Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Unpopular Opinion: NJS is completely irrelevant

Unless you are a keirin racer. Please explain to me why this is important to anyone else. Yes I've seen how cool it looks, but why drop the cash when there is a huge assortment of less expensive parts that work and look just as good?

because its nice to have a bike with the parts it was designed for. Yea its overkill for most, but they are quality goods.

fwiw my daily rider is almost 100% NJS free now. Im down to toe clips and chain.

because although i don't live in japan, i'm a woman, i'm overweight, and i'm slow, i may someday need it for racing keirin.

yeah, right.

in all seriousness... i have an njs bike because it fit me and, just as i'd build an italian frame with italian components, i wanted to build the japanese bike with use- and era- appropriate components. it's silly and stupid, i know, but so am i. oh, and it weighs a TON.

I think that opinion is more popular than you think. If it's not it should be. Anyway if it was really that important to be "authentic" you wouldn't see all those "NJS testicle protectors" out there.

Unless you are a keirin racer. Please explain to me why this is important to anyone else. Yes I've seen how cool it looks, but why drop the cash when there is a huge assortment of less expensive parts that work and look just as good?

Because the less expensive parts don't cost as much!

Very high quality parts

haute culture fashion overkill

its still better than collecting beanie babies

Or D&D figures.

because its nice to have a bike with the parts it was designed for. Yea its overkill for most, but they are quality goods.

fwiw my daily rider is almost 100% NJS free now. Im down to toe clips and chain.

And a bike designed for NJS DA hubs just wouldn't be the same as a bike with non-njs DA hubs. The lack of stamp throws of the weight distribution and aerodynamics.

i mean, i'd die of shame if my flat-bar-sportin', mis-matched-wheel-rockin' IRO Mark V didn't have some NJS on it. hence the lockring.

mattface - Oh. I'm not that anal. :D

because its nice to have a bike with the parts it was designed for. Yea its overkill for most, but they are quality goods.

fwiw my daily rider is almost 100% NJS free now. Im down to toe clips and chain.

There are other classic Japanese parts that work just as well. If you are going for a "look", fine, but I don't buy the "quality" argument at all.

edit: troll.

When someone shows me somewhere to buy Nitto bars/stems and Sugino cranks without the stamp, I'll be happy to buy them.

I'm pretty sure these Nitto bars aren't NJS stamped :
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/images/catpics/mr/16-123.jpg

Same with the vast majority of their bars and stems.

for the same reason out-of-shape fifty-somethings drop megabucks on lightweight components that make their bikes a couple pounds lighter: because it's fun.

Who wouldn't want to use what the pros use?

When someone shows me somewhere to buy Nitto bars/stems and Sugino cranks without the stamp, I'll be happy to buy them.

Right, the pros :rolleyes:

Nitto makes all kinds of non-NJS stuff. Do you like the Sugino cranks because the are NJS or is it incidental?

(note: i myself would never do either, i have other habits that are just as irrational instead)

Fair enough. I guess I meant their track stuff.

This thread reminds me of all those threads about the mythical art school students with their multi-thousand dollar track bikes who just wanted to look cool and talked **** to everyone who couldn't afford a really fancy bike. I don't think there's anyone on this forum who has ever told anyone to buy something just because it's NJS. Nobody operates like that in real life.

mattface - Oh. I'm not that anal. :D

maybe not, but some are. After all they DO charge a premium for the stamped ones, and somebody pays it.

I think the black suginos are non NJS.. I like how the silver ones look better and its not much of a price difference.

People who buy NJS parts are suckers.

mattface- true that. I'm building up a 3Rensho now and I've already blown the all NJS thing with some 32H suntour hubs. It'll be our little secret, k?

Nitto makes all kinds of non-NJS stuff. Do you like the Sugino cranks because the are NJS or is it incidental?

I didn't buy them for that, but I don't mind that they are.

Fair enough. I guess I meant their track stuff.

This thread reminds me of all those threads about the mythical art school students with their multi-thousand dollar track bikes who just wanted to look cool and talked **** to everyone who couldn't afford a really fancy bike. I don't think there's anyone on this forum who has ever told anyone to buy something just because it's NJS. Nobody operates like that in real life.

