Zukas Cycles

[Nate Zukas]

I take it that as an XC machine you're forgoing a dropper post. Any reason not to do one of your ISP deals?

My first ever mtb frame had a seat mast. The popular trails here locally have a lot of quick dips that can be either out of the saddle or remain seated. To many seated times and it buckled. That's what lead me to the under the TT seat binder idea. The buckled section was so low and no room for a regular seat clamp after cutting it off. I thought the frame was history. It kept me riding until I came up with my own geometry and worked so well that I used it on my new frame.

[Nate Zukas]

Aluminum test frame starting to become a reality!


2016-10-09_06-16-59 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-10-13_08-08-55 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-10-13_08-09-21 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-10-09_06-10-56 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr

[Nate Zukas]

Some artificial aging, then some riding!





[url=https://flic.kr/p/NswMod]










[url=https://flic.kr/p/NCS9Jz][/url

[RichTheRoadie]

Some artificial aging, then some riding!

I'm excited by this. How long until you're prepared to start accepting orders (not a demand to take my money [yet] - I'm genuinely curious)?

Also...

...What's this for?

[Nate Zukas]

I'm excited by this. How long until you're prepared to start accepting orders (not a demand to take my money [yet] - I'm genuinely curious)?



Also...


...What's this for?

I hope to offer AL as an option in about a year. I want to put this frame through some real world testing first. I believe my fabrication is solid, the joining is equally solid as well. Just want to improve the appearance of the welds(purely cosmetic) and the handling/work holding of this material. My usual techniques left some scratches, I'm picky in that department! Most importantly I want to get a feel of what these tubes will offer for ride quality and characteristics so I can design with a better understanding of what the wall thickness,diameters and there effects on the feel of the frame will be. I'm pretty excited to work with this material, I've been fascinated with it for a couple of years now and really excited to put my thoughts and style into it.

Ha! I get that question alot on my personal bikes. Its for a custom made taillight holder. I'm not big on having things strapped to the frame or seatpost!

[Nate Zukas]

Test frame assembled. Weight without bar tape, Paul chain keeper and paint. Thinking with cross race wheels, tape and paint(maybe) at or just under 16lbs.

2016-11-05_11-51-13 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-11-05_11-54-26 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr

[Nate Zukas]

This was in my inbox this morning. Good way to start a Monday!

Nate,

 

I am not on FB or social media, but I wanted to write a testimonial for you to be able to use.  Thanks again for you expertise, patience, and ability to produce such beautiful work.  I could not be happier with my bike.

 

Kevin

 

P.S.  Please let me know when you will be around ATL for racing (or any other reason).  I’d love to come watch you race!

 

Working with Nate on my custom gravel bike was a pleasure in every sense of the word.  Nate is everything you want in a custom builder.  He has immense bike knowledge – as an avid rider, a mechanic, and expert frame painter and builder.  He listens as well as he instructs and has perfectionist-like attention to detail.  Most importantly, Nate is a great guy and he really cares about the customer and the frames he is making.  When I picked up my bike from Nate, he said, “I kind of hate to see the bike go.  I’ve spent so much time with it.  Part of me is in that bike. Now, it’s on to the next one”.   To me, Nate’s parting words say it all.  He pours his heart and soul into his creations.  They are his artistic expressions.  He’s attached to them, but he embraces starting the next creative project.  Nate is a tireless artist.  When you own a bike by Nate Zukas, you own a piece of art; it’s personal and one-of-a-kind.   And, along the way, you cannot help but think you’ve made a new friend too.  When it’s all said and done, your new friend Nate just built you an art-piece of a bike.  Oh, and by the way, it is easily the best riding bike I’ve ever ridden!  To anyone considering purchasing a forever-bike, I cannot recommend Nate enough. 

 

Kevin Wallace

[Nate Zukas]

Decided to dress up the aluminum test frame. So far soooo good with the results. I have found my design to be comfortable but responsive when I get down on it. Been putting some miles on with dirt road riding and cross practices. Hopefully this weekend I will race it!

2016-11-24_09-14-09 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-11-24_09-13-13 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-11-24_09-12-49 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-11-25_07-09-39 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr

[Nate Zukas]

Some process shots of the second test frame. 7005 AL with Wisecracker drops. Mega bioval DT. One of my goals this time is the appearance of my welds and where they start and stop. The gap on the DT miter was to allow the TT to be fully welded. Upped the amps this time and slightly higher balance setting. Also got a better feel of really laying into the pedal at the start but giving it less as you go along when everything rapidly heats up. Something just clicks with me when welding AL and I really enjoy it!

2016-12-25_12-35-55 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-38-27 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-40-01 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-41-20 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-42-43 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-45-19 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-46-02 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2016-12-25_12-46-20 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr

[progetto]

Like a Pro.

[Nate Zukas]

Like a Pro.

Thanks!

[Nate Zukas]

Do-all road frame.

2017-01-14_10-53-30 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_10-53-43 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_10-55-16 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_10-57-43 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_11-00-03 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_11-01-09 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_10-59-31 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_10-57-28 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-14_10-58-44 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr

[Nate Zukas]

Aluminum test frame number two. 7005 aluminum, PF30 shell tapped to T47, 12 x 142 drops, internal routing, seatmast, 44mm HT, curvy stays and flatmount brake. This will be my new road bike with room for upto 30mm road tires.

2017-01-23_08-38-41 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-37-41 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-40-01 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-40-24 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-35-38 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-33-38 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-33-17 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-32-39 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-32-18 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-36-37 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr
2017-01-23_08-36-12 by Nate Zukas, on Flickr

[Matthew Strongin]

Hey Nate, other than making a road bike vs. a cross bike like your first test fame, did you change anything else based on what you learned from frame #1?

[Nate Zukas]

Hey Nate, other than making a road bike vs. a cross bike like your first test fame, did you change anything else based on what you learned from frame #1?

Yes! The biggest was where I ended the weld bead. Basically that last finished dip of the rod and gentle easing up of the amps that leaves a small crater. I was able to minimize the size of the crater and in some cases and have it overlapped/hidden by another pass from joining another section. Alot of thinking ahead! Less scratching from handling the material. Taking greater care when holding and bettter techniques when mitering and holding the tubes. The first frame is performing as I hoped it would with either a short commute or longer rides just about everyday. Comfort level is awesome and its very responsive with efforts out of the saddle. This road frame I hope to actually race it at the Masters nationals which is in Augusta this year. Mainly focusing on the crit race I wanted an even stiffer front end/BB area, the reason for the larger ovalized DT this time. It just went through the artificially aged process, now I need to find the time to paint it and order a fork for it! I did make room for upto 30mm road tires, this will see dirt roads as well!

[Matthew Strongin]

Sounds great, Nate. I love that it captures the pure Zukas spirit by being a dirt capable crit bike. Any teasers on the paint?

[Nate Zukas]

Sounds great, Nate. I love that it captures the pure Zukas spirit by being a dirt capable crit bike. Any teasers on the paint?

I still got a bunch of hot pink!

[Matthew Strongin]

I still got a bunch of hot pink!

That stuff still glows in the sun!

[Rody]

Nate,

The AL work is looking good...careful, it's so easy and fun it becomes addictive to work with!

Great to paint too, lots of big tubes give more surface area for fun patterns and airbrush work.

cheers,

rody

[Nate Zukas]

Nate,

The AL work is looking good...careful, it's so easy and fun it becomes addictive to work with!

Great to paint too, lots of big tubes give more surface area for fun patterns and airbrush work.

cheers,

rody

Oh I'm hooked, line and sinker! Thanks Rody!!