Wabi Options and Upgrades

We offer lots of options and upgrades so here’s a guide to help you make decisions. This order aligns with the options and upgrade menu on our builds. You'll find the section title, options (with a link to the product on our store) and photos of some of the color options.

Looking for something unique? Contact us and we can usually get it.

Component / chain colors

You can choose the color scheme of your components and chain - black/black, silver/gold or silver/silver - throughout most of your bike, including:

Headset/washers
Stem
Handlebars
Brake calipers
Brake levers (where possible)
Cable clips
Seat post
Crank arms
Chain

However, some components are only stocked in certain colors, including:

Chainrings (black/silver)
Freewheels and fixed cogs (std. freewheels are typically gold, deluxe freewheels are black and all cogs are silver)
Small bolts - Bottle mounts, seat binder, etc. (typically silver)

However, these won't really change the look of your build.

Silver/gold build with standard lightweight wheelset.

Black/black build with standard lightweight wheelset.

HANDLEBARS / LEVERS

This is probably the biggest decision for most customers as it impacts the feel, comfort and look of your build.

We offer 5 types of handlebars along with different brake configurations for certain bars. Want a more in-depth explanation of handlebars? Check out the video we collaborated on below

STANDARD DROP BAR - A popular option for road riding that allows multiple hand positions- on the tops, at the hoods and in the drops for better aerodynamics.

The brake options are either drop levers (recommended), the classic road bar brake which provides hoods for resting your hands and a comfortable position on the bike, or top mount brakes, the horizontal lever brakes at the straight bar. One drawback with top mounts is no easy resting place on the top of the drops.

Hand positions - Drop bars with drop levers

Hand positions - Drop bars with top mount levers

COMPACT DROP BAR - Similar to standard drop bars, they have a more compact design - shorter depth and shallower. They have a more modern look while requiring less reach to both the hoods and the drops.

The brake options are the same as the standard drop bar.

BULLHORN BAR - An alternative to drop bars that allows for a more aerodynamic, stretched out position like aero bars.

The brake options are either top mount, the horizontal levers at the straight part of the bar, or bar ends, aero-type brake levers at the end of the bullhorns. We recommend the option based on where you'll be riding more often - on the straight bar or on the horns.

bullhorn bar with bar ends hand position 1

bullhorn bars with bar ends hand position 2

Hand positions - Bullhorn bars with bar end brakes

Hand positions - Bullhorn bars with top mount brakes

RISER BAR - A standard horizontal bar, with a vertical rise, similar to what you might find on cruisers, mountain bikes, etc. They offer one hand position and only accommodate top-mount brakes. These bars have a rise - of about 1" - so they ride higher for a more relaxed riding position.

STRAIGHT BAR - A standard horizontal bar, with no rise, that offer one hand position and only accommodate top-mount brakes. The most minimal option from an aesthetic standpoint.

Bar Tapes

Standard drop bars, compact bars and bullhorns will be offered with bar tape options. We can install them on risers or straight bars by request.

PADDED TAPE - Wabi's spongy, soft tape for comfort and durability.

LEATHER TAPE -Wabi's thin, authentic leather tape that provides a classic look and feel.

BROOKS CAMBIUM TAPE - This is a synthetic tape that provides the comfort and durability of padded type with a more refined, classic aesthetic.

FIZIK BONDCUSH TAPE - A performance tape that provides padding and a comfortable tacky surface for better grip.

BROOKS LEATHER TAPE - A thin, authentic leather tape to match Brooks saddles.

Grips

These are the options and upgrades on straight and riser bars.

LIZARD SKIN RUBBER GRIPS - A stippled rubber grip similar to what you would find on a mountain bike, but more refined. The grips on the narrow riser bars are narrow (105mm) and come with flanges while the ones on the wider bars or straight bars are wider (120mm) and do not have flanges.

Rubber grip for straight bars and wide risers (without flange); Rubber grip for narrow risers (with flange)

VO BASKET RUBBER GRIPS - A basket weave rubber grip that works well with our honey saddle. Note that is does have a more vintage look.

velo orange basket grip

LEATHER GRIPS - Wabi's smooth leather grip with silver trim that provides a classic look.

BROOKS RUBBER GRIPS - The best of both worlds - comfort and durability of rubber with a more refined look. Note: Brooks is changing to black with black trim so it may vary slightly from what is shown.

Black comfort grip; Natural comfort grip (with 2 colors/textures)

BROOKS LEATHER GRIPS - Wrapped leather grips that are made to match Brooks saddles.

Wheelsets

Classic, Special and Lightning options include:

WABI LIGHTWEIGHTS - Our stock lightweight wheelset that has black rims and silver spokes/hubs to match any build.

wabi lightweight wheelset

WABI SUB 15s - Our ultra lightweight wheelset for those looking to reduce weight (over a half pound) as well as an all-silver or all-black wheelset.

DT SWISS / H+ SON WHEELSET - A high-quality 20h/24h wheelset that combines strength, stiffness and lightweight. Recommended for those looking for a spoke-count all-silver or all-black with more durability and stiffness than the Sub 15s.

DURA ACE / H+ SON TB14 WHEELSET - A high-performance set that provides a cool vintage feel with box rims in anodized gray.

PHIL WOOD / H+SON ARCHETYPE WHEELSET - A 32h/32h wheelset using a Phil Wood Classic hub. Recommended for those looking for the ultimate wheelset in durability and stiffness.