Ah, but there are people on this forum,a nd outside of this forum who go to great lengths to build up Keirin frames all NJS. I guess it's kinda like a hobby. It keeps em busy, and keeps the economy spinning. To some degree they all must know that that stamp doesn't make their bike nay faster, lighter, or more durable. On some level they must know that the stamp is not relevant to the quality or ride of the bike. So I think even the NJS obsessed on some level know it's not "relevant". At least I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.

because its nice to have a bike with the parts it was designed for.
Your track bike was designed to be ridden on the street?!

Your track bike was designed to be ridden on the street?!


OH SNAP

Ah, but there are people on this forum,a nd outside of this forum who go to great lengths to build up Keirin frames all NJS. I guess it's kinda like a hobby. It keeps em busy, and keeps the economy spinning. To some degree they all must know that that stamp doesn't make their bike nay faster, lighter, or more durable. On some level they must know that the stamp is not relevant to the quality or ride of the bike. So I think even the NJS obsessed on some level know it's not "relevant". At least I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I mean, that's me. I'm building up a keirin frame with a fair bit of NJS stuff (rims, seatpost, saddle, pedals won't be). The stamp itself doesn't do anything to the components, but it happens to appear on pretty high-quality stuff that, at least for some of it, is relatively moderately priced. $7 for a steel lockring? Sounds okay to me.

It's kind of like saying that "Campagnolo" on your components is "irrelevant." It probably doesn't make you faster, but I kind of like my bikes pretty. If aesthetics are "irrelevant" and bikes are only as interesting as they are to ride, then the photos thread is irrelevant, FGG is irrelevant, and BFFGSS is irrelevant.

I never said anything about using it for what it was intended for. :D

wow, $0.00, is this what road racing does to people?

Where's the post where someone was saying that Japanese consider the NJS standard a hinderance?

WTF cares if someone buys all NJS or not... I have both NJS and non NJS parts and guess what... I'm not a keirin racer... and guess whatelse, I don't give a flying f**k what you think and further more, whats it to you if someone wants to buy NJS parts. If they can afford it, so be it. Go ride your fu**ing bike, NJS or not and stop b*tching and whining about people's choices... especially since those choices doesn't concern or affect you one way or the other.

Why would you buy Campy? just as expensive if not more... and the 'classic' japanese parts are easily just as expensive if not more than NJS parts anyways so whats the point?

Get off your high horse and stop worrying about other peoples choice and I bet if you can get NJS for a decent price, you would over other parts.

I have a 3rensho... so the f*ck what!!! I got it cheap and you would buy it too if you had the chance... stop being mad that you don't get the opportunity to buy quality parts for cheap.

Collectors. Same reason a stock Porsche 550 Spyder is a hell of a lot cooler than a Chuck Beck. In the end, functionally pointless and completely harmless.

By the way, I wonder if I could get a machinist buddy to make a NJS stamp for me. Then I could start making a ****load of money offa ebay stamping BB shells of old, repainted Raleighs...

amen, wangster, brother. amen.

mattface- true that. I'm building up a 3Rensho now and I've already blown the all NJS thing with some 32H suntour hubs. It'll be our little secret, k?

Just between you, me, and people who can count ;)

I'd take a set of Suntour Superbe track hubs even if they DID have an NJS stamp on em. I mean sure it would break my strict no-NJS rule, but it'd be worth it. :P

wow, $0.00, is this what road racing does to people?

Does track racing lessen peoples sense of humour?? Apparently!

someone mentioned this already, but i'll chime in too: it's fun.

i LIKE building bikes, tracking down the parts piece by piece is an enjoyable part of the process, and if you limit yourself to just njs (or just nuovo record) it adds a bit of challenge to the whole process.

Fin Du Monde is completely irrelevant; Boone's will get you drunk.

The best part about the whole NJS thing is how defensive people get about it.

It's like you just set their dog on fire and pissed on the ashes.

Fin Du Monde is completely irrelevant; Boone's will get you drunk.


I don't like it when I can see through my alcohol.

