Genaro

Yes, and I just went back and saw that the Focus specs say 105 crank, but the photo has a FSA crank. I'd get that cleared up before I purchases, not to say theres anything bad with an FSA crank. I have one and like it alot

sleepy

I rode a Scattante XRL for a while- stiff, but harsh. It got to the point where I didn't enjoy the ride at all. Had a CAAD9, stiff, but rode well. Enjoyable. They may all "look the same, with the same components" but the way they are built are very different.

I'd go for the GT myself. Seems to have similiar design to the CAAD- on the front end, at least.

WhetStonez

Just get the BMC and when you get it have yourself fitted.

roadwarrior

Must be an echo in here.

bobbycorno

...in which case, you're almost sure to want something better/different in a couple years' time. First time out, buy something inexpensive but functional, ride the dickens out of it, and then decide what you really want. (Same advice I gave to somebody looking for drop bars for his flat-bar bike.) Nothing sucks worse than dropping major change on a bike and then deciding it's not quite the best for you.

SP
Bend, OR

pdxtex

performance products are great. performance in house names for their products are unfortunate. that being said, those scattante bikes seem to be specd out pretty well. focus might be a well known european company as well, but that doesn't mean they know how to weld. those frames look like they were made in the back of some shipyard during lunch break. go with the american/canadian companies at least.

Caveman

I used to be really interested in BMC bikes and I seriously considered getting one until an acquaintance of mind had some warranty issues. He cracked a bottom bracket on his new BMC in the first month. They warrantied it but not without some hassle. He then had a chain stay snap at speed that caused a crash. Fortunately he wasn't hurt. BMC has refused to honor the warranty and they won't give a reason why. They offered him a crash replacement deal where he buys a new frame at a discounted price. The frame breaking caused the crash, not the other way around. Nice bikes but I no longer trust the company so they won't be getting my business. YMMV.

I have another friend who rode the snot out of a Scattante frameset for several years. It was their basic road frame with a carbon fork and he really liked it. He's a big dude that can hammer pretty well. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Scattante bike and they are a heck of a bargain.

todayilearned

Was it an Alloy or Carbon frame?

HollywoodG

PB lets you test each of their bikes in their parking lot. I recommend riding each one and see which one you feel comfortable on. I recently bought the Scattante R570 after testing 3 other bikes, including the GT. It was the one that felt right for me

thirdgenbird

what size was your XRL? i put a 500+ mile week on my "60cm" XRL with no complaints at all. its not smooth like my tommasini or bianchi but im not embarrassed to put them on the same rack.

Caveman

Carbon.

bonz50

as a rider of the GT Series2 I can attest that it is an extremely well made and excellent riding bike... comfy, sharp handling, smooth... fit and finish is top notch and the component level for the price is excellent... I wouldn't hesitate to own another in a heartbeat.

idc

FWIW I generally consider myself a "value buyer" but I did shun the Scattante brand as well, not so much because it's the Performance house brand but because of the brand name itself. Specifically, the first four letters of it. And also because of the Italian sound of the brand name makes it sound poseurish/naive/uber-Fredly to me. If it was just called "Performance" or even "Forte" like some of their other house merchandise I wouldn't mind as much. Instead it reminds me of: scant, scrap, crap, scat.

However, I do own a GT. Bought from Performance this July. Series 1 2010, full Ultegra drivetrain (not brakes), Aksium wheels. Nice Ritchey stem/handlebar/seatpost. Around $1250 I think. Put about 800 miles on it since then (includes a layoff for a broken arm), including my first century and 2 metrics. Aside for the 10% store credit bonus, Performance also offer lifetime (minor) adjustments for free - pretty hard to beat. I've had no issues with it other than the firm saddle which I switched out. I absolutely love riding it, but then it is my first road bike and only the first time I've spent >$300 on a non-mountain bike, so I'm sure even a Scattante would've felt great. (In hindsight given how much I've discovered I like road riding, I would've spent another $1k+ and gotten a Lynskey Cooper CX and an extra set off-roadish wheels so I could ride in more varied conditions.)

But. If you are buying a bike for a high crime area though I wouldn't go down this route at all. Get two bikes. One that can be stolen for now, and save the rest of the money for one that you love to ride on. I often commute to work on a heavy 5 year old rusty MTB - it's a GT from Performance... /fullcircle

I first heard of GTs in the 90s when they were boutique MTBs and I was into MTB riding so I guess I still have a soft spot for them. And now I shall elaborate on the more recent history of the GT brand as it hasn't been done yet.

