2009 Kestrel Evoke SL ... opinions please
10-20-09, 09:00 AM
#26
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
ok ok! not great pictures, but here it is at work. maybe new bar tape and a saddle will be first upgrades to make it "mine".
10-20-09, 09:37 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 712
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Score! We have 2 Evokes in our stable of 10. Nice and lite, a little buzzy but it's got steep angles. A race bike and good at it. A very stable decender, also very stiff.
10-20-09, 10:00 AM
#28
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
^^good to hear. what shifting group do you have?
10-20-09, 10:18 AM
#30
Pedal faster not harder.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Thunder Bay
Posts: 576
Bikes: Ummmm...Cannondale F4000..Ummmmm...Yeti ARC-X Cyclocross..Ummmm...Rocky Mountain Vertex TO with a BionX PL350 Electric Conversion...Ummmmm..Rocky Mountain Cardiac..Ummmm..thats it for now I think. I'd have to go look in the basement to be sure.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A beautiful quality bike that deserves to have been sold at a quality LBS. BD shouldn't have access to them.
10-20-09, 10:51 AM
#31
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
(2008 Talon rider here - absolutely adore it.)
10-20-09, 11:16 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,334
Bikes: Road - Lynskey. Mountain - Trek Fuel EX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
if it was sold at a LBS it would be almost twice the price.
great pics, I would suggest some carbon cages too
great pics, I would suggest some carbon cages too
10-20-09, 12:34 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 369
Bikes: 2009 Felt F75, 2007 Trek 7.2FX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I _think_ that's a nice bike... However, without drive-side pictures, no one on BF will officially be able to tell you that it's aesthetically hawt 
10-20-09, 12:47 PM
#34
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
carbon cages is a great idea. these would look hot. not bad at $39
thanks everyone for the approval.
thanks everyone for the approval.
Last edited by RB1-luvr; 10-20-09 at 12:51 PM.
10-20-09, 01:41 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,586
Bikes: A couple
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Get some Arundel Dave-O carbon cages; they are light, work great, are priced similarly to the one you are showing, and are made here in the USA.
10-20-09, 01:48 PM
#36
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
^^ great suggestion, thank you. I like them, and the made in USA thing is a plus.
10-27-09, 11:53 PM
#37
Cycling afficianado
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 175
Bikes: 2002 Lemond Zurich, 2003 F600 Cannondale, 2003 Specialized Enduro, 2008 Torelli SS/FG
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If I may ask, what do you mean when you say 'trim' the front der? Does it rub the chain and you are trying to adjust that out? Also, I'm assuming the bike was packed as dealer ready, meaning you had to run some cables and install the front brake and such. Did you find anything particularly difficult?
I want to buy one myself. Thanks in advance for your insight into your experience with this.
I want to buy one myself. Thanks in advance for your insight into your experience with this.
Last edited by keesue; 10-28-09 at 12:03 AM.
10-28-09, 12:18 AM
#38
Batüwü Creakcreak
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The illadelph
Posts: 20,791
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
160 Posts
RB1.
Glad you like the bike!
Dude, I have to visit you sometime so you can show me meriden mtn. I've never been there...
Glad you like the bike!
Dude, I have to visit you sometime so you can show me meriden mtn. I've never been there...
10-28-09, 06:26 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 83
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
DAMN BF!
I want to buy one just so I can set it up with white tape and saddle.
That is a great looking machine. Would love to hear more about the ride and your experience with switching to Rival once you get some more miles on it.
GP
I want to buy one just so I can set it up with white tape and saddle.
That is a great looking machine. Would love to hear more about the ride and your experience with switching to Rival once you get some more miles on it.
GP
10-28-09, 06:41 AM
#40
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
ridethecliche, I'd like nothing more than to have you over here and ride the mountain - maybe even twice in a row (manly). I see people doing repititions on it regularly and I do once in a while when up for suffering. Are you the fella that goes to Wesleyan?
keesue, yes, you have it correct. at extreme ends of the rear cog, the chain rubs the front der., and as SRAM has it, one can only trim (slightly move) the front der. to accomodate the larger cogs in the back when on the large ring in the front. completely opposite of the way Shimano is set up to operate. it is my least favorite thing about the component group.
But I am slowly warming to the idea, and here's why; I have come to realize that because it's a race bike, and because the culture of gearing is changing over the years (I'm old school from the 80s, 42/52 up front, 12-21 in the back), they are figuring you'll be in the big front chainring most of the time, not the small. The chainrings are 36-50, crazy if you ask me, but because of the 25-11 in the back (I've never had anything as big as a 25 in the back), I can ride in the big chain ring A LOT. way more than on any other bike I have.
so there it is. between my hack fix, bending the front der. cage to accomodate one more smaller cog (seen in another thread), and learning to use the big chain ring more, I am coming to like the bike a lot more.
as for the frame, it is pure lust. I sometimes go into the office and just stare at it, then I lift it because it's so damn light and I still can't believe it.
After a few more miles on the bike, it's fantastic how it absorbs road irregularities and yet is so stiff. The tuning of the tube diameters and shapes etc is right on, as is the handling. And when climbing - wow. Coming from an '03 OCLV Trek I am right at home with it - it was a natural progression for a next bike. I feel at home on it, yet am fully aware I have a new bike (new groupo helps that too).
thanks everybody.
couple more pictures:
keesue, yes, you have it correct. at extreme ends of the rear cog, the chain rubs the front der., and as SRAM has it, one can only trim (slightly move) the front der. to accomodate the larger cogs in the back when on the large ring in the front. completely opposite of the way Shimano is set up to operate. it is my least favorite thing about the component group.