WTF cares if someone buys all NJS or not... I have both NJS and non NJS parts and guess what... I'm not a keirin racer... and guess whatelse, I don't give a flying f**k what you think and further more, whats it to you if someone wants to buy NJS parts. If they can afford it, so be it. Go ride your fu**ing bike, NJS or not and stop b*tching and whining about people's choices... especially since those choices doesn't concern or affect you one way or the other.

Why would you buy Campy? just as expensive if not more... and the 'classic' japanese parts are easily just as expensive if not more than NJS parts anyways so whats the point?

Get off your high horse and stop worrying about other peoples choice and I bet if you can get NJS for a decent price, you would over other parts.

I have a 3rensho... so the f*ck what!!! I got it cheap and you would buy it too if you had the chance... stop being mad that you don't get the opportunity to buy quality parts for cheap.

Seaking of ****ing riding a donkey **** **** bike piece of **** 3rensho (pshh, who really wants a hand built quality frame anyways, gimmee GMC Walmart bike or give me death), you comin for a few laps in CP tonight?

Ah, but there are people on this forum,a nd outside of this forum who go to great lengths to build up Keirin frames all NJS. I guess it's kinda like a hobby. It keeps em busy, and keeps the economy spinning. To some degree they all must know that that stamp doesn't make their bike nay faster, lighter, or more durable. On some level they must know that the stamp is not relevant to the quality or ride of the bike. So I think even the NJS obsessed on some level know it's not "relevant". At least I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Kinda like the all Italian, or all American bike?


Where's the post where someone was saying that Japanese consider the NJS standard a hinderance?
I think it was from Vomitron. Though it looks like this might change as NJS is looking into certifying CF bikes and possibly disk wheels IIRC.


Kinda like how "track bikes" are cooler to ride on the streets than road conversions?

Does track racing lessen peoples sense of humour?? Apparently!
Makes them fat and grumpy, too!

In case this was lost on anyone. Threads starting with "Unpopular Opinion:" are intended to get people riled up. 40 posts in 40 minutes, this thread served it's purpose ;)

In case this was lost on anyone. Threads starting with "Unpopular Opinion:" are intended to get people riled up. 40 posts in 40 minutes, this thread served it's purpose ;)
A troll, to some.

Seaking of ****ing riding a donkey **** **** bike piece of **** 3rensho (pshh, who really wants a hand built quality frame anyways, gimmee GMC Walmart bike or give me death), you comin for a few laps in CP tonight?


Nah... got a lot of crap to do after work. I'll trade you the 3rensho for the GMC bike... that isht is the jam! I'll probably do laps in PP later tonight but I might do it with the new road bike... depending on how lazy I feel.

Unless you are a keirin racer. Please explain to me why this is important to anyone else. Yes I've seen how cool it looks, but why drop the cash when there is a huge assortment of less expensive parts that work and look just as good?

I have a very nice, almost unused njs Dura Ace bottom bracket. It spins extra smooth and there is no apparent wear on the cups or races. I bought it for about half the price of a new, high quality cartridge bottom bracket with the intention of using it on a conversion project sometime in the future. May I please have your permission to do so? How about if I dremel off the little njs marque first? While I'm at it, I should confess that I have used nothing but njs Dura Ace lockrings. :rolleyes: :D :rolleyes:

Dogbait

Kept me entertained :D

I'm not parting with my GMC ... that ****'s made out of aluminum, not that heavy "steel" you guys speak of. Plus, who really pays more than $100 for bicycle?!?! I mean, what's the worst that could happen???

Does track racing lessen peoples sense of humour?? Apparently!
good thing i don't race, huh!

Kinda like the all Italian, or all American bike?


Yup. just like that. And for a personal example when I built my last bike I decided to build it 100% non-Shimano. I've got parts from all over the world. some japanese, some italian, the frame was made in Taiwan, but nothing was Shimano. Why? No reason really. I like Shimano parts, but it's been decades since I've had a bike with nothing Shimano on it, and it seemed like an interesting goal. Irrelevant, but entertaining nonetheless. Much like this thread in that respect.

Or D&D figures.

Watch your mouth!:D