Sometimes things don’t work out quite the way you hoped. That seems to be the case with the original Whisky No.9 disc fork which was pulled after their supply chain couldn’t keep up with the demand. Going back to the drawing board along with a completely new vendor, Whisky took the chance to rework the No.9, building on the success of the original. Now with an increased front to rear compliance of 15% while increasing torsional stiffness by 17%, the fork is better than ever and ready for a full relaunch.
Following up the incredible Inglis fat bike build we saw out at Saddle Drive, Whisky Brand Manager Matt Larson had this absolutely gorgeous Retrotec on hand to show off the No.9 fork. More than just a beautiful bike though, Matt incorporated some touching tributes to his and his wife’s late grandfathers which take the build to the next level….
Obviously custom painted to match the rest of the Retrotec, the paint colors were inspired by a ’56 Chevy Bel Air as well as a toy car.Fitted with full fender mounts, the fork has clearance for 42mm tires and new aluminum inserts for the fork axles for improved durability for repeated wheel changes. Available by the end of April, full stock of the forks will arrive in June.
As for the bike, in addition to featuring the new fork, Matt wanted the build to be a rolling tribute two his and his wife’s grandfathers who in Matt’s own words “were both badasses.”
The saddle bag is actually an Ammo bag that his wife’s grandfather used in the Korean war.
For a tribute to his own grandfather on his mom’s side, shotgun shells take the place of bar end plugs. These aren’t just any old Winchester shells though. Matt told us that he loved to go hunting with his Gramps and after he passed away the family gathered together and shot his ashes out of the shells on a lake by the cabin they used to visit while sipping his favorite drink. If that isn’t one of the most rad ways to remember your grandpa, I don’t know what is. Both pieces serve as a little reminder to Matt to “keep on keepin on, and push past the hurt” when crushing long rides.
Even without the touching tributes, the Retrotec is a complete stunner. You can see it for yourself in Louisville, KY at NAHBS in just a few weeks!
Thanks to Matt for opening up about the awesome build and to Marty Wood for the amazing photos!
