SoCalSteve
05-28-2006, 11:40 AM
Hi all,
I was very excited to take delivery of my Kirk with the Terraplane rear end because, like many of you, I was curious to see how it stacked up against the DKS and ST rear ends of Serotta.
I promised that I’d write a ride report about the three different rear ends and compare them. What I found out really surprised me. Let me explain. But first a little back story of all three bikes (I hope I don’t bore you).
Hors Categorie with the DKS rear end:
A few years back, Dave Kirk himself had his personal Hors Categorie for auction on ebay. I had never heard about the DKS rear end and Dave was more than generous with his time on the phone and through emails to explain how it worked, if his bike would work for me, etc. I was very excited to own one and see what it was all about for myself. Well, I was outbid at the last few seconds and thoroughly bummed. I swore that if another came up in my size, I’d buy it!
Another one in my size came up years later with a “Buy it Now” option. Well, I used that option and by the following week, I was riding that bike daily. I enjoyed the comfort that the rear end afforded and how well it handled. I was very impressed by the fact that I did a 7.5 mile mountain descent and when I got to the bottom I checked the “max” speed on the computer and it was well over 40 MPH. I had no idea I had hit those speeds as the bike is extremely stable.
I liked the bike so much so that I disassembled it and send it to JB for a very expensive repaint. I got it back from JB, put nicer components on it and still enjoy riding that bike.
Ottrott with the ST rear end:
I am always one to try out cutting edge technology and when the Ottrott came out, I was excited to buy one and give it a whirl. Well, being that they are very expensive to buy new and that not so many have been produced, my wait to find one used in my size was pretty long.
I finally found one that would “work” with a little tweaking. It had a little longer top tube than I usually ride and the angles were not perfect, but the price was right and so I made the leap. After replacing the fork with one that was more stable (thanks Smiley), going through a few stems and seat posts, I finally dialed it in. The ride is excellent. .The ST rear end is very subtle and works in conjuncture with the tubing to give it a very sublime ride. Kind of like a sporty Cadillac. A bike that you can do a Century on, get off the bike and not feel beat up at all. It’s a bike I enjoy riding for longer events.
Kirk Frame Works with the Terraplane rear end:
I always new that Dave and I would do business. He has been so generous with his time and knowledge regarding my Hors Categorie that it just felt right buying a frameset from him. The fact that it had a trick new rear end just made it that much more appealing to me. When I contacted him and he told me it was a 6 month wait, I had mixed feelings. One, of happiness for him that he was doing so well and two that Damn it! I had to wait 6 months. No matter, I sent him a check and waited.
From start to finish, the process of chatting with Dave about geometries, what I wanted the bike to look like, do etc , checking out the ongoing process of his building my bike (through photo’s) and dealing with JB was all great fun. When the frame showed up at the house, I was truly excited to build it and ride it. It built up very easily and was great fun admiring his and JB’s work as I put it all together.
OK, for the “Gestalt-issimo” part of this very long (and hopefully not too boring ride report). From the second I got on the bike, I knew there was something different about it than any other bike I’ve owned. It just felt different and I wasn’t sure why. After doing a nice long climb and an even longer descent, I knew what it was. Dave nailed it. Not just the geometry or the tube selection or the bend of the Terraplane seat stays, he nailed the “Gestalt” of it all. The bike just feels correct. There are so many trite sayings I could use now, but one keeps coming back to mind: Confidence inspiring. From the first curve of the first descent, I just knew this bike was right. It just felt that way.
And that’s what the surprise is. I don’t think I have ever felt this “Gestalt” before in any bike that I’ve ever owned. Whether it be a used bike that I bought on ebay or a new bike from a bike store (and believe you me, there have been plenty of both) none have felt so right or so correct, especially so quickly.
So, to answer the question of what is better, DKS, ST or Terraplane, I really cannot answer that question as they all do what they are supposed to do. But what I can say is: Thank you Dave for making this bike so right. And yes, it is about the “Gestalt-Issimo” of it all.
