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07-16-10, 05:21 PM
Finally. A Frame that I dont have any problems with. The second I got on her I had a HUGE Grin on my face.
MY REVIEW of the TOYO GODZILLA:
First off let me say. Im not in anyway a know it all when it comes to Fixed gears. Im a novice compared to a lot of people who have been riding for 20 years +.....
This Frame arrived really well packaged. It was so well put in there that I had trouble getting it out for a while. I guess when it travels across the pacific it needs to be well packaged.
First off this frame is "Hand made in Osaka Japan" by the Toyo Frame company.
Ishigaki Yoshiaki ,who is the founder and still master frame builder, still runs day to day operations in Osaka. There are two places of operation. One in Osaka and one in Taiwan. The Taiwan operation is run by his son who was Mr.Yoshiaki's Son who was his apprentice for over 20 years. This Frame is built though, in Japan.
Heres a link more about him and his company:
http://www.handmadebikes.net/toyo-framebuilding-dynasty.html
Anyway...
I got a good deal on the Frame from my LBS. Took a little while to get here but once it did. I spent 6 hours in the shop putting her together the same day. Also built the Rear wheel from the HUB which was my 2nd wheel build.
This Frame is made from Kaisei 022 tubing (just like Ishiwata 022), and is super light for a steel frame. I was really surprised at the weight. I was going to weigh it but I was so excited to put her together that I forgot..
There are stainless steel dropout in the rear, and both front and back are drilled for brakes. Which is kinda crappy, but i consider it a weight reduction.
The paint on her is Bright "Keirin" orange. When I first took her out of the box, It was a much deeper Sparkled orange than I thought it would be. Its a very deep yet radiant color. Pictures cant do it justice. Its tig welded. I normally dont like that type of welding but the quality is outstanding. Very flush and clean. You can tell time went into this frame.
She is a 1" thread less. Actually thats what I wanted. When shopping for a frame I wanted a 1inch because for a REALLY long time Ive been collecting parts for a 1" tube.
The RIDE.
After I put on all my parts. It just started to glow on the stand. The second I got on her she wanted to go. I mean FLY. Ive ridden quite a bit of ALUM Frames. And I like them a lot. But this Felt like a Steel frame like no other. Very similar to how Alum accelerates. Even Compared to a Bare knuckle, which IMO is still one of the best Track frames for the money around, this felt and feels quite a bit better. Its lighter, more nimble and stronger than any steel bike ive ridden. Now granted Im sure there are quite a bit more steel frames out there that are a better ride than this. But Ive not ridden one yet....Hope to do though.
The wound up fork reduces the weight in the front, but also has a litte more of a aggressive angle to it. Causing it to be a little quicker of a handle. I was going to put the original fork on her but my shop owner had a wound up on her bareknuckle and I like how it feels. Very related geometry to that of the bareknuckle. Also it really reduces a lot of road bumps and knickers yet still keeps it rigid. It's a solid fork.
You dont want to get off this bike. It wants to be ridden at any speed. Slow pace or fast shes like a really well trained horse that really loves you. Shes just damned solid.
She is twitchy. But not out of control twitchy. Very Short wheel base makes her accelerate like nuts!! This is NOT a cheap frame. In fact. I wish it was priced lower or closer to the Bare Knuckle. But I dont see that happening. It kinda sucks though because I think EAI has a HIT on their hand but they cant keep the costs lower, so it can get in the hands of people who would really appreciate it.
Granted I got a good price on her. But Still it wasnt cheap. But its worth every penny. Im not going to be buying a new bike for a while. This is not a toy. Not a Fixed gear that has the look but rides like crap. This can get you into a lot of trouble. Its a tool.
Here are the specs:
EAI Toyo Godzilla
FRONT-Phil Wood Low Flange 20 spoke DT swiss bladed to Velocity AeroHead
REAR- Phil Wood High Flange 32 spoke DT to Velocity D-V
Sugino 75 Crankset 48T
Phil wood COG 17T
Thompson Seatpost/STEM
NITTO RB-002 handlebar
WOUND UP front fork
Brooks Team Professional saddle.
Izumi Super Toughness chain
PINK Chris King Headset
Mks custom neuevo pedals, toshi doubles
TOTAL weight 18.2 Pounds. May replace the Brooks saddle to a get it below 17 pounds but not sure yet. The brooks weighs 1lb 5 ozs.
http://i31.tinypic.com/2q866mp.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/2z53wo2.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/xdbbia.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/30befma.jpg
Pardon the grammar and spelling errors. I just drank way too much coffee today...
