Kazane Frames
 

I'm never, ever gonna own an NJS frame, there I said it. I have stupid things like baby clothes, food and rent which take all my money.

These frames seem like a cheaper alternative, and look the part too (way prettier than my Pake). I'm very interested in them, but can't see anything about them. Can't see any builds, not even any fgg posts.

I know there was a thread about the launch of this brand, what I want to know is follow-up from people who bought one and pics of their build.

many thanks.

I got all of my NJS frames for less than the price of a Kazane, one of which came fron Stratton.

I've seen one, but that's because I live in Richmond, which is where Keirin Culture is based out of. I love them. I plan on getting one sometime around summer.

1+

Eyes on teh 'bay. Used, for sure but still.

And Made in Japan by highly qualified and experienced framebuilders, as opposed to coming from Taiwan...

NOT MINE!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/...22d0510b_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/...c53e61d8_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/...74063e24_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/...e7f7fbbd_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/...74063e24_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/...d19d8429_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/...8a4583c0_b.jpg

That red metal flake on black looks really nice.

How tall are you? I'm 6'1" and need a 57-58cm frame. Hen's teeth.

Those Kazane frames look nice, but they are like, 600, and you can get a decent NJS frame off ebay for that with a headset and a bottom bracket and those NJS bikes are hand built by VERY reputable builders with an incredible amount of care. Better than you could ever hope to get out of a frame built in taiwan in some large factory.

There is something not quite right with this sentence but I cannot put my finger on it....

Not trying to start ****, but all he said was that was the reason he's seen one - because he's from Richmond, which makes sense. He wasn't saying the only reason he thinks they're nice is because he's from Richmond.

That said, they seem like nice frames, but not what I'd ride for the price.. just my 2 cents.

Thank you, Sage. I'd think they're nice regardless of where they're from.

True you can find a NJS frame used for under $600 from time to time but there is one thing to keep in mind... it was CRASHED. Maybe there is nothing wrong... and maybe there is. Not saying I would buy either the Kazane or the NJS frame (i'm just not into lugged steel) because of that fact but it should be taken into consideration. Compared to any NEW steel track frame for around $600 it's a pretty damn good deal.

Maybe someone else in the know can back me up on this. I think the Kazane is the same frame as the Alien Bike frame. (Alien is a FGG supporter) The Alien frame is cheaper and they offer your choice of paint colors.

http://www.alienbikes.com/gear.html

Exactly. I'm 6'1" too, but I ride like a 60 because my legs are so long. Finding a 60cm njs frame? Not gonna happen.

They are not the same frames... this was already covered in another thread about Kazane frames.

Yeah - that's a great point too. You're never going to get a 60cm njs frame for that price!

For what it's worth, I rode my friend's and it felt great.

They look great in person, too. The paint is really nice.

i bought both of my nagasawas for the price of that kazane.... keep searching for your elusive njs frame

find me a 60cm nagasawa then.

'kin oath.

That's not to say I wouldn't love it if I could find one.

Yeah, that's what I'm sayin'

You might be able to find a Nagasawa for that price - but a 60cm? Yeah right!

Yeah, your bikes are kinda tiny and tiny njs framesets are relatively easy to come by and cheap. But trying to find something njs with 54.5cm tt and st or larger, personally I would like a 57st and 56tt, that's nearly impossible and if you do find one in that size, a dented frameset will still be around $700-800 plus on the cheap end. Minus well just get a new panasonic for that price. But italian frames come in bigger sizes usually but usually are well used too with not the best paint jobs and with so many fakes out there who knows what you're buying. I do think those kazanes look nice, are a little overpriced, but honestly, give it a couple of months and there should be a few on your local craiglist with headset and bb for around 300-400 bucks anyway, just in time for summer.

These things are fugly from the pics above.
And you can def get a non-****ed up NJS frame for less than 600.
Maybe not from money money keirinculture.com but most of their prices are way too high. Which explains why some of them stay on the site for months at a time.

False. My most recent Bridgestone had barely any evidence of even being ridden, let alone crashed. I was hard pressed to find a paint chip.

It was 55cm square btw. $580 shipped out of Japan.

Yes your silver Bridgestone was immaculate.

haha what? it was blue! and the one before that was red...

How is it better than any of the other 4130 steel track frames available for considerably less money? Because it has some magic track geometry?

You can buy many complete steel track bikes for less than the cost of one of these frames.

That picture shown above is a build done by the guys at NoBrakes in Atlanta, GA. They have built several on these Kazane frames up and are fixing to build a few more. Some of their builds are track specific. If interested, check out http://www.nobrakesatl.com and if your in the ATL area, its a great shop to check out. They are a fixed gear only bike shop.

I still really wish Stratton would have gotten serious with some real tubing. EVERYONE uses 4130, because I guess most people in the fixed world can't distinguish between that and the better stuff. 4130 is great for bashing around hopping curbs and locking up, but sometimes you want something better. I'm pretty sure if Stratton used that Columbus Spirit tubing that people lust after on NJS bikes, or possibly some 853, people would be more excited and less inclined to trash talk the final product. I mean, Soma does the Rush with Tange Prestige main triangle/4130 rear triangle, which is going to be much better feeling than all 4130. I have a 4130 frame (KHS/Kilo TT) and like it, but with that said I can't wait to upgrade to Platinum OX.

Seems to me most NJS keirin racers, which would be the only pro track event on earth where everyone must use steel, are using Tange No. 1/2, Kaisei 8630/017/019, Reynolds 7/853 and Columbus Spirit/Keirin. If plain old DB 4130 was so great on the track (which Stratton insists he's building these frames for), I'm sure the keirin guys would be using that stuff too.

Stratton if you're reading this, I'm not trying to be harsh or bitter, just critical. I know you fulfilled a dream of putting out your own track frame. My rant is meant to be constructive. In 3(!) months Bikesdirect is going to be putting out the Kilo TT Pro and even though it has no lugs, I think people are going to **** their pants over it.

He is charging $600 for 4130 which makes me think 853 or Spirit would be close to a grand. If you do the math, $600 really is far far too much for this frame.

A grand for 853/Spirit seems absurd. If you look at custom framebuilders options, the charge for better steel is usually 100-200 dollars (atleast where I've looked), not 400... Kalavinka charges what, $120 to upgrade from "just okay" Kaisei 019 to "really really great" 8630?