Say whaaaaat? Triple cranks are fine, especially on your first road bike if you haven't developed your leg muscles or endurance. Or if you're tired and there's a hill. Or you're say, I don't know... carrying heavy books in a bag on your way to class.

domtran

so you guys think i should buy a crappy bike for commute?
I really wanted like a "do it all" bike where i can commute and ride for fun.
Didn't know there was so much theft at college campus'
Because my campus is like 7 miles there and 7 back i kinda want performance and lack of theft... lol

pgjackson

If you can figure out a way that the bike doesn't leave your sight for more than 5 minutes while on campus, go ahead and get a nice bike. If you are planning to just hook it up to the community bike rack out in front of the Student Union Building, get a cheap beater. OR, do both. Get a beater for commuting and get a nice bike to ride for pleasure. Just make sure that the nice bike is locked up in your dorm or apartment when you are not there.

pgjackson

My first bike was a Fuji Newest 3.0 with a triple from PB. Loved that bike for about 3 months and realized that the triple was a huge PITA. Always grinding. Sold it for more than what I paid for it and bought a Felt Z85 with a compact double and I think a 12-27 10-speed cassette. Took about the same effort to get up the big hills as the triple...plus it shifts like butter.

DVC45

That.

domtran

Thanks for all the help guys!
I'm changing my perspective on whether i even want to bike to school now because there is such a large risk of my bike getting stolen.
Would you use a $1000 bike to commute though?
I'm going to ask all my professors if i can keep the bike in their room because my main reason for getting a bike was to commute on it.
It was after that thought that i realized i would probably want to ride it for fun thus leading me to up my budget to get bike i won't need to upgrade for 3+ years.

domtran

Definitely conflicted because my main reason for wanting to get into biking was for the commute but now that i've researched so much and visited performance and two other lbs that i realize i want the bike to be able to ride kinda competitively as well. :/

abstractform20

if they have bike racks by the campus police, then get a good lock (about $80-120) and lock it up securely over there...but if you have night classes, definitely bring the with you into the classroom. also, check to see if the campus has private bike lockers.

WhetStonez

What are you increasing your budget to?

idc

So I guess 1 case of a poorly adjusted/fitted/installed triple means triples are horrible and should all be avoided? I have a triple on my $300 flat-bar road hybrid that I've never had an issue with.

Not to mention there's a tiiiiny gap between a Fuji Newest 3.0 and a Felt Z85.

I understand your sentiment. A nicer bike will be more fun to ride, and you'll ride more often and do more miles. But the only person who can determine the theft risk is you. Ask around if you see other cyclists, and have a look at what sort of bikes are on the racks there. Do you have any friends who drive who'll let you put the bike in their car?

I commute on my road bike sometimes but I keep it in a secure non-public access room on the top floor of an office block.

knobd

OP, for $1000, you may want to consider a 2 bike approach. I just started cycling in 7/2010 and after buying and selling 2 hybrids I went with a 2 drop bar bike approach this year since I find drop bars far more comfortable than flat bars (and a lot more fun). I was fortunate enough to obtain a near mint condition 1988 Fuji road bike for free and then in March after selling my second hybrid I got a 2010 Scattante X-330 cyclocross bike from Performance. The same type of thing may work for you. Take a look at the Scattante R-330 for $599 and then take the rest to maybe get an older nice circa 1990's steel hybrid or road bike for commuting. If you get the Scattante first and join the rewards program you'll get 10% on all purchases that you can apply on future purchases so the bike will actually cost more like $540 and you can put this $60 towards gear.

The older bike would not be as attractive to theft and the new bike will give you something to just ride the heck out of as it sounds like you're pretty enthusiastic. You can also have Performance clean the old bike up with a good tuneup. I went with a CX bike because looking down the road I will want a brand new road bike about 2 to 3 years from now (when the engine deserves one!) and want to get my stable going with a bike that I can take anywhere. The link to the 2011 X-330 is here.

Regarding the 330 series it's an entry level bike but I love the frame and overall it's been pretty darn good. It took a few hundred miles to really get the shifter cables broken in but now shifts well. I think Performance is a great way to get into the sport. I'm not sure if I'd want to drop $2000 there on a bike but they have tremendous value at the entry level.

pgjackson

I will bet there are very few experienced cyclists who ride a triple. I know a few do, but it's very few. It's a more complicated system, it's heavier and generally considered "entry level" on a road bike. I have a triple on my MTB and it works pretty good...but I don't ride it very much. A compact with the right cassette requires about the same effort to get up a hill as a triple, but lighter and less complicated. If you had the choice, which would you prefer on your road bike?

pgjackson

Then get a decent road bike that you keep locked up in your room and ride after class and get a Walmart beater MTB or hybrid to commute to class. Craigslist if full of cheap-o beater bikes.