Kirk JKS Classic: NAHBS 2011

[terry]

Very nice score. I can’t I’m imagine anybody not liking that color, rim brakes, mech group set and regular stays. For me the perfect Steele bike-make the perfect bike Enjoy.

[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by Kirk007

Having had a number of Kirks with terraplane stays and none without, and actually having an aesthetic preference for straight, I've reconciled this question this way: (1) the Kirks with terraplane stays descend crappy roadways as confidently, or more so, than any other road bikes I'd had - is it the stays/. the low bottom bracket? the steel fork? who knows but the bikes work and (2) Dave says he can measure a slight movement/damping effect and he uses them on all of his personal bikes and I trust Dave.

This 1000%

[Hilltopperny]

Absolutely stunning! Great find! The color from this very bike was the inspiration for the MRB I had a while back.

[XXtwindad]

I saw that bike for a long time, too. (Although I was really scoping out the Speedvagen) Great pickup! What happened to your blue Kirk? That was stunning as well.

[xnetter]

That paint is nuts in the best possible way. Enjoy! Looking forward to seeing it built up.

KJ

[tv_vt]

I think it was the 180mm headtube that held me back from buying this frame earlier in the winter. I know I looked at it a bunch of times. If the HT was 195-200mm, it would've been very hard to resist.

Lavi, you must be more flexible than I am.

There are still pics of it on the web from when DK had it at NAHBS in 2011, too. Here: https://bikerumor.com/nahbs-2011-kir...nd-trick-bits/

[Marvinlungwitz]

Wow. Awesome bike.

[lavi]

Originally Posted by mistermo

Who did the paint? JB?

Yup. I get happy when I see the JB on the stay.

Originally Posted by Nick12

I'd be keen to know if there's a noticeable difference between terraplane and straight stays.

Originally Posted by madsciencenow

Can you really deduce this given the rest of the variables aren’t being held constant? I have two Kirks w terraplane seat stays and wonder as well but not sure if this is really the test case? This said, lavi, if you note a difference I’m also keen to know.

Originally Posted by Kirk007

Having had a number of Kirks with terraplane stays and none without, and actually having an aesthetic preference for straight, I've reconciled this question this way: (1) the Kirks with terraplane stays descend crappy roadways as confidently, or more so, than any other road bikes I'd had - is it the stays/. the low bottom bracket? the steel fork? who knows but the bikes work and (2) Dave says he can measure a slight movement/damping effect and he uses them on all of his personal bikes and I trust Dave.

I'm very curious about the TP stays too. TBH, I much prefer the look of straight strays. However, the purported dampening properties of the TP stays means that I will perhaps one day have a Kirk with TP stays. As it stands, these used bikes I'm finding only have had straight stays...so that's the deal. For now.

I've also been told/heard that it sort of works in a way to keep the ass end (more) glued to the ground. I don't need anymore encouragement to go even faster on descents...but some added dampening may be nice. That said, I'm the kind of descender that doesn't really mind the bike getting a little lively under me. I little bump mid-corner really adds to the excitement for me. Descending certainly is a skill....and it's likely the only part of my cycling game where I'm actually "good" (ex-motorcycle racer). So the occasional liveliness of a bike moving under me only leads to more smiles.

Originally Posted by OtayBW

What has become of us?!?

Amen! Look outside. The entire damn world has lost its friggin mind.

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

I saw that bike for a long time, too. (Although I was really scoping out the Speedvagen) Great pickup! What happened to your blue Kirk? That was stunning as well.

Thank you. Ya, I decided to part ways with that one when I got the Aethos. I pulled the mech Campy group off the JKS to use on the Aethos.

I was very conflicted to sell the blue Kirk as I really really felt that it was about as fine of a ride that a bike could have, atmo. However, the beat goes on. I'm trying my best to keep N as close to 1 as a bike dork can. Not easy! Plus, for a plush ride yet still with great handling, my Hampsten has that covered in spades. This frame was really a great value (whatever the heck that means when talking about toys). Now, I'm really excited to feel how this one rides compared to the other. Geo is sorta close...so we'll see.

Weeeeeeee.

[madsciencenow]

The excitement you mention while carving a turn would cause me to **** my pants


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[lavi]

Originally Posted by madsciencenow

The excitement you mention while carving a turn would cause me to **** my pants

Most times it's on a descent I know well....so I "see" it coming. But ya, sometimes it's just a surprise. I don't like sliding on gravel though. That's no fun.

But ya, I just hover over the saddle without locking my arms or legs. Stay loose.

[d_douglas]

Is this thing built yet?

[d_douglas]

ahem? lets see this baby!

[lavi]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

Is this thing built yet?

Originally Posted by d_douglas

ahem? lets see this baby!

Dang. My bad. I thought I had posted a few pics.

I have to say (and I'm sorta surprised) that this bike may be my favorite bike I've ever owned. It tics all the boxes. It's metal. It's rim brake. It's a Campy build. The handling is primo. The fit is great. The ride is a joy. Smooth as can be with plenty of stiffness and get-up-and-go.

This being my 2nd Kirk (new to me frames), this was going to be the nudge to finally get a custom built for me. I was looking to go Onesto with clearance for up to 32/35. However, this bike is just so good. It rides just as great as my previous JKS. Not that I don't want a new bike, but I simply cannot fathom something being "better". And, to get an Onesto, I would have then sold this frame AND my Aethos. No way I'm letting the number of bikes I own grow from where it currently is.

Now, I'm feeling content (and I bit like a heel for having such nich crap. Sort of like an imposter.). Very content. I think I'm gonna stay put with my 3 main rides for hopefully quite some time.

This one is just tops. And the paint, did I mention it paint.





My panels match his Peg Luigino.

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by Nick12

I'd be keen to know if there's a noticeable difference between terraplane and straight stays.

I can speak with some authority regarding that.

I was Dave’s first retail customer when he hung out his shingle. My Kirk was pretty standard lugged bike with straight seat stay. A thoroughly nice bike. In 2004 Dave sent me a pic of his bike with the newly developed Terraplane seat stays, the looks of which really wound my wick. I thought then, as I do now, those seat stays were the sexiest thing in bicycles.

I sent my Kirk back to Dave so he could remove the straight stays and install the Terraplane stays. I don’t remember the details regarding how long it took or the cost but I didn’t care.

I built the ‘new’ Kirk up with the same equipment I took off the ‘old’ Kirk. There was an immediate difference in the character of the new bike. The back roads here north of Spokane are farm roads, lots of chipseal, frost heaves and irregular pavement. The bike was much calmer, the irregularities were far less jarring, the rear end was more connected to the surface and less prone being upset.

[jaewoo.kim.88]

Originally Posted by dave thompson

I can speak with some authority regarding that.

I was Dave’s first retail customer when he hung out his shingle. My Kirk was pretty standard lugged bike with straight seat stay. A thoroughly nice bike. In 2004 Dave sent me a pic of his bike with the newly developed Terraplane seat stays, the looks of which really wound my wick. I thought then, as I do now, those seat stays were the sexiest thing in bicycles.

I sent my Kirk back to Dave so he could remove the straight stays and install the Terraplane stays. I don’t remember the details regarding how long it took or the cost but I didn’t care.

I built the ‘new’ Kirk up with the same equipment I took off the ‘old’ Kirk. There was an immediate difference in the character of the new bike. The back roads here north of Spokane are farm roads, lots of chipseal, frost heaves and irregular pavement. The bike was much calmer, the irregularities were far less jarring, the rear end was more connected to the surface and less prone being upset.

Thanks for sharing this!