The story…
.... is the Eskimo word for wolverine. It is also used in the book ......the wolf dog” by Walt Morey. The lead character is a wolf hybrid (half canine/half wolf), which is raised in the harsh, competitive, unrelenting world of dogsled racing. The story goes on to include a friendship between the dog and a young boy, and their adventures together. The dog’s stern, handsome stature often invoked a hint of submission in people who did not know him, and confidence in those who did. He was absolutely surefooted and, of course, had the stamina no human could challenge. He was a true companion, unconditionally loyal, and a privilege to know.
Drawing from the passage above, you might be able to appreciate the qualities our bicycles possess. To purchase a high end bicycle is an investment, for you and for us. We want your new ...... bicycle to become an integral part of your cycling lifestyle. And to that end, we hope it becomes your favorite companion on all your adventures.
The history…
In 1993, I swept floors for free at FTW Mfg. (Frank the Welder/Yeti co-founder) in exchange for framebuilding experience. Frank is the coolest person you could ever meet. As FTW Mfg. grew, I was fortunate enough to grow with it. And as we produced hundreds of virtually handbuilt frames for some pretty major companies, my skills and experience were forged. I went on to work for other manufacturers (bicycle and other recreational products). In 2000, I figured it was time to throw my hat in the ring. So now, with my friends I
met along the way, I build ...... frames out of the love for the craft and the satisfaction of riders we build for.
The builder…
Each ........ frame is hand crafted by a small group of friends in Arizona. We are fortunate to have very capable equipment. We have the finest TIG welder available, a CNC mill and an assortment of mills, lathes, fixtures, and alignment tools to insure your frame is built to a standard rivaled by few manufacturers in the world. We could go on and on about craftsmanship, welding, alignment, bla, bla, bla…you have to see, touch & ride a kävik frame to appreciate it.
The frames…
Our favorites are mountain, road, cyclocross but, we also build
BMX, wheelchairs, Tri, Timetrial, & prototypes. ..... frames, by design, are the ultra-light, nimble, race-ready variety. Check out our common sizes list…frames for riders 4’ 10” to 6’ 4” can be had right out of the box. Every frame is available with custom geometry or special finishes, as well.
The tubes…
We use 7005 aluminum exclusively. Almost all of ........ frames and projects are constructed with Easton. Easton makes the most evolved frame tubing available. And we can select from a wide variety of tubing combinations to produce very specific results. Furthermore, Easton’s butted tubesets produce the lightest, most resilient, and fatigue resistant aluminum frames ever built.
The dropouts…
One unique feature on every ........frameset, is our Modular Dropout System. These dropouts are unlike anything you've seen. They allow every ........ frame to easily switch from geared to single-speed formats with ease. Imagine the possibilities...Your favorite hardtail is also your favorite single-speed. Your new road crit machine can double as your fixed gear training rig. Also available, are disc brake dropouts that conform to the International Standard. And we are working on new variations to provide even more utility to your kavik frameset (hint...Rohloff Internal, horizontals w/disc mount, etc.).
The custom…
Although each ......... frame is carefully handbuilt, we have a vast matrix of common sizes. Of course, you can have your frame custom tailored, if you don't have special ergonomic or performance requirements. Anyone can be outfitted. We’ve built for giant “Clydesdale” racers, top women athletes, and even Jr. racers who need a true performance ride. All frames have varying lead times and require a 50% deposit & CAD/print confirmation.
Also, visit us again soon…we have new suspension models in the works, including an ultra swift softtail and long travel trail design.
