Commuting - Its Alive! (Karate Monkey with pics)

I finished the Karate Monkey late last week with much help from my LBS owner (Joe, at Columbus Cycling and Fitness, Columbus Indiana). Joe is a great guy and he stayed after hours to help with the things I don't have tools for, or just don't know to do. I don't think you'll find a more supportive LBS owner anywhere. He does 24 hour turn around on repairs, but for minor stuff, I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes or so.

The project has been a great success and I couldn't be happier, I can see this turning into my favorite bike. The position is very comfortable and the ride is smooth and comfortable. They say "steel is real" (4130) and I'm starting to agree. The handling is quick enough but it certainly seems to me to be more of a "touring" feel. My point of reference is my Giant OCR, on which I spend a great deal of time.

The specifics are as follows:

Trekking bars from Nashbar (very inexpensive right now). The bars are great, but I really wish they were an inch or two wider.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1049&brand=&sku=9756&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Campus pedals (Shimano).

Cane Creek headset (I don't remember which one).

Nashbar Isis drive crankset (also very cheap right now). I got mostly because it was all black. Its comes with 53/39 rings and I'm using the 39. I had to use a set of "bmx" chain ring bolts to use only one ring. This was one of Joe's invaluable tips. I was killing myself looking for a "single" crank set.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=11460&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Shimano Nexus Inter-8 rear hub For those of you not familiar, it is an internally geared 8 speed hub actuated by a "twist" shifter. The two big reasons I wanted to use this were for ease of use and lack of maintenance, probably in that order. Namely, you can shift while stopped and there is no derailleur to to get banged around in bike racks or on curbs and what-not.

I got the "premium" version. I'm not sure what that really gains me except for a small weight savings. If nothing else by making my wallet a few grams lighter. Oh yeah, and it has a nifty red stripe on it.
http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/component.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441763083&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302040294&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181419&bmUID=1150759723920

Nexus 8 twist shifter
http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/component.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441770718&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302040293&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181419&bmUID=1150759723904

Nexus Roller brake This is the big shiny thing on the rear that looks kind of like a disc brake, but its not, it is a cooling fin. I really wanted a gear hub with a disc brake but Shimano does not offer one in the US. Sturmey-Archer does, but it will not be available until July 6th. I've heard it is of good quality. But I'm an American through and through and I have to have everything RIGHT NOW! ;)
http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/component.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441762465&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302040291&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181419&bmUID=1150759723904

Velocity Dyad (I think) Hoops I wanted 700c wheels, in all black (no braking surface), for disc brakes, with 36 holes. (try and find them) The back wheel had to be custom anyway, so I got a Deore disc hub and a bunch of spokes to go with the hoops.
http://velocityusa.com/rims/road-rims.php

Brooks B17 Standard Saddle Need I say more. (I didn't think so)

Rohloff chain Given to me by Joe. Thanks Joe.

Shimano Deore MTB Brake Levers http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/component.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441771316&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302039955&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181419&bmUID=1150760752567

Avid disc brake http://www.sram.com/en/avid/discbrakes/ballbearing7/ballbearing7.php

Surly Karate Monkey Frame and Fork http://www.surlybikes.com/karatemonkey.html
From the great group of guys at Indy Cycle Specialists. I can't say enough good things about them, they have a great shop and a TON of things in stock.
http://www.indycyclespecialist.com/

I don't have bar tape yet and I have not added the rack or bottle cages. I'm enjoying its simplicity at the moment and I can't bring myself to clutter it up. I took it out for a ~15 mile shake-down run this weekend and it is bliss. The disc brake is awesome, the roller brake works fine and the gear hub is really a very nice thing to have for "urban" (read stop and go) riding.

The gear hub works well. It seems to like shifting into some gears better than others while pedaling (sp?) but it is still very new. I don't mean that it is difficult to shift, just that sometimes I have to let up just a little.