Steve
I was very excited to take delivery of my Kirk with the Terraplane rear end because, like many of you, I was curious to see how it stacked up against the DKS and ST rear ends of Serotta.
I promised that I’d write a ride report about the three different rear ends and compare them. What I found out really surprised me. Let me explain. But first a little back story of all three bikes (I hope I don’t bore you).
Hors Categorie with the DKS rear end:
A few years back, Dave Kirk himself had his personal Hors Categorie for auction on ebay. I had never heard about the DKS rear end and Dave was more than generous with his time on the phone and through emails to explain how it worked, if his bike would work for me, etc. I was very excited to own one and see what it was all about for myself. Well, I was outbid at the last few seconds and thoroughly bummed. I swore that if another came up in my size, I’d buy it!
Another one in my size came up years later with a “Buy it Now” option. Well, I used that option and by the following week, I was riding that bike daily. I enjoyed the comfort that the rear end afforded and how well it handled. I was very impressed by the fact that I did a 7.5 mile mountain descent and when I got to the bottom I checked the “max” speed on the computer and it was well over 40 MPH. I had no idea I had hit those speeds as the bike is extremely stable.
I liked the bike so much so that I disassembled it and send it to JB for a very expensive repaint. I got it back from JB, put nicer components on it and still enjoy riding that bike.
Ottrott with the ST rear end:
I am always one to try out cutting edge technology and when the Ottrott came out, I was excited to buy one and give it a whirl. Well, being that they are very expensive to buy new and that not so many have been produced, my wait to find one used in my size was pretty long.
I finally found one that would “work” with a little tweaking. It had a little longer top tube than I usually ride and the angles were not perfect, but the price was right and so I made the leap. After replacing the fork with one that was more stable (thanks Smiley), going through a few stems and seat posts, I finally dialed it in. The ride is excellent. .The ST rear end is very subtle and works in conjuncture with the tubing to give it a very sublime ride. Kind of like a sporty Cadillac. A bike that you can do a Century on, get off the bike and not feel beat up at all. It’s a bike I enjoy riding for longer events.
Kirk Frame Works with the Terraplane rear end:
I always new that Dave and I would do business. He has been so generous with his time and knowledge regarding my Hors Categorie that it just felt right buying a frameset from him. The fact that it had a trick new rear end just made it that much more appealing to me. When I contacted him and he told me it was a 6 month wait, I had mixed feelings. One, of happiness for him that he was doing so well and two that Damn it! I had to wait 6 months. No matter, I sent him a check and waited.
From start to finish, the process of chatting with Dave about geometries, what I wanted the bike to look like, do etc , checking out the ongoing process of his building my bike (through photo’s) and dealing with JB was all great fun. When the frame showed up at the house, I was truly excited to build it and ride it. It built up very easily and was great fun admiring his and JB’s work as I put it all together.
OK, for the “Gestalt-issimo” part of this very long (and hopefully not too boring ride report). From the second I got on the bike, I knew there was something different about it than any other bike I’ve owned. It just felt different and I wasn’t sure why. After doing a nice long climb and an even longer descent, I knew what it was. Dave nailed it. Not just the geometry or the tube selection or the bend of the Terraplane seat stays, he nailed the “Gestalt” of it all. The bike just feels correct. There are so many trite sayings I could use now, but one keeps coming back to mind: Confidence inspiring. From the first curve of the first descent, I just knew this bike was right. It just felt that way.
And that’s what the surprise is. I don’t think I have ever felt this “Gestalt” before in any bike that I’ve ever owned. Whether it be a used bike that I bought on ebay or a new bike from a bike store (and believe you me, there have been plenty of both) none have felt so right or so correct, especially so quickly.
So, to answer the question of what is better, DKS, ST or Terraplane, I really cannot answer that question as they all do what they are supposed to do. But what I can say is: Thank you Dave for making this bike so right. And yes, it is about the “Gestalt-Issimo” of it all.
Steve