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TECH NEWS

Velotastic to bring Rikulau Bicycles into the UK

Taiwanese brand coming to these shores soon with Reynolds 853, 931 and 953 frames

Velotastic have announced they'll be bringing Rikulau Bicycles into the UK, starting with the Reynolds 931 and 853 frames pictured on this article.

Rikulau Bicycles is a Taiwanese company with a range of road and mountain bikes predominantly made from Reynolds steel, though they also produce Columbus steel frames and several titanium framesets as well. Velotastic will initially bring the Reynolds 931 and 853 frames into the UK from March onwards, with 953 frames available to order.

Rikulau Bicycles have been going for about seven years. Did you know Rikalau is the legendary sacred animal of the Rukai people, a Taiwanese aboriginal tribe? Well, you do now. They’re not the most well known company outside of their home territory but by all accounts they have a very good reputation for producing high quality and distinctive framesets. These frames, based on the photos we've been set, do look very lovely indeed. We'll try and get a closer look, and maybe even a ride on one soon.

Velotastic will be offering the 853 Mondrian above, a frame “aimed at riders who like to combine a spirited ride with all day comfort.” The main tubes are Reynolds 853 with a Piet Mondrian inspired paint finish that is sure to stand out on the club run. The frame is available in six sizes from XS to XXL. Geometry for a large includes a 55.5cm effective top tube, 15cm head tube, 73 parallel head and seat angles, and a 978.4mm wheelbase. It costs £649 and that price includes an Easton EA70 fork and FSA headset.

The Rikulau 931 uses seamless tubeset that sits below 953 in the Reynolds range. A medium frame weighs a claimed 1,530g which is pretty good for a steel frame. It’s billed as a bike for sportive and club riders looking for a comfortable ride similar to the 853 offering. It is supplied with an Easton EC90 fork and FSA headset and costs £1,299.

Finally, the Rikulau 953 uses Reynolds flagship stainless steel tubeset built into a frame ideal for all-day riding. It’s available in a range of colours and is sold with an Easton EC90 fork and FSA for £1,799. It's only going to be available on a order basis though, with the other two frames being in stock at Velotastic. 

 

“As well as selling framesets, we are planning on selling some custom one off builds which we are really looking forward too,” says Velotastic’s Paul Gregory. You can find out more at http://velotastic.co.uk and www.rikulau.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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8 comments

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
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Sometimes part of the appeal of western-designed kit (applies to cars as much as bikes) is a greater sense of character or 'soul' in the aesthetics, than is found in kit from the far east. These, however, kick that notion right into the weeds. Those Mondrian colour schemes look fantastic. Ironic then, that a Taiwanese frame is crying out for a retro Campag build, but it would look awesome.

15cm head tube though? That puts me right off, because it would look awful with the stack of spacers I'd need.

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mtm_01 | 10 years ago
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They both look amazing...just need some money  3

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allez neg | 10 years ago
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The shiny silver one looks good, the mondrian one achingly retro.

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ColT | 10 years ago
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I live and work in Taiwan and am currently working on a deal with Rikulau to make me a large enough frame. I'll do a full review when I can.

I have seen the bikes in the flesh and they are really rather lovely. Shame the Taiwanese demand is limited to men (and women) much smaller than my 6'4"+ lankiness or I'd have had had a test ride by now.  3 (Actually, that is a genuine problem for me, here. Impossible to find 60cm frames in retail outlets and most seem reluctant to try to get me one from the factory.)

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mrmo | 10 years ago
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http://www.rikulau.com/rikulau_english/bikes/roadbike-columbus-spirit-cr...

just had a look at the website and this is the one that catches my eye, that I have no money is a minor detail.

and their geometry charts are odd? there seem to be very few sizes for some models???

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ColT replied to mrmo | 10 years ago
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Sorry, double post...  35

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ColT replied to mrmo | 10 years ago
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mrmo wrote:

http://www.rikulau.com/rikulau_english/bikes/roadbike-columbus-spirit-cr...

just had a look at the website and this is the one that catches my eye, that I have no money is a minor detail.

and their geometry charts are odd? there seem to be very few sizes for some models???

Limited sizes is/are pretty common here, as I have just intimated in my other post. There's virtually no local demand for anything of a size over what I'd call M/L.

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mrmo replied to ColT | 10 years ago
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ColT wrote:

Limited sizes is/are pretty common here, as I have just intimated in my other post. There's virtually no local demand for anything of a size over what I'd call M/L.

I guess that makes sense, also whether it is why, or a consequence of, the importer is only bringing in a few models.

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