I’m gonna be honest here, Klunkers. When I wrote this article, I missed a couple of bikes. One of the biggest misses was the Fairdale Taj—a sick, full chro-mo “City BMX” that pretty much looks like a Klunker to me.
Named after—and designed by—pro-BMX rider Taj Mihelich, the “Taj” represents a true Klunker vibe.
(That’s Taj in the photo below. All pics copyright Fairdale Bikes.)
Built for durability, simplicity and simple and accessible fun—this thing looks like it would have been a worthy competitor to my Haro Klunkerson, had I been able to find one in my city a couple years back.
Yeah, the Taj doesn’t have disc brakes, but that was never a deal-breaker for me. Plus, I personally like the stock bars on the Taj better than those that came with the Klunkerson, so I wouldn’t have swapped those out.
In fact, I probably just would have left the Taj alone. Where I added a bunch of stuff to the Haro.
So what makes the Taj so cool? Let’s review.
We’re rocking a full chromoly frame and fork. We’re adding 27.5″ wheels and Maxxis Ardent Race Tires. We have a relaxed riding position with Fairdale MX-6 bars, which feature a 6.25″ rise. So this bike should fit six-footers nicely.
A three-piece chro-mo crank matches up a 28/14 drivetrain making for a straight 2:1 ratio. I love this. The perfect ratio for a bike like this.
Of course it’s a single-speed, and, as hinted at above, features front and rear rim brakes. Good enough.
And it’s one size fits all. You can check out the geometry here, but it’s similar to your basic big BMX cruiser specs.
On the website, you’ll find it in two colours: Translucent Winter Blue and Matte Fire Engine Red (the latter looks orange to me, but whatever). But at time of posting, only the Translucent Winter Blue was in stock on shop.fairdalebikes.com.
However, places like Harvester BMX are still showing some stock of the orange bike, the colour that I actually prefer.
Here’s a rundown of the key specs on the bike. Overall, I’d say it looks pretty sweet for the MSRP of about $600 USD.
| FRAME | 100% Track Certified Chromoly | BRAKES | Odyssey Springfield, Front and Rear |
| FORK | 100% Chromoly. One-piece machined Steerer Tube | GRIPS | Fairdale Swan |
| HANDLEBAR | Fairdale MX-6 Bar, 100% Chromoly | SADDLE | Fairdale Taj, Railed |
| STEM | Sunday Freeze, Top-Load, 48mm Reach | CRANK | Chromoly 3-Piece, Chromoly, 175mm |
| HEADSET | FSA Sealed Integrated, 45º/45º | CHAINWHEEL | Fairdale, 28t |
| BRAKE LEVER | Odyssey Monolever, Left and Right | RIMS | Double wall, 36-Hole, Aluminum |
| BRAKES | Odyssey Springfield, Front and Rear | DRIVER | 14t Freewheel |
| HUBS | 36-Hole, 3/8” Axle, Aluminum Shell, Sealed Bearing | TIRES | Maxxis Ardent Race, 27.5 x 2.2” |
What do you think? Have you ridden the Taj?
Do you think it’s a good buy—and a Klunker at heart?
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A excellent buy especially for a tall guy that wants a fun bike something like a S.E. Big Ripper but for less money and a better fit as the seat post tube is longer than the Ripper. I had two big Rippers and are grate bikes with a very robust aluminum frame. After a couple of years of owning both I sold them as they were just a bit too small for me being over six feet and I’m not big on aluminum frames as the saying goes steel is real and I’ll go with that. Believe it or not the Fairdale last I checked is about a couple of pounds lighter than the Ripper and on any bike that is a huge plus so long if the frame is a strong one. There are two nearly almost identical models made under the Odyssey brand that being the Fairdale Taj and the Sunday Hi C. If you are thinking of buying it would be wise to get on the net and view the images and read the specs. between the two. Both are close in price. So what’s the difference? The Taj has a front brake the High C doesn’t. The High C has an extra gusset on the lower frame tube to the head tube that makes the High C frame a stronger stiffer frame. Out side of that they are the same other than the rear brake location is a touch different. I instantly felt the weight difference on the High C vs the Big Ripper and hands down the High C is the faster bike and that being said the Taj should should be a fast one as well because the two are very close. This applies to both the Fairdale Taj and the High C the seat post are not that grate and a touch short I feel for a tall person. I found a Easton 27.2 x350 offset seat post for about fourth dollars that one can dial the seat angle to the exact pitch that one needs that will fit either model to make this bike to really be comfortable for a all day ride. I really like my High C and that means I would be just as happy with the Fairdale Taj as they are so close how ever because of my weight being around 235 🦍 the High C has the extra frame gusset I lean a bit that way. Out side of that I can say after owning probably close to seventy bicycles in my life time the Taj is a grate buy with the chromoly frame and fork double wall rims a light fast agile single speed bike that can cover a lot of real estate in a day at that price it’s a keeper. The transparent blue finish on the Taj above shown dose give this one a cool custom vibe. You be the judge. But years of fun for around six hundred dollars built to last you can not go wrong putting your hard earned cash down on this one.
Agreed. But the Sunday Hi-C is has 29″ wheels too, big different there. I’ll post a rundown shortly.
Sorry miss spelled the price on the Easton seat post. Supposed to read forty dollars. Anyway gotta get away from looking at the Taj as it’s a nice looking rig with that finish and might want one just because it looks cool. That and the blue Surly.
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