[MMcG]

On the 29er forum over on emptybeer a guy is having a custom 29er made by Thylacine Cycles over in Aussie land that is inspired by an old Eastern Woods Research Frame.

A local rider has an EWR hardtail and it is wicked cool - so I thought I'd see if anyone remembers these bikes/frames and or maybe has owned or owns one.

I'd love to get my hands on one of the Woods Bike Framesets!

Enjoy.

I think these ones were more XC oriented vs. woods bike oriented

Brunge/Manhatanprjkt - do you guys ever see any of these out on the trails in PA?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[SPINTECK]

Those bikes were made a trials rider named jay Dejesus. He's still dominating the scene in personality and riding; however, I think the frame building was too much. It's a bummer b/c those bike were ahead of their time and people would buy them now more than ever.

 

[MMcG]

someone should give him some seed money to get him back up and building again!

 

[amishmatt]

That orange E-Motion (last picture) was mine. I sold it to Eric's cousin (Eric is in the picture with the orange Woods bike) a couple of years ago.

In the picture above, it was overbuilt (at least over forked) for it's intended purpose. But man, those were fun bikes.

Eric still rides his, it's his only bike. I kinda miss mine sometimes...

 

[stevew]

I have one. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[MMcG]

E-Motion - I dig that name.

Were they designed for 80mm forks optimally?

What about the woods bikes? 100mm forks? The black one looks to have an early Psylo on it and it doesn't look overly slack.

Any idea of what type of steel was used to produce them? Was it just 4130 cromoly?

 

[MMcG]

I have one. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.

You do!

Congrats - keep it!

But take some photos and share with the rest of us Monkeys please.

Oh and in the meantime provide some details (color, model, specs etc).

 

[amishmatt]

There were a few good threads in the VRC forums over at MTBR, if you can tolerate that place...

Anyway, from what I remember, the Woods and standard E-Motion were straight 4130, but there was an E-Motion "Race" or "Light" that was butted OX-II. Mine was of the standard variety.

The geometry was around 72/74, super tight rear, like <16", and 12-12.5" bb. I can't remember all of the numbers exactly, but they were steep and tight.

All were designed around the then standard 70-80mm fork. A longer fork was ok, since it only made the head/seat angles a little more 'normal,' but it jacked up the bb even higher.

 

[SlapheadMofo]

Oh man, I've wanted one of those forever.
There's a guy that shows up to the Shawnee snow race in Maine with one; one of these years I'm gonna talk him into parting with it (I hope).

 

[stevew]

You do!

Congrats - keep it!

But take some photos and share with the rest of us Monkeys please.

Oh and in the meantime provide some details (color, model, specs etc).

It's like the last one pictured, the orange one. Medim I think. I bought it off someone on mtbr for 50 or 75 dollars about 6 years ago.

Birdsh!t yellow rattle can paint job.

There is supposed to be a dent somewhere on one of the chainstays, but I could never find it.

What parts I had to build that or the metalhead I have, I gave to stinkyboy for his charity bikes.......which reminds me I need to mail him the handlebars I got around to finding.

 

[bluebug32]

Nice mixer!


but where's the wok?

 

[brungeman]

<snip with cool pics> Brunge/Manhatanprjkt - do you guys ever see any of these out on the trails in PA?

Cheers,

Mark

Mark,

Yep. Not many around, but my friend Chuck Greenlee I believe used to carry them. Chuck was one of the main keystone people in the sport back in the 80's and 90's for our area. He was always taking chances with smaller frame builders, and that was cool. He had a few come through his shop, and I have seen a few in action over the years. I haven't seen one in a while though!

 

[Toshi]

i swear we had an identical ode-to-EWR thread a few years ago, but i can't find it so i'll repost: seeing a back of the magazine photo sequence of jay dejesus sidehopping up onto a loading dock on one of his EWR stock trials bikes was what originally got me into trials.

 

[jdcamb]

i swear we had an identical ode-to-EWR thread a few years ago, but i can't find it so i'll repost: seeing a back of the magazine photo sequence of jay dejesus sidehopping up onto a loading dock on one of his EWR stock trials bikes was what originally got me into trials.

I used to camp next to Jay and his merry band of misfits for about 10 years in a row at MBW at Jim Thorpe. Those guys ripped on those bikes. He is a wicked nice guy too...

 

[brungeman]

I used to camp next to Jay and his merry band of misfits for about 10 years in a row at MBW at Jim Thorpe. Those guys ripped on those bikes. He is a wicked nice guy too...

didn't I just read something in the recent past that Jay, was injured, and out of commission for a bit of time? I think I read that he was doing better. But I think there was a fundraiser over on DirtRag's forum to help pay some medical bills.

I will do a little digging!

 

[jdcamb]

didn't I just read something in the recent past that Jay, was injured, and out of commission for a bit of time? I think I read that he was doing better. But I think there was a fundraiser over on DirtRag's forum to help pay some medical bills.

I will do a little digging!

Man if that's true that sucks. I will say a prayer for him anyways.

 

[brungeman]

Man if that's true that sucks. I will say a prayer for him anyways.

yep, I thought I recalled something...

linky


it was a little bit ago, (late in 06)

but your prayers were called for! looks like he is doing better!

