This is a special bike to me, not just because it has my name on it. I first started making ‘zine’s back in the late 80s. Later I even had a ‘zine store where I would collect assorted ‘zines from around the world. Eventually, I graduated to helping make real magazines, and books (with the help of computers), but the high-contrast, low-tech art of ‘zine making was such a unique time in design.

I love the feeling of being able to tell my own stories and see them in print. You’ll hear people say ‘zines were a way to communicate ideas before the internet… home made magazines at a time when everything topical came from "real" magazines. That’s true I suppose, but I fell in love with the making of them. The trips to Kinko’s at 3:30 am. The stoned BMXer who worked there would let me make copies for free in exchange for bike parts. A sea of Xerox machines to play around on–maybe one of them had good toner in it. Creating different techniques and cool looking effects with nothing but copy machines was a lot of fun.

For this bike’s graphics I went back to those old techniques. Copying art, crumpling it up and recopying, tearing it and copying again, dragging art along the path of the copy head to stretch it, and bunch of other trial and error tricks I was pleased to remember. All made the authentic old school way.

As far as the bike itself goes, the Taj is chromoly 27.5” BMX bike that looks a lot like the “BMX cruiser” my buddy at Kinko’s rode to work. However it features all the bulletproof modern BMX amenities. You can jump it and have BMX thrills on it, but its real purpose is to be a fun, timeless, and tough bike that you can “just pedal around on”. That might sound like we are downplaying the bike, but “just pedaling around” is what it’s all about! And, a simple bike that keeps working is often the most enjoyable one to ride.

-Taj Mihelich

Sizing

27.5": 5'4" height and up

Sizing is approximate. Please consult with your local bike shop to assist with fit.

Specs

Frame: 100% Track Certified Chromoly 
Fork: 100% Chromoly. One-piece machined Steerer Tube 
Handlebar: Fairdale MX-6 Bar, 100% Chromoly Steel
Stem: Sunday Freeze, Top-Load, 48mm Reach
Headset: FSA Sealed Integrated
Brake Lever: Odyssey Monolever, Left and Right 
Brake: Odyssey Springfield, Front and Rear
Grips: Fairdale Swan 
Saddle: Fairdale Taj, Railed 
Seat Post: 27.2mm 
Seat Clamp: Fairdale, 30mm 
Cranks: Chromoly 3-Piece, Chromoly, 175mm 
Chainwheel: Fairdale, 28t 
BB Parts: Mid, 19mm, Press-fit, Sealed 
Pedals: Odyssey Twisted PC 
Rims: Double wall, 36-Hole, Aluminum 
Front Hub: 36-Hole, 3/8” Axle, Aluminum Shell, Sealed Bearing 
Rear Hub: 36-Hole, 3/8” Axle, Aluminum Shell, Sealed Bearing 
Tires: Maxxis Ardent Race, 27.5 x 2.2”
Chain: KMC S1
Cog: 14t Freewheel

Geometry

*Specs subject to change without notice.