bikegummo

Hi all,

I know posts like these can be irritating, but I'm trying to figure out what I've left out. Looking for a new carbon complete bike that's light, stiff, and fairly comfortable. Budget is $2700 MAX. I'll do 105/Rival if the bike is right (and any Campy or any Shimano/SRAM above 105/Rival). The last part is (no judgments, please, and I mean no offense) I want a bike that isn't super common (so no Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc.). Just want something different.

Rode these so far:
Kuota Kharma/105--seemed very good (and it's beautiful), but it's a tad heavy.
Look 566/105--relaxed, comfortable, but not super exciting.
Focus Cayo Carbon/105--seemed lighter, but I know nothing about them aside from what I've found online.
Pinarello FP2/105--heavy and just not that exciting for me. Felt like nothing special.

Any other suggestions in that price range? Thanks!

kimconyc

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...bike-8370.html

bikegummo

Whoa! I was just on CC, and I missed that! Interesting...hate buying without riding though.

But still....

kimconyc

CC isn't the cheapest a lot of times but people I know who have bought stuff from them, including myself, and reviews I have read seem like they have good support.

You should e-mail or phone them up about test riding the bike and ask if they will rebate you the cost of renting the bike if you buy it from them within a certain period of time.

kimconyc

https://www.performancebike.com/webap..._400001_400784

You can probably find a coupon to make this a ridiculous deal.

sced

Kestrels w/ Dura Ace & Red
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...l/oz_rt800.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ed_road_xi.htm

roadiejorge 

Check out the BMC line, they make very good bikes.

island rider

Not that anyone should make a habit of this, but they have a 60 day return policy that they are pretty serious about.

You can do the research, narrow it down, buy the bike, and if for some reason it doesn't have the proper combination of lateral simplicity, vertical complicity, optical duplicity and overall synchronicity you can return it for a refund, or another bike. I'm tempted to pull the trigger occasionally on some of their specials...

Paul Y.

That Wilier looks like a sweet deal.

gundom66

My personal experience at that price range is a Bianchi Infinito 105. Another one I tried last weekend was the Bianchi Sempre 105. I only did a 1 mile loop, but it seems comfy. Though I prefer the higher head tube of the Infinito. Then again, coming from a non-carbon almost 20 years ago, anything carbon I tried seems comfy. It's just a matter of geometry and pesonal feel for the bike. I'm no Bianchi fanatic. The bike seems to be one with me. Even though the frame is made in China for an Italian bike, it doesn't really matter with me. At that price range, all I'm after is getting back into road biking and getting lucky into actually buying a nice cf bike.

Accordion

2011 Cervelo R3 with 20% discount they often offer. That makes the bike $2560.

I should note that I didn't even read your post. Just looked at the thread title and inserted my obligatory R3 response.

gundom66

BTW, where I live, the majority rides Trek or Specialized. I see a lot of cheapo Giant MTB's, but not a lot of Giants road bike. If your area is plagued by those makers, then I can understand why. Cervelos are in the other side of town along with Trek and Specialized. Fujis are a common ride too! What I don't see a whole lot of are Bianchis, Cannondale, and Look. I've seen a lonely Colnago, a couple of Pinarello, a Wilier, and dig this... Motobecane! I still yet to see a Felt. There are tons of makers, maybe go through the list and just pick one that falls within your price range.

techlogik

Edit..just saw, apparently my initial thought to suggest a Cannondale Supersix 3 with Ultegra wouldn't fit your "mindset".

Paid $2k for a new 2010...but to each his own. Good luck.

Heck, get a CAAD10 and mod it up...still be under your budget. I guess this idea of a proven bike is just my thing though whether it is a big name or not.

Good luck.

gundom66

'10 SS3 for $2k? Dang! That's cheap.

Steve90068

Wilier!

rschleicher

A Scott CR1 Elite lists for $2700 but would be more like $2500 in practice. It has Rival and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels and weighs in at 16 lbs. You can save some money with the CR1 Team, which has 105, and one-notch down Mavic Aksium wheels (right around $2,000 or perhaps $1900, and a bit under 17.5 lbs).

The CR1 is fairly comfort-oriented, but still with a fair amount of snap to it. If you wanted something racier, the Addict R3 is probably about $2200 out the door, with 105 and Aksiums, at around 17 and a quarter lbs. Unfortunately they don't offer a Rival-equipped Addict - the next step up is Ultegra (R2), and would be over budget. (But maybe you could negotiate a wheel change for an R3, and get the weight down a bit.)

bikegummo

Great suggestions! Really appreciate it! Looks like I'm going to focus on the Kuota Kharma with Rival, the Wilier Izoard with Ultegra, and the Scott CR1 Elite (though it doesn't necessarily mesh with my mindset). Found shops to ride and compare, so we'll see. I'm in NYC so I'm not sure I can get the prices you guys mentioned--no one seems to bend on prices here. Open to any other suggestions...thanks again!

bikegummo

Also going to see if any bmc complete bikes come in under my budget.

Elvo

https://jensonusa.com/store/product/B...Road+Bike.aspx
/thread

techlogik

I lied, with shipping, $2100 and change. But yes, brand new 2010 Supersix 3, Ultegra, RS80 wheels. All the good bits, except the tires sucked that came on it.

Some patience and keeping your eye out can land some good deals on Ebay and such.

joe_5700

https://www.argon18bike.com/bikes/road.html
https://www.beyondfab.com/jsp/index.php
https://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/
https://www.bmc-racing.com/en/us/bike...r01-red/story/
https://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng...ts/Bikes/Road/
https://www.ceepo.com/2011/products
https://www.cervelo.com/en_us/bikes/2010/
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/C...ategoryID=2156
https://www.colnago.com/bikes
https://www.cube.eu/road/
https://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2010...alog/Road.aspx
https://www.focus-bikes.com/de/en/bikes/bikes-2011.html
https://www.fujibikes.com/Road.aspx
https://www.ghost-bikes.de/2011/en/bikes/road/
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/index.html
https://www.kestrelbicycles.com/Road.aspx
https://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_series_a.htm
https://www.konaworld.com/platform.cfm?content=road
https://www.kuotanorthamerica.com/cat...ndex.aspx?id=1
https://www.litespeed.com/current/home.aspx
https://www.lookcycle.com/en/us/route/velos.html
https://www.marinbikes.com/2010/bike_...p?catcode=ROAD
https://www.merlinbike.com/home.aspx
https://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?la...epage&taxid=57
https://www.pinarello.com/eng/dogma_carbon_462.php
https://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/
https://www.rideblue.com/index.php
https://www.ridley-bikes.com/hm/us/en-gb/home
https://www.roadbikeoutlet.com/road-b...orks-html.html
https://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Road/
https://www.scott-sports.com/us_en/ca...9091/speedster
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...nuItemId=11532
https://www.stevensbikes.de/2011/index.php?lang=en_US
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/

echotraveler

ride what you like, and you already liked the focus. =-) be happy ride often

Caracalla.

Bmc

catonec 

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/rt800.htm

theREEDeffect

Are those Kestrels pretty nice?