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Specialized Whips up a Turbo Powered Sidehack Fat Bike for Ken Block

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Ken Block likes his toys, and it’s no secret bicycles have a special place in his garage. Specialized stepped up once again and came up with a turbo powered sidehack with some trick features and a custom paint job fitting for the Hoonigan.

Monkey past the break and check out the details on what had to be rad project to work on…

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There is a strong crossover of power-sports professionals using bicycles for training (and surely fun), and Specialized who recently presented Ken Block with a custom S-Works Demo just delivered this gem. Sidehacks were, (are), one of BMX’s niche events that teamed the rider with a “monkey” that rode shotgun and was responsible for a bobsled style start, shifting their weight to assist in each turn, and holding on for dear life. Though that is not the intent here, this thing looks extremely fun!

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To make being the monkey a little more interesting, Specialized fabricated this sweet custom hand brake that operates the disc brake on the third wheel to aid in whipping the bike around in a turn. Three wheel. Fat bike. Drifting.

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And what would anything Ken Block owns be without a custom paint job be? This one is the work of Specialized’s Brian Szykowny.

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Given the fact this is a heavy 3-wheeled fatbike made to haul another person around, nothing is more fitting than having Specialized’s Turbo power-assist E-bike system integrated into it. Though Ken may not smoke the 26 x 4 inch rear tire, (I’m sure he’s tried…. and likely succeeded), having the power assist makes it that much more useful and fun…. for the pilot. The Sidehack seems to be attached via front and rear couplings so riding hackless looks to be a possibility.

In the words of Mr. Block:

“While the guys from Specialized Bicycles were out here in Utah last week, they gave me this AWESOME project bike they’ve been working on for a while: the ‪slidehack‬! Three wheels, electric power assist, and a HANDBRAKE. Yup, a custom handbrake that locks the sidehack wheel. How rad is that? Can’t wait to cruise down the Park City streets with my kids/dogs riding alongside me in this thing. Ha. THANK YOU Specialized!

For more photos of the wild ride check out Block’s Facebook page.
Photos provided by Specialized

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43 Comments
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AlanM
AlanM
8 years ago

Before the Specialized haters come in, can we just agree this looks like fun and we’d all have a blast riding it?

Frank
Frank
8 years ago

Am I supposed to know who Ken Block is?

Jim
Jim
8 years ago

I’ve heard of Kent Brockman.

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

I had a sidewinder big wheel growing up and it was awesome. This looks similar.
Need plastic or lower friction rear and “hack” wheels for more fun.

MGK
MGK
8 years ago

Never heard of him. Yawn. Monday night football double header on tonight!!

RickyBob
RickyBob
8 years ago

Isn’t he that dude on TMZ?

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

Ken Block is a rally car driver.

Timmie D
Timmie D
8 years ago

Can I get a better picture of the dog?

Greg
Greg
8 years ago

@Frank
He is the rally driver who blames everyone else when he does win.

Sully
Sully
8 years ago

If you don’t know who Mr. Block is, then you should climb out from under your rock once in a while and take a look around.

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

Sully, I’d wager well over 70% of people don’t know who Ken Block is. Unless you are a car/gymkhana/rally nut or watch x-games/red bull features why would one know who Ken Block is?
Most people view motorsport as base/boring and view cars as a to b appliances.

Old Doc
Old Doc
8 years ago

Mr Block.
Wow. Such respect. (deleted)

He’s the white guy w/ the flat brim hat that is all bad boy image w/ a goatee and sponsored by an energy drink.
Wait- that doesn’t narrow it down enough?
He’s the guy that has seemingly endless capital to destroy and do amazing things w/ big boy toys.
Not clear enough?
He drifts cars like a 12 year old spoiled white kid playing Need for Speed.
Still don’t know who he is?
Check this. I can hate all day but this is astounding to me. Each time my camper van starts sliding something terrible happens next.
http://youtu.be/5qanlirrRWs

Making fun of the amazing folks out there is a bit of a low hanging fruit I know but…

Well hell. I know nothing about him except he sure seems to have fun while toasting all sorts of things I can’t or won’t buy.

RT
RT
8 years ago

Well said, JBikes!!!!

Chasejj
Chasejj
8 years ago

Ken Block is one of the founders of DC Shoes. Sold it and became a zillionaire cool guy. Participates in everything cool on the planet pretty much.

ron
ron
8 years ago

(deleted)

WV Cycling
WV Cycling
8 years ago

Kenneth J Blockenstein the Third does not look nearly as cool as when he is in a car.

riley martin
riley martin
8 years ago

funny how just the mere mention of Specialized and the hate just comes out…..you people act like they are the isis of the bike world…..i just simply do not understand the dislike/hate the big red S…..Why?

i’d take that bike and ride it in a new york second…….as b-fudd would say, “hell ya”……..
power pig hello im burning!

mattbyke
mattbyke
8 years ago

That Man can out drive all of us

mattbyke
mattbyke
8 years ago

and my dog would love that rig ! he’d get all the ladies

The Boss
The Boss
8 years ago

Perhaps Anna Schwinn can do an article on the fabrication process of this bike. That would be cool to read about.

Please BikeRumor, Anna, Ken, Specialized?

PUP
PUP
8 years ago

I dont care who you are and what you think. This thing is rad as hell. Would love to have one of these to smash around with my son. And as far as who knows and who doesnt know, Ken Block is one talented individual.

