Kalavinka Super Exhibition track bike build

So after many years of lusting over the extremely expensive and glamarous world of NJS I have finally committed and bought a kalavinka frame.

I have just finished my first set of public exams, finally found a man sized NJS bike frame which wasn't too expensive and also happened to be by my favourite NJS builder (kalavinka) so the timing all seemed to be right. Moreover a 10% discount on the frame sealed the deal and I decided that I was being sent a divine message.

I have just ordered the frame so really haven't a clue as to when it will arrive, I'm going to be off from Friday for about a week so this won't get updated for a while, had to start this due to my excitement.

WHAT I HAVE

1. Obviously the frame. It is a black and white kalavinka frame, 59cm ST and 58cm TT. Was peviosuly ridden by Kenji Suzuki or 鈴木 謙二 (info provided from toshi at NJS export), a Japanese kierin rider (stage S, I think S2).
   
   Details:

   BB - English
   Seat tube - 59cm c-t
   Top tube - 58cm c-c
   Rear - 120mm
   Seatpost diameter - 27.2cm
   Standover - 84cm
   Model Year -2010

2. A 120mm nitto jaguar stem, they were going cheap on NJS export and the postage was free with the frame. 1 inch quill and 25.4 clamp diameter.

3. A set of chain tugs, njs ofc.

4. Shimano HP-7410 headset, NJS.

So far everything is NJS.

THE PLAN

having only NJS stuff is simply a biproduct of getting the stuff from NJS export. I will try my best to keep this Japanese and where within reason NJS. I think I may try getting it built up quickly so I can do some track riding on it in the summer hols and upgrade later. This will be primarily used on the track but also around during the summer. Initially I won't be getting any wheels (borrow them) as they are so expensive and will hopefully shave their cost by learning to build them myself (unlikely).

A formal plan will be written up shortly.

pictures

1 Attachment

The lugset stands out nicely! Building wheels yourself tends not to be any cheaper. But definitely more fun.

58cm TT? You don't say.

Anyway, definitely keeping an eye on this! Lovely frame and will probably end up looking great.

Interesting decals, don't think I've seen anything similar to it before. Very nice

Subbed 👍

I'll just leave this here...

Nice frame!

Thanks for all the responses.

I'll definitely use the car, @b0n0r also pointed out something of the sort.

@haveo the characters mean kalavinka. You can see them in the down tube of this.

Are you sure it reads Kalavinka? I just showed my wife, but she couldn't read it because theyre Chinese characters.

Maybe it was made for a chinese NJS rider?

I asked toshi from njs export, that's what he said. Also seen them here on kalavinka website. Think they're the same.

Fair enough. 迦陵頻迦 is how my dodgy translation techniques (Google fu) converted it to which is a little different from the decals.

Yeah, tho maybe he uses a synonym of it (kalavinka is a bird with a human head I think hence the heat tube badge).
From Wikipedia:

In Japanese text, it is sometimes written not phonetically, but under translated names myōonchō (妙音鳥 "exquisite sounding bird"?),[3] kōonchō (好音鳥 "goodly sounding bird"?)[3] among other rendered names.

What your wife said about it being in Chinese seems odd though.

THE PLAN

BARS -
Nitto B123s, already have some on another bike and they're great but will want to get another set for this. Was thinking of using a less wide than the other set for the aesthetics, was thinking 38cm. Plus they're also NJS.
TAPE/GRIPS -
maybe track grips, maybe tape (all the way up). Don't know but they will be black.
SEAT POST -
Probably for the time being a cheap one (EX system), will move onto something japanese later.
SADDLE -
Have one in mind, an NJS black Kashimax saddle. Seems perfect.
WHEELS -
for now I hope t get by by borrowing some. No clue. Will probably look into getting a cheap tub wheel set and then maybe move onto some Arayas or something.
CRANKS-
Again, a pretty expensive part if I'm going to do it right. I have a 54T 144BCD chainring I want to use. Will almost certainly upgrade to something japanese later.
PEDALS -
Same story as the cranks. May be able to go for something nice off the bat though.

Please bear in mind that the frame has really taken a chunk out of my bank account hence going cheap on certain items.

Thoughts? especially on the tape or grip option?

Good work, HHC! I spent far too much time looking at this on NJS Exp. A kalavinka, that size, and at that price....looking beyond the paintwork (nice as it is mind) there's a cracking frame there and a bargain for such quality. During my hypothetical ownership (as we do) even with time/funds spent on a refurb and then a choice of paint job, it really could make this quite special.
So, are you planning on having the dents checked out? filled/repaired? they don't appear to be creased, but still...

Should be a blast to ride! look forward to seeing it built up.

Ha yes, I know exactly what you mean.

I wont do anything to the dents as of yet; there are no sharp edges so it should be fine. I also asked Toshi about the dents and he said they would be fine and have little to no affect on the frame.

Why would you repaint it? Jeez, if you want a generic frame just go buy a charge or something.

Again I can't emphasise how hypothetical this idea is. Moreover the idea of painting it would be to make it less generic. I will almost certainly not paint it, was just a thought i had when waiting to buy it.

Build it, ride it, love it.

Wait, you're thinking repainting THIS????:

RU fucking serious? You need to fucking GET A GRIP.

No

I really should have just PMd B'jammin. I am NOT respraying it. It was merely a thought that crossed my mind, one i delved into far too much due to how shit bored i was.

hahahah. Sorry for being grumpy.

Yep, I'm sure its fine to ride, particularly on track and (if you're not a big lump like myself) some tarck miles on london finest shouldn't be a problem. Beauty of steel, it can always be sorted out without massive costs.

As for paint there's plenty of options (IF and) when the time comes, hoops on here as been doing some excellent work lately and James no quarter looks like he knows what he's doing. sure there's more forum talent along side the Vaz's, colour tech, argos, armourtex's, etc but like the idea that you're up for doing a bit yourself.

Sounds like you got it all in hand anyway, nice little post exam present. Just enjoy a summers' of riding it and go from there.

^^ Ha, NGL got quite scared that I had already managed to screw this up.

^ Thanks

Good choice. I've just got back from three years in Tokyo and spent a bit of time with Tanabe-san and Nagasawa-san at Kalavinka. Re the decals NJS Export are right, it means Kalavinka and is the buddhist icon depicted on the head tube.

When you spec a Kalavinka frame you get the option of having the kanji (Japanese) or the romanji (English) decals applied. The current trend in keirin seems to be for the romanji decals but there's still a few riders ordering frames with the kanji on.

Top fact: Tanabe-san still draws and cuts the kanji decals himself by hand.