Mr Moon may be one of the greatest frame builders that has graced our little planet.....or, he may even be the greatest!
but
if his website gives the impression that he is soliciting enquiries, but he doesn't answer them, then he is just wasting our time.
Dennis Young hate that baloney in Hotaka, Japan
> As far as I know Richard Moon is not taking orders at this time. He's =
> probably not answering inquiries either. Richard is a part time =
> framebuilder and I believe the backlong is 4 years, last I heard. That =
> tops me by a year. Like I have tried to explain at length, this kind of =
> work takes about 4 times as long to produce compared to the standard =
> professional framebuilder time of 15 to 20 hours. These people work for =
> a lot less money than the other guys; the better the work the less money =
> you make. Crazy law of the universe, but that's the way it is. It comes =
> with the territory. That's how you know the person loves doing the work =
> and getting those results. It's satisfying on a different level than =
> money is. That largely explains why there are so few taking this route. =
> The annual production of bikes at this level are probably fewer than =
> ten.
>
> I just last night finished shaping the Pacenti lugs slated for Wayne =
> Binghams frame. I feel that it is one of the best lug designs I've ever =
> come up with. I drew the design directly on the lugs and cut it from =
> there. It takes a lot of time just to lay out a set of three lugs and =
> keep everything consistant throughout the design. I really like working =
> this way, it freehand as opposed to working from a template that has =
> been glued to the lug. Anyway, by the time the pattern is laid out on =
> the lugs, a small piece added on here and there, and then cut out =
> completely, the standard 15 hours have elasped. Then, as Richard did, =
> the fork crown and BB shell and even the seat stay lugs must be made. =
> You can't imagine how much time was spent creating that magnificent =
> machine. Bikes like this don't just pop out of workshops. Elves don't =
> come in during the night and do the work for you. It's throughly thought =
> out and produced completely by hand. They are each and every one an =
> individual one-of-a-kind bicycle.
>
> BTW, the photos, which look fantastic, don't do justice to the bike. In =
> person and outdoors in it's element, it is truely a thing of beauty; and =
> even more so as Tom glides down the road on his very personal mount. He =
> will be a celebrity everywhere he rides because most people he will =
> encounter will never have seen a bicycle such as this one. Nor may they =
> ever again.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
>
> I would like to add to Brian's posting and say that if any of you have =
> any influence with Richard and can get me squeezed into his schedule, =
> I'd figure I would owe you big time! (:<)<
> Tom Sanders
> Lansing, Mi