Australia - New Zealand - Kennedy Custom

Any Aussies out there had any experience or advise about John kennedy's custom built bikes. I am a born again cyclist in my 50's and looking to upgrade from my current TCR C2. Have narrowed it down to the Specialized Roubaix pro or the Trek Madone 5.2, but I am now also considering having Kennedy put together an alloy framed custom. All would come in about the same price. $5.5 to $6k. There is plenty of comparisons and reviews to read on the 2 "brand" bikes, but other than sitting outside Johns Beach Road cafe and talk to the converted Kennedy fans it's a bit hard to get constructive info on his bikes.
Any tips would be greatly appreciatted.

I guess the question is: "do you need a custom frame?"


Ask this guy: :) http://www.thylacinecycles.com/ I think he's in Kensington or Flemmington, ot something.

And if he doesn't reply, ask him here: :p http://www.cyclingforums.com/showthread.php?p=3684119#post3684119

6 grand will also get you a custom steel Baum, which if nothing else, will have nicer welds and a prettier painjob than the Kennedy.

Ow. My ears are burning.

Well, I think what Kennedy is doing has some validity, but I don't think it represents all that good value and when I got fitted up I have to confess I wasn't super happy about paying that sort of money only to have him fit me in between chatting to mates that walked in the door. Not sure if that's indicative or anything because I haven't exactly done a random poll, but that was my experience.

Generally what we do with our road clients, is get their contact points sorted by John Beazley of Beazley Cycles, then use that information to inform the design of the frame in conjunction with our handling and geometry 'philosophy'.

If a customer prefers, they can go get fitted by Kennedy and we can build from that information, too.

The fit quotent of a custom frame is just three points in space based upon your physiology, so you really want someone who is qualified in some way or at least has fitted up a ****eload of people. I can't say that about myself, that's why we use external fitters to generate that information.

Oops. I'm in danger of crapping on. Think I'll stop now. :)

Thanks so far. I guess the question is - is a stock "brand" bike going to perform and fit as well as an equally speced custom bike. I have had JK do bike fits for myself and my wife. Its expensive but I am happy in knowing that a guy who lives and breaths cycles has set up my bike, and knows stuff I will never know,and the outcome has in both cases been a long way off the way the bike supermarkets set up our bikes.
Plenty of experienced road warriors are very happy with their off the rack carbon dream machines. Is there really a need to go custom?

Is there really a need to go custom?
No.

But then again, there is no 'need' for anything more than an old steel frame with 7 speed.

Most manufacturers make good bikes at a reasonable price. They would be able to be made to fit you easily enough.

Having said that...

If you can afford it. A sweet custom bike is going to be 'better' if only because it's going to make you feel better every time you ride it, because it's *exactly* the way you want it. No 'oh, i don't like that colour', or 'i wish the top tube was shorter so i could run a longer stem'

Get what you want - pay once - enjoy it for a long, long time.

If i had the money, i'd get a Thylacine. If only to be on a bike that is relatively rare (plus i reckon the owner might shout me a few beers if i got one :D ).

. Is there really a need to go custom?in my opinion, no, unless you have particular needs or preferences. Just think, there are millions of satisfied, comfortable and very fast riders out there riding off-the-shelf bikes,

Thanks Guys. I think I have it narrowed down to the Trek Madone 5.2

Thanks Guys. I think I have it narrowed down to the Trek Madone 5.2
If you like that, that's cool and my reply can be taken with as much salt as necessary - but i'm going to have to change my opinion a little.

If you're going to spend that much, Thylacine (he replied a few up, and he makes bike - notice he didn't do the hard sell) will make you a much nicer bike.

You're paying a pretty serious premium for a Trek, when it's a fairly generic bike.

I'll say it again. For that money (or at least very close), you could be on a custom frame, with Dura-Ace or Record instead of Ultegra. If it were my money - and i fully realise it's not, and that i'm in no position to tell you what to do, (but i'm going to anyhow :D) if you're going to be sending $6000 on a bike, don't get a Trek, hell, don't get a non-custom.