Well, without further ado ( and there is much more ado here than I intended) here are some pics:

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/side3.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/pit.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/badge.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/avid.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/nexus.jpg

I'm including this picture to show how I routed the shifter cable in case you want to build one. It allowed me to use same cable routing you would for a derailleur (which you can use on this bike).

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/route.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/side1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~bradkelley/monkey/side2.jpg

That my friend is one beautiful, slick, sleek & awesome bike. :beer:

I'm quite positive you'll get much enjoyment from that, I am just by looking at it. :)

That my friend is one beautiful, slick, sleek & awesome bike. :beer:

I'm quite positive you'll get much enjoyment from that, I am just by looking at it. :)

Thank you for the complements! I'm sure that you're right. :)

I think Im in :love:

Sooooooo nice !!!!

Perfect 10 !

WOW

Unique, beautiful and functional. Nice job. Where are you gonna find black water bottles?

WOW

Unique, beautiful and functional. Nice job. Where are you gonna find black water bottles?

Oh drat! I hadn't thought of that. http://forums.stangnet.com/images/smilies/pat.gif

How much did everything run, labor included? You've pretty much got the bike I want to make, or at at least ride anyway. Congratulations!

It was right at $1000. The LBS guy only charged me $40 labor.

It's so ... black! (http://matt.injustice.net.nz/guide/book2/b2c19.php).

Gorgeous bike!

Great, I just creamed my jeans.

Nice Bike so stealth so zoomy

Damn! I thought I never say this, but that internal hub looks really nice! It cleans up the look.

That looks strange with the shifter cable pointing back like that. Mine goes forward under the chain stay. You notice these things when you got em. If you have shifting problems, put it in forth gear and make sure the yellow lines match up (I can see it in the 4th picture, a little window on top of the rear hub by the chain). Mine was built in winter and by summer the cables had stretched a little and had to readjust it a few times. Have you gotten used to twisting up to shift down yet? It took me about a month.

Looks like a Kenda tire tread I had on my old bike. The all black wheels look nice when you have the disk brakes. The silver circles I have kind of ruin the effect on mine. I haven't put water bottles on mine either. Without all the mass of caliper brakes and stuff, I like the uncluttered look.

Are you happy with the gear inch range? I took me a few tries to get was best for me. I currently have 48 tooth crank in front and the 21 tooth cog in the back.

Wait! Three leaves... non serated edges... That's poison ivy!
Be careful. Photo #3, to the right of the "S" on the head tube. Like I said earlier, you notice these things when you got em. Dam bush hoggers. I should have know better when I passed that road crew.

Enjoy your bike.

Thanks for all the nice compliments, I'm really loving the bike.

@unkchunk-
I pointed the shifter cable backwards so I could use the "cable stay" on the frame and route the cable under the BB for a cleaner, smoother install. I put picture #6 above to show the routing. If it is pointed forward on this frame, it would require at tight "s" bend to get to the cable stay and I didn't think it would work very smoothly.

That looks beautiful. Now I want an all black bike like Hotblack Desiado's ride.

This is a great example of a bike build. :beer:

You selected your frame and every single component to get the exact bike you wanted.

Over time, one could acquire the parts in the best cost effective way.

This is what I would like to do as well. Using the Gunnar Cross Hairs frame with a Ultregra crank and Deore XT drive train.

Congratulations on finishing what you started.

Very pretty! Echoes of what I want to do with a Cross Check - or wanted to do. I would never have thought of going with the Karate Monkey, but it makes a lot of sense. Isn't the rear spacing on the KM 135mm, though? How did you get around that?

Very pretty! Echoes of what I want to do with a Cross Check - or wanted to do. I would never have thought of going with the Karate Monkey, but it makes a lot of sense. Isn't the rear spacing on the KM 135mm, though? How did you get around that?

