New Frames

For a Mercian/Bob/Woodrup with that sort of detailing/finish you'd easily be paying £600 upward. Look at the pricelists. Also, judging Katana on this bike alone is a bit daft: they'll do whatever is specified. People may not favour this particular design but it's clear the builder is skilled enough to produce pretty much anything.

I can't really see what makes this particularly NJS-ified, apart from the font used for the decals, which is apparently changing anyway.

Anyone know what pipes they're using?

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Spot on Dave!

Just remember, you get what you pay for.
Paying less for a bike might fit your budget, but the quality or craftsmanship might not be top notch. I think its important to remember this.
Polish a turd and its still a turd....

DW

Yeah, but it's a polished turd.

;P

(I would think there is a 'Polish' joke in there somewhere if someone wants to have a go.)

If they're selling for £600 to people who think they are Japanese.. good luck to them!

just to clearify............orlowski is a framebuilder from sczeczin no a track racer.........the best in poland in my opinion....and he is not a factory like so called handmade bob jacksons with unreamed and unfaced tubes but a one man workshop....his frame was certified as the only one to be raced on the keirin circuit........and he is a really nice guy as well:-)....and as for gromada........his frames are build by a company called biobike..............so called track frames with the BB too low and stupid geometry.......well the ones i have seen.........and as for the katana goes....i think its rebranded orlowski to be honest.....if yes the workmanship is top notch......and whoever came up with the brand..........its up to the consumer......i guess...customers as we call them in the shop......up the velocitys:-)

whatever...

:)

...........?

The rear NoBrake bridge on the back of that gromada is a bit weird:

If the Katanas are re-branded orlowskis, it's a bit of a shame. Typical cynical, poorly thought out & even worsely executed marketing scheme.

Still a lovely bike that I wouldn't say no to. Mainly because bikes can't speak.

You lot know you can take the decals off right?

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@hippy

It's more a question of 'are these guys trying to get punters to pay over the odds with their branding?'

The decals are symptomatic.

Well I've not seen the bikes so it's hard to tell. If they ARE Orlowski and this builder IS as artisan as broken_77 says than perhaps they are worth the cash.
Even if they are just bulk-made and cashing in on a trend - it's not the first time this has happened is it?
I'd rather see some small builder from Poland make some cash off rich Londoners than Puma, Nike and multinational hiphopslave brands.

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They let Aussies build NJS frames (for Walkersan's reason - use by internationals).. they'd let anyone :)

I'd prefer it for the future of our kids if the only businesses that survived weren't just involved in things like advertising, football clubs, helping people avoid paying tax and telephone sanitising.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/extracts/story/0,,2082838,00.html

the katana decals look like the typo on my old tekkan ps1 game. and that orlowski is lurvley

well i dont know if his certification is temporary or whatever...its just that his frame had the privilige to be raced in japan and be certified at the time....which i guess is quite unusual form someone who is not short and ghis name doesnt finish with awa....anyway.......couple my friends are riding his custom made frames in poland and london and everyone is totaly satisfied......fillet brazing and all that....and price you wont be able to beat for a custom frame:-)....................and as for the katana .....well he is just the builder....the branding is not his fault:-)....and yeah we couple of off the peg orlowskis in the shop if anyone wants to check them out......and wouldnt burn in the process of crossing the treshold...

which shop do you work in broken?

Brick Lane Bikes, on Bethnal Green Road.

To correct all the odd information about Katana Frames, they are nowt to do with Orlowski, its a completely new brand in the U.K, although the chap responsible for building them has been doing it for years. The design is unique, not copied from anyone....ever. The price is where it is cos of the quality of the finish and the whole handbuilt malarky. They even have ti one now (for a laugh). website will be up soon for more info www.katana-frame.com.
Watch this space, all criticism greatfully recieved!