650b Mountain Bike: Kirk Pacenti Rules!

[billrick]

I'm still staring at this photo from NAHBS:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/409521154_f1c9ca3718.jpg

No only did Kirk come out with a bi-plane fork lug (instant early lead for 2007 Time Man of the Year), but he revealed a 650b mountain bike and a soon-to-arrive production knobby tire.

Here is what I am hoping for: the increased momentum of a 29er tire with the "flickability" of a 26 in. wheel. I'm not expecting any drastic changes, given the percentage difference between a 26 wheel and a 27.5 inch 650b, but it will be interesting to see how it rolls. And if I can run the wheel in existing forks, like the beloved Fox, I will be pretty dang stoked. (Click here for my earlier experiment (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=139931&postcount=17).)

Kirk, if you are out there, can you tell us who will be building the frames? (Surely Panaracer didn't commit to this project on a spec basis.) Any chance for a reasonably-priced steel frame, ala Surly or Soma?

Thanks!

:beer:

[michael white]

Ok I just googled the fork crown, because it sounded too good to be true.

My guess is that it must be what I saw on the orange Sycip at the show? i wasn't there, but when I saw that I assumed it was an old Ritchey/Rivendell crown that Jeremy had stashed away out there, but this is even better!

(I bought and loved a 93 MB-1 just because of that style of crown.)

Now, Kirk, you're making me all giddy. . . Please tell me there's a road version. Please, I'm begging you!

yrs,

mikey

[billrick]

How can you not love this guy? Last year he brings back the ATMO Papillon lugs, now the bi-plane crown and the 650b mountain bike. Here is a good photo:

http://alexandchristine.smugmug.com/photos/133877457-M.jpg

[michael white]

PLEASE, Kirk, ROAD ROAD ROAD!

that's my prayer for the night.

[Serpico]

pacenti rules imho

[dauwhe]

That bike makes me want to buy a mountain bike!

Dave

[Steve Hampsten]

That bike makes me want to buy a mountain bike!

Dave

+1

Those wheels just look RIGHT! No pesky Frenchy-ness either.

[dbrk]

That bike makes me want to buy a mountain bike!

Dave

+2
But then I think about riding a mountain bike and I get all pesky and Frenchy, knowing that I prefer rough stuff roads and trails and that barrelling down mountains or through goop and throop just isn't for me. I admire mountain bikers---huge handling skills, courage, etc.---but gone it seems are the days of ordinary clothes and gonzo ballcaps, enter the age of body armor.

Still, if I were going to own a mountain bike, this would be near the list top 'cause it looks so right and 650B is a great choice.

dbrk

[d_douglas]

first off, KP, that is one beautiful looking bike. I would love to take it for a tear! Not sure of this 650b business (out of ignorance, mostly) but is definitely worth a try.

I surfed the NAHMBS photo archive last night and I must say that my jaw dropped when spying that orange Sycip. I owned an ill fitting Unleaded many years ago and have since lusted after a proper fitting one. While that orange one may not be doing any huge dropoffs, it is about as fine an XC/touring MTB as one could imagine. Bi-plane fork crown, tall head tube, disc brakes and huge tire clearance, all looking like a vintage Ritchey. Sooo nice.

[Big Dan]

Great stuff KP...........

:)

[Fat Robert]

the fat man told you before


kirk gets it in a big way

[dirtdigger88]

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l162/dirt_011/HEAD_TUBE_01.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l162/dirt_011/SEATPOST_02.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l162/dirt_011/THREEQUARTER_VIEW.jpg


+3 from dirt

Jason

[Fat Robert]

any other pics from kirk's booth?


what about zank?


what about obtuse? surely there is a picture of him passed out in front of something?

[Kirk Pacenti]

I'm still staring at this photo from NAHBS:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/409521154_f1c9ca3718.jpg

No only did Kirk come out with a bi-plane fork lug (instant early lead for 2007 Time Man of the Year), but he revealed a 650b mountain bike and a soon-to-arrive production knobby tire.

Here is what I am hoping for: the increased momentum of a 29er tire with the "flickability" of a 26 in. wheel. I'm not expecting any drastic changes, given the percentage difference between a 26 wheel and a 27.5 inch 650b, but it will be interesting to see how it rolls. And if I can run the wheel in existing forks, like the beloved Fox, I will be pretty dang stoked. (Click here for my earlier experiment (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=139931&postcount=17).)

Kirk, if you are out there, can you tell us who will be building the frames? (Surely Panaracer didn't commit to this project on a spec basis.) Any chance for a reasonably-priced steel frame, ala Surly or Soma?

Thanks!

:beer:


Thanks everyone...

Yes, Rivendell and another start up company will soon have the frames to go with the tire size... I would not have done it otherwise.

As for the ride, it rolls REALLY WELL! Dirt Rag is going to be doing a proper test of the show bike shortly.

The MTB crown is due in 90 days and the road version a few months later. I'll leave it at that for now... I don't want to take advantage of Serotta's generosity by violating forum rules. If anyone would like to know more please PM me or better yet contact me off list.

Cheers,

KP

[Keith A]

PLEASE, Kirk, ROAD ROAD ROAD!

that's my prayer for the night.I didn't know if you have seen FR's road machine. If not, then you should check out his post Pacenti Road Built Up (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=24765) and here's one of the pictures from his post...

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=20893&stc=1

[Fat Robert]

that sorta looks like my bike

but my bike has a 120 stem and the saddle 5mm further back

dang

[Keith A]

that sorta looks like my bike -- but my bike has a 120 stem and the saddle 5mm further backYou must have meant this one...

http://www.barrierislandgraphics.com/forumfiles/FRpacetti.jpg

[michael white]

no, that's wonderful, but what I meant--my pathetic little plea--was: I'm hoping that KP will do a road version of the new biplane mtb bike crown. That would make sense in that it would echo the two biplane crowns of latter day Bridgestones of yore, but more importantly to me it would make me drool for one.

[SimonC]

no, that's wonderful, but what I meant--my pathetic little plea--was: I'm hoping that KP will do a road version of the new biplane mtb bike crown. That would make sense in that it would echo the two biplane crowns of latter day Bridgestones of yore, but more importantly to me it would make me drool for one.
...

The MTB crown is due in 90 days and the road version a few months later. I'll leave it at that for now

[Fat Robert]

You must have meant this one...

http://www.barrierislandgraphics.com/forumfiles/FRpacetti.jpg

sort of

except mine has a ritchey stem and a shimano post*


but yeah, it looks a lot like that one

[Climb01742]

robert, how's the shimano post workin' out for ya?

[michael white]

thanks, Simon,
not sure where you're quoting that from, but that's great news. This will probably be domething to get in on early, before cult status (as with the RB-1) sets in.

best,
mw

[dirtdigger88]

that sorta looks like my bike
dang

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l162/dirt_011/SILVER.jpg

I like this one

Jason

[Fat Robert]

robert, how's the shimano post workin' out for ya?


in the words of Cartman,

"sweeeet."


thanks jimboclimbo -- you're a mensch!

[billrick]

Old Tom Bombadil (http://www.cyclofiend.com/rbw/bombadil07.html) is a merry fellow,
Bright blue his jacket is and his boots are yellow,
None has ever caught him yet, for Tom he is the master,
His songs are stronger songs and his feet are faster.

[Thanks to Cyclofiend and Dirt Rag!]

:)

[Serpico]

Dirt found the hidden WMD cache
.