44 Bikes

[fortyfour]

Throw me a bone.

You'll see it in Charlotte. But you'll have to go looking for it. That's your only bone...

[fortyfour]

[fortyfour]

[fortyfour]

.: 44 Bikes : 2014 Tactical Field Manual :.

[seanile]

well done sir

[fortyfour]

[fortyfour]

Bike Rumor Road to Nahbs : 44 Bikes

[fortyfour]

[saltz]

just read in bikerumor.com that you are going to start building in titanium. interested in if it is market driven, curiosity to work with a different material or if you believe it is superior to steel for mountain bike applications?

[blasdelf]

his signature chainstay style would sure be a major selling point in Ti

everybody else on the market is also starting with straight round tubes, but few have manipulating them anywhere near as well, so you normally lose some combination of clearance/shortness/stiffness

[fortyfour]

just read in bikerumor.com that you are going to start building in titanium. interested in if it is market driven, curiosity to work with a different material or if you believe it is superior to steel for mountain bike applications?

Just a note to all: I am a long way from offering titanium to clients. I have a lot to learn , perfect and hone. But honestly, that is a material I have long been curious about. The "strength of steel, weight of aluminum" as they say. It has unique qualities and from a design standpoint, makes a lot of sense for different applications including mountain bikes, snow bikes and my "road" bikes. It spawns off of a natural curiosity for different and difficult materials/processes that push your skills. On the flip side as it pertains from a business stand point, there are a lot of clients that have contacted me who have their steel custom and are asking "when will you start building Ti?" I have more inquiries than I can count like that and that is an opportunity. I won't not offer steel. But Ti offers a different approach and client base. It's that next step for a customer who wants that next step.

[fortyfour]

his signature chainstay style would sure be a major selling point in Ti

everybody else on the market is also starting with straight round tubes, but few have manipulating them anywhere near as well, so you normally lose some combination of clearance/shortness/stiffness

This is another point of interest: How far can the material be pushed? What can be done that has not been done? The custom market (IMO) has niches within niches and a good majority of it is regurgitation of what has been done. I try and make my bikes purpose built while carefully balancing form and function. I feel that when done right, both of those elements (form and function) do not yield to one another, but rather both drive each other to a new means to an end. Both are considered simultaneously - function sometimes carrying more weight, but all the while the form is carefully being considered. I feel that is my I.D. background coming into play. Which is a big departure for most and something that I bring to the table with formal training that not many, if any, have. And I think that is one of the reasons why my bikes are unique. So that same philosophy and approach would be applied to a different material (Ti). Which really gets me excited. More on this at a later date.

[fortyfour]

[Too Tall]

Two things Kristofer (with K's and F's). Those be some sexy curves. Outstanding. Also, how many times did you rip a hole in your clothing before you put bumpers on your vise stand?

[fortyfour]

Two things Kristofer (with K's and F's). Those be some sexy curves. Outstanding. Also, how many times did you rip a hole in your clothing before you put bumpers on your vise stand?

Thanks. These curves have been perfected over the course of the past 3 years. Stop by my booth at Nahbs #926. I'll have 3 on hand and you can see them in the buff.

Also-the bumpers are not bumpers, but rather a file caddy.. technically:

[fortyfour]

[fortyfour]

[Eric Estlund]

Kris, I know you dig the moto style short front-as-rear fender, but you can order singles from Euro Asia if you or a client want paired "rears" for longer coverage front and rear.

[fortyfour]

Kris, I know you dig the moto style short front/ rear fender, but you can order singles from Euro Asia if you or a client want paired "rears" for longer coverage front and rear.

Good to know Eric - Front is full for the record. Rear was bobbed by about 5 inches.

Client does not care about spraying wheel suckers on his commute. Little East Coast "born bad" for you guys to chew on...

[Eric Estlund]

Got it, I thought it was a rear on the front, front on the rear situation.

If you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride.