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Bike Check: 333Fab Owner Max Kullaway’s Personal Road Bike

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Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_0

Seattle based 333Fab is operated by Max Kullaway, a fabricator with over twenty years of experience building high end frames for brands ranging from Merlin to Seven. By day, he welds classic road frames for Hampsten Cycles, but has been building race oriented frames under his own brand, 333Fab, since 2007.

I recently had the opportunity to tour the Hampsten Cycles shop (full photo story here), and also stopped to snap a few pictures of Max’s stunning bike. Check out all the beautiful details after the break…

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_3

Max builds his custom frames to order from either steel or titanium.

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_4

The name of the brand came about because both Max and co-founder Bernard Georges had the repeated experience of waking up at 3:33 AM with a fit of inspiration.

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_9

Instagram really needs a #WeldPornWednesday

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_10

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_7

The WTF Kits Tumblr celebrates the good, the bad, and the absurd kit that cyclists often don.

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_2

What is this, The Radavist? #NoGarminNoRules

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_6

I’m not a Pressfit hater, but I do love seeing a classic threaded BB on any performance oriented bike.

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_8

Options for the 333Fab custom frames are endless and include: Di2 Internal routing, rack mounts, PF30, disc tabs, sliding dropouts, etc…

Max Kullaway 333Fab Cyclocross_11

While most of Max’s work is more road oriented, 333Fab has also produced some gorgeous hardtails. Visit 333Fab to learn more.

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31 Comments
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ugh
ugh
9 years ago

The angle of those hoods makes me cringe.

Ed R
Ed R
9 years ago

I’m sure it’s a fine bike but the word “cluttered” comes to mind when looking at it.

david
david
9 years ago

How is it cluttered? Two bidons and a small saddle wrap…?

C.Marie
C.Marie
9 years ago

It’s not cluttered at all. A work of art!

Ck
Ck
9 years ago

Cluttered was exactly I thought of when I saw the graphics. Clean looking frame, and the headtube badge is pretty sweet, but if I was buying one I would ask to not have most of the logos added. Just a reasonably sized downtube logo on a bike like this.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

i’m good with the branding cuz it’s the guy’s rolling ad for what he does. the hood angles…so what? maybe it has something to do with the fact that he welds all day and it’s they’re more comfy there ..NBD. nice ride.

Dinger
Dinger
9 years ago

That’s about the same amount of hood angle guys like Fabian Cancellara & lots of other pros ride. Maybe there’s something to that, eh?

Ninja Dickie
Ninja Dickie
9 years ago

The bike is great. The bar tape is dizzying.

pile-on
pile-on
9 years ago

@ugh–I’d guess that Max is a climber, raising the hoods helps open up the chest for better breathing while in oxygen debt.

Speshy
Speshy
9 years ago

Definitely a sweet ride. So many missed opportunities for duct tape though.

Aaron
Aaron
9 years ago

Its cluttered because that bike is tiny and the decals dont change size for the frame size

Ed R
Ed R
9 years ago

@david, C.Marie and satisFACTORYrider, it’s cluttered because the bidons, the bar tape, white saddle, the frame graphics and the white straps on the saddle bag all compete with each other visually making the whole setup look much too busy. If this example is to be a rolling billboard of sorts, well there so many others out there that offer just as high quality level but with a much cleaner package. I do love the head badge btw.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

@ed r- if you took all that time to pick it someone else can easily ask “what kinda frame is that?” while they’re doing the same

Ed R
Ed R
9 years ago

satisFACTORYrider, some one asked ” How is it cluttered ” so I responded and to me all the things I mentioned levee me with that impression. If that doesn’t work for you, well, I’m good with that.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago

Nice.

Frank
Frank
9 years ago

A lot of comments about the hoods, the tape and the abundance of branding. No comments about the saddle colour?

