addendum; regarding my 2019 (model-year), midnight blue, Retro. Nowadays, they are specified as "Special"; ....no matters,....just appreciate the lugs, ride, looks and of course; the overall quality of the bike. I wish the best of health and safety to ALL Wabi-ites, ......and let's give thanks to again, to the fine people @ WABI CYCLES! end-of-message!
United StatesMy old fixed gear bike was an old, steel, well-loved, clunker of a thing, and only an unfortunate theft could’ve separated us. After so many years slogging up Capitol Hill, I just got used to pedaling my tank-on-two-wheels around the city, and figured that’s what biking was all about... Then, I got on my brand new Wabi Special and immediately realized “oh no, wait, *this* is what biking is all about!” Everything about my new ride is fantastic. It’s light, responsive, and gorgeous (those frame lugs!). Many thanks to Wabi for being so quick and communicative around my custom paint job build, and for a packaging job that would’ve kept even the finest crystal vase safe in transit. You all rock!
United StatesI now own a Classic and a Special. Wabi bikes are great right out of the box. The build quality is at the point that no upgrades are required for the life of the bike. Cheers