DeKerf Generation MTB Frame And Rare Tuning Rigid Fork Immaculate. Here we have the holy grail for DeKerf fans, a typically beautiful frame with a matching and very rare set of his Tuning rigid forks. If you know your retro and high-end Canadian steel, you’ll know that Chris DeKerf has been very highly rated right from when he first started making frames under his own name in the early 1990′s. He had previously worked at Rocky Mountain and others before deciding to go it alone. I first became aware of them in 1994, when they had only one model, the Mountain, made from the finest Ritchey WCS tubing, mainly TIG welded but with a’work-of-art’ fillet brazed wishbone and seat-cluster. They subsequently added a slightly cheaper model, the Generation, made from Reynolds 631 which lost the fillet brazed seat cluster area, and the top of the range hardtail was renamed the SL, made from Reynolds 853 tubing. This is an example of the Generation model, frame number DEK2596. The 631 tubing gives a slightly more comfortable ride with very little increase in frame weight. Later models of the SL from this era also lost the fillet brazing so tube-type is the only real difference between them. It’s a DeKerf size 18.5 with the following actual dimensions. Seat Tube Centre to Top: 18.5 / 47cm. Top Tube Effective Horizontal Centre to Centre with the Tuning forks : 23.5 / 59.5cm. Head Tube End to End: 4.25 / 11cm. Headset size: 1 1/8. Seatpost size: 27.2mm. Wheel size: 26. Axle spacing: 100mm front / 135mm rear. Frame weight: 1995g. Fork weight: 1090g. This particular example is in excellent used condition sporting its original dark metallic green paint which is deep and even all over, with a glossy shine. DeKerf paint is still the best I have even seen. There are a few light marks and chips here and there, most notably above the brake bosses on the forks. There are also some very light scratches along the left side of the top tube from the gear and brake cables but these are hardly noticeable. Over the past 15 years I’ve built up a collection of around a dozen DeKerfs. In all that time this is the only Tuning fork I’ve seen for sale. I’ve now decided to slowly sell all but one of them to fund expansion of my Warwickshire based bike fitting business, Precision Cycle Fit. I’m thinning my collection of DeKerfs from 7 to 1! Currently listed is an 18.5 Tangerine Singlespeed. I also have an 18.5″ Team SL disc in goldy-green and great condition and a 17.5″ Team SL disc which needs a repaint. I’ll be listing these in time but let me know if you are interested and I can pop them up sooner. This is considerably less than what you’d pay for a new one and available now! For 26 wheels and rim brakes only! Will be very carefully packed with each tube protected with thick, new foam pipe lagging and rear axle spacer installed before being placed in to a sturdy box. Or you can view and collect in Southam, Warwickshire. Any questions, please ask.