Thunder options include:

WABI STANDARD CX/URBAN WHEELSET - Our stock lightweight 32h/32h wheelset that has black rims and silver spokes/hubs to match any build.

VELOCITY A23 WHEELSET - A tubeless compatible 32h/32h option that features a black Velocity A23 rim, silver spokes and a silver Velocity (or Origin 8) hub. Recommended if you believe you want ride tubeless at some point.

VELOCITY QUILL WHEELSET - A wider rim, tubeless compatible 32h/32h option that features a black Velocity Quill rim, silver spokes and a silver Velocity (or Origin 8) hub. Recommended for off-road riding and a tubeless setup.

Tires

Pictures aren't included here given they don't really add much. Just note that some tires are tan or brown sidewalls when ordering.

KENDAS - Our stock tires are a solid option that provide a clean aesthetic.

PANARACER PROTITE - Provide 'Protite' flat protection, an enhanced tread and classic tan sidewalls. Great vintage look tire.

CONTINENTAL GATORSKINS - The best option for flat protection with the performance you'd expect from Continental.

CONTINENTAL 4-SEASONS A performance tire that works well in year-round temperatures.

CONTINENTAL GP 5000s - The highest end performance tire we offer.

PANARACER GRAVEL SLICKS (Thunder only) - A high-quality versatile tore that works well on the roads and gravel.

Panaracer Gravelking SKs (Thunder only) A high-quality cross tire that still rolls well well on the road.

Saddles

WABI RACING - Our core saddle with a focus on performance. Comes in narrow (135mm) and wide (145mm) width.

WABI SPORT - A more relaxed version of our race saddle with more padding. A good balance of performance and comfort.

WABI COMFORT - Based on a road design, this is our most relaxed and padded option.

BROOKS B17 - The classic leather Brooks saddle. Gets better over time. Includes metal rivets

BROOKS C17 - This saddle bring the legendary Brooks fit, but in a more modern aesthetic and synthetic materials that hold up better under different weather conditions. It comes in a carved version, which has a pressure relief slot down the middle.

brooks c17

FIZIK SADDLES - We offer three different Fizik saddles - the Arione, Antares and Aliante, which are mainly differentiated by shape. W offer the mid-level option of these as a good performance/value option. for materials/construction. The Arione is the longest and flattest and geared toward racers. The Aliante is shorter and more curved for comfort, The Antares is in between.

Fizik fizik

Pedals

WELLGO ROAD PLATFORM - A basic silver/black cage pedal.

MKS SYLVAN TOURING PLATFORM - A high-quality cage platform from the well-regarded Japanese manufacturer. We are offering these as our standard platform for early 2021 given inventory issues with the Wellgos.

FYXATION GATES WITH WIDE STRAPS - Wide composite pedal with fat straps.

MKS GR-9 WITH CLIPS/STRAPS - Classic, lightweight clip style road pedal that has black or honey straps to complement our black or honey tape/saddle.

WELLGO SPD - Solid 2-sided SPD pedal.

VP URBAN - Minimalist composite platform with a metal nodules for gripping and a reflector. This pedal is not strap compatible.

Crankset Upgrades

ANDEL PRO - A high performing racing crankset is stiffer and lighter than our standard crankset. External bottom bracket can also allow addition of spacer so it is compatible with all of our frames. Silver crank offers an all-silver option for a silver component build.

SUGINO RD2 - Beautifully made 48t, 3/32" crankset. Comes in silver crank and chain ring (popular for all-silver component builds). Note that this is a 130 BCD crankset. Compatible with all of our builds.

SUGINO RD2 MESSENGER - Similar to the RD2, but with a 46T, 1/8" disc chainring. Comes in silver or black. Note that this is a 130 BCD crankset. Compatible with all of our builds.

SRAM S-300 - A great track/courier combo with 48t chainring and a GXP bottom bracket. Comes in black. Note that this is a 130 BCD crankset. Compatible with all of our builds.

MICHE ADVANCED PRIMATO - A high quality crankset from the Italian manufacturer that won't break the bank. 48t disc chainring. Comes in silver cranks or black cranks.

MICHE PISTARD 2.0 - A high quality track crankset with a 48t disc chainring. Includes Miche BB. Comes in silver or black crank.

SUGINO 75 - The highest-quality NJS-level track crank arm for the serious rider. Available in black. Sugino BBs and chainrings are also available.

Chain Upgrades

See our article on choosing a chain for more reference.

KMC K1 SL - Ultra lightweight chain that still performs well.

KMC HL1 - A half-link option for those looking for dialing in their chain tension or the look of a half-link chain.

Izumi ECO - Solid value chain from the legendary Japanese chain maker. Same side plates as the highly regarded Super Toughness chain.

IZUMI V SUPER TOUGHNESS - The ultimate track chain. NJS certified for superior performance.

IZUMI KAI SUPER TOUGHNESS - Take the ultimate track chain and make it even faster.

Brake Caliper Upgrades

SRAM FORCE - Lighter weight and improved stopping performance. Comes in gray.

SRAM RED - SRAM's top of the line option for weight and performance. Comes in black and silver.

Seatpost Upgrades

THOMSON ELITE SETBACK - An industry standard for a high quality, lightweight seatpost. Note this seatpost is a 16mm setback vs. our stock 24mm setback.