Without any doubt the Kirk is beautifully made and shows great craftmanship. My thought is the Kirk -and it is not unique in that- is an exponent of another bike culture. In several abroad countries they seem to have and appreciate creations like this and there exist all kinds of subcultures we do not have were I live. As if the bike is more seriously considered a method of individual expression or to make a statement with. As you possibly know everybody overhere rides a bike and by far most do not seek more in it that it has to serve them in going from A to B in a decent maner. The bike is like a tool, including the level of affection that comes with it. I think that is why generally spoken the bikes, also the high end ones, look relatively straightforward and pragmatic. It goes even this far that you won't have an easy job with selling a new lugged steel bike overhere, simply because welded steel outperforms it.