Retro Spud wrote:
sinnerman wrote:
if i can find a suitable home for it, i might sell it due to pending space restrictions.
This is truly a one off, and I can't believe you'd consider parting with it,
Having read many a thread penned by your own hand its clear you've many "top draw" steeds in the stable but non of them as unique
as this one I'm flaber ghasted
As always a great write up, One of those where by you leave having learnt something new or feel like you've had an insight
into a world far removed from your own,
The fusion of materials makes perfect sence and also looks great, as does the scuffs and grazes along with the writing on the tyre walls
which all adds to the overal sence that you're looking at a real piece of mtb developement.
No doubt this thread will attract many comments from far more knowledgable individuals than me, As I for one can't stop scrolling through
the pictures to write anything more intelligent at present..... everytime I look I see something new and my appreciation of KB's craftmanship and thought process goes up.
Hopefully this thread will draw out owners of other R&D rigs, as there must be loads out there with equally interesting storys charting
the development/evolution of the humble MTB, However I'm not sure that anyone else would take quite as much time and care as you have
with the accompanying narrative for each of the pictures.
Nick
Thanks for posting Nick.
If I don't have space for it in the end, rest assured it will only be placed in understanding "careful" hands.
Im sure there are many members better skilled when it comes to evaluating a bike and how it rides and then putting pen to paper, and whilst im the first to admit im not qualified enough, rightly or wrongly its one riders opinion if nothing else.
For me, I really enjoy the way California seems to have bred a host of skilled craftsmen that think outside the box, I can only presume this was born from a day where there was no component or frame for a specific job, so these fellas took to there sheds and made what they didn't have.
Kbs history is no secret, and this details to me the lengths and skills needed to explore all possibilities, and that the evolution of the bicycle will never stop.
There are lots of prototypes and team R+D bikes residing with members here, that rarely post, hidden from view, which is a great shame, everything from Bontrager to Yeti to Kestrel and more, and I would also love to hear and learn some more about these bikes, but I suspect that there may have been conditions which prevent this, or its a simple case of the owners are quite happy to quietly enjoy there collections in private.
