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Wakka

Front view of 2 people standing in front of an open door, outside of the Wakka bicycle life shop


On our last visit to Japan we met a lot of dealers who have done well with Surly and continue to raise the bar for the rest of the world for what it looks like to do insanely cool custom Surly builds and how the brand is co-opted into the culture of that particular shop. As we have stated in previous posts about Japanese shops; they take it to a different level that really impresses us. This time around we also got to meet some brand new dealers, some prospective Surlyphiles and maybe even some skeptics (not really sure about that but we gave this kinda formal presentation to a group of dealers at our distributor’s HQ and some weren’t all teary eyed with adoration. I promise we will work on that next time around) to whom we were able to explain over the course of an hour; what our main brain malfunctions are and why this crazy shit that we make is the way it is. Most walked away happy (a keg of beer and cooler of Chu-hi help) and I think are now harboring a deeper understanding of the brand “essence” (which smells a lot like dead fish and fermented cabbage).


Dave scans the crowd and calculates information arrangement for optimal brand essence penetration. He also pinpoints potential trouble makers for later recourse.
A view from the rear of an office meeting room, with people sitting around a table with bike parts on it

 

 

New OD crank is field tested for maximum chicken wing delivery efficiency.
Headshot of a person with their mouth wide open, holding a Surly O.D bike crank, with a chicken wing sticking out of it

 

 

Snacky in mid brain freeze while our drinking buddies discuss something I'm too drunk to understand.
A group of people, sitting in an office room, drinking beer


We were told by the MX-Intl Boss Lady, the infallibly insightful Rie Okamoto San, that we needed to check out this new shop in Inuyama . We were told that it was “very unique” and that they were very excited for us to stop by. These omens were easy to wrap my reptilian brain around but the reality of the shop was a whole other mind blowege wraped in a nerd-gasm.  In short this was the first Surly “Concept store” ever successfully birthed...whatever that means.


Inside view of the Wakka bicycle life shop, with a variety of Surly bikes on display


Started in startlingly recent months by bike nerd brothers Yasuhiro Kawaguchi and Kawaguchi Michiharu, Wakka almost exclusively deals Surly bikes; mostly Omniterra, 29+ and rando builds. There is a well chosen selection of components and accessories from all over the globe, all seeming to circulate around Immaculate Surlys hanging off the walls like sparkling chandeliers or poised like vintage sports cars in their small showroom. The rest of the bikes spill out into the deck and driveway in an array of builds sure to stoke ones appetite to ride off into the woods or simply inspire a custom build of your own.


Shiny bits and leather adorn a British racing green Pacer: Vroom/Meow/Splitch!
Right side view of a green Surly Pacer bike, on a table display against a wall, inside of a bike shop

 

 

Fozzie says: Wakka, wakka!
Front view of The Muppets Show, TV character, Fozzie, with a white backgroundFront, right side view of 3 Surly fat bikes, parked side by side, on a deck outside of a bike shop

 

As I inspected each build carefully I am humbled by the time spent considering the overall aesthetic as well as the care taken in the details to make sure overall function is flawless. These are not flimsy parade bikes, you could drag these things to hell and back and trust every thread, cable and pivot wouldn’t fail you even if Baphomet himself was sucking your wheel in a all out race to save/enslave all mankind.


Consider this raw Moonlander, no really…Do it:
Right side view of a raw Surly Moonlander fat bike, in front of a red and white striped wall, inside of a bike shop

 

 

Totally high polish Phil Wood 135mm fix/disc hub, gloss black Clown shoe and silver fabric rim strip:
Front, left side, bottom half view of a raw Surly Moonlander fat bike, mounted to a wall in a bike shop

 

 

Retrotech w/ DA 7900, Hope V-Twins and internal cable routing via Ragley Luxy dirt drops. *Ah hem, uhhh…WOW!Close up view of a Surly Moonlander fat bike, right brake lever and shifter detail
Close up front view of a Surly Moonlander fat bike, head tube internal cable routing detail

 
So to top off their amazing unique view and representation of Surly “oh my god that bike is Hawtness” and integration of our weirdness stirred lovingly into their creatively spiced and unique rich broth….they happen to be super nice and not at all self conscious or smug about what they have done here. Not meaning to stir east vs. west sentiment but honestly if this shop were situated in one of America’s great cycling cities, the shop would be rife with attitude, exclusivity and self congratulatory nausea. Don’t be butthurt dear reader, I don’t mean to injur your delicate feelings here but you KNOW this is true.


Also consider these scrumptious details:


There is a coffee house (Maru Bistro) in an old British double-decker bus!
Front view of a red, inoperable double decker bus, parked in grass next to a tree Front view of a person working in a double decker bus that was converted into a diner and cafe

(Notice the Bill trailer mobile coffee station)Left side view of a Surly bike with a trailer, parked on the side of a double decker bus that was converted into a diner

We had a chat and became facebook friends here. Kawaii desu ne?!
People sitting around a table, inside of a double decker bus that's been converted into a diner and cafe

 

 

Michiharu San fabricates custom frame packs from high quality leather.HAWT!
Rear, right side view of a black Surly fat bike, with a custom leather frame pack, parked on gravel and grass area
Close up, left side view of a custom leather frame bag that's mounted to a Surly fat bike

 

 

We didn’t see any Harleys parked in the lot but this is still rad
Right side, inner view of a Surly fat bike wheel, with a black & white, laminated card, displayed in the spokes

 

 

Thanks again Wakka for having us and we can’t wait to come back and see what crazy shit you have been up to next year.
Front, left side view of a Surly bike with a frame pack, and a cyclist beside, standing in mid-thigh deep waterRight side of black Surly fat bike, with a cyclist standing on the left side, sliding down a hill with deep snow on it

 

 

This is the most sober picture of the three of us…ever.
Front view of a 3 people sitting and 3 people standing behind, posing in front of the Wakka bicycle life shop
 

About $Trevor From Where Ever

Trevor Clayton a.k.a. $Trevor From Where Ever

T$ was born and raised in MPLS, MN. He does not own a car, opting instead for bikes and motorcycles to get around. He has a wide and varied taste in music, and once when he was young he filled a Super Soaker squirt gun with hot coffee and sprayed strangers on the street just for fun. Trevor manages our demo fleet, implements sales initiatives (acting as special concierge to many of our fine dealers) and tours the western reaches of the states in search of high adventure and intrigue.