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Seven Cycles celebrates Chris King’s 40th Anniversary with a RedSky SL to match

Written by Zach Overholt
20 Comments
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It’s crazy to think that Chris King Precision Components have been around for 40 years. A company that started with a simple headset has slowly grown into an’ almost anything with bearings’ powerhouse known around the world. To celebrate their 40th anniversary internally, Chris King has already released the Olive Crate green special edition product line. While the mountain bike world landed the limited edition Santa Cruz 5010 to honor the occasion, Chris King asked Seven Cycles to whip something special up for the road…

chris-king-40th-anniverary-redsky-sl-side
photos c. Seven Cycles

Starting with their RedSky SL mid-reach rim brake road platform, the bike seems like a apt model for Chris King’s Portland roots. The mid-reach rim brake calipers allow for slightly bigger tires, clearing up to a 32mm file tread but also allowing room for standard 28mm tires with fenders – a must in a city like Portland. The hand made titanium frame gets a combination of white and Olive Crate green paint mixed with bead blasted titanium for a finish worthy of the occasion.

This particular build will be on display at Chris King’s headquarters until the end of the year for their 40th anniversary party at the factory. Currently limited to just this bike, apparently, “similar models featuring King’s anodized components” are available through Seven Cycles dealers.

sevencycles.com
Zach Overholt
5,729 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Yetiman
Yetiman
8 years ago

Simply stunning…How much? do I need to mortgage my house 🙂

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Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

I’ll take the Chris King anniversary bike with anything but King hubs. A King headset would be great as are their BBs

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Mark Price
Mark Price
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

You must not have just put 17 years on your last set of CK hubs.., like I just did, without service. Chris King rocks. I’ll always have a strong representation in my bike collection. Angry Bee… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
8 years ago
Reply to  Mark Price

All that really says is you don’t ride very often. I’ve seen numerous King hubs, BB’s and even Headsets destroyed in matter of months. Nothing more than color matched containers for bearings. If you obsess about looking cool over long term functionality then yes King is for you.

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Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Mark Price

I put over 20,000 miles on a set and had to tighten the hubs every 100-150 miles. I gave them another shot and the next set was worse. I do have 90,000+ miles on a King headset though

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Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

You should look up what current and former employees at Chris King have to say about that place on glassdoor, it’s pretty shocking. The hubs are an easy one to replace, but you’re going to want to look elsewhere for headsets and bb’s too after reading those posts.

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Tim
Tim
8 years ago
Reply to  Kernel Flickitov

Yes, indeed. Look up the posts on Glassdoor. Thanks for the tip, Kernel, it’s good to have that information.

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Bikemark
Bikemark
8 years ago
Reply to  Kernel Flickitov

Oh snap. Kind of makes me feel dirty for buying that 125 expresso tamper. Well, for headsets, Cane Creek is employee owned and I can’t find them on Glassdoor.. which is telling.

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Tim
Tim
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

I have never seen a Chris King rear hub that is not loose. I have seen 15-20 of them, and every time I have seen one, I grab the bike by the saddle with one hand, and wobble the rear wheel back and forth by hand with the other.

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Florian Eichert
Florian Eichert
8 years ago
Reply to  Tim

The hubs on my wife’s bike work fine. Since eight years. They don’t have play. Neither have the other 30 to 40 hubs I’ve worked with.

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Tim
Tim
8 years ago
Reply to  Florian Eichert

I won’t exclude that what you’re saying is true, but I also know others who say the same thing about King rear hubs. And to be fair, my own King rear hubs, all of which could not be made tight without causing a slack chain, ran fine, never skipped, and didn’t break. It’s also interesting that your number is exactly twice as high as mine.

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Byron
Byron
8 years ago

It’s funny how Seven manages to make a brand new bike with such sweet components look so unremarkable. Maybe it’s the fact that their aesthetic hasn’t evolved since their beginning. Maybe they should hire a designer for their graphics? They’re going to have a hard time selling bikes once their demographic dies out.

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blah blah blah
blah blah blah
8 years ago
Reply to  Byron

+1

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Dale C
Dale C
8 years ago
Reply to  Byron

Agree. I blame the tiny head tube and curved fork. I think we’re just used to seeing bikes with huge front ends and straight, bladed forks nowadays.

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myke2241
myke2241
8 years ago
Reply to  Dale C

Well don’t think they needed to paint this thing. They could of done better job picking components and maybe building a sexier wheelset. This bike just looks sad!

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Andrew
Andrew
8 years ago
Reply to  Byron

Agreed. Aesthetically this does nothing for me.

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Charles
Charles
8 years ago

What brakes are those to easily fit a 32?!?!

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Bikemark
Bikemark
8 years ago
Reply to  Charles

Velo Orange Grand Cru Long Reach.

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QuickGeezer
QuickGeezer
8 years ago

Ha-ha! I’m a seven-year-plus Seven owner who still says “Damn!” when I get on my ti road bike, and it’s always funny to see people b*tch about aesthetics. If you haven’t RIDDEN a Seven, just shut up.

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byron
byron
8 years ago
Reply to  QuickGeezer

Never mentioned ride quality as an issue. Just dated design sensibility and very docile geometry.

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