For every Titanium Randonneur bike in a our there’s a mutt like Jake’s 16th Anniversary Gary Fisher “Hoo Koo E Koo”. A classic it’s own right that’s been through enough kooky modifications to render it questionable at best. Yet here it is as our latest “Bikes We Ride” post.

For a long time Jake wanted a Kona Humu Humu for a bar bike, but then as soon as he got one he turned it into a cargobike (for reasons we have yet to understand). Then when this frame cropped up and a new mission became clear.

The frame, and at least one of the wheels, date back to 1991 when this bike was originally unveiled. It features an oversized steerer tube, “press-fit bottom bracket”, and lots of tire clearance. All features ahead of their time. Not to mention an epic paint job that some independent framebuilders are still trying to replicate.

The nuance of THIS particular build, however, might be a whole lot of bad ideas that still seem to work on good faith. It’s a bit like wading into a crowded dancefloor on a hallucinogens, the further in you go the deeper it gets…

The Shimano Deore XT 9-spd drivetrain strangely only shifts through 8 gears and thanks to the shifter’s previous owner it has part of a toothbrush handle for a lever. The tiny ribs are “ergonomic”, and actually work great.


In keeping with the times a 1x setup was necessary, but lack of a clutch Rear Derailleur, budget limitations, and general laziness have prevented Jake from buying a more practical 1x setup. So instead the use of an MRP chainguide have been combined with a K-Edge chain catcher and a beer can shim to prevent dropping the chain when rallying down the alleys. Obviously Kona Wah Wah 2 pedals were essential as well. All this gets bolted to the rare, and not fully-cooked early 90’s idea of a press-fit bottom bracket. No, we don’t stock replacements (don’t ask).

Continuing the list of unmentionables the red Diatech brake arms in the rear and odd zip-tie cable routing situation still locks up the rear wheel better than a lot of modern disc brakes. It’s amazing there’s any tread left on the rear tire.

Jake’s biggest point of pride on this bike is the cockpit. Originally a 1.5″ quill stem he’s fashioned his own steel stem conversion allowing for the mounting of a modern 1-1/8″ Raceface stem and 35mm Raceface Turbine handlebar, and Ergon lock-on grips . It turns out an 1-1/8″ diameter DOM steel tube (leftover from one of his cargobike builds) fits perfectly into the headset, and functions as a “quill stem” using the bolt and wedge from the original stem.

“Wide bars save lives”, or so they say, but “they” haven’t said anything about this stem situation though…

There you have it. The perfect combination of bad ideas mixed together into one tasty treat of a bar bike. If you need a smile real quick this bike will get you there fast, loose, and probably sideways.