Why the U-brake? Don't they suck?? Check out the Cunningham Indian page. Everyone who rides that bike agrees the WTB Speedmasters on it are some of the most powerful, well-modulated brakes ever. The rationale was good .. the chainstays are beefier than the seatstays, and the braking forces are closer to the tube ends. And the leverage is pretty huge on the brake arms. My Mantis Valkyrie has the last generation of Speedmaster brakes .. the "togglecam".

The WTB brakes were wonderful (and maybe so are the modern BMX U-brakes), but after enough crappy U brakes the official 43bikes philsophy is to run the other way from anything w/ U-brake bosses.

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The frame on this 27 lb bike is lugged Tange Prestige steel.