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NAHBS 2013: Ogre gets their weld on…and on and on and on

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Orge Road Bike

NAHBS 2013 isn’t just limited to US builders.  This year, Ogre (warning – geocities link) from Japan was displaying two handcrafted titanium (and carbon) bikes featuring a lot of welding.  The road frame seems to be a cross between a Trek Y-Foil, a Softride, and a stealth bomber.

Click through for detail shots, an MTB with a welded curve, and a carbon fiber hand bag made with gold.

Ogre Road Bike Rear Stays

Ogre Road Bike Handlebars

Ogre Road Bike Fork

Ogre Road Bike Carbon Toptube

Ogre Road Bike Carbon Toptube with Gold

The gold here is not paint.  Rather, it is gold powder and gold fibers laid onto the carbon.

Ogre MTB Full Bike

This Ti mountain bike has a lovely curved downtube.  However, rather than bend the tube, master builder Eiji Konishi of Ogre cut small sections of tubes and welded them in to create the bends.

Ogre MTB Curved Down tube

Ogre MTV Curved Downtube 2

Ogre Carbon Fiber Handbag Closed

Ogre Carbon Fiber Handbag Open

Also on display in their booth was this fancy handbag.  It uses the same gold powder and gold fiber as seen in the top tube of their road bike.

 

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37 Comments
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Stuart
Stuart
11 years ago

I’m sorry, I just can’t bring myself to like this.

Jeff
Jeff
11 years ago

All righty then….next.

m.
m.
11 years ago

mtn bike is cool. reminds me of factory expansion chambers on 125/250/500cc gpbikes.

Keith
Keith
11 years ago

Stick with handbags.

McClain
11 years ago

Well the aesthetic is cool…very cyberpunk. Also totally unnecessary.
I just want to know how much that road frame weighs. Seriously, lets make guesses. I say at least 10 pounds. Maybe 15?

Elk
Elk
11 years ago

A unique aesthetic, not for everyone, but an art for art’s sake. In the world of fabrication, the more the welds, the more the chances of voids and contamination that can lead to a failed weld. These are pretty bikes, but are more likely to end up as wall rack art.

Frankie
Frankie
11 years ago

Does this site make a BIG DEAL out of every terrible builders design?I know there has to be some good custom bike builders that can make something different but still aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Will
Will
11 years ago

So instead of bending tubes, they created a bend with a ton of potentially weak spots. No matter how good the welding may be, why the heck would you do that?

Marc Basiliere
11 years ago

Holy crap- this is the coolest thing I’ve seen from the show. Probably not efficient structures–and certainly not efficient labor-wise– but talk about coming out of left field…

Capretto
Capretto
11 years ago

Why?

burt
burt
11 years ago

Cool stuff. I would never buy those bikes to ride them, but they’re interesting aesthetically (which I’m guessing is the point).

Abe
Abe
11 years ago

I’d love gold or silver threads in a carbon frame. Titanium threads could be cool. Art of unlimited potential.

why?
why?
11 years ago

they could do a zillion welds, but could not finish wrapping the bars.

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
11 years ago

Mesmerizing. This is straight up artwork. I’m glad BikeRumor took a closer look at it. I’m a fan of Ogre and Eiji Konishi now.

ElevateMe
ElevateMe
11 years ago

I like look of the mountain bike a lot.

These welds are scary though. It’s almost as if the bikes are designed to fail.

Ventruck
Ventruck
11 years ago

that stuff looks awesome albeit wall art more than anything. Liking the finish of the handlebars on the road bike.

Guy
Guy
11 years ago

(deleted)

Joshua Murdock
11 years ago

“Ogre” is a fitting name.

ascar larkinyar
ascar larkinyar
11 years ago

bike made to hang on a wall not ride…………yes the wall of a dumpster…..lol

seriously look how far back the saddle is behind the center of the BB. more like a Schwinn cruiser. i cannot even comment on the welds. just mortified. 🙁

it’s one thing to innovate and take a chance on something new, but this is a mockery of what this show is all about.

John
John
11 years ago

Looks like they forgot to align the stem/bars with the front wheel. Lame. An absolute waste of that 9000.

Joe
Joe
11 years ago

I think a lot of people (read: everyone so far) forget that at NAHBS you need to stand out to get noticed. This is one way to do it, and i’d to see you lot try and weld that well!

Pete
Pete
11 years ago

spot on, Frankie, this site has no acumen anymore. why not just publish all the “freaks” & get it over with?

Ajax
Ajax
11 years ago

Wow! The work by this builder is amazing! The best I have ever seen at NAHBS. The were builders from other booths coming over and drooling in awe of the ingenuity and craftsmanship.

Psi Squared
Psi Squared
11 years ago

I’m pretty sure that covering interesting or even bizarre looking bikes from a bike show falls within what would be expected of people covering such show. Acumen has nothing to do with it.

mike creed
mike creed
11 years ago

These bikes are amazing. I’m giddy.

professor
professor
11 years ago

I spent the day at the show yesterday and in a sea of sameness it was nice to stumble on the Ogre booth. I saw these bikes as an out-of-the-box exercise that clearly illustrated the builders skill and imagination.

Grunto
Grunto
11 years ago

That MTB frame looks like a JDM exhaust.

carl
11 years ago

@professor – +1 !

J. Charles
11 years ago

I think these frames show a lot of interesting ideas. Yeah, they are kind of whack as a whole, but I think shows like this are really for showing new concepts and sharing ideas. of course you’re not going to spend $9000 on this. it’s not for riding. it’s for demonstration of ideas.

love the idea of a non-carbon integrated handle bar. Has anyone done these for a road bike before? I think the blocky fabricated monocoque thing is an interesting way of approaching it. we see similar shapes with composites and hydroforming, why not do it in titanium if you’ve got the skill to do it?

Sam Placette
11 years ago

I saw this bike in person, the amount of detail that went into the chainstays alone was really breathtaking. Sure it’s not the most fast or shapely bike, but I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

Mumbadownunder
Mumbadownunder
11 years ago

I think these bikes do just what they are meant to do: be inspirational and provocative…….and maybe be a bit goofy.

nick
nick
11 years ago

Yall haters should stop hating… yes this is lots of welding for a mtb, but i’m guessing this guy’s purpose was to demonstrate his skills at welding. Just take a look at this nice road bar and admire the look of it..this guy definitely knows how to bend tubes. He pushed the limits of welding and i think this is amazing. He brought bikes to a show, he got people to talk about him so i guess those 2 bikes are a success.

Lancelotlink17
Lancelotlink17
11 years ago

The most unique bikes at NAHBS this year and yes I was there. These guys stepped it up a notch in fabrication. Need to see them in person to truly appreciate the craftsmanship.

EricNM
EricNM
11 years ago

Wow,is Megatron gonna be PISSED when he sees that his bike has been jacked…

JonDanger FTW
JonDanger FTW
11 years ago

garbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbagegarbage

Roby Golden
11 years ago

awesome bike love very unique and sexy

Red
Red
11 years ago

Hey you all,many of you were worried about the welds to be weak, This guy builds a Trial bike which was the 2nd overall on the national championship, and absolutely lightest and the best trial bike ever. Some pros checked the frames and were surprised as to how rigid and light the frame is.

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