Touring - New bicycle ordered finally!

I am a happy camper/tourer today! I just got off the phone with Robert Beckman and finally placed an order for a Sakkit 26” Expedition with racks and panniers after spending the last few months researching and with the occasional conversation with Mr. Beckman. I am looking at a long 2-3 year tour in about 3 or 4 years so I’m able to wait for the bicycle to be built wonderfully! Still have my trusty Trek 520 which has been relegated lately to a commuter as I sold my car several months ago (one of the reasons I can afford his bicycles at this point) so I can still tour until the Sakkit comes in. I guess I just had to tell someone, my friends in my area don’t understand even spending $500 on a bicycle, so They’d just laugh :lol: :lol:
Oh well, today is a good day!

I still have some things to take care of like getting a real proper fit measurement and deciding If I want cable actuated disc brakes or not, he recomended them for the type of tour I have planned. Also what other options I want, mostly It's been planned out for a good while, but still some things to think about.

Congratulations!!

I, too, have a Sakkit on order (expect to get it this fall), and I know how you feel.

-George

Have you received your Sakkit from RBD yet?
Mike

Not yet. I have no idea when he'll get to it; I guess I just have to be patient.

Just make sure you the take the trip you planned. Several years ago in between jobs I bought a Waterford 1900 withTubus racks and High end Madden panniers. Probably not the bucks you laid out, but sizable. The trip never happened - I let myself get talked into various consulting jobs, winter came, then a new job I couldn't turn down. So make sure that dream happens - for all of us that got side tracked from our great adventures.

So - how is your Sakkit? Having spent a large amount of time on the Beckman website today and then talking to Bob Beckman (I want his panniers!), I am hugely impressed with pretty much everything he does.

I am a happy camper/tourer today! I just got off the phone with Robert Beckman and finally placed an order for a Sakkit 26” Expedition with racks and panniers after spending the last few months researching and with the occasional conversation with Mr. Beckman. I am looking at a long 2-3 year tour in about 3 or 4 years so I’m able to wait for the bicycle to be built wonderfully! t.

Beckman gets pretty busy these days, I hope you didn't tell Bob you don't need the bike for two or three years, because that might be when you get it :D

I figured it would be faster to learn to build my own! Got my rack tube bender prototype I up and running today. If I can keep the bends lined up, I should be golden. If not I will have to build a significantly more complicated rig.

Bike tubing is on it's way. I bought enough for 2-3 bikes, should allow me to dial in the performance. It's like an america's cup race. You can pretend you know how the design will come out, but it's best to have a multi-boat budget before you get started.

In the end my bike won't be as good as a Sakkit, that's all about being enough of a genius to satisfy other people.

I am happy to report that my Beckman racks have been received. The Beckman Panniers that I have purchased off of ebay were designed to fit Bruce Gordon racks so I have to re-position the hooks to fit the Beckman racks. I ordered front and rear racks. The front racks have a fitting to hold 2 Schmidt E-6 lights. When I have the racks mounted on the Sakkit, I will post some photos. For those interested, I ordered the racks on 12/1 2005 and received them on 6/7/2006. They were not cheap, almost a grand.

I am happy to report that my Beckman racks have been received. The Beckman Panniers that I have purchased off of ebay were designed to fit Bruce Gordon racks so I have to re-position the hooks to fit the Beckman racks. I ordered front and rear racks. The front racks have a fitting to hold 2 Schmidt E-6 lights. When I have the racks mounted on the Sakkit, I will post some photos. For those interested, I ordered the racks on 12/1 2005 and received them on 6/7/2006. They were not cheap, almost a grand.
The racks alone were almost a thousand dollars? Do I understand you correctly?

I know I know it sounds like a lot. The tubing costs me about 5 dollars a foot which is pretty ridiculous, one can find it for the 2-3 dollars a foot plus shipping etc... It's marked as made in Germany, which is prety posh compared to the Asian tubes in a lot of bikes. That puts it between one half and twice what nice frame tubes costs, not exotic tubes. There is about 10-15 feet of tubing in one rack, about the same as in a frame. There are a handful of custom parts, like dropouts, joints for lights, and straps.