But I am slowly warming to the idea, and here's why; I have come to realize that because it's a race bike, and because the culture of gearing is changing over the years (I'm old school from the 80s, 42/52 up front, 12-21 in the back), they are figuring you'll be in the big front chainring most of the time, not the small. The chainrings are 36-50, crazy if you ask me, but because of the 25-11 in the back (I've never had anything as big as a 25 in the back), I can ride in the big chain ring A LOT. way more than on any other bike I have.
so there it is. between my hack fix, bending the front der. cage to accomodate one more smaller cog (seen in another thread), and learning to use the big chain ring more, I am coming to like the bike a lot more.
as for the frame, it is pure lust. I sometimes go into the office and just stare at it, then I lift it because it's so damn light and I still can't believe it.
After a few more miles on the bike, it's fantastic how it absorbs road irregularities and yet is so stiff. The tuning of the tube diameters and shapes etc is right on, as is the handling. And when climbing - wow. Coming from an '03 OCLV Trek I am right at home with it - it was a natural progression for a next bike. I feel at home on it, yet am fully aware I have a new bike (new groupo helps that too).
thanks everybody.
couple more pictures:
Last edited by RB1-luvr; 10-28-09 at 08:31 AM. Reason: pictures
10-28-09, 08:19 AM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 83
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Curious on your thoughts on sizing - geometry comparison. I am 6'1 with a 32" inseam, longer torso. Trying to decide between the 56 or 59.
*and I don't want to start the LBS vs BD debate
*and I don't want to start the LBS vs BD debate
10-28-09, 08:36 AM
#42
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
^^ I'm 5'9-1/2", 30" inseam, and the 56cm bike fits like a glove. Stem was spot on in length and I am able to set up the ergos just like my other 2 bikes (nice flat back). even the handlbar width is correct.
sounds to me like the 59 is for you. no 58?
sounds to me like the 59 is for you. no 58?
10-28-09, 08:45 AM
#43
Cycling afficianado
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 175
Bikes: 2002 Lemond Zurich, 2003 F600 Cannondale, 2003 Specialized Enduro, 2008 Torelli SS/FG
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
RB1-luvr, thank you for your response! I think I'm going to pull the trigger on it. I have wanted a Kestrel for some time and this one seems to be the right one. I just had concerns over the SRAM gruppo due to some of the negatives I read. Based on what you said, I think I may simply have to 'warm up' to it. I hate chain rub but if it is at the two extremes, I can live with that I suppose.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Last edited by keesue; 10-28-09 at 08:52 AM.
10-28-09, 08:56 AM
#44
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
^^ my pleasure.
maybe with a bike shop setting yours up, they can refine it even more. look for my front der. cage tweak post like i did, you'll be as pleased as I am. let me look for the thread... here it is:
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/596252-09-sram-rival-10-speed-fine-tuning-help-please.html
maybe with a bike shop setting yours up, they can refine it even more. look for my front der. cage tweak post like i did, you'll be as pleased as I am. let me look for the thread... here it is:
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/596252-09-sram-rival-10-speed-fine-tuning-help-please.html
10-28-09, 08:29 PM
#45
Cycling afficianado
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 175
Bikes: 2002 Lemond Zurich, 2003 F600 Cannondale, 2003 Specialized Enduro, 2008 Torelli SS/FG
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ah, yes, very helpful. I think I can handle it. Good stuff!!
10-30-09, 07:22 AM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 66
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm 6'1" with a 34" true inseam, I have slightly longer than average arms (my shirts are 16-35). I'm leaning towards a 59 but would appreciate any opinions.
Thanks
10-30-09, 08:38 AM
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: A Yankee in Houston, TX
Posts: 1,074
Bikes: State Bicycle Co. Undefeated Track SS/FG, Lynskey Helix-Bronze
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 115 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
95 Posts
waitforme- I'm 6'0 with a 34" cycling inseam and also wear 16-34/35 shirts. My Kestrel RT800(59cm)frame has an effective top tube of 58.6cm and the Evoke Sl(59cm) is 58.7cm.
My current setup:
Kestrel RT800 59cm frameset
3T Arx Team Stem 100mm
44cm 3T Rotondo Team bars
Sram Force 175mm crankarms
It fits me perfectly.
RB1-luvr- great pickup for that price. You won't be disappointed and have fun riding that bike.
My current setup:
Kestrel RT800 59cm frameset
3T Arx Team Stem 100mm
44cm 3T Rotondo Team bars
Sram Force 175mm crankarms
It fits me perfectly.
RB1-luvr- great pickup for that price. You won't be disappointed and have fun riding that bike.
Last edited by primov8; 10-30-09 at 12:22 PM. Reason: added frameset size
10-30-09, 09:09 AM
#48
I don't know.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
^^ thanks primo. good to hear. what size frame you riding?
10-30-09, 12:23 PM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 66
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
primov8 - Thank you very much for the feedback 
Looks like a 59 for me
Now I just need to make up my mind between the Kestrel Evoke SL and the Moto Le Champion Ti. Carbon or Ti? Shimarno or SRAM? Decisions, decisions...
Looks like a 59 for me Now I just need to make up my mind between the Kestrel Evoke SL and the Moto Le Champion Ti. Carbon or Ti? Shimarno or SRAM? Decisions, decisions...
10-30-09, 01:56 PM
#50
Flying Under the Radar
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Northeast PA
Posts: 4,116
Bikes: 10' SuperiorLite SL Club | 06' Giant FCR3 | 2010 GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hell yeah, nice bike. It looks like the water bottle cages are devaluing the bike, but other than that, what a sweet ride man.