Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - More info on the LV1 from Unknown Bike Co (LV1 build)

Hey guys I decided to bite the bullet and order a LV1 frame from Unknown. Their site has NOTHING as far as geometries and specs so I decided to shed some light for anyone else thinking about getting a frame from them.

First off the the welds are not smooth like the pictures. They do mention (in small font) that the welds are not smooth before you buy it but here it is:
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9463/imag0469z.jpg
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9691/imag0471t.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9946/imag0470x.jpg
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3421/imag0472r.jpg
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8902/imag0483j.jpg
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/7233/imag0484a.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2032/imag0468r.jpg

So the headset:
Integrated 45mm/45mm
I used a FSA is-2

Seatpost:
31.6 mm... Made me rage since I have 3 or 4 27.2 posts..

BB:
Standard 68 and the threading seemed decent quality. Surprisingly I was able to hand screw (with some effort) the BB in but not loose.

Dropouts:
One side only steel doesn't really make sense to me but they work.

Weight:
Sorry I didn't weigh it before I put all the parts on but it was pretty light. Definitely not as light as the couple of track frames I've built (Jamis sonik, Cervelo T1).

I don't have measurements yet :crash: but once I finish the build, sometime this week, I will have those up.


And just for reference I've built about 7 bikes, 5 fixed or SS. It's my hobby :)

I love building them myself.

Man, those welds. Herp de derp Unknown, it looks like someone took a dookie on those joints:(

I like the puggie! PUGGIE PUGGIE!

man, if they smoothed down their welds (not bondo), they'd have a pretty pr0ntastic frame.
bad managerial decisions are bad.





And just for reference I've built about 7 bikes, 5 fixed or SS. It's my hobby :)
i urge you to build more fixeds' so we can know the build quality of bikes. your criticism has been very useful.

your front wheel is missing

hth

Cool.





Nice Leader.

Looks pretty good. A lot like my 721 (not a criticism). The lv1 is their cheaper frame so welds/dropout plates aren't a real issue for me. My leader is the same way and I've had it for over a year now and the dropouts still look fine. I like that they still make larger sizes 61cm even if they don't have them listed for sale atm.

The welds on my LV2 look perfect, exactly like on the pic :D

Yea someone else told me their LV2 has smooth welds and 27.2mm seatpost.. weird.

I also paid under $200 so all in all, I'm happy

be interested to know what rake fork you're using, what the handling is like compared to your other bikes, and what it rides like. i don't necessarily think a 31.8 seatpost is a bad thing on an aluminum frame like this.

hell, if they had made it a lo pro and kept the ugly welds there'd finally be a cheap version of a mash. i'd rather have lo pro geo like a mash and double sided dropout protectors than have them just smooth out the welds. smooth welds add tons to the cost, those two changes would be super small and probably not add too much cost.

The welds on my LV2 look perfect, exactly like on the pic :D

I thought you still had that sh-t-tastic blue bike?

Please don't encourage him to post another pic of his bike.

bike porn

:o

Please don't encourage him to post another pic of his bike.

:lol:

be interested to know what rake fork you're using, what the handling is like compared to your other bikes, and what it rides like. i don't necessarily think a 31.8 seatpost is a bad thing on an aluminum frame like this.

It's a Bontrager fork, similar to the race-lites. I think the rake is 45mm and it's very responsive. Only used for commuting now. Wouldn't dare do more than hop a curb..

And I swear the seatpost is as heavy as the frame :crash:

and a thompson would be almost as expensive :lol:

Fork was $30
Seatpost was $5

?

no no, if you got a thompson post it would be half the price of the frame, though it would probably be much lighter than your $5 post. that's all i meant.

Yea this was a "budget" build. Omnoms, wheelset, and bars were already in my garage. After a couple days of riding I'm happy with the purchase.

I just need to get a measuring tape to post up the geometries

Did a search for this bike, as I'm building one up myself. Is it just me, or do the rear forkends seem a tad bit small?

Please don't encourage him to post another pic of his bike.

http://i.imgur.com/KzkqV.jpg

251026

Non-drive side is the non-best side.

those track ends?? Visp?

those track ends?? Visp?

it's in the name of the thread...

those herp ends?? Derp?

Fixed that.

did you manage to measure the size of the bike?