Is the KM frame comparable to the Black Market/All-City FGFS options that are out there other than its capable of using disc brakes?

The other question I am trying to resolve is if it is capable of having a Salsa Woodchipper bar thrown on it for fun.

This is random speculation, not something I can validate at the moment.

What do you mean by "comparable"? It is a burly frame fits 700c wheels with wide tires. It is also a mountain bike so it does not have FGFS optimized geometry. No bar spins, compadre. Probably a longer wheel base than you'd want for tricks.

As to your second question, of course you can put Woodchippers on, or any other bar you fancy.

o.O You might notice I ride a Handsome Devil frame dressed out like a 1920s roadster. Not very bar-spin friendly. So I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that my ability to communicate in that post was foggy. I was more looking to see if any of the other boutique-grade companies had a comparable frame. In this case, by comparable I mean similar geometry. I know that Black Market has the NSF and that All-City has the Big Block. I was seeing if there was any real difference between the three frames other than the KM has disc-brake tabs.

The length of the wheelbase is actually what has me thinking about the KM again in the back of my mind. I'll explain after responding to your other point.

According to Surly (and my phone conversation with them a while back), their representative did not recommend it. He said that a few people had tried it but claimed they were hitting the bar with their knees, etc.

My overall idea was to use the KM frame as a base for a monstercross fixed-gear, similar to the Vassago Fisticuff (which is a near impossible frame to find nowadays). The roads I ride on here are about as bad as it can get. So I'm looking for a bike I can train miles on and still be able to deal with some light XC/Single track in the near future. I'm doing a lot of base mile work already in anticipation of spending time at Dick's in Atlanta. The weight of the KM would help make it a challenge, and since its all flat here (30 feet above sea level); the need for gears is almost non-existent.

Again, I stress this is all speculation and discussion points, not a should I pull the trigger topic. I'm sitting on a bare knuckle frame that needs to be built up first. But I always am thinking out loud, in a sense.

I see what you're after. I have a Karate Monkey and love it for its versatility. I've had it set up as a cross bike, a fixed gear MTB, a geared winter commuter and many iterations in between. Based on your intended use, I think the KM would be a much better choice than the others you mentioned, especially if you see singletrack in your future.

I had the Origin8 version of dirt drops on for a while and don't recall a problem with banging my knees, even while using bar end shifters and riding offroad.

The Origin8 version has a much shorter grip area than a Woodchipper, also it's a bit wider (I think) which would make the knees less of a target. Of course, it's also not supposed to work with bar end shifters, so I might be mistaken.

I ride the Fung Foo Sloth

I read somewhere that the Woodchippers can be trimmed down if you like and still have plenty of grip area.

From the comments to this review:

https://twentynineinches.com/2010/05/...-final-review/

"Nothing like a timely reply…I’ve been using these ‘bars on a new Lynskey Ridgeline for about 5 weeks now. The other night, I was noodling around the Salsa ‘site and I saw a pdf for the Woodchipper bars, which noted that the extensions were extra long, to allow trimming. Shazam! Out to the garage, hacksaw flailing, and after 10 minutes, I had trimmed about 1.5 inches off of each end. Doing so ended the “unintended-knee-shift” syndrome I was seeing sometimes. There’s still plenty of room to move my hands around, and they’re a little narrower than previously (I have the 42 cm versions). The pdf also notes the presence of cable grooves, which I am unable to detect, but I like the full round profile better."