Bike Check: Shinada’s Makino Ultra Record
Another quick bike-check back from CMWC 2023 where I spotted this Makino Ultra Record. If you're not aware, Makino, being the apprentice of 3rensho, already has quite a status among frame builders. If his classic NJS stamped frames are not extremely rare, there is one thing that many collectors are after. The Makino frames that are said to be "Aero, Super aero, Record, or Ultra record" are some of the rarest Japan-made frames. Each one packing unique features, and you'll soon understand why.
You can’t order a special Makino frame just like that. Each one of them is unique and tailor-made for a very special rider. In this case, it was built for Maya Tachikawa, winner of the Keirin event at the 2004 Asian Cycling Championships. The bike in itself is surely good-looking, but there's so much more to it that's actually quite hard to describe with words. Nevertheless, here's the best I can do:
With the experience I have gained from conducting bike checks and testing builds here and there, I now have a good idea of the weight of components. And when I examined this one, it was incredibly light… Almost too light... Especially with that build configuration, I became increasingly intrigued by why and how that frame felt so featherweight? What was its secret? Upon tapping on the tubing, the down tube also sounded a bit strange, almost muffled, and sure enough, there was an explanation behind it all.
Nobody is entirely certain which tubing has been used, but Shinada knows that the oversized down tube is made from an exceptionally thin material. To counterbalance that, this steel frame is filled with foam. Let that sink in! Expandable foam was sprayed inside the down tube to give it more "structure" and potentially limit vibrations. Add to that a carbon fork from an Anchor PHM9, and you’ll get this truly intriguing piece.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Makino Ultra Record
Chainring and Cog Alter 49T, 17T Velobike Cog
Crank Sram Omnium 165mm
Seatpost and Saddle
Sugino mighty seatpost, Selle Italia SLR Carbonio
Stem and Handlebar
NITTO UI-2, Monkey Lite
Wheels Front Araya Trispoke
Rear Miche Pistard
Tires Front Vittoria Rally, Rear Gatorskin
I'll let you discover the rest of the build by yourself, but it's a well-balanced mix of Japanese parts. Including a Nitto stem, a Suntour seatpost, and the sleek-looking Araya trispoke. With a touch of Italian for this well-used SLR, and a rear Miche Pistard wheel. Finally, the drivetrain is on point with Omnium cranks, an Alter chainring, and a Velobike cog, courtesy of Runwell in Japan.
Non-NJS Japanese track-bikes are sexy.
🎞: Fujicolor 400
📷: Nikon F100
📍: Yokohama