SOCKS
MY REVIEW of the TOYO GODZILLA:
First off let me say. Im not in anyway a know it all when it comes to Fixed gears. Im a novice compared to a lot of people who have been riding for 20 years +.....
This Frame arrived really well packaged. It was so well put in there that I had trouble getting it out for a while. I guess when it travels across the pacific it needs to be well packaged.
First off this frame is "Hand made in Osaka Japan" by the Toyo Frame company.
Ishigaki Yoshiaki ,who is the founder and still master frame builder, still runs day to day operations in Osaka. There are two places of operation. One in Osaka and one in Taiwan. The Taiwan operation is run by his son who was Mr.Yoshiaki's Son who was his apprentice for over 20 years. This Frame is built though, in Japan.
Heres a link more about him and his company:
http://www.handmadebikes.net/toyo-framebuilding-dynasty.html
Anyway...
I got a good deal on the Frame from my LBS. Took a little while to get here but once it did. I spent 6 hours in the shop putting her together the same day. Also built the Rear wheel from the HUB which was my 2nd wheel build.
This Frame is made from Kaisei 022 tubing (just like Ishiwata 022), and is super light for a steel frame. I was really surprised at the weight. I was going to weigh it but I was so excited to put her together that I forgot..
There are stainless steel dropout in the rear, and both front and back are drilled for brakes. Which is kinda crappy, but i consider it a weight reduction.
The paint on her is Bright "Keirin" orange. When I first took her out of the box, It was a much deeper Sparkled orange than I thought it would be. Its a very deep yet radiant color. Pictures cant do it justice. Its tig welded. I normally dont like that type of welding but the quality is outstanding. Very flush and clean. You can tell time went into this frame.
She is a 1" thread less. Actually thats what I wanted. When shopping for a frame I wanted a 1inch because for a REALLY long time Ive been collecting parts for a 1" tube.
The RIDE.
After I put on all my parts. It just started to glow on the stand. The second I got on her she wanted to go. I mean FLY. Ive ridden quite a bit of ALUM Frames. And I like them a lot. But this Felt like a Steel frame like no other. Very similar to how Alum accelerates. Even Compared to a Bare knuckle, which IMO is still one of the best Track frames for the money around, this felt and feels quite a bit better. Its lighter, more nimble and stronger than any steel bike ive ridden. Now granted Im sure there are quite a bit more steel frames out there that are a better ride than this. But Ive not ridden one yet....Hope to do though.
The wound up fork reduces the weight in the front, but also has a litte more of a aggressive angle to it. Causing it to be a little quicker of a handle. I was going to put the original fork on her but my shop owner had a wound up on her bareknuckle and I like how it feels. Very related geometry to that of the bareknuckle. Also it really reduces a lot of road bumps and knickers yet still keeps it rigid. It's a solid fork.
You dont want to get off this bike. It wants to be ridden at any speed. Slow pace or fast shes like a really well trained horse that really loves you. Shes just damned solid.
She is twitchy. But not out of control twitchy. Very Short wheel base makes her accelerate like nuts!! This is NOT a cheap frame. In fact. I wish it was priced lower or closer to the Bare Knuckle. But I dont see that happening. It kinda sucks though because I think EAI has a HIT on their hand but they cant keep the costs lower, so it can get in the hands of people who would really appreciate it.
Granted I got a good price on her. But Still it wasnt cheap. But its worth every penny. Im not going to be buying a new bike for a while. This is not a toy. Not a Fixed gear that has the look but rides like crap. This can get you into a lot of trouble. Its a tool.
Here are the specs:
EAI Toyo Godzilla
FRONT-Phil Wood Low Flange 20 spoke DT swiss bladed to Velocity AeroHead
REAR- Phil Wood High Flange 32 spoke DT to Velocity D-V
Sugino 75 Crankset 48T
Phil wood COG 17T
Thompson Seatpost/STEM
NITTO RB-002 handlebar
WOUND UP front fork
Brooks Team Professional saddle.
Izumi Super Toughness chain
PINK Chris King Headset
Mks custom neuevo pedals, toshi doubles
TOTAL weight 18.2 Pounds. May replace the Brooks saddle to a get it below 17 pounds but not sure yet. The brooks weighs 1lb 5 ozs.
http://i31.tinypic.com/2q866mp.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/2z53wo2.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/xdbbia.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/30befma.jpg
Pardon the grammar and spelling errors. I just drank way too much coffee today...
SOCKS