aemulle

Hello everyone. I am hoping to poll some opinions. A friend of mine is looking to get into road cycling along with me. Since he is not sure if he is going to enjoy it, it only makes sense to not spent thousands of dollars in his first bike. He originally set out to spend no more than $500, but after giving it some thought he decided to stretch it out as much as possible so that he would not feel the need to trade up in a couple of months. He is looking at the 2008 Scattante CFR Comp Road Bike at Performance bikes. The bike retails for $1,349.88. Below are the specs.

Wheelset: Alex ALX 270, Front: 20H; Rear: 24H
Grips/Tape: Black Velo Cork
Fork: Carbon blade w/ Alloy steerer
Handlebar: Forté Precision 6061 Aluminum, 31.8mm
Stem: Forté Precision, 31.8mm clamp
Crankset: FSA CK-8681CC, 50/34T, Double
Headset: FSA IS-2 Integrated, 1 1/8”
Bottom Bracket: FSA MegaExo
Frame: Full Carbon Monocoque Frame
Seatpost: Kalloy SPC-100 Carbon/Alloy Black, 27.2 x 350mm
Tires: Kenda Forté Pro DC, 700c x 23
Chain: KMC DX-10SC
Pedals: NA
Rack Mounts: None
Cassette: Shimano 105 CS-5600, 11/25T, 10-speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105 FD-5600-B, Double, 31.8mm clamp
Levers: Shimano 105 ST-5600
Shifters: Shimano 105 ST-5600, 10-speed
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra ST-6600SS, 10-speed
Brakes: Tektro R740 Alloy, Silver
Saddle: Velo VL-1133U


Even though this is not a "name brand" bike it seems to have good components for the price ($1,349.88). Here are my questions: Does anyone have one or know anyone with this bike if so, any thoughts? Does anyone have any other suggestions that would not go over this price?

Thanks

jonestr

If you can hold out you can get a coupon to get some money off that price as well as join team performance and get 10% back

The standard rec is a CAAD9 5 which is about the same price as the Scattante, Felt and Scott have some nice bikes at that price range as well, albeit with aluminum frames, but I would take a good AL frame over crappy carbon and day, but I am not sure how great the Scattante carbon is.

bitterspeak

I've never ridden this bike but...

My girlfriend bought a bike from Performance Bike a while back. Six months later, she returned it for and got all her money back. They run on a "satisfaction guarantee" warranty so if you think it's a good price and it feels good to you, buy it, ride it and decide.

Just remember to save the reciept.

johnny0

i bought a $450 hybrid to start biking. Within a year i ended up with two more craigslist road bikes at a cost of maybe $1K. Now i have a full carbon full ultegra bike thats built up from ebay parts. I don't ride the other bikes anymore and I wonder if i should have saved my money and went straight to the bike i wanted at the end. Then again, without those bikes I wouldnt have known what i wanted. The good thing is i wont lose much money selling the used bikes back on craigslist.

I noticed he selected shimano 105s which is great. If he doesn't need carbon, he can get the same components on a metal frame for hundreds less. If he wants to resell a year later and recoup more money, he'll have to get a name brand bike or a used bike.

Don't forget about the accessories and clothing. i thought Id only need a helmet and a pump, but i didnt end there. Its not going to ever end.

as mentioned before, if you spend more than $250 might as well get the $25 membership. you get 10% in points to spend on anything in the store. there will be coupons but you'll have to wait till later this year.

hos13

I have a friend that has a CAAD8 and a Scattante CFR. He is happy with whis Scattante.

johnny99

I know a few people with the Scat bike. It looks like a great value for what you get. Obviously, at that price, you're not getting the best components, but they are good enough for century rides, etc.

If you have a local Performance store, the bike will be professionally assembled and they will help you with the fitting (frame size, swapping stems, etc.). I'd much rather buy one of these than a mail-order BD bike.

Mansram01

I almost bought one when I started cycling again two years ago. The house-brand for Performance seems to be a great value for those just starting and not too concerned with brand names. I would recommend spending a little more and go for the 2008 Scattante CFR Race Road Bike instead. For $1549 you get a Mavic wheelset instead of the heavy Alex rims. And you also upgrade from 105 components to Ultegra.. Food for thought...

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3040

Grips/Tape: Black Velo Cork Fork: Carbon blade w/ Alloy steerer Tires: Continental Ultra Sport, 700c x 23 Handlebar: Forté Precision 6061 Aluminum, 31.8mm Seatpost: Forté Precision Carbon Black, 27.2 x 350mm Stem: Forté Precision, 31.8mm clamp Crankset: FSA CK-C8681CC. 53/39T, Double Headset: FSA IS-2 Integrated, 1 1/8” Bottom Bracket: FSA MegaExo Frame: Full Carbon Monocoque Frame Chain: KMC DX-10SC Wheelset: Mavic Ksyrium Equipe Pedals: NA Rack Mounts: None Cassette: Shimano 105 CS-5600, 11/23T, 10-speed Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra FD-6600-B, Double, 31.8mm clamp Levers: Shimano Ultegra ST-6600 Shifters: Shimano Ultegra ST-6600, 10-speed Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra ST-6600SS, 10-speed Brakes: Tektro R740 Alloy, Silver Saddle: Velo VL-1133U

aemulle

So what I am hearing is that ultimately he is making the right decision by stretching his budget as much as possible. I have not heard much about the Scattante brand though. Does anyone have anything specific that can be shared about the brand and its level of quality? Comfort, durability?

Thanks,

johnny99

"Scattante" is just the label that Performance slaps on generic Taiwanese bicycles.
Quality, comfort, durability will depend on the specific model.
The Performance carbon bikes are comparable to Giant carbon bikes that cost slightly more.

kmoy2002

I have a Scattante however it isn't the carbon version but rather the aluminum one. As far as build quality goes, it feels and rides nice. The carbon fork works well with the build and the 105 group rode great in my opinion. The test ride that I did around their lot did nothing in determining whether or not I liked the bike. So if you do take a test ride, bring the speeds up to double digits and actually take it on the road.