There are a bunch of bends, struts, and copes. There are between 20 and 25 joints in each rack. Beckman, for some reason, fillet brazes these. The fact they are small doesn't make them easier to braze. The racks are powdercoated, which is not dead cheap in small quatities.

These are custom racks though obviously the basics are pretty stock, which is to say he probably has a fair investment in jigs benders and automatic coping machines. But I can't really see any reason why they should sell for less than what a Surly frame sells for other than the fact they only weight a fraction, but steel weight is not the major factor here. Somewhat similar material costs, more time in the joints and more joints, custom. so 400+ is a bit of a gift actually.

Why do people pay that much? The reasons is to get a really tough rack, that fits both the paniers and the bike perfectly. Most racks and paniers are designed to work on the smallest bikes out there. These racks are custom, and will fit whatever you want them to. Beckman's priorites seem to run: Paniers, racks, and then bikes. If you fit bikes off the rack you could buy a decent frame and the beckman racks and paniers for what some people pay for custom frames alone. It really isn't that much, but it is upper end.

Perhaps the fastest way to look at it is you pay 100-200 for stock 4130 racks from Surly, Nito or Gordon. Custom always costs a little more.

I'd love to see some picture of your rig Sakkitfan, when you get it set up. There are very few pictures of Beckman stuff out there.

Correct, I had them made to my specs.

I am touring in Vermont starting this weekend so I will have pictures of my rig. I ordered the front rack with a headlight fitting for twin Schmidt E6 lights. The rear rack is on the bike but I need to cut the upper mount tubes to size with a tube cutter. This will be the Sakkit's maiden voyage since I built it so here goes.

Mike

Well, I am now giving up on ever seeing my Sakkit.

After 2 and a half years of waiting, and dozens of broken promises, it's clear that if I want a heavy tourer, I'll need to go somewhere else.

Last November, Beckman told me the frame was completed, and that it was ready for paint, and thus, the final payment was due, so I sent it off, and got ready for my new frame. A few weeks later I called to get the delivery date, and Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

A few weeks later Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

A few weeks after that Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

I'm going to try to get my final payment back, on the grounds it was not supposed to be paid until the bike was ready for paint, but I'm probably out the $4000+.

An expensive lesson.

Well, I am now giving up on ever seeing my Sakkit.

After 2 and a half years of waiting, and dozens of broken promises, it's clear that if I want a heavy tourer, I'll need to go somewhere else.

Last November, Beckman told me the frame was completed, and that it was ready for paint, and thus, the final payment was due, so I sent it off, and got ready for my new frame. A few weeks later I called to get the delivery date, and Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

A few weeks later Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

A few weeks after that Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

I'm going to try to get my final payment back, on the grounds it was not supposed to be paid until the bike was ready for paint, but I'm probably out the $4000+.

An expensive lesson.

And with that, you're just going to walk away? You paid this bum for a bike and you didn't get a bike. What you got was strung along. I don't know where you live, but where I live that's fraud. Where is this scam artist located? Call that state's AG office and go from there. I'd be damned if i'd let this guy walk with my money!

That's rediculous.

Well, I am now giving up on ever seeing my Sakkit.

After 2 and a half years of waiting, and dozens of broken promises, it's clear that if I want a heavy tourer, I'll need to go somewhere else.

Last November, Beckman told me the frame was completed, and that it was ready for paint, and thus, the final payment was due, so I sent it off, and got ready for my new frame. A few weeks later I called to get the delivery date, and Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

A few weeks later Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

A few weeks after that Beckman told me he wasn't actually done, but would be real soon.

I'm going to try to get my final payment back, on the grounds it was not supposed to be paid until the bike was ready for paint, but I'm probably out the $4000+.

An expensive lesson.

