The Radavist

This year Speedvagen is doing something a little different with their Urban Racer coaster brake bike. For one, the coaster brake has been upgraded to a Moné Bad Ass Coaster Wheel. Then it also got three different build kits: a drop bar with big ass tires (pictured here – $4150), the same build kit but with moto riser bars ($4395), and then the original Urban Racer with slicks and a fillet brazed bar/stem ($4500). Of course these bikes feature all the Speedvagen accouterment, including the Berserker dropouts, chain guard, and more. The biggest aesthetic change this year, however, has got to be the matching cerakote paint and components.

These new Urban Racers are built in batches of 11, awaiting orders to be sent off to their new home. Head on over to Speedvagen to see more.

Can I just say “wow” one more time?

The Urban Racer sure did make waves around here when it was launched back in 2015. Like all of Speedvagen’s bikes, it was a bespoke, handmade-in-Portland frame, with all the details we’ve come to expect from the Vanilla Workshop. However, many people didn’t see the value in the Urban Racer. The debate was heated.

Well, now you can get an Urban Racer as part of Speedvagen’s Ready Made program, with a stock build and base pricing down to $3495. You might be inclined to say “that’s still a lot of money for a coaster brake city bike”. And it is. But for some, it might be just what they needed to get in the door on one of these stripped down beauties.

Check out some more photos below, and get the details on the Ready Made Urban Racer at Speedvagen.

If there was ever to be a gilded knight in the Speedvagen guard, it would have to be the Urban Racer. This bike was the most polarizing figure in the small framebuilding community that I can remember. I will say however, over the past few weeks, I’ve seen a number of people take the Urban Racer platform as inspiration to build their own budget versions. When’s the last time you can recall a small side project like the UR have an effect like that?

After the initial release, Sacha and the folks at Speedvagen made this insane gilded Urban Racer for a client and the photos pop like the Vegas skyline.

Sure, this bike isn’t for everyone, but can all appreciate something as insane as this, right? And it’s made by hand in Portland, Oregon. Check out more photos at the Speedvagen Flickr.

Quite simply put:

“The Urban Racer is the latest offering in the Speedvagen line, lightweight with nimble handling and dialed race fit geometry. Designed as a super commuter, getting you around town as fast as possible. Minimal, modern and shred ready, the Urban Racer is the answer for the discerning cyclist who wants to go fast and take chances in the city.”

Great video Field Theory Pictures!