What does everyone have to say about the Kogswell frames. I see that familyman has one. I am thinking about buying one, what are your opinions?

Thanks
VC

I've looked them over pretty carefully on their web-site and they look like the real deal to me. They look like a good, solid value.

A friend of mine just bought one and built it up. He brought it to the bike shop I hang out at and it is drop-dead gorgeous! Frame fittings, bottom bracket cluster and chainstay detail are exquisite. I can't say enough good things about it! Love the color, too (some sort of a cheesecake yellow cream). I was jealous!

I really like my bike. Other than the very cool lugs, the fine steel and the overall great construcion there are only two things to mention. First is that it's heavy. It's a steel bike with a steel fork, not an issue at all for me but it would probably shock some people to know that I ride a 25 lb fixie. The other thing is the paint. It's a really great color but (for me anyway) it's been pretty soft and has chipped far too easy. It might just be my particular bike or maybe I've just been clumsier than usual, who knows.
I love my Kogswell and would buy another one tomorrow.

I was seriously looking into a Kogswell P. here is what i found.
The soft paint issue occurs with all of the frames. It is accuall a desined default, it is cheaper for the owner of Kogswell to get a less expensive paint job in Taiwan, wich keeps your cost down. The intent is the owner of the frame should customise the frames paint in a year or so, and the owner will send you free stickers to redo the frame. What this kind of sounds like is he (kogswell's owner) can deliver you a frame that is less expencive at the time of purchase, but is desined to need repainting in less than one year. If you are courious to find out more go to the Kogswell chatroom.

I have been checking them out myself, even sort of like their new 26" tire mixte bike.

I'm gonna either buy one of those or a steamroller i think.

wow $400. not bad at all.

but what possessed them to only manufacture the model G in 2 sizes?

To keep cost down is my guess.

Steamroller. Been riding mine for couple of months. Before that the crosscheck. Love it. Rides great. Heavy,but who cares. New metallic color pretty. Does all things well. Takes wide tires which is a plus for gravel,trail, or winter. Enjoy.

I have a Steemroller, and am very happy with it. It is a very cofortable bike and dourable as hell, powdercoated and sturdy steel. you can also look at the Soma Rush it has basicaly the same strength and stiffness (same price) but faster twitchy frame. I can't tell them apart, but on longer rides you would be better with a surly. Kogswells frames are good, I just cant justify saving a few bucks on a paintjob that I would have to refinish for $200 within a year.

With a steamroller if you got the 56 inch version then used 26" tires that should make the standover less than the 31.8 they list with 700c tires right?

I just like mountain tires, if i dont use any brakes will there be a problem with 26" rims on steamroller, u think?

Why not just use a 1x1 or a Karate Monkey frame then?

one problem that you could run into is the spacing within the frame. I think the spacing on the rear track fork ends is 120mm. moutan hubs are 135mm wich gives the wheel less dish and thus stronger(not a worry on a fixed gear, no dish!). if you want to re lace a 120mm hub on a 26 wheel this would change the ride/handling. beacuse of the fork rake, the stability of the frame is dictated by the size of the wheel. if you shrink the size of the wheel you decrease the effective fork rake and make your bike less stable. This bike was made for 700 road wheels. just go with it.
what is your standover height? that should be your frame size.

I was going to use a coaster brake hub laced to a 26" rim. The steamroller doesnt have disk tabs and all the other cable guide crap on it. 31.5 or so.

just courious why you want have a 26" on a steamroller? you should be looking into a diffrent frame.