edit: **** it. didn't realize this thread was so old.

/kneejerk off

i bet they found this bike in a dumpster

I've learned to ignore saddle angles I think

"Every season, Gentei re-imagines it’s shop space with a new theme, redesigning the store and tailoring the shop’s collection to match. In the fall of 2005 the shop’s first theme was military; a diverse selection of BDU and fatigue inspired designs lined the racks, while the shop itself was accented with surplus military goods to match an insignia inspired mural. For spring and summer of 2006 the shop switched over to a fixed gear cycling theme; a common interest of the shop’s creator and staff—the floor becoming a mini-velodrome, the walls covered in a cycling mural, and the shop’s collection hand picked to fit the cycling theme.

Currently in it’s fourth re-invention, Gentei is paying tribute to the summer of ‘87, with vintage skate decks, a fully functional skate ramp in-store, and exclusive merchandise available only at the shop. Unique in concept and constantly evolving, Gentei is not only an exercise in aesthetics, but a rethinking of the way we accent our lives. "

Ironic Skateboard Culture is not for sale!!!!

So lame. They are re-appropriating old graphics from powell, vision, body glove (! not skate), etc. and putting their brand on it. Can you say copyright infringement? Not to mention completely unethical and disrespectful. Their home page header is the vision gator deck graphics with their crappy logo slapped in.

STFU. It's called an homage...

Dink.

ESPECIALLY COMING FROM A GRAPHIC DESIGNER!

Anyone that hates on Gentei is just:

a) Jealous
b) Mad because their po-dunk town's LBS doesn't know what a "fixie" or "njs" is...
c) Pissed because their Kilo didn't come with a polished disk wheel or deep vs
d) Too uptight to understand that aesthetics matter to some people
e) A dink with a stupid myspace avatar

Somehow I doubt you've got the steez to pull it off.

pay homage to whatever you want

but if its a hollow purchased identity it will look dumb

nah. See retail stores do these things called "themes" every season. Last season it was "80's surf and skate culture" - so they did the shop up to look like a skate park. This season it's "back to the mountains" - so it looks like a ski lodge.

All I'm saying is you people talk **** on the 'net, but if you ever met the guys, your opinions would change. The fact is, the owners and workers at the shop would dust your asses in a second.

+1... Don't hate if you can't relate.
and that disc wheel is fly

I am so glad I am in Japan, seemingly a million miles away from the haters. I am almost certain every hater has a really ugly bike. Just go and kick your bike instead of hating online....

double toshis, pana njs frame, polished cranks, turbo saddle, disc......reads pretty much like most peoples wishlists.

word the fuc-k up.

That bike is awesome.

buh buh buh buh braaappppp to bobo-ass conversions!

+eleventy billion

My critique is their re-appropriating of other companys graphics, slapping their logo on it and selling for profit. I understand the attempt at low-brow homage but it is brand theft. I actually think the bike posted at the beginning of the thread looks pretty cool.

You obviously have never seen streetwear... Streetwear as a whole could be considered kitshe amongst some circles [usually the sweater-clad types with little or no imagination]. They're usually the people who can't move past the fact that re-appropriated graphics can be used to make a statement. Or they feel threatened in some way? Dunno. Hard to tell...

All I know is that there are tons of monochromatic merino wool sweaters for you to wear and American Apparel has endless possibilities in the "pantone" tshirt market.

On the subject of re-using old graphics, it's not as bad as black label and volcom (was it?) reusing the black flag logo.

streetwear has gotten real corny real fast. i cant even walk around manhattan now without wanting to kill myself.

Jesus. That "fixed-gear army" hoodie is the absolute wackest thing I've ever seen - What self-respecting fixed rider would ride around with "skid and destroy" written in an XTREME FONT on the back of an ugly pink hoodie? (Or really, who would at all?). Ridiculousness aside, it's also just bad fashion.

You make a lot of assumptions and you don't know me. What exactly is your problem with my critique? I grew up skating and hate to see all those old graphics I loved being poorly ripped off. And doesn't all this 'streetwear' stuff cost a fortune anyway? Like $30 t-shirts, $50 hoodies. Oh the irony.

cosigned.