Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Kilo OS - comments, ideas, and assorted stuff

I got the idea to do a kinda of combo retro/modern track/grass racer fun fixed/ss bike from the forums and just wanted something kinda of fun to play with

here is work in progress

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/KILOOS-2.jpg

I have some White Tires I am going to mount on it

It has tons of tire room with 38c mounted now

I am think it will lokk better without decals

Also thinking
Silver bar/stem/post and maybe crank
White Cloth Tape if with white tires
Maybe Brown cloth to match Saddle
Maybe wider lower bars
maybe dropping all braze-ons [just to be more old school]

I love the red rims, but some in office say use polished

I have R556 brakes that fit on it perfect; but maybe it should come fixed only

I am sure this will not become a big seller and I am not even sure why I am doing it; other than to just have a bit of fun

I would love any comments or ideas or suggestions

thanks
mike

Whoa that's pretty cool looking

I dig the double topube. I also like the black bars- I think, instead of tape, they need long grips in white or red. You're already planning on whitewall tires- I like the red rims, but wait until you put the whitewalls on to make a judgment.

Needs new stem, black or silver wheels, seat without springs, and bartape

will this work with the r556 in both the front and back and what would the tire clearance be with and without fenders?

will this work with the r556 in both the front and back and what would the tire clearance be with and without fenders?


Yes

works with R56 on both front and rear
with tons of space left for fenders or even wider tires

Yes

works with R56 on both front and rear
with tons of space left for fenders or even wider tires

Nice looks awesome

Silver/polished rims & white tires with silver components, no brazeons, and no decals. Right now it looks like a funky kilo with a double tube rather than an old school bike. The big also looks funky because of the space of the post and stem showing. Old school bikes fit different with much less of either showing. It would look better imho if it was corrected to fit with less of either showing.

not for me, but i can dig it

I like it.

Can the bars be flipped for sort of a "north road" feel or are they just "dirt drops" or whatever the term for the offspring of a drop bar and a mustache bar is.

[below are some pictures to clarify for anyone who might use different names for the bars I'm referring to]

Northroad Bars:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21Cx5Lw31DL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Dirt Drops:
http://www.thebikeboutique.com/images/products/midge.jpg

friggin' sweet.

Really needs the arched undertube.

that color scheme is unbelievably ugly for that style bike.

black stem + bars also suck with that silver headset.

And that brown seat has got to go.

Maybe use a more classicly styled Mercier logo.

Something about the proportions looks wrong, but I'm not sure what. Maybe the handlebars?

Would an old school adjustable stem be possible?

Something like:
http://www.ciclisucarta.it/images/hetchins2.jpg

Really needs the arched undertube.

This.

I am impressed! Thats pretty amazing marketing. Merging the two trendiest bikes going... A fixed Dutch city bike! Wow. Lookout. Gonna sell a few of those! He he.

I'd say that yeah, you need some matching brown bar-tape on the bike. Also, I think that if you can get a Brooks-like saddle on the cheap you can probably get a Brooks-like saddle-bag on the cheap too. People go nuts for that look, so throw that on there in a matching brown and it will be a winner.

Cool idea although I don't care much for the colors. I think a Brooks honey saddle with matching bartape on a seafoam green frame with white rims and gumwall tires would be classy though. And chrome parts.

Silver components + curved under tube

that reminds me of my kilo.

Now I have set this bike up with White Trim
and also photo shopped to have no decals

And there are many opinions on selection of parts, color of parts, and color of rims, and so on

SO maybe a frame only is the best option, maybe frameset with a nice leather seat
and then leave the setup to each buyer

Any comments on how frame might sell??

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/KILOOSWHITE.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/KILOOSNODECALS.jpg

A lot of people spend a lot of time going for the old school look, and you could take some pointers from them. Bikes are supposed to look good or functional well, and if you're lucky do both. This does neither.
The fact that bikedirect has the chance to make budget frames of comparable quality to nice ones implies that you guys should do something worthwhile with this power. A knockoff Long Haul Trucker or Cross Check would do wonders. Or maybe rather than a double top tube, just put lugs on your kilo frame and give it a better looking logo, on the downtube only. Silver components and a threadless headset. It's 2009, the only bikes that should have threaded headsets are rivendells.

i would buy that in a second....looking for first fixie wish it were available now....

Tbh, I like the black tires more than the white baloons (whitewalls or a white pinstripe/reflective strip might still be ok). The white grips look better while the decals are still applied (they don't actually match the tires, and they don't connect to anything else).

Holy ****ing ****, yes please

a lot of people spend a lot of time going for the old school look, and you could take some pointers from them. Bikes are supposed to look good or functional well, and if you're lucky do both. This does neither.
The fact that bikedirect has the chance to make budget frames of comparable quality to nice ones implies that you guys should do something worthwhile with this power. A knockoff long haul trucker or cross check would do wonders. Or maybe rather than a double top tube, just put lugs on your kilo frame and give it a better looking logo, on the downtube only. Silver components and a threadless headset. It's 2009, the only bikes that should have threaded headsets are rivendells.

your opinion =/= facts

i do agree that an old school design like that would probably sell better even with very simple lugs. this of course would make the price skyrocket.

i think a better seller would be an aluminum kilo with a teardrop/cutout seattube. it wouldn't be too hard to do and it would be cheaper than a lugged one.

you could make the aluminum an AL-NS and a lugged steel vintage LSV-OS...

but you'd definitely need to change the rest of the logos for either. the fleur de lis decal could be for the old-school and maybe use the downtube logo exclusively for the aluminum? also, offer the aluminum in brushed finish?

not to hijack, but i like this whole old school/new school idea. just unsure of how it would sell if the price is so much higher.


it does look like an awesome 1920's bike but the rims are too new school and it will look like crap with a brake on it. make a coaster brake version?

those decals are the worst. no decals would be better. time period esque decals would be the best!

