Bike Check: Takuho’s KHS Aero Track
Yes, two bike-checks in one month, and another KHS on top of that! A few weeks ago we took a look at Maki’s KHS and ended up with a picture of her and her husband, both rocking their True Temper KHS Aero Track, a silver one and blue one respectively. So in the logical order, today we’re bike-checking Takuho’s KHS with all the things that make his build pretty unique.
I’m gonna start by addressing the elephant in the room: the fork. There are two schools when it comes to fork swapping the “wiggly” KHS Aero Track. I actually had this debate with myself, and I know it’s a topic for people who own the bike. The original fork is ridiculously tight, like I mentioned before, but it’s also not that pleasing to look at. The unicrown design is strong, stiff, and easy to produce, but it’s still the most basic way to make a fork, and it doesn’t look that good in my opinion. Swapping for a carbon fork would not go well since the tubing is so thin…unless it’s a Woundup! Great! Problem solved, right? Not really… If you buy a dead straight fork like the Woundup, it clashes with the curvy seat tube, and the bike usually loses its aesthetic balance.
I think Takuho found a nice trick by creating the “carbon front” with this Specialized trispoke and therefore keeping a “logic” by isolating the front from the rest. That’s my visual theory…do what you want with it.
Pretty hard to see here, but a special mention for this very rare “TRACK” Suntour Superbe headset.
As for the cockpit, you’ll find a Nitto Pearl stem with some vintage MTB Specialized flat bars attached to them, a tasteful recall to that trispoke, and a good use of otherwise forgotten parts. Finally, some rant grips adding that extra splash of color, for a good visual appeal.
Drivetrain is fancy but simple, consisting of a Shimano “Olympic” crank paired with the very limited AARN “Spacedust Horizon”. Again, it’s all about balance and making connections to other parts of the bikes. Takuho, told me about the nightmare that was to find this Shimano “Olympic” seatpost, in this specific 26.8 size, just so he could pair it with the cranks. This is what proper dedication looks like! On the list of fun details, you can see how he created “pairs” like with the Suntour headset and pedals, the Specialized front wheel and flat bars, the champagne-colored AARN with the Kashimax frame protector etc… I’m all about miss-matched Toshi straps! Blue on one side, red on the other, just a nice little touch.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
KHS Aero Track
Chainring and Cog AARN Spacedust 47t, 16t Alter Cog
Crank Shimano “Olympic” 165mm
Seatpost and Saddle
Easton-Shimano “Olympic” seatpost, Flite Trans-Am saddle
Stem and Handlebar
Nitto Pearl 120mm Specialized Flat Bar
Wheels Specialized trispoke
Velocity DeepV laced to Suzue Pro MAx
Tires Continental GrandPrix TT
Gatorsking Black
This frame has also been drilled for cable routing so Takuho can run the only CaneCreek brakes that will not destroy your wallet. (SCR-3) All of this is wired directly to a Tempra double bar-end lever to keep everything clean. Drilling old frames like that is always a bit touchy in my opinion, but if it’s to ride it rather than put it on a wall, then it isn’t really a problem for me.
With this last bike check of the year, I hope all of you are enjoying the holidays, and I’ll see you in 2023 for more cool builds to look at.
Bye!
So time to pick your poison… Blue or Silver?
🎞: FilmNeverDie Kiro 400
📷: Nikon F100
