Home > Event Coverage > NAHBS

NAHBS 2016 – Dekerf’s wild bladed titanium road bike slices up the Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award
15 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf had but one bike on display, a rare occurrence in the halls of NAHBS once you’ve moved beyond the first timers’ tables. And Dekerf’s long since moved past that, building bikes for more than 20 years. Based in Vancouver, this year’s entry proved one was all he needed to take home an award. In this case, the well deserved Artisan Award.

But it’s not just a show bike, it’s headed for a new owner now that the show is over. Chris wouldn’t say how much it cost, at the buyer’s request, nor would he speculate as to what it would cost if you wanted something similar. Assume it ain’t cheap – the entire bike is all titanium, and as you’ll soon see, there’s a LOT of custom cutting, bending and shaping that went into it. Click on thru for the gallery, this one’s pure eye candy…

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Note the position of the headset at the front of the head tube up top…

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

…and at the rear of the headtube at the bottom. It’s a trick of the eye thanks to multiple tube sections being used, but it puts the offset fork crown flush with the front of the head tube for a clean look.

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

The brake cable goes directly through the handlebar and into the steerer tube up top, popping out at the bottom for an almost invisible look.

Dekerf-custom-titanium-bladed-road-bike16

There’s no front derailleur, so only the rear shift and brake cables need exit the handlebar. Rear shifting is managed by a Campagnolo TT shifter on the back of the handlebar. This one was also gunning for some Campy love at the show.

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf titanium bladed road bike wins NAHBS 2016 Artisan Award

Dekerf.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
J N H
J N H
8 years ago

A guy down the road from me has a steel Dekerf MTB,always been jealous of it. Who ever does the paintwork on his bikes (assuming it’s not Chris himself) is a genius.

earle.b
earle.b
8 years ago
Reply to  J N H

Chris does his own paint work.

SS RIDE
SS RIDE
8 years ago
Reply to  J N H

Chris is the painter , he painted one my DeKerf SS few years ago. He is a genius.

Tupac
Tupac
8 years ago

I think the artisan award should’ve gone to English, for the Obree bike. The more I look at this bike, the more I hate it… the interrupted seat tube/mast, the backwards-curving fork… Not my cup of tea. But hey! I’m not one of the judges.

StinkyBob
StinkyBob
8 years ago
Reply to  Tupac

No. Just no. I’ve never seen pics or video of either of his one sided bikes actually being ridden. Knowig how light he likes to build things, I’m guessing that’s for a reason. As much as I’m not a fan of this weirdness, at least it appears to be rideable.

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

Yikes. Eye of the beholder and all that, but really not my bag.

fergus
fergus
8 years ago

If Dali rode a bike

BobsMyUncle
BobsMyUncle
8 years ago

^Oh yeah, and other stuff too, besides the paint.^

PsiSquared
PsiSquared
8 years ago

I appreciate the effort, but I’m not the bike just doesn’t look very cohesive to me.

Maxim Artemyev
8 years ago

nice sit-up-and-beg

Grateful
Grateful
8 years ago

Yes – it’s “different”. So what! It IS a work of art – absolutely.

And you’re right Tupac, you’re NOT one of the judges – and the reason for that is blindingly obvious.

jeb
jeb
8 years ago

Fabrication aside, the lines on this thing are a travesty. Every industrial designer (or person with a good eye for aesthetics) should be cringing at this thing. Even Chris Bangle is wondering “WTF”

KL
KL
8 years ago

Is this supposed to be a commuter or racing bike?

If a commuter: why top-end Bora wheels? Why top-end Campagnolo components? Why extremely aero brakes? And finally why internal routing?

But if this is a racing bike……..

In my humble opinion this is only a head-turner, it has nothing to do with “bicycle innovation”, commuting and racing.

CowtownCyclist
CowtownCyclist
8 years ago

While this bike does nothing for me, I’m assuming it is what the customer asked for Chris pulled out all the stops to oblige him. I can respect that. It is silly in a lot of ways, but it is a good showcase for what DeKerf is capable of and it shows how he is willing to take a customers idea. It’s good advertising which is really what a bike show is all about.

flatblackdime
flatblackdime
8 years ago

This has got to be the most expensive DUII bike ever.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.