Apology: This was posted on the iBOB list and since there's interest in the Japanese built 'modern' classics, I thought some might be interested.
Roy "was reprimanded by Alex yesterday" Drinkwater Lititz "don't CC two lists", PA
**original post**
>From: robert schenker <ris@schenkerdesign.com>
>To: Internet BOBs <internet-bob@bikelist.org>
>Subject: [BOB] Re: Japanese camping bikes
>
>The story on Jitensha is that owner Hiroshi Iimura (disclaimer here:
>I am a friend of his) designs bikes and has them built for him by
>various Japanese framebuilders. He uses the shop he thinks best
>suited to the type of bike, price range, etc. He uses Toei for his
>high end touring bikes. He labels these Shula, his original house
>brand, no matter who builds them. He now also has a less expensive
>limited production line called Ebisu which are sort of like the
>Rambouillet in price and concept, although a little differently done.
>Hiroshi is a former industrial designer who used to work for Honda of
>Japan and moved here in the '70s, working for a furniture
>manufacturer in New York before opening his shop in Berkeley in '82.
>He designed bikes and wrote biking articles in Japan before he came
>here and is well known over there in the bike community. He is a very
>good and thorough designer (but doesn't do any frame building).
>Before and after Grant Peterson worked at Bridgestone he befriended
>Hiroshi and learned a good deal, forming more than a few of his
>opinions and tastes in response to Hiroshi's ideas (Grant also got at
>least an equal amount from Tom Ritchey).
>Hiroshi doesn't do much high end stuff with Toei these days. It's
>just become very expensive-although no worse than any other high end
>bikes. But more than that, he really hates self promotion so not too
>many people know about his shop. If you are curious, a full tilt
>camping frame costs about $3500 which includes racks, internal wiring
>that uses a brush and contact inside the headtube to avoid any
>exposed wires anywhere, elegant fender attachment brazeons and chrome
>under the paint. I have one and can attest that they are really
>really fun to ride, and even just to sit and look at. The camping
>bikes are the most expensive so simpler touring designs would be
>cheaper. Hiroshi had a whole bunch of frames built to have stock when
>he opened and he still has just a few of the original frames left.
>None are camping bikes. Some are light touring machines using brazeon
>centerpull brakes instead of canti's and 700c wheels. These also do
>not have internal wiring, having a brazeon for a bottle generator on
>the fork. There are some 80's style lugged racing frames and a super
>light tubed bike meant for brevets. It's intended to be used with a
>small handlebar bag (has a neat rack) sidepull brakes and sewups but
>with fenders if desired. I love that one, but it's too small for me
>or I'd own it. I have no idea what he'd sell them for-for some years
>he wouldn't sell them, but now I think he would. If you inquire, you
>can mention that I refered you via this email list. His number
>510-540-6240, or you can email from his web site: http://www.jitensha.com.
>
>Bob Schenker