Made-to-measure bicycles for every occasion

A master Japanese bike builder offers the perfect custom ride

For the truly dedicated rider, a bespoke bicycle is just about as good as it gets. And few are finer than the road (first picture) and track versions handcrafted by Kinfolk Studios, a multidisciplinary design and production company based in Tokyo and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Founded in 2008 by four friends, hailing respectively from New York, Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo – who sought a fifth partner in master bicycle craftsman Kusaka-San (second picture) – Kinfolk has grown from strength to strength, driven by a desire to produce functional, sculptural bicycles.

“With a custom bike the rider can get a perfect fit as well as the exact colours and design he or she wants,” explains co-founder John Beullens. “It also allows them to get deep into the technical options of the bike. Our customer is someone who appreciates very high quality and attention to detail.”

Ordering a custom Kinfolk frame (or the entire outfitted bicycle, if you wish) is made quite simple through a series of initial emails and phone calls. No visit to Kusaka-San is required; clients simply provide details, such as their height, inside leg and colour preferences (a vibrant array of paint finishes, including glossy, matt or metallic, is available), to get the commission process started. Kusaka-San then puts his 30-plus years of experience in the bike-building business to use, handcrafting a client’s dream ride. After a career spent making track bikes for Japan’s competitive Keirin racers, he is now widely regarded as one of the country’s top builders.

Each Custom Track Frame Set (from £1,098) comes standard with Tange No 1 tubing, a Kalavinka lug set, a threaded circular fork and a Kusaka seat stay cluster, as well as a gorgeous chrome finish. Extra options include a variety of tubing types, additional forks, seats and intricate detailing. If a classic steel-lugged road bike (from £1,253) – an old-school style (think classic ten-speed) that’s perfect for cruising around town and enduring longer distances – is more your speed, then Kinfolk can easily fulfill that wish as well. If you’re a real nomad, then the International bike (from £1,638) is ideal as it can be disassembled.

Kinfolk Studios produces about six to 10 bicycles per month, and delivery takes four to six weeks, depending on the model and level of customisation. Completely finished bicycles – with state-of-the-art tyres, comfy seats and handlebars – range in price from £2,300 to £4,600 (urban bike in third picture). For the passionate cyclist, they’re worth every penny.