The Kabuto is incredibly inexpensive. Some owners noted that this removes the fear of theft because a replacement was only a small purchase and a click away.

The ride was described as fairly smooth.

More than one daily commuter found the Kabuto durable after daily use.

Some riders thought the cranks were great, despite a persistently reported clicking from new.

Wheels were reported to be great once they have been trued to straighten them up.

The Flip-flop hub allows switching between freewheeling-singlespeed and fixed-gear modes.

12 reasons not to buy

Brakes and brake pads were described as having little stopping power. Numerous owners were annoyed by the squeaking noise they produced. The front brake broke while tightening during assembly, for more than one owner. Five-star reviews often suggested replacement.

The front wheel, with provided 32c tire, sits very close to the frame. Grit or debris may get lodged here.

This bike is built with the geometry of an aggressive track-bike (but without the required high-end componentry). Riders toes can easily hit the front wheel when turning, which could be a hazard.

The tires were reportedly weak and able to be popped by pine needles. Their bright colors were known to fade.

At 35lbs, this bike is heavier than a number of full-suspension bikes. Owners found it cumbersome to carry upstairs.

Some buyers were unable to tighten the handlebars, which caused an injury for one owner.

Parts often fell off this bike while riding, despite tuning by the local bike shop, with the lights and reflectors going first.

The freewheel sometimes failed– causing an accident and incurring injury in one instance.

Packaging was extremely poor for a number of buyers.

Welding was described as ugly and messy.

While many owners chose to remove the decals, they left a sticky residue which was difficult to remove, even with solvents.

Wheels often arrived out of true.

Bottom line

The Takara Kabuto is sexy, cheap and dangerous. With it’s alluring dayglo paint-job, it will undoubtedly attract the attention of passers-by. But you may only pass by so many times before componentry starts to fail you, necessitating swift replacement. The Kabuto hits the lowest possible price-point for a fixie / singlespeed bike. While some reviews claim thousands of miles ridden with nary an act of maintenance, others mention vital componentry coming adrift while riding, creating close-shave incidents in traffic. If you live on the edge, in terms of risk and poverty, you might just roll the dice on the Takara Kabuto.