The O.L.D. (over locknut dimemsion) on the Nexus hub is 132.5mm. That only leaves 2.5mm (or 1.25mm on each side if you prefer) and the steel frame will easily flex to accomodate that.

Awesome bike. That thing rocks!

I just wanted to second your ICS comment... I didn't buy my bike there, but they've always been more than helpful when I stopped in. They also tried to talk my girlfriend into cycling, which was nice since she won't listen to me.

Enjoy your bike.

Nice ride. All the way around. Much fun to be had on that.
--A

I like it. Built it up a few months ago; probably have a couple hundred miles on it now, in path and utility/errand cycling; used it on my commute a little too. It's nice. I've since changed around the handlebars a bit. Also it has a Wald basket on the front, the kind that Rivendell sells.

http://homepage.mac.com/kurtmrufa/monkey/monkey-Images/1.jpg

I thought about doing that with my shifter cable, but I figured that would kinda defeat the purpose of the design which is to keep all the delicate bits safely inboard of the chainstay.

Now if only Shimano would make a bar-end shifter for the Nexus 8, then I'd surely buy another one of these hubs.

Okay yeah, I didn't think of the problems the curved chain stay can create. Also see that you have to mount the arm of the roller break to the seat stay. I add a picture of my CrossCheck back when it was new for hub comparison. I wanted to get a shot from a similar angle, but the fenders and rack I have on now won't allow it.

Now if only Shimano would make a bar-end shifter for the Nexus 8, then I'd surely buy another one of these hubs.

Nice bike! I see you opted for the "skid mark brown" (thier name not mine :) ).

The shifter is the biggest bummer of the Nexus. Also, it would be nice to have an option for drop bars.

Sweet.

I just ordered a Cross Check frame yesterday for my own singlespeed mutt commuter project. As nice as a custom frame would have been I couldn't justify the cost or the wait. I've been collecting parts as deals pop up for a few months now.

love everything but the bars. why did you pick those?

Funny, I'd been eyeing those bars as a replacement for the stock bars on my Novara Fusion. I wanted bar ends because I need more positions, but there's not enough room on the stock bars to move the grips and everything else inboard to make room, and there don't seem to be any wedge type bar ends around anymore. These pictures convinced me. I just ordered these bars (for $10, worth checking out).

love everything but the bars. why did you pick those?

It was these, or flat bars, and these have more hand positions.

A couple of other people have mentioned the Cross Check, which is also what I would love to build up if I ever have the time, money, and convenient geographical location. Any particular reason you went with the Karate Monkey? I'm curious.

Beautiful bike my friend. You did one hell of a job on it!!!

hi man,

that's a great setup. I am setting up one with a On-one inbred frame.
I have the same premium hub + the drum brake. I am not sure if I should use the drum or Vees??
How does the drum brake feel so far for you?
I was also thinking of putting knobbies & bring it off-road for a try. I think if GT can put this hub on a Dh bikes.......should not be any problem doing off road.

A couple of other people have mentioned the Cross Check, which is also what I would love to build up if I ever have the time, money, and convenient geographical location. Any particular reason you went with the Karate Monkey? I'm curious.

The bike shop had the CC and KM built up, so I got to ride both. I liked the way the KM handled (a little)better, it seemed a bit more "stable" than the CC, kind of like an older touring frame, so I bought the KM frame. Also, the KM has mounts for disc brakes, and I really wanted to try them.

Otherwise, I think the CC is a nicer looking frame.

I have the same premium hub + the drum brake. I am not sure if I should use the drum or Vees??
How does the drum brake feel so far for you?


The roller brake feels fine. i.e. smooth, strong and linear. It is kind of a PIA to change the rear tube though. There is a "quick connect" on the cable, but you still have to unbolt the anti-rotation lever from the frame. I really wish the Sturmey-Archer disc hub would have been available.