Lugged frame is to Charlize Theron as welded is to Megan Fox. One has classy beauty that will appeal those from that specific era and also of today plus you can take home to introduce to mom. The other you want to get beligerent drunk with and stay up all night with around town. I would still mash both regardless.

You could probably talk me into buying one

I would only really be interested in buying just the frame but depending on the pricepoint I might choose the fantomcross uno instead...I do love the look of that frame though...the seat needs to go

I would only really be interested in buying just the frame but depending on the pricepoint I might choose the fantomcross uno instead...I do love the look of that frame though...the seat needs to go


I am certainly going to bring frameset only with no decals
and a few as complete bikes

I think frames will out sell bikes; as people will want to personalize
that seems to be the overall message

your opinion =/= facts

and this bike doesn't equal anything at all. what the sweet hell? i'm a proud owner of a "regular" kilo tt, it's pretty great. never thought it needed a second top tube or fat white tires, though. yes, big clearances on a single speed/fixed bike with rack and fender capability is nice, but something like a jury frame already does that. and with one less top tube.

+1 for reworking an aero aluminum track frame (pista concept), cross check, or LHT, though. or, hell, even a mixte reminiscent of a soma buena vista.

and this bike doesn't equal anything at all. what the sweet hell? i'm a proud owner of a "regular" kilo tt, it's pretty great. never thought it needed a second top tube or fat white tires, though. yes, big clearances on a single speed/fixed bike with rack and fender capability is nice, but something like a jury frame already does that. and with one less top tube.

+1 for reworking an aero aluminum track frame (pista concept), cross check, or LHT, though. or, hell, even a mixte reminiscent of a soma buena vista.

The jury frame is pretty good but has one major flaw and that is the fact that you have to use some ungodly long brake caliper for the rear if you decide that you want to use a second brake so in my opinion this frame will probably replace the jury frame in terms of functionality and utility....plus I think the second toptube looks kinda cool

What's the difference between this and the Jury, besides the TT? I was really looking forward to getting one but it's not like it needs to be any heavier than it already is.

And if you don't like the rear brake on the Jury, the Fantom Cross Uno is a nice alternative. I would even consider one if it came without decals.

I applaud trying new/crazy things but I hope it doesn't replace anything else in the lineup.

if this bike was offered in a faux raw/patina I would lose my mind


or just like a faux brown/worn finish haha


IDK why, but I see this thing being the ultimate w/ a big ass basket, panniers and full fenders

and a giant horn

What's the difference between this and the Jury, besides the TT? I was really looking forward to getting one but it's not like it needs to be any heavier than it already is.

And if you don't like the rear brake on the Jury, the Fantom Cross Uno is a nice alternative. I would even consider one if it came without decals.

I applaud trying new/crazy things but I hope it doesn't replace anything else in the lineup.


The double top tube bike/frame will not replace anything; it is just added for fun as a few people requested it.

Kilo WT will also be available for those that want a nice frame with wide tire space
{plus I am looking into a Kilo WT5 with internal 5-speed hub and bar-con shifter**

Plus still working on Kilo S3X with new 3-speed fixed hub

And to answer some other questions above
Sample of new Motobecane Gran Turismo just came in [somewhat like LHT but a bit nicer]
Sample of new Motecane Track Team on the way [DA level Aluminum/Aero track bike]

Thought of doing a Cross Check type CX bike, but did a Ti version instead and it has sold like crazy {so I may do a Ti track bike**

Also working on new paint/chrome frames in Kilo TT
Question, how much more would a frame be worth with chrome tips on fork, SS, CS? New Specialized frame with chrome fork and crm tips on stays is $440. I would hope Kilo frame with chrome could be under $250 for frame&fork

Also, I am open to any other ideas as I want to be the supplier which is most responsive to customers needs and desires {note - Track Team is a need -- Kilo OS is a desire**

the chrome tips under 250 would sell!

I say sell this bike no decals with chrome parts. Lugged if possible ... Figure that is unlikely though. That is all.

I just think it needs to be a little more classic, if that helps at all . . . Right now it looks like a regular frame with a second tube lumped on it. I like the idea of the second tube curved, or maybe even a curved top tube with a straight one underneath it. Lugs would be cool, too, and maybe even adding a little more cost would be okay since this bike might be fore more of a niche market. Either no decals or very subdued ones, and maybe some matte paint would look classy. I guess in my opinion this one should look old.

I just think it needs to be a little more classic, if that helps at all . . . Right now it looks like a regular frame with a second tube lumped on it. I like the idea of the second tube curved, or maybe even a curved top tube with a straight one underneath it. Lugs would be cool, too, and maybe even adding a little more cost would be okay since this bike might be fore more of a niche market. Either no decals or very subdued ones, and maybe some matte paint would look classy. I guess in my opinion this one should look old.

+1

There was a previous discussion (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=508006) along these lines that included some very cool pics...

I like it. drop the decals though.

Try slamming the stem. I wanna see how that looks.

this was 9 months ago, i doubt suggestions now is useful

A lot of people spend a lot of time going for the old school look, and you could take some pointers from them. Bikes are supposed to look good or functional well, and if you're lucky do both. This does neither.
The fact that bikedirect has the chance to make budget frames of comparable quality to nice ones implies that you guys should do something worthwhile with this power. A knockoff Long Haul Trucker or Cross Check would do wonders. Or maybe rather than a double top tube, just put lugs on your kilo frame and give it a better looking logo, on the downtube only. Silver components and a threadless headset. It's 2009, the only bikes that should have threaded headsets are rivendells.

+1

1) rip-off more Surly bikes
2) ??
3) profit!