BMXmuseum.com Forums

2012 Jungle Rider MK Holiday Prototype

Martti's actual personal ride before retiring from his professional flatland career. This is his Jungle Rider MK Holiday 2012 prototype a.k.a. the Martti Kuoppa signature model.


End of an eraOn december 20th, 2011 Martti Kuoppa announced his retirement from active riding, or perhaps from riding altogether, we shall see. In his own words (quote from the open letter from junglerider.com website) "MK has left the building with a one way bus ticket in the pocket. (and hopefully that bus ticket will take me one day to a hobby called flatland freestyle)".


When i am looking back at the very beginning to our "hobby" that got us hooked in daily routine of riding 20 something years ago, it was just the simple and pure joy of being on the bike and realizing what all you could do on a 20" freestyle bicycle. If the tricks didn't work out that day there was always the next. Practising for hours every single day and the feeling of reward when learning something new. That feeling should never be forgotten and indeed, it is what essentially makes us come back to ride our small bikes again, and again throughout the years, or perhaps for the rest of our lives if we're fortunate.


"Hobby"What exactly is a hobby then? Is it something that makes you lose your sleep while rotating that new idea for a trick in your head day in day out? Or - is it something that will make you fall in love time and time again, fall in love with the hobby about every single time you're on your bike? At its best, it's both. At worst it's something that will stress you out completely. Leaving you frustrated in an anxious state of mind, without enjoying the simple feeling of riding and might even throw you out, hating your bike. There is definitely only a fine line in between the two scenarios. Any flatlander who's ever been atleast half serious about their riding, will know what i'm talking about. Competing, doing demos and maintaining a certain level of progression on a professional career is something i have absolutely no idea, but i can imagine it's hard.
For me Martti's decision of retirement from riding came as somewhat of a personal shock, because i am so used to the sheer image in my head of seeing him constantly on a bike over the years and that's how we became friends in the first place - thru riding. But it's not the end of the world. It's the beginning of something even better, so i wish the best of luck to his new endeavours, whatever they may be.
One might come to a point where it's best to take a step backward in order to move forward and focus on what's important or more simply, what pleases you the most. Once a hobby becomes a job and a job becomes something that stresses you, i'ts probably best to reconsider what you're doing. I've taken a break from riding in the past myself to figure out why i am doing, what i'm doing. Also, am i doing it for the right reasons? Am i doing it for myself or just to please others or boosting some twisted ego? A break from riding can last anywhere from weeks, months to several years or - forever. A bike is put in the basement to wait for better days, it might never go out again, only the rider knows it. However, i know that flatland will probably stay in Martti's heart forever in one form, or another, whether he's taking a short or endless Holiday from the hobby called Flatland Freestyle.


The BikeSo, while Martti's taking the footpath to the nearest bus stop, he made the conscious (yet for me personally, somewhat unexpected) radical decision to hand over yet another one of his personal rides into my protective custody for undefined period of time. Just like that. Brand new, fully dialed, ready to roll. Ridden total two times with a plethora of top quality parts on. In just three days after his retirement notice.
In my book this bike is absolutely stunning piece of new school flatland machinery loaded with goodies. I've said it before and i will say it again, modern flatland frames are like work of fine art with lots of details these days. They've come a long from say, the 1988 to 1992 era where we would ride whatever was available. The frame is a 2012 Jungle Rider Holiday prototype (aka Martti Kuoppa signature model) in new 2012 translucent (candy) purple colourway with chrome palting underneath and new, somewhat grim, top tube graphics for 2012 with zombies and guillotines. In other words, the very elements you would normally associate with proper flatland holiday, lol!
There is a machined "JUNGLERIDER" phrase engraved vertically on the headtube instead of last year's machined weight watcher cut outs. As i am writing this on december 23rd 2011, i was told the 2012 models are currently in the process of getting painted. On this bike there is also the early prototype version of the 2003 KGB Trap 1 stem, a rare piece on its own, as well as a protoype version of the second edition of Jungle Rider MK Ultra handlebars.
Thank You once again buddy!
-Timo



P.S.Make sure to check out junglerider.com Support the undergound and purchase their products. Junglerider is also on Facebook
Here's Martti explaining his retirement and how it feels being without a bike for the first time in his 21 year career ...check it out:
FlatWebTV Episode #13 with Martti Kuoppa interview

Parts (as is):
Frame: 2012 Jungle Rider MK Holiday (Martti Kuoppa Signature Model) prototype with 2012 colourway with 19,5" top tube. Removable rear u-brake mounts. Partially Heat Treated (PHT) frame using Sanko tubing, full chromoly.
Serial number/frame ID: HOLIDAY195
Seat Angle: 70 degreesHead Angle: 74.7 degreesTop Tube & Chain Stay: 19.5" & 13.3" (rear wheel fully slammed)Weight: 1990g
Fork: Jungle Rider Black Scorpio threadless zero rake, threads for removable u-brake mounts
Handlebars: prototype second generation Jungle Rider MK Ultra 28" by 9"
Bar Ends: Quamen
Grips: custom
Stem: KGB Trap 1 prototype from 2003
Headset: FSA Impact 1.1/8" internal
Seat: KHE Watanabe
Seatpost: KHE aluminum
Seatpost Clamp: Hoffman Bikes
Cranks: Profile Racing 3pc / 165mm black
Bottom Bracket: Superstar BMX
Pedals: Duo (resin)
Sprocket: Profile 23T
Chain: KMC
Front Wheel: Proper BikeCo 48H rim w/Proper BikeCo sealed hub, 10mm axle
Rear Wheel: St. Martin 48H rim w/Nankai Techno 48H freecoaster 9T cog, 10mm axle
Pegs: KGB Control
Tires: Odyssey Frequency G 20 x 1.75 / KHE Mac1 Premium 20 x 1.75