KAPLAN AMERICA

I have to be honest here--- I have a crap load of REALLY nice builds ( a lot of them Ive posted here) , sometimes people convince me to part with some of them, which I do from time to time. I mainly build Team Replica bikes ,but always use the correct pieces, sometimes I'm lucky and find an authentic team bike and rebuild it to show/race condition. But I strictly sell to guys that appreciate the builds for what they are-- collectors/former team racers etc

Cue the Kaplan dudes. First let me say, being they are so passionate about Vintage bikes, that alone makes them pretty cool right out of the chute .......BUT as a reseller Kenny at times embellishes the descriptions and is a bit overzealous in the presentation. But being a pro salesperson with a YouTube channel that's to be expected --- I know I have done that myself once or twice LOL.

Somehow they contacted me about buying a package of 6 of my bikes-- I wasn't very motivated to sell to a guy that's going to flip them and make a profit. (I could do that better myself) but I listened mainly because I caught his show a couple of times. Since he calls his place a "Museum" then I thought, "ok cool, maybe they'll be on display for awhile "
Anyway, after what seemed like a thousand emails back and forth (and hours of time),we basically agreed on a 4 bike package for X dollars. Once that happened ,things went completely dark. No further emails/phone calls/texts. Very weird.
I'd expect that type of transaction from a Craigslist buyer not a "Nationally" known buyer,lol-- a simple "we changed our mind" would have been satisfactory.
Against my advice, a buddy of mine tried buying one of their featured CR500AFs (for CRAZY money 20k+) but kept getting the runaround. Again--very weird treatment for a guy ready to spend 20k on a 9k bike.

I ended up selling 2 of the bikes to Holigan for his Texas Brewhouse, one went to a local racer/collector, and one went to a guy in SoCal, so it wasn't like I was out any money , but it rubbed me the wrong way a little, and now IF I watch one of their vids, I watch with a "jaded eye"

Great motivator!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWzqSmCHGjQ

I have had buddies ride with him and his boy recently at sand mountain NV… and was told he is a total douche.. thinks his shit don’t stink and yours does kinda attitude..

He does have some very nice bikes tho..

This is what happens when you delete the OG vital members lol

He frequents our local Class X series and strikes me as a complete tool. People seem to like him though.

Did you go to the classx at skyline? Or are you coming to the OMC round??

No, I'm not going to be making it out there. I have a hard time traveling to them all being on the west side of Wa. Most of my time goes to the kid these days, she just started soccer.

He flies out from Connecticut to WA to race? Same Kaplan? Just curious.