Bike Check: Andrew Flower’s Kirk Frameworks JK Special
If you’ve ever been on one of our road rides you’ve probably met, or at least heard Andrew Flowers. His voice is as big as his personality, and he’s got a bike to match: The Kirk Frameworks JK Special. David Kirk started with Serotta, the iconic but, sadly, now defunct New York builder before striking out on his own to form Kirk Frameworks in 2003. The JK Special is his all out race bike, built for speed, racing, and, with it’s custom steel tubing, all day comfort as well. Like, say, cruising FSR’s in the Walbran area. As well as a host of key details, the JK Special features a couple unique Kirk features, like the swoopy Terraplane stays out back and his own desgin, Triple F dropouts. Kirk also takes the rare extra step to custom build each fork, using different tubing suited to each customer.
Beyond the full custom build, Flower’s has adapted the ‘basic’ frame spec to make it his own. Like Dura-Ace downtube shifters. Who knows why, but if you ask him I’m sure Andrew will give you a good answer. But it does give the front end a nice clean look, with fewer cables hanging around. He’s finished the build off with a solid Dura-Ace drivetrain, H Plus Son rims, and even fancy King Cage bottlecages, because little details are important. Enough words, take a look at the bike. Anything we’ve missed? Find Flowers and ask him about it, and take a look at this bike in person.
A man and his bicycle. We had to go outside, because he barely fits in the shop
The Kirk Frameworks JK Special
Clean lug work, and sparkly purple paint make the Special just a little more special
Those very very nice looking lugs? Made by Australian company Llewellyn
Kirk makes all of his frames custom for each rider. Andrew’s includes fender and rack mounts
Handmade bikes cover the important details, from paint on the lug work, to the frame pump nub
The ‘triple f’ dropouts, and a seat stay mounted fender rack eyelet
Simple, clean head badge on the Kirk. The ‘D’ stands for David. “J” in JK is for John, his father. awwww
Top shelf, cutting edge Dura-Ace teachnology, circa 1990-something. Apparently they still make these
Flower’s has dressed his JK Special in appropriate attire: Dura-Ace drivetrain down to the pedals
If you’ve met Flowers, you know he’s a large man. Long 180mm Dura-Ace cranks to match
While the Kirk has flashy stays, and a shiny purple, it keeps things simple when it comes to branding
Very clean lines on the unique looking Terraplane stays
All Kirk’s are hand build in Bozeman Montana, which was probably already clear from the picture
Handbuilt in Durango, CO, King Cage shows even unassuming parts can be made better
Spacers are possibly the only carbon bit on the Kirk.
Deda Newton deep drop bars and 3T stem up front
Paired with TRP levers. No fancy bits required with the downtube shifters
Andrew’s Cinelli bartape has seen some miles, but colourful highlights under white leather still look good
H Plus Son’s Archetype rims built around Chris King hubs
The Kirk has clearance for these massive Compass Stampede Pass 32’s.
Even the Big S is on the Trump train. Their Toupé saddle is thin as the hair hovering over the man himself
