Kind of a two-parter.
After a fairly extensive search, I wasn't able to find anyone who had anything bad to say about EAI's BareKnuckle frame. Did I not look hard enough? Is this frame a good value new at approx. $575? What else should I be looking at in that price range?

Also, does anyone have any hints, tips, or tricks to cutting threads into a steerer tube? Is this a bad idea? I really dislike the aesthetic of threadless stems (the clamp just seems so clunky and out of place), but the stock fork with the BareKnuckle is threadless.

Maybe a three parter: Can anyone reccomend a 9/8" quill stem?

Thanks

I wouldnt pay 575 for a frame and fork. I got mine for 400 and I had a hard enough time with that. I'd wait til you can find one on ebay...actually, i don tthink ive ever even seen a bk frame new in a shope for more than 500

if you think threadless stems look ugly, wait until you start looking at your options for a 1 1/8" quill. *blech!*

It's a 1 1/8" steerer.
1) Good luck finding a threaded headset in that size.
2) I doubt if there's enough material in the steerer to safely thread.

Aside from aesthetics, I think threadless is better. Look at something like the Nitto CT-80, It's a pretty nice looking stem.

bareknuckle frames come in both 1 1/8" and 1" (both threadless). The 1 1/8 is more common, but mine is 1" so I know it exists. I asked EAI and they said that they made both, just depends on material availability.

Not sure if there is enough material to thread the 1", but if not you could always buy a second fork if not.

I wouldn't trust threading the fork. The metal seems pretty thin. If you do, take it somewhere that can cut the threads on a lathe. Rolling the threads is a better option, but I don't think anywhere does custom thread rolling. A better idea would be to look for a new fork.

An exercise in futility..1 1/8" threaded stuff exists, mostly of the mountain variety, though some road stuff does indeed exist..you could use headtube reducers to reduce a 1 1/8" headtube to a 1" one, then buy a new 1" fork/stem/headset..but again..an exercise in futility..don't waste your time.

If your frame has a 1" headtube, buy a threaded 1" fork, headset, and stem...but once again a pointless exercise..


In short- Live with the 1 1/8" threadless setup or find a new frame.

The reason I asked is because I already have a 1" Threaded Chris King and Cinelli Frog Stem and would like very much to put those on the new frame. Given that, why would buying another fork be a pointless excercise?

And, If I'm going to look for another frame in the 500-600 range, can you suggest anything?

I think those DeBernardi's are around that price... Lugged and Italian.

Aesthetically speaking, I like the steel DeBardardi track frame a lot more than the EAI Bareknuckle. It's lugged, in the same price range, has non-OS tubing (Columbus Thron) and a threaded 1" steerer. The paint is not great, but I have a big soft spot for chipped paint and rust, so that's a-ok by me.

However, for $500-600, if you went used you could get a much better quality frame than either of those options. Talk to sashae or strattond or eBay about it.

m.

I liked the BK frame but the fork is weak. A friend of mine claims his dented when he caught his hand in the front wheel...don't ask how his hand got there. I crashed into a down rider at TTown and destroyed the fork as well as crimping the downtube totally trashing the frame. Probably wouldn't buy another BK.
For the price look at Bob Jacksons and Mercian for steel lugged and 1" threated forks.

My friend and I both have BK frame and fork sets. I like mine, I'm pretty sure he likes his. We both paid less than $400. Mine is 1 1/8th inch and his is 1 inch. Go figure. I'm sure there are some 1 inch floating around ebay. Maybe?

that's EYE-talian.

If you can wait a month or two -- pick up a Bob Jackson Vigorelli track direct from the UK, $550 shipped. You pick paint, decal colour and lug lining colour.

The paint is durable, the finish is quality, it's lugged and it's threaded. Reynolds 631, light and really comfortable.

https://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/pr...roducts_id=307

holy ****, i didn't realize a BJ was only 550 shipped.

I paid full list for my BK and I'm happy with it... the other frames I road I could feel flexing under hard sprinting (I'm a ****** so it stands to reason). So if you just want a street whip and care more about aesthetics then go with something else but if you want a track machine that's solid as ****, get the Bareknuckle.

I thought it was going to be $640 -- but VAT is included in the price listed on their website -- they can't charge VAT outside of the UK so that's almost $100 off.

Edit: The shipping is 60 quid, so a chunk of it is actually shipping so consider that instead of paying for VAT, you pay shipping.

Um..

Wow, that really isn't a bad deal. Thanks for the 411.

OP, just embrace the threadless if you are going BK.

unless you go fully custom on everything. then it gets expensive.

and my jackson fork is threadless AND 1-1/8"--on purpose, even.

Bob Jackson off-the-peg frameset. Just ordered one, and the total bill with shipping came to a little over $600. That's if you like lugs (I do).

Better hurry, though - the dollar keeps dropping against the pound (and everything else).

True dat.

But she's so purdy!

And for comparison:

That's your bathroom?

no. that's a $14,000 bathtub that an eccentric actor/director client of mine gave me as a gift. my bathroom's too small for it, so it sits unattached to plumbing in my spare room til i renovate.