44 Bikes 2009/2010 Manifesto

Form and function. Function before form some say. Not so. Form and function play an integral role in any design and although the brief may call for one to be placed over the other, a designer must consider both with equal weight. They share a symbiotic relationship each informing the other be it the form aiding the function or the function driving the form. Beauty is realized when both of these elements are given equal weight with respect to the design. Seamless integration is the goal. Consideration of both should not be avoided.

[ DESIGN ]

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Control. Discipline. Focus. Passion.Each task is important no matter how small it is. Make file strokes count. Every cut matters. Each measurement done twice. One weld better than the last. Use the right tool for the job.

All of this matters when it comes to your craft and methodology. You not only build each frame individually but each frame should be a lesson in skill, craft, methodol-ogy and your path.

Take pride in the work and in the shop: Cleanliness is next to nothing.

[ FABRICATION ]

FORTY FOUR BIKES / 44MANIFESTO

>>4130 / ER70S-D2 .035" FILLER

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WWW.44BIKES.COM / 44MANIFESTO

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Control. Discipline. Focus. Passion.Going for a ride shouldn't be a chore. It should be a natural extension of the day. The path that you look forward to taking each and every day that you can get out. Whether that's 7 days a week or 1 day a week, the ride can be a purifying event whereby you wash away lifes worries and you focus on one thing: which way am I going? Up? Down? Left? Right?

Over time the ride becomes an extension, one that is at your disposal. Its yours to control. But it takes discipline to not be over confident and always respect the ride. Focus on where you want to go and let your passion for the ride carry you to new directions.

[ RIDE ]

FORTY FOUR BIKES

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>>Ø7.Ø8.2ØØ8 / 65Øb RIDE SHAKEDOWN

FORTY FOUR BIKES / 44MAN

IFESTO

>>Ø7.Ø8.2ØØ8 / 65Øb RIDE SHAKEDOWN

To create you must first gather information. Experience both mental and physical play an integral role when creating a design ide-alogy that has a symbiotic relationship between form and function. A closed loop that influence each tier equally. One drives the other while the latter never plays second to the former.

With this in mind, i set out over the course of about 2 years to develop the ultimate trail machine. But this one didn't begin 2 years ago as stated, its been in the works ever since i started riding and refining my riding style. one that is clean and simple, one that relies on the basics. Building blocks that allow the rider to adapt to his/her environment. The Kidd platformis all about this diversity.

[ METHODOLOGY ]

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FORTY FOUR BIKES

FORTY FOUR BIKES

FORTY FOUR BIKES

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[ MATERIALS ]

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WWW.44BIKES.COM / 44MANIFESTO

/ Ø28Ø27 /

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44BIKES BUILDER + DESIGNER / KRISTOFER HENRY / product testing

photo: STEVEN KRAFT

ALWAYS THINKING»

KEEP PEDAL'N