Originally Posted by
RobbieTunes
I really like that. Great straight-line bikes, and my last one made good use of a Slice fork, much like yours uses the Look. Kinesis made a fork that looked like it was made for the bike, with a polished aluminum unicrown and carbon legs. I found one, but the steerer was too short for my frame.
No idea where they were made, and the only indication was the same "Designed in USA, Made in Japan" label that the steel Ironman bikes had. There was also a "Japan" decal on the base of the front of the head tube, and on the fork. I think Pegraider's decals are intact, hopefully he can contribute...
I was at a triathlon years ago, and there was a competitor with a near-identical frame, 28.6 tubing, wishbone rear, aluminum fork, and I think it was a GT, but I can't remember. (All I remember was him laughing at me with my milk crate and bucket of tools, until he realized his R shoe cleat was broken, and I just happened to have a spare, and the tools....).
Thanks, Robbie, it looks like I may never know who in Japan built these bikes, since nothing else like it came out of Japan that I can recall.
There were bonded Miyatas, Schwinns, SR-Litage and maybe a few others also made in Japan, but none that used this style of lugs.
Mine was stripped of all decals but for the one that says "100% Carbon" on the monostay. That leaves the fork with it's LOOK logo to suggest that the bike is a Look. I have to say that after finally getting up into the hills on a longer ride, Monday, that I can't fault the handling on the faster return trip back down, so perhaps the Look fork was a good choice.
I just installed a much lighter SRAM 8s, 12-26t cassette in place of the Shimano 12-25t cassette yesterday, so the bike weight is now down to 18.70lb with the SPD pedals.
Who knows, this bike might end up becoming a keeper. I paid 350 for it, but with my bars/stem/cassette and time investments all figured in I would not want to take less than 525 or so for it.