Its Alive! (Karate Monkey with pics)
#1
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&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.
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&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.
https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1150759723920
Nexus 8 twist shifter
https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=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!
https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=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.
https://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 https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1150760752567
Avid disc brake https://www.sram.com/en/avid/discbrak...llbearing7.php
Surly Karate Monkey Frame and Fork https://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.
https://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:
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).
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.
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&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.
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&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.
https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1150759723920
Nexus 8 twist shifter
https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=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!
https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=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.
https://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 https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1150760752567
Avid disc brake https://www.sram.com/en/avid/discbrak...llbearing7.php
Surly Karate Monkey Frame and Fork https://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.
https://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:
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).
#2
These go to 11.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 571
Bikes: 06' Trek 7.5 FX, '09 Dawes Steel SST
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That my friend is one beautiful, slick, sleek & awesome bike.
I'm quite positive you'll get much enjoyment from that, I am just by looking at it.
I'm quite positive you'll get much enjoyment from that, I am just by looking at it.
__________________
Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling. ~ James E. Starrs
Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling. ~ James E. Starrs
#3
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DavidLee
That my friend is one beautiful, slick, sleek & awesome bike.
I'm quite positive you'll get much enjoyment from that, I am just by looking at it.
I'm quite positive you'll get much enjoyment from that, I am just by looking at it.
#4
♋ ☮♂ ☭ ☯
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 40205 'ViLLeBiLLie
Posts: 7,902
Bikes: Sngl Spd's, 70's- 80's vintage, D-tube Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I think Im in
Sooooooo nice !!!!
Perfect 10 !
Sooooooo nice !!!!
Perfect 10 !
__________________
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 278
Bikes: Bianchi Milano Nexus 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
WOW
Unique, beautiful and functional. Nice job. Where are you gonna find black water bottles?
Unique, beautiful and functional. Nice job. Where are you gonna find black water bottles?
__________________
I miss bicycle commuting.
I miss bicycle commuting.
#6
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by zoridog
WOW
Unique, beautiful and functional. Nice job. Where are you gonna find black water bottles?
Unique, beautiful and functional. Nice job. Where are you gonna find black water bottles?
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 881
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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!
#8
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It was right at $1000. The LBS guy only charged me $40 labor.
#9
J3L 2404
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 1,075
Bikes: 2007 Jamis Nova
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,819
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
#14
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
@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.
#15
SERENITY NOW!!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In the 212
Posts: 8,738
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
That looks beautiful. Now I want an all black bike like Hotblack Desiado's ride.
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
#16
Retro-nerd
This is a great example of a bike build.
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.
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.
__________________
Would you like a dream with that?
Would you like a dream with that?
#17
Senior Member
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?
#18
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by grolby
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?
#20
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 48
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
Enjoy your bike.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 263
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here's mine.
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.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 263
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
Now if only Shimano would make a bar-end shifter for the Nexus 8, then I'd surely buy another one of these hubs.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,819
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#25
Mostly Harmless
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sittin' on a bench at the railway station, one toke over the line.
Posts: 905
Bikes: Giant OCR1, Giant ATX760, Raleigh Retroglide Seven
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bjkeen
Now if only Shimano would make a bar-end shifter for the Nexus 8, then I'd surely buy another one of these hubs.
The shifter is the biggest bummer of the Nexus. Also, it would be nice to have an option for drop bars.