The first big news of the new year is the release of SKLAR BIKES' new production model: the PBJ / Performance Basket Jammer!
With this release, we have established the three core production models that define SKLAR's philosophy:
①Super Something / All-Road Gravel Bike
②Tall Tale / Hardtail Mountain Bike
③PBJ / All-Terrain Bike
These represent the three main pillars of SKLAR's production lineup.
SKLAR BIKES PBJ Pre Order
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Colors: Moss Green, Salmon
Pre-order period: Jan 7th (Tue) – Jan 23rd (Thu)
Expected arrival: Around June-July 2025
Price: 264,000 JPY (tax included)
* Update Jan 10: The XS size has been added to our lineup! (This size also features a 29″ wheel design.)
PBJ / Performance Basket Jammer
"PBJ" stands for Performance Basket Jammer. It is a name that Adam eventually gave to the multi-purpose bikes he frequently built back when he was accepting handmade orders.*
* Unfortunately, his handmade order window is currently closed, and he is only producing frames through periodically planned batch production runs.
Following the Super Something and the Tall Tale, SKLAR's production lineup reaches a form of completion with the arrival of the PBJ. I had the chance to see the bike Adam built as a prototype during MADE last year.
My personal impression at the time was that it is a 29-inch wheel bike that keeps trail riding in mind without being an overly aggressive trail bike; it feels like a bike with huge potential as a touring bike, thanks to its generous rack eyelets, or as a companion for daily use.
In fact, the name "Performance Basket Jammer" carries the sentiment of "evoking the feeling of riding your old basket bike."
Adam himself used a 1994 Panasonic MTB (26-inch, cantilever brakes) as his daily commuter back in the day, and he says he absolutely loved that bike; it took him all over the place.
Discovering new trails on post-work rides, climbing unexpected long hills, and gazing at landscapes painted by the setting sun—those moments meant everything to him, and they became the spark that birthed the PBJ.
PBJ Design Philosophy
The PBJ was born after Adam went through numerous cycles of trial and error while attempting to create the perfect touring bike. Of course, no bike is truly perfect (just as there is no such thing as perfect despair). However, this bike is designed to be as adaptable as possible to anything you throw at it.
Adam discovered that by using a rigid fork and a rigid seatpost, and fitting it with 2.4–2.6-inch tires, it becomes an incredibly high-performance and comfortable bikepacking and touring bike. Furthermore, even without bags or racks, you can enjoy shredding trails or cruising through the city.
Swap the rigid setup for a suspension fork and a dropper post, and you can enjoy it as a fast, high-performance cross-country mountain bike. The adjustable modular dropouts allow you to run it single-speed or geared, and even experiment with different chainstay lengths.
The geometry is based on modern MTB design—a signature of Adam's work—featuring a slightly longer front-center paired with a shorter stem. Ultimately, the PBJ is a bike made for the pure sake of enjoyment.
A Reliable Companion
It may look simple, but it’s always reliable enough to get you through the day. The PBJ is truly like a dependable lifeline—the kind of bike you can take anywhere, even when you have no plans at all.
While it's great to be able to fit various tire sizes, this bike is specifically made for those who don't mind pushing slightly wider tires all day long. In other words, it is a highly reliable partner for those who prioritize fun over raw speed in their rides.
We have an S-size demo bike available at the shop, so please feel free to come see it in person and consider it. We are also currently preparing an L-size demo bike for Circles Tokyo and will share an update as soon as it's ready.
I’ve actually abused my position to build up one of the sample frames Adam provided for myself, so stay tuned for a blog post next time covering my review of it!
SKLAR BIKES PBJ Pre Order
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Colors: Moss Green, Salmon
Pre-order period: Jan 7th (Tue) – Jan 23rd (Thu)
Expected arrival: Around June-July 2025
Price: 264,000 JPY (tax included)
【SPEC】
Size Fit Guide
* Update Jan 10: The XS size has been added to our lineup! (This size also features a 29″ wheel design.)
The PBJ is designed based on contemporary standard mountain bikes, with a base setup featuring 29×2.6″ tires, a 35-50mm length stem, and swept-back bars.
Each size is designed with a variety of saddle heights in mind (measured from the center of the BB to the top center of the saddle). Reference values for saddle height by size are distributed as follows:
XS: 590–650mm
S: 640–685mm
M: 675–740mm
L: 730–790mm
XL: 780–810mm
Of course, when it comes to MTB sizing, some people prefer to size down for nimbler handling, while others prefer to size up for more stability. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
