Yuji Kimura is a Japanese industrial designer who studied in Germany — and now lives there — and now designs beautiful bicycles under the moniker of Kimura Cycle Works. This sporty randonneur is his latest creation, again inspired by the Ave group.
One of the first bikes by Kimura that was featured on The Spoken took the Crane as its namesake and spirit animal, and this one takes the Bee Eater for its muse, an apt model for its new owner.
Yuji’s customer is a passionate bird watcher who predominantly relies on the silent nature of his transport to observe and admire birds in their natural habitat. Merops Apiaster is the latin name of bee eater, one of his favorites.
Yuji is a frame designer, not a builder, and utilizes the skills of a licensed NJS builder, Fukuda-san, to actually make the frames according to Yuji’s specifications. it’s a novel arrangement but one that takes advantage of the specialties of both parties.
The frame features bilaminate construction, as they do on previous Kimuras, with a brazed-on hand-cut stainless steel head badge and a bird symbol on the top tube. The tubing is Kaisei, as are the fork blades.
Fukuda-san of Japan’s Raizin Works also made the stem, rack, and decaleur, which can support a handlebar bag up to a 16-liter volume. Grand Bois supplied the rims and hubs, and Campagnolo Centaur and Veloce parts looks well at home.
Yuji researched the variegation of the Bee Eater to create the vibrant color scheme, which flows from a light blue over the rear triangle and forks to a sky blue towards the front with plumes of brown and gold — and it does look like it could take flight.
Kimura Cycle Works Website
