8 months in, and a build is never truly finished, at least.

8 months with the SIMWORKS Doppo Ronin, and I feel like I’ve really settled into understanding how this bike fits into my routine.

It has turned out to be an adaptable build, handling everything from quick daily commutes and longer rides across mixed surfaces to proper overnight bikepacking trips. It’s the kind of versatile bike that seamlessly blends into everyday life, serving as a reliable companion whenever I feel like heading out.

The frame is a SIMWORKS Doppo Ronin, size Medium, made by Shin Hattori Fabrications. The build is custom, with a relaxed drop-bar setup and components from different makers. I make the bike more useful for the way I ride.

Almost everything on this bike seems to be from SIMWORKS, haha

The Frame & Cockpit

The Doppo Ronin is built around a drop-bar setup, with most of the components from SIMWORKS and the classic simple-pattern woven bar tape finishes the cockpit. 

The overall setup was intended for the different kinds of riding I do, from everyday trips around town to longer rides and gone wilds. The handlebar position was not very aggressive and more relaxed, which is aligned with my all terrain bike manifesto. Long story short, I have had lower back pain since a few years ago and tried my best to get me a chance to sit longer on my bike through these preferences. Besides, I also do Yoga as my body balance exercise. 🙂

The Drivetrain

The drivetrain combines components from different groupsets. Those experiments are changed time by time, after I found the best setup in my opinion. The EQUAL control levers and disc brakes complete the setup. It’s not a complete groupset that you simply picked and installed, but a combination of parts through research and experience I’ve put together for this build.

The Wheelset

The Contact Points

If there’s one component I’d like to highlight, it’s the MKS × SIMWORKS Taco pedals.

I’ve found them really comfortable, with a good amount of grip and a platform size that feels just right underfoot. Whether I’m wearing shoes or sandals, they feel natural to ride with. It’s a small detail, but one I appreciate almost every time I get on the bike.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference to how you use a bike every day.

Eight Months In

One thing I’ve enjoyed about owning this bike is how the build keeps evolving. I’ve added accessories gradually, depending on what I need, rather than trying to finish everything from the beginning. The stem bag, front rack, touring bottle cages, and light holder are all small additions, but together they make the bike feel more like my own.

Eight months in, the Doppo Ronin has become the bike I reach for without having to think too much about where I’m going or what kind of road I’ll end up on. Everything is good on my daily commute, but I can also take it further when I feel like spending more time on the bike.

That’s probably what I appreciate most about it. A very versatile bike. Mullet drivetrain system that can bring me to any kind of situation, with a very nimble CrMo frame supported with 43c tire on my 700 wheel which is completely comfortable even if you are facing the unexpected rough kind of terrain.

What’s Changed

The build hasn’t stayed exactly the same since I first put it together. I’ve changed the drivetrain and updated the wheelset along the way.

The previous drivetrain used  the Shimano GRX 812 rear derailleur with a Shimano Deore CS-M5100 11–42T cassette, which is kinda pushing hard on every steep climb with this 12++ kg full bike weight. Also, the 11t cassette did not go fast enough on the city or flat paved road. That’s why the XPLR 10 – 44 are giving me some little range that matters and you can only realize after you bring the bike to several types of situations.

The urgency of why I also changed to a SRAM X1 11-speed rear derailleur is the need of how smooth the ‘mandatory’ Flattop chain spins around the pulley while using XPLR cassette. 

The wheelset has also been updated to SIMWORKS by VELOCITY USA Standalone rims, paired with SIMWORKS × Panaracer The Homage tires.

I like that a bike build doesn’t have to be a finished project from day one. Parts can change, little accessories can find their way onto the bike, and the setup can evolve as you spend more time riding it. Perhaps you can sometimes feel obsessed with trends on the internet by seeing new parts being released every time, which makes you want to convert it to constant upgrades. It is okay to step back, feel your bike again, and know what to do. It is very fulfilling to ride something built with intention

For now, this is my Doppo Ronin, a bike that’s become part of my everyday life, whether I’m heading out for coffee, exploring a few unfamiliar streets, or planning a longer ride and exploring what’s new.

Photograph by Muhammad Iqbal Fauzan / @mhqzn (using Nikon FM II / Kodak Gold 200)