Give Thylacine (Warwick) a ring, he'll help you out.

Yeah, there's hardly any point getting fitted up just so you can figure out which off the shelf bike you don't have to run a 150mm stem on!

Custom bikes are not about fit. They're about being an individual. Fit is a part of it, but so handling, functionality, looks, and all those nasty philosophical issues, like not purchasing the McDonalds equivalent of a bike! ;)

If you just want the most bang for buck, then just get a Giant and don't bother assisting paying for Lances modest salary. However, if you want to take that 250 bucks you just spent on getting fitted and actually have something completely unique that you have some time and emotion invested in, then why not consider custom?

You're already half way there.

Thanks again for the contributions guys. I actually put down a deposit this weekend on a Roubaix Pro. A bit too much bling for my taste, but a great bike and low $5's with Dura Ace and from all I have read I'm sure its going to be fun.

how much is John kennedy's custom bike?
price range

how much is John kennedy's custom bike?
price rangeI'm not 100% sure, but I think Columbus Zonal aluminium frames start around $1200 to $1400 (could be a tiny bit more), then go up and up from there if you want more exotic stuff, such as carbon stays, lighter aluminium, more expensive forks, titanium, etc, etc

He's got quite a few Zonal aluminium frames hanging on the wall which might fit you. He tends to go for slightly taller head-tubes, and slightly longer stays for (he says), better comfort and a better chain line

I've heard that JK's nickname is "BOX-HEAD" and his business card says "World Champion" because he won some Masters race a few years back........I have always been intrigued by the massive egos that seem to accompany many sports, not just cycling. Then again, I've not met the man, so I'll reserve judgement 'till I do......Maybe he should stop making statements like "Get rid of the riff-raff" at Veterans races.

Maybe he should stop making statements like "Get rid of the riff-raff" at Veterans races.What was that about? He's not far wrong; smashes are far from rare in the lower grades. :p




I've heard that JK's nickname is "BOX-HEAD" and his business card says "World Champion" because he won some Masters race a few years back........I have always been intrigued by the massive egos that seem to accompany many sports, not just cycling. Then again, I've not met the man, so I'll reserve judgement 'till I do......Ok, I'm not gunna say that what he achieved was the absolute pinnacle of the sport, but it was a bit more than "some masters race": he basically smashed every one last year in his age group (50 to 55) at the Track World Masters Championships. He qualified fastest in the sprint; won the sprint final, the scratch race final, the team sprint final, and came 5th in the standing start 500m time trial. :thumb: http://www.cyclingnews.com/track.php?id=track/2007/oct07/mastersworlds07/default

This year he qualified 2nd fastest in the sprint, but didn't win as much. He got 3rd in the 500m time trial, 2nd in the team sprint, but he didn't start one of the sprint heats or the scratch final, so something must've been wrong.

In 1991, he got the world record for the professional track outdoor 200m, in the days when they weren't allowed to come down off the bank of the track.

As far as egos go, I reckon you've gotta have 'something' to be a world class track sprinter. Those guys are crazy! :p I've met a few of the older guys, and most of them have a bit a 'scaryness' about them.

On the business card thing, I'd guess he's done that coz he reckons it's good for business, rather than ego and bragging rights.

In case you're wondering, I've been to his shop a billion times, so I obviously know him, but not all that well; and I wouldn't even say that I've a regular customer -- I only travel the 11.6km to his shop when my local shops haven't got what I want.

Yeah, I know he's got a bit of talent, but the reference to "riff raff" was directed to other riders in the scratch bunch, not wobbly old-timers off limit. Makes me wonder when Vets take cycling so seriously that they train like they're trying to qualify for the next Olympics and the aggressive competiteness they display when there's only $50 and a shiny plastic trophy at the finish line, heck...sometimes it nearly ends in a punch-up. :roflmao2:

There's always those sweet Llewellyn's as well. Not sure of the price on them though.

http://www.llewellynbikes.com/about.htm