Road Cycling - What's the catch?

Scattante CFR Carbon Road bike, full Ultegra for less than $1500???

I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for." So what is the catch with this bike? Full carbon fiber and Ultegra... what a deal. I am wondering if the quality of the frame is less than that of the big name companies. I figure not many companies can actually produce the CF themselves, so maybe Scattante frames are some else's rejects. Not sure.

Any experience/opinions on this bike? I started out wanting steel, but CF for the same price... I could be talked into it.

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?LPROD_ID=25374&lsubcat_id=7618&lcat_id=7604&referpage=
http://www.supergo.com/product_images/large/30-0694.jpg

From the post's I've seen about it people really like it. I seen the deal when they had them for $1199 a few weeks ago, but it didn't last long. I might have gotten one if there was a shop nearby where I could have road it first.

What's the warrantee? Didn't Performance just buy SuperGo? Will they honor the warrantee?

Those questions aside, I have the aluminum R-550 (105 equipped) and absolutely love it. If I were buying a $1500 bike I'd consider it, but I'm skitish about carbon anything. No reason just paranoid.

If you buy it be sure and post picks and a review. Good luck.

I ride it and I love it. There is no catch. Most people, myself included, don't like the saddle but that is all personal preference. I didn't care for the wheels, I had a lot of trouble with them so I got a pair of custom wheels and now the bike is complete. There is nothing else I feel I need to upgrade. The ride is incredibly smooth. The bike is fairly light as well.

It's good gear. The only catch is if you don't live with in access to a Supergo store. The frame is an EPX and Supergo is the only place to get them in the US now. That being said I know a dealer that's got lots of them in the field and never has had one back. It's a good product, priced right.

There's no catch, and no ridiculous mark up. Don't get me wrong, I like bike bling as much as the next guy, but there are a lot of $2800 frames and $900 frames made from the same columbus aluminum tubeset, which costs about $90.00

I think carbon rears are about $75.00 bucks as well, wholesale. Almost all this stuff is made in Asia, mostly taiwan, and even cheaper labor is available in Mainland China.
Titec, Tektro, Topeak, Kinesis, Race Face, FSA, and a host of others are partly- or solely-owned Taiwan firms.

Composite constuction is not rocket science (any more) and I still can't decide whether Trek's "off limits" composite lab is just marketing hype. I mean anyone can buy a Trek and reverse engineer it, and considering the Asians make everything from carbon handlebars to satellites, and other aerospace grade structures, Im pretty sure they could make pretty good knock off Treks. Composite construction is labor intensive, yes, but not some "mystery" Designing it and getting the weight down and the stress values in line takes talent, and expensive software, but the actual manufacturing can be done by anyone with enough time, or with low enough labor costs. And If your not making it by hand, its even cheaper. The carbon cloth isn't that expensive, and neither is the resin.

10 years ago I was hand laying composite wing sections for aircraft in one of my engineering course labs in college. We made tons of them, and weighed and smashed them all, it was fun.

Now this frame may not ride "just like a TREK" but I'ts a durable, light, strong, "cool carbon looking", safely over-engineered bicycle frame. It's not going to hold you back.

And if Lance was riding a Scattante, he still would have won the Tour this year, hahahah, flame away!!!!

I agree Lance could have won riding any of today's high tech bikes. It's a great time to be a biker. I'm not sure how much better the technology can get. As far as spending 5 grand on a C-40 or $1500 on a "made in Taiwan" thrifty special...well...I'd still feel better on the C-40. A great bike is a great bike.(period)

Well, I just took the plunge and ordered the sucker. Hopefully everything will go well.

Thx for the advice.

hlweyl, I assume you got the CFR already? How do you like it so far?

OOOer...that's a nice bike. althought the Scat-tante literally translates from latin-italian to a lot of Sh**.

Yes, hlweyl, please post a review when you can.

Hi all, sorry I haven't replied as I have been trying to recover from a fall I had. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=605499#post605499

Well, I will give as much info about the scattante as I can. I only had about 100 miles on it before I went down. The price I got was $1350 which was the catalogue price and cheaper than their website. There was one very small scratch on the rear axle upon delivery. That didn't bother me. I assembled the bike myself as my local performance bike shop said 3 week wait for assembly.

It was SIMPLE to assemble! Anyone can do it. Just had to install front wheel, front brakes, seat/seat post, and handlebars/stem. It shifts like a dream right out of the box. Minor adjustment to the brakes and it stops great. I think I prefer the new weyless wheels compared to the old shimano 540 wheels that used to come with it. Those 540's just look too flimsy for someone 210 lbs!

I know from reading the many reviews on this bike http://www.roadbikereview.com/2003%20Road%20Bike/Scattante/PRD_139500_4338crx.aspx
that not many liked the seat. It now comes with a decent selle italia. I switched over my cushy seat from my old trek hybrid as that is what my butt is used to.

I chose the 56 cm based on my 32 inseam and that is what my LBS recommended. My only complaint is that it feels like I am leaning too far forward. I did flip the stem. I think most road riders would not be bothered by this but I have been riding a trek hybrid/comfort bike for 4 years. I ordered a stem riser to use until I get used to the new postition.

Well, the frame passed the "acid test". I wrecked really hard. Broke 8 bones and suffered a concussion. When I got the bike back from my LBS, the frame was still perfect and the only damage was a bent derailluer and the front wheel needed to be trued. I cannot wait to get back on the road.

I am glad I bought this bike, great carbon fiber frame and ultegra for under $1400! Can't beat it in my opinion.

Broke 8 bones and suffered a concussion.
holy ***** :eek: :( Sounds like you're recovering well tho as you want to get back on your bike... glad to hear that. Continue healing well and fast.

Wow, sorry to hear that! Thanks for the review.

BTW, do you happen to have any pics? Everyone says the web pic doesn't do it justice.

I don't have any pics of it yet. I agree it looks way better in person. The way the black fades into raw carbon fiber and back to black it beautiful. The weyless wheels also look like a more traditional wheel compared to the shimano 54o that has the less is more look.

I may be partial as black is my favorite color for a bike.