A proper photoshoot of the Losa built Krapf bike.
#1
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A proper photoshoot of the Losa built Krapf bike.
Well...or at least better than the quick shots I took this winter. I can't kneel on the repaired knee yet so I'm manually focusing while crouching and swaying on a lot of the shots. And the old Canon was struggling with the reds like usual.
But as I got this one down this morning I was struck again by how beautiful it is. Just needs a proper set of wheels to do it justice. Still holding off on the first ride until I can go all out for at least 5 miles or so.
Not bad for a 40 year old bike!
Had to play around with tires to get semi-decent clearance from the crimped seat tube.
Those stripes and the V in the lug!
Suntour Goodness
Generic Shimano hubs
Was going to add thin yellow stripes to the finishing tape also but the yellow on this bike is more golden than the tape I had.
Generic Shimano hubs
But as I got this one down this morning I was struck again by how beautiful it is. Just needs a proper set of wheels to do it justice. Still holding off on the first ride until I can go all out for at least 5 miles or so.
Not bad for a 40 year old bike!
Had to play around with tires to get semi-decent clearance from the crimped seat tube.
Those stripes and the V in the lug!
Suntour Goodness
Generic Shimano hubs
Was going to add thin yellow stripes to the finishing tape also but the yellow on this bike is more golden than the tape I had.
Generic Shimano hubs
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#2
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I love these shifters
Gold bolts are a nice touch
Replaced the original black Suntour chainrings with these silver Dura Ace one.
More Superbe jewelry
This had an early Shimano FD braze-on that required an early Shimano Dura Ace FD for proper fitment. Other FD's would not clear the chainring.
Shiny stem!
Modern concession for looks and performance
Soma bars for the win!
I assume this means the bike is a 1982 model
More of the Superbe bling.
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#3
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I love fondling these shifters, is that weird?
Chrome has held up pretty well
Lug detail
BB detail and dang it, need to clean this up some still.
Rear drop out detail
More Superbe bling with a cool dustcap.
Check out that teardrop cutout, cool!
Yep, she's a looker!
The fork is just so sexy
Comfortable bars
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#4
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More of the stripes
That fork, wow!
This old frameset transformed into one sweet looking ride!
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Yep, she's a looker!
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
#6
Love the air foil shaped fork blades!
#7
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And the new wheels showed up today. Dropped almost 1.5 lbs swapping these on. Same tires and tubes so that gain was the wheels and the Dura Ace UG cassette.
Had some polished Velocity Fusion rims laced up to the 126mm Dura Ace hubset I had. The results are quite beautiful to my eyes. Tomorrow we'll see how they do on the road.
This is the look I wanted for this old beauty.
Rear setup
Front
Machined brake surfaces
This does not capture the almost mirror like finish of the rims.
Another beautiful set of handbuilts done by Peter Chisolm in Colorado.
Had some polished Velocity Fusion rims laced up to the 126mm Dura Ace hubset I had. The results are quite beautiful to my eyes. Tomorrow we'll see how they do on the road.
This is the look I wanted for this old beauty.
Rear setup
Front
Machined brake surfaces
This does not capture the almost mirror like finish of the rims.
Another beautiful set of handbuilts done by Peter Chisolm in Colorado.
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Wow...that rear tire clearance!
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Totally not drooling.
/looks for Superbe Pro groups again...
/looks for Superbe Pro groups again...
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Yeah that baby is tucked in there tight. Probably why this one feels like it's supercharged when you get on it. It is a bit deceptive though as the seat tube is crimped to make room. There's actually around 5-6mm of space between the tire and the frame. Like I can run the head of Q-tip through there without really touching tire or the seat tube. Went with one of the larger 700 x 23 tires with narrow rims to maintain some clearance. 700 x 25 on wide modern rims was just not happening.
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It's great to see a classic road bike set up properly. This could easily be a show bike. Love all the proper cable lengths--no big looping brake cables, fore or aft--just nice, smooth curves. Appropriate-length exposed cables, capped by color-matched caps. All cable adjusters screwed in to start. Color-matched details like the crank bolt dust caps, water bottle bolts and brake cable adjuster rings. All parts tastefully thought through. Putting thought into how the complete bike will look results in a bike as stunning as this. I'm taking away one point for the mis-matched hub QR bolts.
EDIT: I see now you swapped out the matching Dura Ace hubs--point reinstated. Now I want a set of those Velocity Fusion rims.
But the rest of the bike should be "Exhibit A" on how to properly set up a classic road bike.
Props also to the photography and bike pose--valves up, tire labels centered over them; horizontal crank.
Take a well-deserved bow.
EDIT: I see now you swapped out the matching Dura Ace hubs--point reinstated. Now I want a set of those Velocity Fusion rims.
But the rest of the bike should be "Exhibit A" on how to properly set up a classic road bike.
Props also to the photography and bike pose--valves up, tire labels centered over them; horizontal crank.
Take a well-deserved bow.
Last edited by smd4; 07-12-23 at 06:28 AM.
#12
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It's great to see a classic road bike set up properly. This could easily be a show bike. Love all the proper cable lengths--no big looping brake cables, fore or aft--just nice, smooth curves. Appropriate-length exposed cables, capped by color-matched caps. All cable adjusters screwed in to start. Color-matched details like the crank bolt dust caps, water bottle bolts and brake cable adjuster rings. All parts tastefully thought through. Putting thought into how the complete bike will look results in a bike as stunning as this. I'm taking away one point for the mis-matched hub QR bolts.
EDIT: I see now you swapped out the matching Dura Ace hubs--point reinstated. Now I want a set of those Velocity Fusion rims.
But the rest of the bike should be "Exhibit A" on how to properly set up a classic road bike.
Props also to the photography and bike pose--valves up, tire labels centered over them; horizontal crank.
Take a well-deserved bow.
EDIT: I see now you swapped out the matching Dura Ace hubs--point reinstated. Now I want a set of those Velocity Fusion rims.
But the rest of the bike should be "Exhibit A" on how to properly set up a classic road bike.
Props also to the photography and bike pose--valves up, tire labels centered over them; horizontal crank.
Take a well-deserved bow.
More importantly this one will get it's first full ride on my base daily course today. I've had it out twice or short shake down rides but now it's time to see what this beauty can really do out on the road.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
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#13
Not lost wanderer.
That is beautiful!
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72 Geoffery Butler, 72 Guficatizion Witcomb, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 74 Raleigh international, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier, 85 Gazelle Primeur, 29rBMX, Surley Steamroller 650b
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I think you absolutely nailed that one, love those wheels!
Tim
Tim
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Just a slight update.
Put on NOS Suntour chainrings, red anodized steel chainring bolts, and then found the perfect frame pump for this one. A Silca Impero with the Krapf logo in gold on it.
Put on NOS Suntour chainrings, red anodized steel chainring bolts, and then found the perfect frame pump for this one. A Silca Impero with the Krapf logo in gold on it.
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Nice score on the pump!
#17
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Getting the Krapf ready to take out this morning and I'm struck again by just how gorgeous that bike is. And....for the first time since I got it years and years ago I'm wondering if it's time to finally pass on the Opus III. The ol' Fuji has been my most beautiful classic bike for years but now it seems like the Krapf has replaced it. I probably need to get the Opus out again on a ride so that these evil thoughts will go away.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
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Last edited by jamesdak; 05-19-24 at 08:55 AM.
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#19
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Beautiful! Losa built such nice bikes. I've got a Losa Winner that is unfortunately in rough shape. His craftsmanship and the Carlos Dossena paint job make it still a bike worth admiring.
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