Any progress on this? Did you get your bike or your money back???....:eek::mad::(

Nope. Beckman is still promising I'll see it any day now. I'll be doing my monthly checkin in a few days.

Crazy. I hope it works out for you in the not too distant future.

You are foolish for letting it go on this long. Contact the Attorney General in the appropriate jurisdiction and get your money back. If you wait until he's out of business then you'll likely lose everything. Post the details of your contract and maybe someone here can help.

After a great many trials and tribulations, I have finally received the Sakkit (plus racks and bags). I've taken one 10 mile test ride, and I like it a lot better than the LHT that was holding all the components. I still have to fiddle a bit with gearing (the Sakkit's chainstays spread earlier than the LHT's, and this affects chainline unless I get a smaller innermost chainring), but it's a beautiful bike.

Just to clarify, you ordered this frame & it took over THREE YEARS to be delivered ?

It took 4 1/2 years.

My problem was that BB said it would take considerably less (like 3 1/2 years less), which meant that I never knew when, or if, it would arrive.

Current lead time on a Vanilla is well over 5 years, but at least you know that up front.

WOW, & I thought things were slow in Spain!!!

Still, congratulations, hope you enjoy, "the best things come to those who wait"

(I haven't got that kinda patience :lol:)

Nice bike! No fenders yet?

I had a nice set of Berthoud's, which I'd drilled to fit the LHT. I'll put something on the Sakkit, but haven't decided what yet.

After a great many trials and tribulations, I have finally received the Sakkit (plus racks and bags). I've taken one 10 mile test ride, and I like it a lot better than the LHT that was holding all the components. I still have to fiddle a bit with gearing (the Sakkit's chainstays spread earlier than the LHT's, and this affects chainline unless I get a smaller innermost chainring), but it's a beautiful bike.

I cannot imagine it is $4,000.00 better than a LHT.

To each their own. I'm sure the average person off the street would be saying "how is an LHT $800 better than my Huffy or Magna?" :)


I cannot imagine it is $4,000.00 better than a LHT.

Different strokes and all, but I have to say I don't get it. I figure it is way more important where, how, and maybe with whom you ride than what you ride. It always seemed to me that once you got into the range where the bike was "decent" spending more gets you less and less improvement the more you spend. A frame has to be a reasonable fit, but almost everyone can be fitted properly with an off the rack frame.

Racks... $1000! Wow! I can't think of anything that I want my cheap Blackburn EX-1 and Nashbar lowrider clone to do that they don't already. They are probably substantially lighter too and cost maybe $50 total. Heck even the cheapie Nashbar waterproof panniers performed flawlessly.

In any case I don't find that once you get to the level of any dedicated tourer that is on the market and get fit and gearing sorted out, differences in the bike do not make a substantial difference in the quality of the day to day touring experience.

We all decide what is worth it to us and draw the line in different places I guess.

3 years to build a frame? Bankers hours? Anyone who does frame building have a comment on this? is it just because of the demand?

After a great many trials and tribulations, I have finally received the Sakkit (plus racks and bags). I've taken one 10 mile test ride, and I like it a lot better than the LHT that was holding all the components. I still have to fiddle a bit with gearing (the Sakkit's chainstays spread earlier than the LHT's, and this affects chainline unless I get a smaller innermost chainring), but it's a beautiful bike.

Congratulations! Very nice tourer!

I cannot imagine it is $4,000.00 better than a LHT.

The difference is when you pay top dollar you get good speedy service & delivery. :innocent:

Nice bike. What rims are those?

Nice bike. What rims are those?

Velocity Deep-Vs (which appear to no longer be available in 26in)

Congrats on getting your new bike. Have fun with it...:thumb:

To each their own. I'm sure the average person off the street would be saying "how is an LHT $800 better than my Huffy or Magna?" :)

Except we are not the average person. The difference in performance from a $99.00 bike to a $999.00 bike are orders of magnitude.

It is a nice looking bike however.

