Hello. This is Ishikawa from Circles Tokyo.
Bassi Bikes is our main lineup, and we frequently receive orders for them. We’ve introduced them many times before.
I was thinking to myself, what exactly is the charm of Bassi?
Of course, there are many good points: they are versatile enough for fun, have great designs, and are fun to customize to meet various needs.
Since we now have the full lineup in stock at Circles Tokyo, I decided to take a moment to rethink the appeal of Bassi in my own way.
BASSI BIKES
C&L CYCLES, based in Montreal, Canada, established their own brand, BASSI, in 2009.
Touring on a commuter bike, commuting on a touring bike, and riding single-track on both—they design their bikes based on this principle of versatility.
Looking at the specifications of each model, they differ slightly from the new frames arriving from other brands.
For example,
While thru-axle standards have become common lately, the Hog’s Back uses a 100mm front/135mm rear quick-release.
The head tubes of the Rachel, BloomField, and Montreal are 1″ threaded types, and they feature rim brakes.
Why deliberately adopt "old" standards?
You might wonder that.
I’m sure you’ve struggled with choosing parts when building a bike due to the following reasons:
・You have cherished parts from a bike you used to ride, but the standards have changed, and you can’t use them.
・You want to install a quill stem with a beautiful silhouette that matches the slender elegance unique to steel frames, but the standards don’t match.
・You prefer the clean look, lightness, and aesthetics of rim brakes, but the frame you want only comes with disc brakes...
Quick releases, quill stems, rim brakes...
Newer standards likely offer better performance, but you often feel frustrated knowing that the charm of old standards still exists, right?
A bike that allows for modern riding while preserving the goodness of the "old,"
The ability to fuse the "new" and the "old" is the charm of BASSI.
When you look at a built-up BASSI, you can see the exquisite fusion of old and new standards.
This is the BASSI style, and the way C&L co-owners Jean-Michel Cauvin and Jean-Daniel Lafleur love to build bikes.
Being able to build a bike by mixing old and new parts opens up new building methods that are simply impossible with the latest standard frames.
The range of choices for builds is expanded not just to the present, but to parts from the past.
And what’s important when doing this mix-build is a cool frame design.
In addition to incorporating classic parts or parts you're attached to, the frames are beautiful, and the design and coloring are not overly classic—they have a modern, cool (or cute) aesthetic that allows you to build a great bike.
A nice frame design that is also chosen as an entry-level model.
Versatility that appeals to experts who have ridden many different bikes.
The fusion of "new" and "old." That is the charm of BASSI.
That’s what I’ve been thinking about recently.
Now, let's take a look at some of the BASSI bikes we've built at Circles Tokyo.
Hog’s Back
All-Road Touring / Commuter
The concept for this Hog’s Back build is for street riding while also being capable of getting dirty in the mountains. I chose the Cowcow Bar; I highly recommend trying out the aggressive riding style that only a high-rise bar can provide.
The wheel size for the Hog’s Back depends on the frame size; the S size is compatible with both 26-inch and 650B wheels. This time, I chose 26-inch.
It’s quick, the initial movement is light, and the stability provided by the low center of gravity is outstanding.
The tires are Super Yummy Tire 26.
As the appearance suggests, they have great grip on dirt, but they roll very well on paved roads too.
Size: S
Color: Pink
Price: 340,000 yen (tax included)
Rachel
Commuter / Long Touring
A beautiful mixte/step-through bike, the Rachel.
Since there is plenty of clearance over the top tube when straddling, it's the perfect frame for those with a shorter stature or those who wear skirts.
The concept for this bike is "a bike I want her to ride."
Details can be found on Rintaro’s blog.
Size: 47cm
Color: Fondue (Brown)
Price: 330,000 yen (tax included)
Bloomfield
Track Frame / Commuter
The Bloomfield is an elusive bike that fulfills the roles of both a track bike and a commuter.
Track bikes often have the image of speeding through the city, but this bike is suited for relaxed, laid-back riding. The tires are thick at 650b x 42 for stability.
And the quill stem is, as expected, stunningly beautiful.
With a SIMWORKS Obento rack and Honjo fenders.
Add cantilever brakes, and then add, add, add a dynamo hub to a track bike?
Thinking about it calmly, that’s just too cool...
Size: M
Color: Green
Price: 341,000 yen (tax included)
Montreal V3
Commuter / Randonneur / Touring / Cyclocross...
The Montreal is inspired by classic touring bikes.
Here in Tokyo, we’ve built it as a commuter specification.
For details, check out Abarenbo Shogun’s blog.
Size: 49cm
Color: Black
Price: 352,000 yen (tax included)
The lineup is available at the Circles Tokyo storefront.
We also welcome consultations about swapping parts from your current bike.
All models are available for test rides, so if you're interested, please come by!