IMHO, for practicality, either the SA disc hub or vees would be a better choice. It will also be interesting to see how the roller brake holds up to time, weather and dirt. Vees have thier limitations, but we know what they are and they are reasonably predictable.

can some explain how the roller brake works and do you have to have it with the shimano rear hub? also how does does the hub feel and do you prefer it to the standerd derailer system besides the fact that it doesnt get banged up when on a bike rack?

hi man,

I am not sure if I should use the drum or Vees??
How does the drum brake feel so far for you?


I removed my drum brake because it made changing a flat too difficult in the best of conditions. But it did work and it's perofrmance wasn't effected by rain. So in dry conditions a vee worked a little better, in wet the drum worked a little better.

FCDrifter,

I'm not exactly sure how the roller brake works, but it must involve friction somewhere. That big silver disk has cooling vanes because it does get hot. I think you can also get one for the front hub. But I got to warn you that they make changing a tire very difficult.

What I come to like best about the internal hub is when in city/frequent stop areas you can down shift when not moving. Also onlyh need one hand to shift the entire gear range. Derailer gears you might have to start in a way to high gear range. With the Nexus you just shift down and you are ready to go. It's an advantage mainy in the city. Less maintenence and cleaning is another plus for commuting.

Dead Extra you do have an option for drop bars. The hubbub shifter adapter from Harris Cyclery.:D I run a very similar set up on my Cannodale 50/50 (front disc, nexus 8 hub, brooks saddle, mine is sprung Champion flyer, SKS fenders Schmidt Dyno hub w/ headlight & tailight,and Conti town & Country tires) I have nitto moustache bars w/ Dia Compe 287 road levers which work w/ mechaical disc v brake rear and the hubbub adapter which inserts into the bar end. The nexus shifter slips on to the adapter. It can be used w/ drops as well. I originaly had a straight bar which even when I swithched to a carbon bar gave me wrist pain. The moustache bars w/ a layer of cork and cloth work great and give a number of hand positions. They look good too. I also installed a stem riser to make the bars level w/ my saddle. FYI

@Fender

Do the Dia Compe levers work well with the disc?

Sweeet!

I got to see this bike tonight.

Very nice. He let me take it for a short ride. Very very nice.
It's one of those things, the more you look at it, the more you see, and the more you go, "yeah, that's how it ought to be done." Actually, I kind of liked the bars too, but I've put a bunch of city miles on North Roads bars lately, so my judgement may be off.

Dead extra,

The Dia Compe work very well w/ the disc. I was able to adjust so the brake does not feel squishy at all. In fact it feels better that the rear v-brake it is designed for. The nice thing is I can switch to drops or to moustache and since I saved the other flat bar gear I have that as an option as well. Always nice to have options!:)

What size and brand are the tires? Kewl.

Kenda Kwest- 700x35. They are OK, but I'm not sure I love them or anything.

I would have guessed they were wider than that. Looks good though.

FYI
BLACK ALUMINUM WATER BOTTLES ON SALE ... $8

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22415&estore_ID=749

Good find! Thank you zori.

Beautifully done! This is my dream winter bike.

I must say I'm impressed. I test-rode a KM at the bike shop and it rides great. I would love to unload a few of my bikes to get one. They are the ultimate do-anything bikes!

I have a bike with Kenda Kwest 700 x 35 tires. They ride nice but they're kinda heavy.

BTW, after looking at you bike, i thought to my self i gota try out this internal hub stuff... so i got me a comuter... shimano 4 spd nexus... what i dont like is that the brake lever is atached to the shifter, i might look in to taking it apart or finding a new shifter. also, i dont understand that rear brake you got going (its a brake right) does it activate the nexus drum brake (i got a back pedal brake thing, pretty sure its drum styled)... and 4 spd is just right of daily riding... but i hate this pedal brake! i always fall off at stop light cause when i dissmount i slam the rear and the bike dosnt flow with me, and then i cant start off to well either. i was thinking of slaping on a new rear hub (nexus somthing) but im not sure its worth if on this bike...