So what if someone spends a ton of money on equipment? This is no different than most any other hobbies out there. If you can afford it, appreciate good gear, and have patience, the more power to ya! :)

4.5 or 5 years for a bike is just ridiculous!!!:lol::eek:


I got a custom from Circle A Cycles and it took about a year. If I was looking at another custom I'd go back to Circle A or to someone like Mercian, Waterford or IF. A custom shop with the staff and resources to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time.

sure hope you dont have any problems,is there a guarantee with the frame .....

3 years waiting on a bike is absurd. it's about the open road, the bike is important, but only so much.

3 years waiting on a bike is absurd.

You are certainly entitled to make whatever choice you like, but why put down someone's choice - especially someone you don't know?

You are certainly entitled to make whatever choice you like, but why put down someone's choice - especially someone you don't know?

The OP saved all of us a lot of grief so in that regard, he did us a favor. We will NEVER to get a BB Sakit ever!

Today, is Christmas day for the OP.

I waited 6 years for a telescope once. Once my name came up I cancelled my order and let the next waiting guy have my spot. I quit astronomy two years prior. I got bored with the hobby.

So what if someone spends a ton of money on equipment? This is no different than most any other hobbies out there. If you can afford it, appreciate good gear, and have patience, the more power to ya! :)

So true :thumb:

You are certainly entitled to make whatever choice you like, but why put down someone's choice - especially someone you don't know?

It's the American way. ;)

3 years to build a frame? Bankers hours? Anyone who does frame building have a comment on this? is it just because of the demand?

My impression (perhaps unfair) from reading about this builder is that there is not a high demand for them. It just takes him a long time to produce them (or have them produced; I've never been clear whether he makes the frames or subcontracts the work).

Here is the builder's statement on lead times on his website...interestingly, this statement appears to have been written in 1998 or 1999 and refers to a five-month lead time.


"HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET OUR BICYCLES, RACKS AND PANNIERS? - It takes a while. I think one thing that everyone interested in using our gear must understand is the fact that almost everything that we build is custom-built. There are, if you consider all of the models, mounting systems, mounting positions, color combinations, and custom options of our panniers, literally tens of thousands of ways that we can potentially build our panniers! We don’t just pull the stuff off of a shelf when you place an order. It has to be made to a variety of specifications. Our racks and bikes are highly customized as well.

During the past year we had to turn down one of every two orders during the peak season (January through September) simply because many people waited until the last minute before ordering their gear. If you plan a June trip, I would suggest that you have your gear ordered by the previous September. I am serious about that. It won’t take that long to get the gear, but why wait until the last moment? Not everyone can purchase gear during the peak season. The amount of gear that we can produce in a short period is highly limited. If you order your gear well advance of the time you head off into the wilds, you will provide yourself with a better opportunity to be familiar and comfortable with the use of the gear. And, believe me, it will make our lives a whole lot easier. When we have a comfortable amount of time in which to build gear, life is a whole lot better.

As a general rule, never expect that we will ship any racks or panniers in less than two months. And it can take considerably longer. Or it can be considerably less. Our order backlog can change by weeks and months in a matter of a few days. Currently there is a five- month backlog on bike orders. That could and will change. In 1999 my wife, Jan, will again work with me a bit more, and she will be working toward being in the business on a full-time basis, which should eventually cut our time to ship orders.

Through the years I have ordered many types of custom gear: sleeping bags, boots, bikes, sea kayaks. The shortest wait I have ever had for custom gear was nine months and the longest (for a custom sea kayak) was three and a half years. So I consider the length of time that it takes to build and ship our gear to be quite short, relatively. But please, plan ahead."

I think you're being a little sensitive Vik. I read that post as it was absurd to have to wait 3 years for a bicycle, rather than the poster was absurd for waiting 3 years. I don't think it was a putdown of the OP's choice, just an opinion that it was too long to wait for a bike, custom or otherwise.

I hope the OP is enjoying his bike though, it does look very nice!


You are certainly entitled to make whatever choice you like, but why put down someone's choice - especially someone you don't know?