 

[dump]

In the mid 90s, I'd see one or two at the large races. They weren't very common. Jay DeJesus was one one during that period

 

[MikeD]

When Evil put out the Sovereign, I always thought it had a little EWR in the genes...apparently not by intent, just by convergent evolution.

Anyhow, I could swear I read a Dirt Rag a few years ago that featured a custom frame made by a guy named DeJesus who was a well-known oldschool rider...remember it being cromoly and ridiculously inexpensive. Am I hallucinating?

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

In the mid 90s, I'd see one or two at the large races. They weren't very common. Jay DeJesus was one one during that period

yeah i used to see him around to...MICKYS!

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

I just saw you were asking us, i definately havent seen any around here in a long time. Funny thing is that bike would probably be PERFECT for pgh riding. Steel hardtails rock in this area...

 

[Kenn Bendajo]

Here's a pic of mine. It's a 1994 serial number HE 22 4 L. November 4th there was a small reunion. 6 EWR's showed up. Here's a pic of some of the family.

Also a pic of Jay screaming through the 180 degree berm. He's still kicking it.

 

[SlapheadMofo]

I want...

 

[r464]

Jay's a local... wish I could come across one of those frames, though

 

[MMcG]

Nice! Those are just super cool frames.

 

[Mr Tiles]

I've always liked the looks of those. Sorta related, I sold a mid-90s Look full carbon mtb frame this weekend for $50. Just don't have the $$$ to build up something like that.

 

[Jim Mac]

Those bikes were made a trials rider named jay Dejesus. He's still dominating the scene in personality and riding; however, I think the frame building was too much. It's a bummer b/c those bike were ahead of their time and people would buy them now more than ever.

I saw Jay racing DS at Plattekill in October, dude continues to rip it up!

 

[jdcamb]

I saw Jay racing DS at Plattekill in October, dude continues to rip it up!

Thats cool.

 

[stevew]

Someone with no posts sent me a pm yesterday morning about buying mine.

Odd.

 

[Kenn Bendajo]

Here is a wicked video that Nat Bartholomew put up for the Jump Jam - the last couple minutes includes an interview with Ted, the host, Jay DeJesus, and some good close ups of the EWR's that showed up.

I remember seeing somewhere that Nat asked people to save the file for reviewing as bandwidth costs him money, and he put this up gratis.
From hcor.net:
Finished the short vid with interviews with, well, you'll see. I think I milked every ounce of footage I took that day. This was some work, so any comments/criticism are welcome. Enjoy.

I will be posting a high def version of the riding part shortly. This file is big 132mb, but the footage wouldn't have the same effect all pixelated.

www.spinteck.com/teds_ruckus2007_3mbps.wmv

Excellent Footage Nat... Excellent.

 

[MikeD]

http://www.thursdaybicycles.com/

 

[MMcG]

EWR Inspired - methinks yes!

 

[nvd]

This just in.... Eastern Woods Research is alive and well!!!
www.ewrbikes.com

Making classic versions of the original woods and e-motion frames with updated geometries and disc tabs. WOO - HOOOO !!!

Here are some late 90's pics of me racing JrX cross country back in PA on my trusty old 1997 EWR E-Motion Race frame. Hooray for tripple butted steel, I still ride this bike all the time, but now shes a single speeder.

 

[MMcG]

This just in.... Eastern Woods Research is alive and well!!!
www.ewrbikes.com

Making classic versions of the original woods and e-motion frames with updated geometries and disc tabs. WOO - HOOOO !!!

Here are some late 90's pics of me racing JrX cross country back in PA on my trusty old 1997 EWR E-Motion Race frame. Hooray for tripple butted steel, I still ride this bike all the time, but now shes a single speeder.

That's cool to hear!! Keep us updated.

Mark

 

[hooples3]

wow awesome looking bikes!!! i love the orange one

 

[nvd]

wish I could get my hands on an 'original woods bike'

 

[nvd]

Here's my current build, all timepiece oriented:
comes to 24 lbs even with Marzocchi and Maguras, so whoever said they are heavy is full of crap, it's the lightest bike I own.

Frame: 1997 EWR E-Motion Race (triple butted True Temper OX-III steel)
Parts: Marzocchi Z.1 CR fork (100mm)
Magura HS-33 Raceline brakes
Shimano XTR hubs/Sun 0 XC rims (radial front, 2x/3x rear)
Cooks Bros. Racing E-Cranks
Shimano XT square taper sealed bb
S&M Flat Pedals
Chris King head set
Azonic Shorty stem
Answer Pro-Taper bars
1010P Bar caps (tatoo lou's company)
Oury grips
Tioga tires
Surly singleator chain tensioner
Thompson post
Sella Italia saddle

Took me almost 10 years to gather all the parts and finish dialing in this bike, but she's finally done.

 

[MMcG]

we need pics of that 24 pound EWR!!!

 

[steelridesonly]

"wish I could get my hands on an 'original woods bike'"

You can! Check the website out at www.ewrbikes.com

Word is the first run of the updated "original woods bike" will be available for purchase in February 2008.

 

[MMcG]

Any idea of what the frames will sell for? Will they be affordable do you think? Were the original ones "high end" for their time or were they affordable for the average joe rider?