Naked Bicycles’ bolt-free commuter bike was a very, very popular attraction. Sam Whittingham, Naked’s founder, had this to say:
I’ve been coming to the show for years and have become known for bikes that kinda scream at you. I wanted to make a bike that just whispers, that boils it down to what a bike really is.
In that, he’s succeeded. With this show bike, which he says he’s considering making something similar in small runs, there are no bolts visible from any regular point of view (barring the chainrings). Think about how many bolts are on your bike, then click on through to check out how he did that and his stainless steel road bike and Lance Armstrong-approved Baba Ganoush cruisers…
Look, Ma, no bolts. And no headset, no shifters and no brake levers. Clean, clean, clean! HOW: The stem is a quill stem, but the bolt is accessed from the bottom of the fork crown. Fork is a standard threaded model with integrated headset.
No seat clamp or binder bolts. HOW: The seatpost is like a quill stem, too, and will come up about 4″. Bolt is accessed from under the saddle inside the top of the seatpost. If you wanted to reduce the height further, just cut the seatmast.
No skewers or axle bolts. HOW: The front wheel attaches via a thru axle held in place with tiny grub screws on the bottom of each leg (just visible on the right). To remove the wheel, take the screws off and spread the fork legs about 1/2″ and it’ll drop out.
Rear is just as smooth. Shifting is handled by the new Sturmy Archer two-speed kickback hub with coaster brake. HOW: Rear axle is placed in eccentric drop outs that lock in using the cinch bolts.
The chromoly frame was torched, then wire brushed, then clear coated to achieve this look. This bike would be about $10,000, but he won’t be making any more quite so svelte.
He also showed off two of a six-bike run of the Baba Ganoush frame that won a couple years ago in Portland. That winning bike was bought by Lance Armstrong. This version simplifies a few things to make it more affordable and are being sold for $4,499.
Naked Bike’s stainless steel road bike has the first ever stainless steel fork, too (Sam’s claim). KVA sent the blades just five days before the show. Frame is $2,500 and $600 for the fork.
