NEMESIS Project

I don't remember the exact time when I first met Brad, but I do remember feeling like we had known each other for years! Brad is the mastermind behind NEMESIS Project - a small frame building company located in Sacramento, CA.

If you ride North Star at Tahoe or attended Interbike over the past few years, chances are you've ran into Brad. Here is a short interview with Bard, which might shed some light on NEMESIS Project, and his latest creation the Nemesis Project Streetfighter.
Acadian - Who is Brad Hodges?
Brad - I'm just a local nor cal kid grew up in the bay area riding calabaszas and trails off hwy 9, always road dirt jumps and street, started designing bike parts in 1994 showed my first complete frame at Interbike 1995 in L.A., then went on to start Four Bike co. a small bmx company that built 3 different frames, bars, sprockets and pegs. At that time I was approached by a Japanese design firm to do the conceptual design and handle the production duties for their company NAMAIKI cycles (now RODO racing). I ran this company for a few years then later sold my half to investors in Japan, then it later became RODO racing. I have also worked with companies such as, Titec, MRP and a few others (which will remain nameless due to contracts)

Brad riding local trails
Acadian - What is NEMESIS Project?
Brad - Nemesis project was created to produce the very best U.S. made product, quality is our main concern. With all the manufacturing technology being sent to Taiwan I wanted to prove to the U.S. market you can still produce steel hand-built frames in California at an affordable rate and turn out much better quality than Taiwan. The mass market factories in Asia are great if you want 1000-5000 of the exact same product, but what if a U.S. bike company just want to do a small run of high-end steel frames and have them built in the U.S. even better in California. That's where Nemesis Project cycles comes in we are a ultra high quality low production run / prototyping shop. We don't just built bikes we make them cool ! and that means is we make sure you bike gets the same sexy lines as a hand-built sports car or a fine woman-!!

RAW Nemesis Project Streetfighter
Acadian - How did it start ?
Brad - After I completed my final project for Namaiki (the low- I posted one pic of the bike on a web message board and received a E mail from Dave Weagle. Dave introduced himself and we got to talking, turns out he was looking for a U.S. factory to do production on a new bike he had been working on, later I found out this bike would be the Sovereign, after months of brainstorming Dave asked me if I wanted to build the Sovereigns for Evil and of course I said hell yes-!! At that point NEMESIS Project cycles was born. I had been working on the design for the street-fighter for a few years now and this gave me the perfect avenue to introduce it to the market.

RAW Nemesis Project Streetfighter
Acadian - Location?
Brad - Currently we are located in a top-secret facility just outside Sacramento, CA All frames are produced here at our factory. Due to the amount of prototyping and sample work we do, we are not open for visitors and tours.........sorry!

3 axis laser tube mitering system
Acadian - Intent for the Street Fighter?
Brad - This bike is geared for the rider who has already had 1-2 urban bikes already and wants the best! This frame is designed for skate park and street riding, with it's ultra strong construction and street friendly angles it makes the perfect bike for a rider who has been riding mtb's for a while or the guy who is just coming off his 20' and still has the urge to bust and go big! The Street Fighter will take it all; this was designed and built to be the perfect urban bike with the highest quality possible.

Ray the Welder
The Street-Fighter frame is in production right now and will be in stores in plenty of time for Christmas!!! We will be doing all production at the Nemesis Project factory, this bike will feature: 3 axis laser mitered ,full Tru-Temper butted tube set. Laser cut gussets CNC machined head-tube, b/b shell and dropouts Full argon purge welding as well as our proprietary oil quenching method after welding to ensure proper grain structure of the weld. .0005 alignment (most asian factories can't even spell alignment)

More images of Ray the WelderThe welds
Acadian - Price?
Brad - NEMESIS Project Street Fighter
Retail $ 750.00
$100.00 custom paint charge for color pictured

Marzocchi 100-mm or 80-mm 66 VF (complete fork from NEMESIS Project)
With reworked internals
Custom made Ti travel reducers
Re-tuned spring rate and complete rebuild
$550.00

Nemesys Project Streetfighter
Acadian - Geometry?
Brad - Head Angle = 72 degrees
skate-park specific 69 degrees available upon request
Seat angle= 70 degrees
Top tube c-c 21.5
seat tube c-c 13" c-t 14.5
15.75 rear end and just under 1000-mm wheel base

Nemesys Project Streetfighter
Acadian - Materials?
Brad - The Nemesis Project street fighter is made from 100% Tru-Temper tubing This bike features a fully custom butted tube set
top tube 1.20-0.70-1.20
down tube 1.20-0.90-1.20
seattube 1.0 - .80 w/ internal machined gusset
seatstays 1.20-.070-1.20
chainstays 1.20 -0.90

CNC machined and oil quenched dropouts Cnc machined headtube and b/b shell Laser cut gussets (made from heat treated tru-temper stock)

Nemesys Project Streetfighter
Acadian - How can we contact NEMESIS Project?
Brad - If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at Evil4bc@mac.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Acadian - Nemesis Project can be seen at Interbike Somewhere around either the Evil bikes booth or Sun Ringle. Don't miss out and make sure to check this beauty out!!