Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Still Tippin' On Four:Fours

• Odyssey's got some tall-ass four-piece bars dropping that look sort of like Redline Forklifters without the number-plate tabs (or just the more recent versions) or Fred'z Bars without Fred. I'd embed the code so you didn't have to click the link, but the last time I did that it messed up the whole column aspect of the blog. I'm not blaming Odyssey—there must be a way I could adjust the width or the scale—I just don't know what I'm doing. I'd think these are what would have been the Lumb4rjacks (or was it Lumberj4cks?), and whilst I'm inclined to sigh at yet another pair of bars thrown into the mix, it's hard to not love 'em after seeing this photo:


That said, I'll stick with my Bobs.

• Whilst yesterday's post drew plenty of comments, nothing was really cleared up one way or the other. Meanwhile, Fit themselves took the Flavor Flav route. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I want to believe. But correct me if I'm wrong, isn't that a 'new' Lengthy? And wasn't the Domination bike a regular STA? (As for actually buying it, who do you think you are, Rick Moliterno???) UPDATE: 'Tis apparently 100 percent legit. Must... fight... impulses...

• It could be worse, I suppose. We could all be riding road bikes, where equipment failure costs a lot more.

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24 comments:

G.S.GUCCILIFE said...

4 pcs forumphs?

Anonymous said...

those bars also look like the DK bars which i doubt were used by anyone not sponsored by DK.

Andi said...

They are not "tall-ass".
They have 4 degrees of upsweep so your hands sit lower than 8.6"

Anonymous said...

Ugly as sin.

Those bars are for people who have abyssimally terrible taste and can't make their minds up between an ugly tall bars and VERY ugly four piece bars.

The guy who designed those mostrosities should get a job in designing russion mlitary submarine toilet seats because these bars should not see the light of day.

I'd rather ride KHE anchor/stem combo bars cobo than those monstrosities, at least you get an elementary stem with it...

DBZ said...

I rode the local Scott rep's Addict with R-Sys wheels for a day, and the whole set-up freaked me out. I don't like plastic bikes or bike parts that much, and once the rig has a retail value of almost ten grand, it makes me pretty nervous when I'm responsible for the damn thing for a night.

Once my need for more beer and cigarettes from the local grocery store overwhelmed any such qualms, I realized that at least the fucking bike wasn't chrome--the teenage gangbangers lurking by the dumpsters didn't look twice at it.

It took me just over twenty minutes to ride the twelve miles to work the next morning. If I owned something like that and rode it on a regular basis, I'd be dead long before any catastrophic equipment failure issues would have materialized.

FedTom said...

They're SUPPPOSED to look hideous as sin.

George designed those monstrosities, I saw a video of it along with his other Frankenstein-ish creations (gynormous-sport hubs, (ugly)director forks, twombolt(twombreaks), etc, all SOOOO extremely overhyped while solving non-existing problems so kids can hang off his testicles.

Profile > Odyssey/G-Sport

George, I'm glad you are off Bikeguide and not coming back again. Good riddance!!!!!

me said...

so... "you are not the width, shape, color or HEIGHT of your handlebars..."

seems fit has had some unexpected setbacks especially considering Aiken's injury, etc. But, maybe just maybe, this is the normal course of events for the Fit-side project. Makes you wonder if they ever expected it to get so big, so fast, and maintain for so long - better to go out on top, like Josh White or Warren Marchessy...

Chris from Odyssey said...

George had nothing to do with these bars. You'll have to fuel your burning fire of obsession elsewhere.

We made these bars for our friends that wanted a four-piece bar based on the Lumberjack's geometry (with upsweep, which ads to the height slightly). The "look" is obviously derivative of Forklifters and the original Hoffman Bars. As far as traditional handlebar aesthetics are concerned, I've always thought Forklifters were on the list along side Slams, Kneesavers and Castillo Bars. Maybe our list is different than yours. Why does it even matter?

If you don't like these bars, then simply ride something else. There's a seemingly endless supply to choose from at this point. The original people that we made them for are happy.

Isn't that the way it should be?

Anonymous said...

Fit is done. It's getting shut down relatively soon, which is why they are making such a big deal about stay fit, it's one last big thing before fit is gone forever. Too bad mikey won't have that many clips. I wonder what's gonna be the new "scene" without fit around

Anonymous said...

How would you know that about Fit Mr. Anonymous?

G.S.GUCCILIFE said...

Im with CfO

I always loved 4 pcs bars,so im probably biased.Only thing,i would have made those like with a perfectly squared shape on the bottom,just my 2 cents.

Eben said...

Russ,

That frame was indeed the frame that he rode in domination. In mid 98 when Moliterno got the sample STA (black camo frame) with the new style dropout he sent the Domination frame back to Waterford for repair and new paint. When the frame was sent back with new paint, chainstays (since he had ground through the other ones) Waterford put the new Lengthy style dropouts on it to try out. If I do remember correctly he intended to ride the frame again but it ended up collecting dust in the storeroom at the Standard office.

Eben

Anonymous said...

Man I wanna see 'domination'..It was on ebay too recently alongside all that other crazy sbc surplus, I forgot to bid

Anonymous said...

I've always thought Forklifters were on the list along side Slams, Kneesavers and Castillo Bars

CWs. Do it.

Russ said...

Thanks much, Eben. Man, now I definitely want it, ha.

I just got my old STA-R back, and I think it's gonna get ridden.

Unknown said...

BTW, for all you talking about Domination et al, I just got the original cut of the first Standard dvd box set back. It has been trapped on a hard drive for nearly 4 years.

Anonymous said...

sad how some of the old trends are coming back now...

eg

tan wall side walls(maybe soon will be the comeback of white walls?)

4 piece bars

chrome

tricks.

Keep it fresh not recycled

G.S.GUCCILIFE said...

The post above.....one of the dumbest thing i ever read in my whole life....

nerys hughes said...

4pcs to be the new supersize slams - i predict many more monkey puzzle looking brs in the future

Anonymous said...

I'm still rockin my standard 6 piece (similar to fit 4 piece with 7/8" inserted to 1" risers) for more than 10 years ago. It's the only part that ever lasted on my bike for more than years.

Put a pair of civilan bars lke 2 1/2 years ago broke it at the bend. Too lazy to warranty em. PUt the ol standard bars back.

no heat treated shmeat treated or any of that shit. This is the case where a design wins at the expense of a little bit of weight.

Anonymous said...

http://www.4downdistribution.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/smnewsneaks.jpg

M said...

I wish more people knew how much of a tool the dude in the picture is.

Whathisface said...

^^^^^
Shit, I just realized that....









Not

Anonymous said...

THANKS ODYSSEY !!!

I am going to buy some.

Now can you make the flatland 44's again, only this time 8.6" rise !!

This is what a tall flatlander has to do to get the grips in the right place:
http://www.global-flat.com/articles/index.php?id=102