Pillz
Pillz
8 years ago

I only knew of Ken Block form way back in skateboarding before he startd DC. I think the driving and all that hyjinx stuff started later when a buch of those dudes did some celebrity rally races with the Ways.

But does anyone have any footy of Ken Block on that DH bike they gave him? Or are these gifts just for PR?

Sam
Sam
8 years ago

Pillz-http://www.pinkbike.com/video/333126/

It’s a few years old, so he isn’t on the new demo. But he does ride downhill.

To all the guys trying to be cute by saying they don’t know who Ken Block is… that’s really good for you. I don’t know the names of most pro road bikers but I don’t b*tch about it every time a road article comes up. And the article is about the bike, not the man.

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

So ron, you think most people are car enthusiasts, watch car racing, drifting, even know what drifting is, heck even know how to handle oversteer? Reality…but I’ll give you the elitist.

kj
kj
8 years ago

Just type out “ken block” in the google, and I’ll be darned if you can’t find out so fast it makes no sense to even type, “Who’s Ken Block” in a comments section.

anonymous
anonymous
8 years ago

@JBikes
Everyone knows what drifting is. It’s that thing they do in The Fast and the Furious.

@kj
Who’s Ken Block?

Andrew
Andrew
8 years ago

(deleted)

Jim Mac
Jim Mac
8 years ago

Sidehacks must be making a comeback! Even Wal Mart is stocking them now:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/20-Impakt-Sidehack-BMX-Bicycle/12554957

Always wanted to try one in the early 80’s but missed it, maybe I’ll get a chance? Shoreham BMX track in Long Island recently staged a sidehack race..

TheFunkyMonkey
TheFunkyMonkey
8 years ago

Wow. Specialized + Ken Block comments are right up there with the ebike comments sections. A couple comments here would even get a thumbs up or two on Pinkbike.

Huge Ken Block fan. Specialized hater. But damn, that thing looks like a load of fun. Can’t lie.

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

These are the types of articles that make me shy away from Specialized now. 1. How about an actual review of the work that went into the bike? Pictures of the drive system? Pictures of how that battery is mounted? More pictures of the side cart? And the weight lol. 2. Specialized bikes are expensive. Is this what I’m paying for? Some guy to fab up a bike for a guy who doesn’t even race of ride? When are we going to see the bis S on the side of his car? Specialized seems to be getting a little to big for its own good.

Fjork
Fjork
8 years ago

That dog’s tail is pretty close to moving parts. That is the ultimate homie hauler though! What I would give to have had this when I was a little kid.

If you don’t already know who Ken Block is, please continue to ride road bikes and road bikes only.

Loki
Loki
8 years ago

While acknowledging my latent masochistic tendencies insisting on reading the comments section when I know they will be mostly puerile, and with complete self aware irony of including my own comment/opinion in this blanket to so many self-important commentators, for all those who got twisted as all they saw was Ken Block and not the bicycle:
Sir, I think you have confused me with some-one who gives a $h#% about your whiny-ass opinion.

Ron G.
Ron G.
8 years ago

Braking isn’t drifting, it’s skidding.

Tree
Tree
8 years ago

@Tom You can see some of the build at my instagram @mediamechanic i have photos of hack, battery, motor, and I think http://veryspecialthings.specialized.com/ will have a much larger photo set to come out later, along with commentary from the fabricators, designers, mechanic and client. (I think)

James S
James S
8 years ago

Specialized gives a special one-off sidecar rig to a rich car driver. There was a Surly blog post awhile back where they mentioned meeting a really cool guy riding a crappy bike all over the USA and they gave him a nice touring bike. Yeah, I know which company I like better.

Discodave
Discodave
8 years ago

James S. hit the nail on the head. While that the side hack is cool and I respect the engineering, like Ken Block needs another toy. Giving an everyday guy that is doing something awesome a bike that he really needs is worth way more. BRAVO SURLY!

SomePeople
SomePeople
8 years ago

@James S and Discodave, what makes you assume that Specialized doesn’t donate bikes to people who need them? This article is about a specific project that regardless of the destination of the bike, featured some engineering and design that the Specialized employees are particularly proud of. Just because they don’t have an article released every time they donate a bike to an average rider doesn’t mean they aren’t doing work in the community, and to be honest, why is a company like Surly pointing out ONE bike they’ve donated big news to you? Sounds like you have an issue with Specialized and are grasping at any straws available to confirm your bias.

RickyBob
RickyBob
8 years ago

Man you guys are sensitive, learn to take a joke.

@FJork – Of course I know who Block is… But why is that some sort of pre-requisite to being a mountain biker? Why do I need to know every B-list celebrity that also rides downhill bikes?

PsiSquared
PsiSquared
8 years ago

Ok, to sum things up:
–The bike/hack is pretty awesome looking.
–I’m confused about whether it’s important or not to know about Ken Block. Is it something that I should be upset about?

Velo
Velo
8 years ago

Hoonigan is the dog? Never heard of Ken Block before. I’m sure 99% of other people haven’t heard of him either.

aZBikeFreak
aZBikeFreak
8 years ago

(deleted)

Chris
Chris
1 year ago

Is it possible to purchase one of those metal Hoonigan e-brake handles?

Dino
Dino
1 year ago

Even I know who Ken Block is.and I’m just a surfer. DC shoes (which are not my style) makes some cool videos of this guy drifting through San Francisco in all the cool spots without any people around. And some dude rides a motorcycle on a gnarly wave in Tahiti. Next to teen porn I call this good content.

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