Emily
Emily
9 years ago

Just got my bike pro- fitted, they recommended my hoods up abit like this one. I was definitely skeptical, but, it works for me. Really well, actually. I work in a dental clinic all day, fine tune, high strength hand work. What people need to realize is that our bikes are about ergonomics, not fashion. Our bikes may look “perfect” but if they do not conform to us, they hurt us. I’ve cut Chriopracter visits by half accepting this fact.

quickgeezer
quickgeezer
9 years ago

All the usual gotta-say-something-negative-on-BR kvetches about how the bike looks. To me it looks like a fast ti bike, ready to become a blur. Reminds me a little of my Seven, though maybe my bike isn’t “cluttered”. The angle of the hoods is obviously a personal thing, and how it feels is what counts.

It’s a beauty.

PsiSquared
PsiSquared
9 years ago

Hoods at the wrong position for a rider can make that rider cringe while riding. That’s what is important. Who cares if some internet nobody doesn’t like the way someone else’s hood position looks?

yoyoing_p
yoyoing_p
9 years ago

I had Max build me a gravel grinder, and it rides great. I’m picky about bike looks, so had the top tube decals omitted and went with baby blue and white logos. The beauty of each of his customs is that each is so personal, just like bike fit so to each his own.

JC
JC
9 years ago
Tim
Tim
9 years ago

@Emily- tangent: while visiting Poland, I went to a massage therapist. She told me that every year in Poland (population: about 40 million), 200 people become paralyzed due to chiropractic malpractice. Might it be the result of poor training? Maybe. But in neighboring Germany, neck manipulation is illegal. Upon hearing that, I forsook the chiropractor and embarked on a routine of stretching and strength training using body weight and small weights.

ouch
ouch
9 years ago

id have more issue with the saddle pointing upwards and the minimal difference between saddle height and handlebars… for a custom frame youd have thought hed make something a bit more elegant in regards to geometry meant to fit him perfectly

333fabmax
9 years ago

I just thought I would pipe in a little on some of the comments made and perhaps shed a little light to help clear up some things in regards to how my bike is set up etc.
First of all it was made to be a comfortable road bike for me in my 44th year at 5’6″ in height with some back/neck issues. It’s not a race bike per se although it has been raced now and again. Are the hoods too high? No! They are in just the right spot and come off the bars smoothly and also allow me to also ride comfortably in the drops. You can see the same bike w no bottles, no tool roll with an Enve stem and post with black and red decals on the 333fab sight in the ‘road’ section if you care to have another look. Other features about this bike that I think are more important than the angle of the hoods are that it is comfortable for me to ride all day long, it has clearance for 28mm tires (just), the angles are are rather relaxed (73.5 degree ST, 72 degree HT w a 50mm rake fork) and the BB is low (75mm) for a more stable ride over the long haul and predictable handling that rails turns. Other features are butted Ti tubes, s-bend chainstays, 1/2 seatstays and a D11 headset from Chris King for oversized tubing and a 1.125″ straight steerer.

Josh
9 years ago

Looks awesome, Max! Always cool to see what folks ride — especially talented frame builders’ personal setups. And saddle bags/tool rolls rule.

scott sattler
9 years ago

Max/333Fab built a frame for me that can run 29er mountain wheels, high volume road wheels and cross wheels – its a work of art. He’s a gifted engineer and frame builder. Def check out his website !

BestRidesDC
9 years ago

i have 2 333fabs; a cross and a 27.5 mtb; both steel; both look spectacular and ride like a dream; the attention to detail Max paid when building these for me, particularly how I wanted them to feel when I’m on the road or trail is bar none.

I absolutely love how they ride…

jcluddite
9 years ago

The bike looks fantastic. I’m the same size as Max, 5’6″ and my road bike looks cluttered too. dig the bar tape. having talked to Max a few months ago about a 333 mtb i’m confident the fit is awesome.

mjc
mjc
9 years ago

Max built me a bike, a ‘cross bike, and the thing is so sweet. It’s even featured on his site: comment image?dl=0

JW
JW
9 years ago

So stoked to see Max’s bike on the Rumor. He’s a pro. Some day I’ll take the plunge on a 333! @ugh check yourself.

KSmith
KSmith
9 years ago

Max built me 2 bikes as well. A road bike and a cross bike. I have ridden every bike out there and my two steel bikes fit better, ride better, corner better, and look better than any bike on the market. Period.

The experience buying a bike from Max is even better. Keep up the good work buddy!

Kyle

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