It's finally built up after 10 weeks of slow assembly and fabricating. Converting a bike designed for 27" wheels to 650B is not so hard if the right candidate frame is chosen, but even then it's the little details that can provide challenges that you don't foresee in the planning phase.

Took it out last night for an initial shakedown and adjustments, and will be doing a 50 mile ride on Sunday for a more thorough evaluation. Can't wait! All I can conclude so far from a short 5 mile ride around the neighborhood is that it's easily the smoothest ride of my entire fleet, and I can see myself riding this thing exclusively for any kind of riding beyond my daily work commute!














Complete flickr set here.

The bike is a real frankenbike: part Japanese, part French, part Tawainese, and a mixture of new, NOS, and vintage parts:

Frameset:

• 1983-1984 63cm c-t Shogun 1500 frame/fork, modified for 650B, powdercoated

Wheelset/tires:

• Velocity Synergy rims (new)
• Shimano ultegra cassette hub (new)
• Shimano 3n-DH72 dynamo hub (new)
• Grand Bois 42mm Hetres (new)

Drivetrain:

• TA "compact double" crankset, 26/46T (used cranks, new rings)
• Huret Jubilee front der (used), Huret Duopar Eco rear der (NOS)
• Shimano XTR 12-32 8-speed cassette (used)
• Suntour Barcon shifters (used)
• Shimano XT cartridge BB (used)
• MKS GR-9 platform pedals (used)

Bars/stem:

• Belleri Rando bars (used)
• Nitto stem (used)

Brakes:

• MAFAC Criterium cantis (NOS) w/ Koolstop salmon shoes (new)
• Tektro aero levers (new)

Lighting:

• B&M Lumotec IQ cyo (new), homemade bracket
• B&M Seculite plus (new), retrofitted in a Soubitez Catalux 6 (NOS)
• Wiring routed internally through fork and frame

Other:

• Tange Levin alloy headset (used)
• SR Laprade seat post (used)
• Brooks B17 (new)
• Velo Orange Zeppelin 54mm fenders (new)
• Velo Orange "passhunter" front rack and stem decaleur (new)
• Velo Orange toe clips and straps (new)
• Velo Orange bottle cages (new)
• Ostrich front bag (new)

Also, thanks to several forum members for parts trades that helped get this thing built!

rhm: Belleri bars
RobE30: Huret Jubilee FD
JohnDThompson: Huret Duopar RD
JPTwins: Nitto stem

I'll post more detailed pictures of some of the "challenges" of this build later on...

Only thing missing now is a head badge. Should I go with the original Shogun badge or go custom? Help me decide.