bifford

I recently discovered Isaac Bicycles via wisecyclebuys.com and am definitely curious to learn more. Unfortunately, there isn't much of anything about them online, i.e. reviews, etc. Of course, they have reviews on their website, but most of them are from untranslated foreign publications. As an american, I am required by law to speak only one language, so these publications aren't very useful.

I'm particularly interested in the Impulse frame because of its price and geometry. I want something with a slightly longer top tube, 59.5-60cm, for a given seat tube--say 59-60cm. Basically, I have a slightly longer torso and arms, so a standard 62-63cm frame isn't ideal. But I digress.

Thanks

Cypress

Rubber_souls is selling his Isaac due to sponsorship changes. Looks pretty sweet.

531Aussie

the first I heard of Isaacs was when I noticed that 5 of their models passed the toughest stage of the EFBe fatigue test: https://www.efbe.de/testergebnisse/rennwiege/enindex.php

The EFBe test has its critics, but that's an exclusive list of alu and carbon frame manufacturers there, including plenty of Cannondales, Cervelos, Scotts and Storcks

rubber_souls

I really liked my Isaac Force and was really sad to see it go. If there's one thing you do before purchasing, make sure it fits you! The frame geometry on the Isaac was radically different from my previous bike and so I found it slightly uncomfortable.
The ride was awesome to say the least! Hammering along the flats, I felt like the bike would respond to my every pedal stroke. I was skeptical about the aluminum seatstay but after a few rides I noticed how it made the bike extremely responsive while the rest of the frame provided some compliance with road vibrations to give it a comfortable ride.
The only gripe that I had other than sizing was the size of the tubes. The downtube is pretty large as is the top tube. I've got pretty large quads so I always found myself rubbing the top tube. Just a small thing.
When I measured the frame (57cm) against my winter bike (56cm Trek), the Isaac came out with smaller measurements but for some reason it felt a lot longer. Good for you, but bad for me and my puny uppers!

tprevost

Caligurl's DH has one... very sweet. You could probably PM her and get him to tell you what he thinks of it.

Good Luck

C4Byke

Be wary of ebayer's selling Issacs, seems to be a popular brand with the scammers.

caligurl

yeppers... hubby has an impulse (2005 frame)... he had the same issues with finding reviews... not a lot of them out there cuz not too many of them here in the states.... however the reviews he did find.. were good ones..

he built his up with record... euros wheels and an FSA carbon crank, zero gravity brakes, and i'm having a brain cramp on the cabling he used... the little "beads".... oh well.. so much for my OCP status right about now, eh? (he recently changed out the fizik arione saddle for the new specialized toupe.. THAT looks sweet!)

it's a very pretty bike (IMO) and light... he enjoys it.. and i guess that's the biggest thing!

he took a LOT of measurements before ordering it cuz there just weren't any around to get a test fit on! (he did find one store in socal that had just gotten in one of the tri frames before he ordered his... that was pretty sweet looking too!)

unless something has changed... there is only ONE distributor in the states.... and they sell to the bike shop.... not directly to the consumer....

bifford

that's a beautiful looking bicycle!

tprevost

Hey Caligurl,

do you guys have a close up of his cables yet? I'm just dying to show my DH, those are SO cool

Trac'

H1449-6

Another Taiwanese frame with a fancy paint job and a lousy warranty? I'll pass.

531Aussie

hmmmm......I wouldn't say that. No Giant has ever passed the EFBe fatigue test

https://www.efbe.de/testergebnisse/rennwiege/enindex.php

H1449-6

Don't know what to tell you. If you peruse the website (issac-carbon.com or isaac-bikes.com), you'll find that the frames are made in the far east (Taiwan) and that they have a 2 year/5 year warranty. You may or may not agree that they have a "fancy" paint job.

German fatigue tests notwithstanding. Repeat after me. Overpriced, asian plastic bike.

dekalbSTEEL

Has never passed or never tested? I didn't see a list of failed frames at that link

rapidcarbon

yeah, I dont see bike like Colnago, Time, Look or many top end bikes there

531Aussie

well, they probably are overpriced -- most carbon stuff is -- but I reckon their high success rate with EFBe suggests they REALLY know what they're doing

531Aussie

I guess that's the age-old question (relatively): who failed the test? EFBe no longer publish failures, so it obviously leads to speculation. Have Look and Giant failed these test? I suppose we'll never know, but I figure those companies have the money to get their frames tested, and like bragging about their EBFe successes

caligurl

i'll take a couple of them this weekend!

bifford

I find it amusing that people regard "asian" frames with such disdain. Have you ever toured one of these "asian plastic bike" factories? Do you think that asian craftsmen are somehow inferior and incapable of producing a quality product?

H1449-6

Thou dost protest too much. I never said the frames aren't of good quality. I don't know if they are or not. I just don't think things that are mass produced in the far east and marketed as a premium brand are worth getting lathered up over. YMMV.