Bike Check: Gibran’s Samson Illusion
In Indonesia, 2010 was a milestone year for the cycling scene. When Thirty Seconds to Mars released the "Kings and Queens" music video, it instantly sparked a wave of Jakarta’s teenagers jumping on the fixed-gear bandwagon. The "fixie" quickly became our absolute obsession. Beyond the simplicity of riding fixed, we were drawn to the Tumblr-worthy aesthetic and the endless color combinations that let us express our personalities. However, because this trend echoed worldwide, getting our hands on highly coveted parts became a serious challenge.
Gibran, the owner of this bike, experienced this struggle firsthand. He had his heart set on a Samson frame, a true work of art by master builder Tetsuro Harada. Because of Harada-san’s small production capacity, sourcing one in Jakarta felt nearly impossible, especially as Gibran was specifically captivated by the top-of-the-line Samson Illusion. This masterpiece is beautifully brazed from oversized, aero-profile Columbus Max tubing using gorgeous lugs, with of course the fastback seatstays that sit perfectly flush with the top tube.
In late 2010, Gibran was desperate enough to buy one straight from Japan. A friend living there found a Samson Illusion in Gibran's exact size and offered to ship it to Jakarta. Around the same time, however, Jakarta's famous, and now deeply missed, local bike shop, Rocket Company, miraculously stocked a Samson Illusion. Amazingly, it turned out to be the exact same frame his friend had spotted in Japan, having already made its way to Indonesia, so it’s without hesitation that Gibran bought and built it up.
And just as he'd hoped, the frame fit him like a glove. The vibrant fluorescent "sakura fade" paint job left him absolutely astonished, and the rest is history…
This sakura fade Illusion has been with him for over a decade, undergoing numerous iterations along the way. His cockpit setup changed frequently before settling on a Salsa Cycles stem, the exact model that later inspired SimWorks to create their Taco stem.
He paired it with an Easton EA50 riser bar, which provides just enough rise to keep him comfortable and in control while shredding through dense Jakarta traffic.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Samson Illusion
Wound Up fork
Chainring and Cog Aarn “Prolly Purple” 47T and Phil 17T Cog
Crank Campagnolo Record
Seatpost and Saddle Easton EC70 and Selle Italia Flite Titanium
Stem and Handlebar
Salsa and Easton EA50
Wheels
Phil 32-hole laced to Araya Super Aero
The wheelset is the most heavily experimented area of this build as Gibran cycled through various hubs, from loose-ball Dura-Ace which he still admits are the smoothest but require constant maintenance, to the iconic yet notoriously fragile Campagnolo "Sheriff Star" track hubs. Ultimately, his extensive research led him to Phil Wood. The legendary quality and durability of Phil Wood hubs perfectly suit his aggressive riding style on Jakarta’s punishing roads. The famously long break-in period for the bearings was a compromise he was completely willing to make.
For the hoops, he runs some flashy Araya Super Aero rims now covered in a beautiful patina. These rims were relatively easy to source locally back then, largely because Araya had a manufacturing presence right here in Indonesia. In fact, the company later reverse-engineered these very rims to create the Araya SA-730, a more affordable version featuring a machined brake track.
Conversely, the drivetrain has seen the fewest changes. Gibran absolutely loves the Campagnolo Record track crankset for its lightweight construction and excellent power transfer, cementing it as his "Goldilocks" component. It spins an ultra-rare AARN 47T "Prolly Purple" chainring. This is one of only three ever produced in a special collaboration between Aaron Panone and John Prolly of The Radavist.
The first chainring lives on Prolly’s legendary FBM (Fat Bald Men) Sword, while the second was given away as a prize on his blog. Gibran and Prolly actually go way back to the golden era of Blogspot, connecting over their shared passion for fixed-gear culture. Prolly frequently reposted Gibran's fixed-gear artwork from his blog, and Gibran occasionally provided custom illustrations for the site. When Gibran invited him to attend the 2012 Fixed Fest in Jakarta, Prolly gifted him this third chainring as a lasting token of friendship.
Last but not least, the component that has truly proven its resilience over time is the Toshi double strap setup. Despite being soaked in mud and rain, and baked by the scorching Jakarta sun, these straps still perform flawlessly. During our photoshoot, I noticed they were holding strong without the slightest hint of snapping anytime soon. Even though they are clearly capable of hugging Gibran's feet for many more laps around the sun, he keeps a fresh backup pair safely stashed in his vault just in case.
Overall, Gibran’s Illusion is a truly everlasting machine. It is an endgame build pieced together not with the latest and greatest hype parts but with bulletproof components tailored to guarantee fun from now until eternity. It stands as a rolling icon of friendship, forged by a shared passion that has grown over the years.
Are you still chasing the perfect build, or are you simply enjoying the ride?
✍️: @metalandrubberrrrr
📸: @metalandrubberrrrr
🎞: Kodak UltraMax 400
📷: Canon Eos 50
📍: Jakarta