I have the XRL frame which is used in their R-330 and R-560

datlas 

It is a reasonable bike for the price.

But make sure the fit is 100% on....i.e. don't buy via mail order.

Capishe?

Bontrager

Get an entry level bike to start off with. It won't hurt so much when he upgrades next year to a $2-3k bike after he realizes he lives riding.

nafun

+1
I think the Felt F85 is probably better value than the Scattante.

Tariq08

My friend got this bike, personally I just didn't like the way it felt compared to mine, felt cheap or something

I think my biggest problem was performance itself, they really put no effort at all into sizing him, they eyeballed his frame size and told him to ride it around in the parking lot to see how it felt, they didn't even look at him on the bike to make sure. The guy that actually did his 'fitting' after he bought the bike did not seem like he knew what he was doing at all, in fact, no BS I don't think he had ever done a fitting before, he put him on the trainer for a few minutes and told him the bike fit fine the way it was.

I dunno, they have good prices for parts and clothes and stuff, but I will never let another friend buy a bike from Performance.

johnny99

Next time, you should go to the store with your friend to help him with the fitting.

Val23708

wasnt there a guy on BF that sanded down his CF scattante and it looked really good afterwards?

zdrifter

I have this one:

It's my training bike, 2006 all ultegra drivetrain (note in my view the '08 you reference has substantially lower grade components)... when I ride compare mine to my Tarmac Pro I find some differences but they in no way represent the price differences. I ride this bike almost every day 20 - 50 miles and have no issues ... took a while to tune/adjust it after I got it but since just regular maintenance .. you will find references to high speed head shake with the CFR; I haven't noticed them, but have not exceeded 34 MPH on this one (pretty flat here in FL) so perhaps at higher speed .. meh Anyway as a good value I would say yes and I find it a really comfortable ride for training .. was using a C'dale Cad and this is much better, the C'dale just hangs now ...

kissTheApex

My local Performance have 2008 C4 Carbon Fuji Team with mainly 105 components (RD is ultegra) on sale for $1249. If the store he's looking at the CFR has Fuji's I think that would be a better deal than the Scattante.

aemulle

Well, my friend ended up shelling out some more cash and got the
2008 Scattante CFR Elite Road Bike. We figured that the upgrade in components and wheel set was worth the differtence in price.


Grips/Tape:
Black Velo Cork
Fork:
Carbon blade w/ Alloy steerer
Tires:
Continental Ultra Sport, 700c x 23
Handlebar:
Forté Precision 6061 Aluminum, 31.8mm
Seatpost:
Forté Precision Carbon Black, 27.2 x 350mm
Stem:
Forté Precision, 31.8mm clamp
Crankset:
FSA CK-8681CC, 52/39/30T, Triple
Headset:
FSA IS-2 Integrated, 1 1/8”
Bottom Bracket:
FSA MegaExo
Frame:
Full Carbon Monocoque Frame
Chain:
KMC DX-10SC
Wheelset:
Mavic Aksium
Pedals:
NA
Rack Mounts:
None
Cassette:
Shimano 105 CS-5600, 11/25T, 10-speed
Front Derailleur:
Shimano Ultegra FD-6603, Triple, 31.8mm clamp
Rear Derailleur:
Shimano Ultegra St-6600GS, 10-speed
Levers:
Shimano Ultegra ST-6603
Shifters:
Shimano Ultegra ST-6603, Triple, 10-speed
Brakes:
Tektro R740 Alloy, Silver
Saddle:
Velo VL-1133U



His experience so far has been good. Although it was slightly disappointing that Performance sales guy suggested the wrong size it was pleasantly surprising that a couple days after he was just able to walk in without a receipt and trade the bike for a smaller size. As you can see above the few extra hundred he was able to upgrade to all Ultegra components. The bike weight is 18 pounds which I thought was great for the price. When it come down to it Performance seems to have the most bang for the buck and its return policies in my opinion far outweigh the lack of knowlege of the salesmen.

Mansram01

Did he get the the 2008 Scattante CFR Race Road Bike or the Elite???

Herbie53

Little late to the party, but I was is a similar spot as the OP and ended up buying the 2008 CFR Comp. I've since upgraded the wheels, but other than that the spec is OK.

The 2008 frame is from the same mold as the Pedal Force ZX3 and shouldn't be compared to the prior model that you hear rumors of headshake about. I've been as high as 48mph (about a minute of over 45) and the bike was solid.

The grade of carbon is a bit lower modulus and heavier than the state of the art, but not much. My bike is a 61cm and is a shade under 17lbs with the new wheels, a Thompson seatpost (for fit) and a xmas present carbon handlebar.

Given what I've spent on various upgrades I would agee with the above on looking at the Race or Elite versions.

Unless you have the bucks for a really, really, good carbon frame I don't see the point of paying for a different more fashionable label -- but some do.

runway1

That would be "capisce".

runway1

I'm considering the Scat Elite myself. Here are five more 2008 reviews from actual owners:

https://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/20...0_4338crx.aspx

People love this bike - especially for the price. And at 17/18 lbs with full Ultegra components, heck, how can you go wrong?

synch_or_swing

Oh, I don't know. How about when your frame disintegrates @ 40mph down a steep hill?

But seriously, I'm also looking at getting one of these. So far I've come across no bad reviews, and am now just trying to figure out why it's so darn cheap...and whether I'll regret that down the road (pun intended).

willdtw

I got the low end cfr sport https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...00_20000_28503 but I love my bike and the staff has been very helpful thus far.