Road Cycling - Scattante bike???

I am thinking of getting a real road bike. I have been doing my road riding on my MTB with road tires.

I was having a look on the Supergo site (they are my LBS here :) ) and saw these. I don't know anything about them. Any opinions would be appriciated.

I am figuring to spend up to $1400.00. That lemond that I was eyeballing would cause a divorce. I was thinking of Specialized. Any opinions there?

I ride an aluminum hardtail MTB and I really like Al for that application, but I have heard so many comments on a harsh ride for the road. Is a carbon fork enough to smooth an Al frame?

PS. I am a borderline clydsdale. 6'1" 200lbs.

I ride the cfr, scattante's carbon road bike. I love it. I havent had any problems with it, Ive only had a few small things happen with the wheels but the bike rides great, comes with full ultegra, great price, I think its on sale now for 1300$. Just because it doesnt say 'trek' or 'giant' or 'specialized' doesnt mean its not a great bike.
I also test rode their aluminum ultegra bike, forget the model name. I then test tode specialized allez comp I think it was. The scattante felt more lively and not as harsh. Just my opinion though. Try a couple of their models out.

Go ride a aluminum bike you will probably be surprised the ride is not that harsh. It all depends how they build the bike etc.. you can't just say Al is harsh and steel is soft etc.. anymore. I prefer my CF and Al bikes to my steel. Fork makes a difference so does wheels.. and tires.. :)

I have the Scattante R-650.......model below CFR. It is aluminum and rides GREAT. It's just under 18 lbs for the 57 cm and that silver and black defidently works for the bike! Ultegra with the exception of a 105 bottom bracket. VERY good bike especiall since it was $995, considering most bikes with those componets would easily reach 2 g's. Scattante makes a good bike.

Kev is correct about the new Aluminum bikes, they are a lot better than the AL of just a few years ago.


You can always build up a bike yourself too. There are a lot of good deals on frames at the moment. Ebay has several specialized E5 S-works frames up for bid. The frame and carbon fork used to retail for $1600.00. Now that they have the new Tarmac and Roubaix, the MSRP on the Aluminum frames has dropped to $1060.00 Specialized sold several of these frames to LBS club teams at 1/4th the old retail price, hence the $500.00 frames on ebay. If you shopped the net you could probably pick up an ultegra group and some decent training wheels, bar and stem etc. and be pretty close to your $1300.00

kingsbikes.com in CA has a ton of 2003 Orbea frames that they are clearing out. Columbus starship from $999, airplane $575, lobular, carbons etc..... Zonal Oversize for $380!!!

I am in the same boat. I am riding a Schwinn WorldSport I bought in 89 for college and I think it is an 81.
I have been looking at Specialized and Scattante for about 6 weeks now. I had not heard of Scattante before since Supergo is new to Tucson. I decided on the CroMo Allez Comp because I am partial to the durability of steel and don't like the look of a 'fat' framed Al. Then I rode an 03 Al Comp and the CFR because of their low prices. Now I am really confused. I have ridden them both three times.
The sales lady told me that Scattante is the Supergo brand. Most of their frames, as well as most American co., even Specialized, are made by Giant in Tawain. It is the set-ups, paint and stickers that are different. So basically your paying for a brand name. However, it is the set-up: the bars, forks, seat and post, and shifter/crank combos that make most the difference in price and ride. The CFR, being all carbon, is a dif case and is explained on their website I think, supergo.com.
This is a good thread about carbon fiber also
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=40660
The CFR is also a good deal because any other all carbon fiber will cost you over $4000
There are a lot of threads about Specialized here but I haven't seen any on the merits of Scattante. I am a relatively-newbie here and no expert by any means but this is my understanding so far. They both have an excellent ride. Sorry about the novel but I hope I can help you with some discussion. I also hope you (and me!) can decide soon.

Thanks for all the info si far guys.

Owen,
If you are still thinking about the Scattante CFR, it has some VERY happy owners on roadbikereview.com. I will have to get down there and actually have a look / ride.

... I was having a look on the Supergo site (they are my LBS here :) ) ...

Um, I have to ask...
Your location says Coral Gables, FL, but SuperGo is your LBS?
Where are you really?
Or is there a Supergo shop I don't know about right in my backyard??

Opps, I haven't updated my profile. I just moved back to Pasadena, CA. That makes Supergo pretty close.

I've had my Scanttante CFR for 6 months. Great deal, particularly at the sale price.

is there a Supergo shop I don't know about right in my backyard??
You can get Scattante's from Performance, now. I think they bought out Supergo.

the ride character of Al is very different for a 6'0'' 200 lb rider on a 59cm frame vs. a smaller, lighter rider on a 55cm frame. Al can be more abrasive for the heavier rider, yes. but unless you are doing brevets or 100 milers routinely, or ride on crappy roads, etc. yes....Al can beat you up. but a 30-40 miler on pretty good roads, no.

want to see the scattante's warranty.

other than that, try and find an ultegra with mavic open pro kit that costs under $900. so the frame is $200?!

its the carbon, not the Al you would be concerned about riding @ 200 lbs.

Merida also makes quite a few brands in Taiwan. They also own 40% of Specialized. One reason I like Merida is the employees and management are very helpful and friendly. Same at the SRAM/Rockshox facility. Can't say enough good things about those people. Honestly can't give praise to Giant, though that is my own opinion, which I've gained after seven years of living in Taiwan. Definately would never want to swim in the water near the Giant bicycle factory.

Are the Giant people not environmentally friendly?

I have found that the people at Giant USA are extremely helpful and curtious. They actually saved me alot of time and $ as well. I was considering buying a specific model and was advised by the Giant USA office against it because that if it wasn't carried in the USA, I would not be able to file any warranty claims - basically only buy in Tawian what is available in the States or be forced to send it back to Taiwan to settle any future problems.

That said, ever wonder why the paint on your Made In Taiwan bike is so nice? Well, Taiwan is not a part of any international agreements to protect the environment and their EPA is non-existant. Imagine the exact opposite of what the folks over at Chris King do and that should give you a pretty grim picture of the environmental condtions in Taichung, Taiwan (where most bikes are manufactured in Taiwan). Giant, as long as they put enough money in the pockets of the local government officals, can pretty much do anything they want to the environment in Taiwan. F.Y.I., the city of Taichung, where Giant is headquarted, is known both to locals and foreigers as a town that is gangster run and a haven for criminals. Very different from the more modern and westernized capital city of Taipei. Once again, I invite anyone who disagrees, to hop on the next flight over to Taiwan and go swimming in any river near the Giant bicycle factory, or even better, drink the water.

You can get Scattante's from Performance, now. I think they bought out Supergo.
They did buy them but ate still very seperate and you cant get it from performance.Performance gives you lifetime tuneups as supergo gives you one in the first year.Thats why i got by steel fuji,all ultegra with a ritchey crank for 1099 there.

hi all

I was considering the scattante till I came across an online shop's
closeout sale. a giant tcr composite 1 for $1.7k. which would you pick?
thanks.