Product Development: Cyclocross Limited Edition “Cross Is Boss”

This is the biggest Honey Bike project to date.  Three bikes, each with special paint schemes.  About 15 different kit options.  We’re working with a couple outside companies on some limited edition gear.  And we’re on a tight deadline.

Here are some details – lots more details available.  For the 2013/14 race season Honey offers a very special Limited Edition Series:

• Three configurations:  Disc, Cantilever, or Singlespeed
• We’re building only 20 of these bikes
• Order Deadline:  June 1.  Delivery deadline:  August 1.
• Framesets and complete bikes available
• Special paint schemes
• Limited Edition items with each bike
• Bike prices start at $2,995

For the past three seasons Honey has been racing, testing the bikes and equipment, working at events, and getting more addicted to cross than ever before.  The Honey Cross is Boss Limited Edition machines are lighter, faster, and maybe the most unique cross bikes available.

Honey Cross is Boss LE Bike Design Features

The Honey CX LE is a pure contemporary American race bike – responsive, quick, and stripped down for cross racing. Handbuilt in the U.S.  We craft each frame, one at a time, from the lightest microalloy steels – no apologies. Pure and Simple.

• Frame
  • Available in 12-sizes for perfect fit and handling
  • Steel size-specific custom butted tubing
  • Made in the United States
  • Crafted one-at-a-time
• Fork
  • Honey Carbon – disc or cantilever
  • Among the lightest cross forks available – and chatter free
• Race Design
  • Oversized chainstays for improved acceleration
  • Custom seastsay design to help keep the rear wheel in contact with the terrain for better traction and handling
  • Mid-range bottom bracket height – for excellent center or gravity and good clearance
  • Quick handling geometry to get you through the tightest muddiest turns
• Paint:  We’re offering the Limited Edition paint schemes for this project only.

Why Three Different Honey Cross is Boss bikes?

Cross has changed so much over the past 5-years. We have designed some unique improvements and features to Honey’s cross bike offerings.

• Disc: Disc brakes can offer a true competitive advantage to a cross racer. Certain courses require more aggressive braking. Mountain bikers racing style tends to benefit from having disc brakes on their cross machines to match the modulation they are used to on their mountain bikes. They also tend to have a more aggressive cornering style. They come in hot into a corner slam the brakes off to scrub enough speed, then make the turn, and accelerate back out of the corner.With the Honey disc you can race as aggressively as you like without worrying about ending up in the tape. Disc brakes also lend themselves to running carbon rims without the inherent sub-optimal braking that comes with using cantilever brakes and a carbon braking surface.

Paint Scheme:  Belgian Boss!  We offer the Honey Cross is Boss Disc a Belgian inspired paint scheme. Emblazoned with the black, yellow, and red it will be sure to race with the heart of a lion – or lioness!

• Cantilever: Cantilever brakes are the calling card of traditional cross racers. Cantis are still the most popular choice in Europe. The biggest advantages are mud clearance, ease of set up and operation, and compatibility with all wheels systems. Cantis still provide ample power and better modulation on any cross course. European cross courses tend to be much more technical and demanding than what we see in the US. If it works on the steep drop-offs in Belgium and Switzerland it will work well in Northampton and Santa Cruz.

Paint Scheme:  House of Boss!  For the canti Honey we’re offering a Dutch inspired paint scheme. While the Belgians dominate, the Dutch inspire us. Vos, Van Der Haar, Boom. To be the Boss of cross you need a Boss paint job. Orange and blue gets the billing here.

• Singlespeed: The Honey SSCX. In a very few years US CX, singlespeed has become, dare we say, “mainstream.” The numbers and attendance for these races is growing at a fevered pitch. The appeal is equal parts fun, mayhem, and tough fought competition. These races are not for the weak of heart. Arguably greater bragging rights are on the line. This season’s Singlespeed CX Worlds will be held in Philly! We are very excited to see this race on the East Coast!

Paint Scheme:  Black Honey!  We’ve designed a singlespeed worthy scheme for the SS Cross is Boss:  matte black with metallic gloss Honey-colored accents. Serious business with a flair of style.

Very Limited Edition

We’re only building 20 CiB bikes.  Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

More Limited Edition-ness

For the Cross is Boss project we’re offering, as part of the package, your choice of one of three additional benefits – as a thank you for racing cross!

• Option One: A Limited Edition Honey jersey, in partnership with Rapha Performance Roadwear.

• Option Two:  A tin of Limited Edition Honey Medium-Heat Embrocation, in partnership with Buckler Embrocation, and a subscription to Cyclocross Magazine.

• Option Three: Let Honey sponsor you! We will pay for three cross races of your choosing!

Questions?  Contact Honey at beekeepers@honeybikes.com.

Project timeline in reverse:

May 13:  Already sold more than a quarter of the total.

May 10:  Went live with the offer.

May 7:  Working on a limited edition embrocation for Honey Bikes.  Part of the Cross is Boss project.

April 24:  The Cross is Boss Honey Bike project is just about ready.  Which is good because we’ve already started on the next Honey project.

April 18:  Wrapping up a 3-Bike Limited Edition “Cross is Boss” project for Honey Bikes.  This is a big ambitious design challenge.  Fortunately it’s very limited edition:  only 20 bikes will be available.  Details posting soon.

April 10:  Officially began the Limited Edition project today.  Mapped out the two categories of bike:  geared and single.  Available in two brake configurations:  canti and disc.  Special paint for each bike.  Hand picked kits and wheel options for all.  Order dealine is likely the end of June.  Shipping on August 1.

March 21:  Working on a 2013/14 cyclocross bike project for Honey.  We’re looking at a couple limited edition ideas to get people excited about the upcoming season.  It’ll be here before anyone is ready, I think.  Bike delivery deadline is August 1.