Assembly of the Sparrow was easier and quicker than for many delivered bikes. Setup was 90% complete, with owners only needing to adjust saddle height and attach the front wheels and pedals.

Sparrows come packaged with a floor-pump, bell and required tools.

Owners appreciated the simple, straight-forward approach of this no-frills bike.

Buyers saw the componentry as quality, with mention given to the solid FSA headset.

The 44 / 17 gear ratio was well-suited to city riding, hills and attaining decent speed.

Owners praised the simple, clean design of the Sparrow. It was described as beautiful.

The Sparrow’s caliper side-pull brakes worked well.

Customer service from the manufacturer was said to be outstanding.

Tires were not skimped on. The WTB Thickslicks at 28mm wide, were perfect for city streets.

In a rare situation for a new bike, the SDG Duster was rated highly for comfort.

The ample packaging only received compliments from buyers, who received bikes scratch-free. This is unusual for a bike distributed through a major online retailer.

Ride quality was deemed to be smooth and fast.

Handling on the Sparrow felt responsive.

Owners regarded the construction of this bike’s frame as sturdy.

Reviews often mentioned the attention to detail given to the Sparrow, describing it as ‘beautifully finished’.

1 reasons not to buy

The plastic Wellgo pedals gave the impression of being cheap.

Bottom line

By all reports, the Sparrow is a solid, simple, lightweight single-speed bike with high quality-control values. Detroit Bikes assembles the Sparrow in the USA, making it 90% ready out of the box. One of the benefits of this is that the wheels are hand-trued before being sent out. The lack of negative reviews is a good indicator that solid mid-range componentry and a focus on simplicity leads to a more reliable budget product. At this price and weight, it could be a wise move to shortlist the Sparrow for your single-speed / fixed-gear purchase.