[itself]

Well, I took the Musashi for a test ride and was a bit disappointed.

The good news:

very stable
easy to start and stop
corners great
beautifully made, with a carbon fork
not as heavy as I thought
SRAM shifters were great

Bad news:

just didn't have a lot of kick or panache

I got a chance to see a "real" lowracer, the Baron, and after that, a Fujin is out. These bikes are low, really low. And the preying mantis steering is very different.

Lisa

[BlazingPedals]

Originally Posted by itself

I got a chance to see a "real" lowracer, the Baron, and after that, a Fujin is out. These bikes are low, really low. And the preying mantis steering is very different.

Lisa

Lowracers aren't for everyone! If steering were the only issue, you could change it; but I take it there's more to it than that. I would think it would be very hard to alternate between a very reclined/open position lowracer and a very upright/closed position P-38.

[itself]

True a lowracer is not for everyone! The OC on the Musashi I know could be put on a Baron/VK2/Fujin, as many do this as it lends the bike for better control.

It's just that the drivers are so dang crazy here in AZ! I wish someone would come out with a midracer around 17" high, in carbon!

Lisa

[BlazingPedals]

Originally Posted by itself

I wish someone would come out with a midracer around 17" high, in carbon!

The guy who builds this goes by "Johnny Magic" on this forum. Yes, he can be bought.

There's also several models of M5 that would fit the bill. My M5 Carbon Highracer has an 18" seat height, and that's with 700c wheels. The 650C model would obviously be lower. They also make what they call a "medium racer." M5s are harder to get in the US though, because there's no distributor.

I think it's steel, but Meta Bikes makes a 'highracer' with dual 700C wheels and a pretty low seat height. Still looks like more than 17 inches, though.

Have you considered a Barcroft Virginia with a hardshell seat?

[itself]

Johnny's bikes are gorgeous!! Just a piece of artwork on wheels..