alston28

I'm thinking of going custom. The only local options for me are Seven and Serotta. The Serotta seems a lot more expensive. Is it worth it? I found the post below from 2003 - are these comments still valid? Thanks.

Each Serotta is custom built to the specifications of the rider. From scratch. Frame tubing is cut and sized based on those specifications, which includes your body weight. Serotta builds bikes for the rider and their fitting process is the best in the industry. Seven uses a set of body measurements and fits you to a bike (they do not have anywhere close to the exhaustive process of fitting that Serotta does..it can take a couple of hours to get a Serotta fitting right). Both are good bikes. Serotta is like a Ferarri.

Example...if I have a guy who weighs 200 lbs and needs a 56 cm frame, Serotta will not use the same width of tubing that they would use for a guy who is 160 lbs who also needs a 56 cm frame. Most bikes just cut the tubes bigger or smaller for different sizes. Not Serotta. So, a heavier rider and a lighter rider can get the same level of comfort in their ride. Few make bikes like that. These folks in Saratgoa Springs are true artisans.

I sell Serottas.

StanSeven

That post isn't true. I got a Seven and they did the same thing using different tube sets. I used thicker diameter tubes in the rear to make it stiffer. My fit process also took about three hours overall.

thinktubes 

Are you a doctor or dentist?

JoelS

Both are great options. All I can add is that my wife has a Serotta, it was custom built for her back in '97. It's a really nice frameset.

rebel1916

I would bet Serottas are great bikes. For the price they oughta be. Unfortunately, nothing says "I am only 3% cooler than that guy over there with the beard and the recumbent" than one though. And as shallow as it may be, that is a hump I can not get over.

HAMMER MAN

i have a custom built 2007 Serotta CDA, though a nice bike i wouldn't pay the price for a new one now. There are other custom builders out there that are just as good and probably better pricing even on used.. The only bad commment I can make about Serotta's is that their paint jobs suck and chip very,very easy. otherwise a nice bike

speedemon

Have you seriously done your research? Don't discount the Seven's as their one of the top titanium builders which are at the top of the echelon.

BillyD

Seven, Serotta and Moots are all at the top of the bike food chain. You can't go wrong with any one of them.

StanSeven

Exactly. Serotta, Seven or Moots - all good.

dekindy

If it is the same fitter then I would go Seven. If different fitters then if you have the money I would be inclined to get a fitting and recommendation from both and go with the one that you feel the most comfortable with. I only have experience with Serotta and purchased a stock Legend SE ST frame witn 10.5F3 fork that was very close to the dimensions that my Serotta fitter recommended. My driveside dropout cracked and since it was a bare naked titanium frame it only took 19 calendar days from the time that I contacted them to the time that I received my no questions asked warrantied frame repair which they overnighted so that I could do the Ride Across Indiana. I hit a chuckhole very hard and Serotta said that should have not cracked the frame. I also cracked a White Industries hub that even though had been purchased used, WI knew this, they warrantied and replaced the shell as long as I mailed the broken part to them which I gladly did. I would estimate that Seven stands behind their product also but I know for certain that Serotta puts their warranty repairs at the front of the line. If the price difference is as much as it was when I reviewed them a year ago, I would probably go with the Seven if budget is a serious consideration but would not fault anyone for paying the extra for the Serotta if you intend it to be a lifetime bike. F3 forks are the ultimate in ride and durability but they are the most expensive too.

adrien

I looked at both. I spoke to an LBS who has dropped Serotta, because of their exorbitant price compared to the competition (as in 4-6 k more than a Seven). Out of the two, unless you're attached to the old 7-eleven era, I'd go seven.

I ended up with full custom steel, for what it's worth. When you get one guy to build it for you it's not from a model. Of course it took almost 2 years from deposit to the UPS man.

Have you looked at IF? Crown Jewel is something...

Terex

These are all mid-life crisis bikes. There are many better stock frames out there.

But if you're dead set on having a mid-life crisis, get an Ellis.

https://www.elliscycles.com/best_stee...012_NAHBS.html

bkdelux

Ok, I'll poke the hornets nest. I bought a $1600 le champ ti heat and it is crazy fast and very comfortable. I also could drop a grand on some wheels and it would be epic. I love design and craftsmanship, but honestly don't see how these other frames merit the high prices. Too bad we can't have three bikes with all same components and do a blind ride test. I'd guess if you couldn't see actual frame details very few would be able to discern the difference of a Moots or non name Taiwan ti bike by feel.

adrien

Many folks don't want stock, for reasons of fit, feature mix, paint, exclusivity. I wanted lugged steel with big clearance and very tight handling.

Ellises are very nice.

Debusama

Except that the custom bike fits better. I think a lot of people go custom because they have trouble finding factory-build bikes that fit properly. I'm not saying that one needs to spend $10k to get this. I spent $950 frame/fork from a local steel frame builder. It isn't just about geometry though. There are other factors like rider size and riding style that are accommodated for on a custom bike that you won't get from a factory bike unless you find one that just happens to match you perfectly.

Grambo

I would think twice before buying an IF or Serotta due to their ongoing financial difficulties. I have an IF and absolutely love the frame but I would be nervous about placing a significant deposit down with a company that isn't on firm financial footing. Same situation with Serotta (I owned a very nice CdA) and I also have found their customer service to be awful (likely due to financial strains). Moots are very very nice and the company seems healthy but they are not really custom (sell mostly stock frame sizes and will do some semi custom work). Not sure how well Seven is doing. The protracted recession has been tough on everyone ... especially boutique frame builders. Caveat emptor.

Drag

Given that you're a Serotta reseller, why would you ride a competing brand???

StanSeven

You're responding to a 2003 post.

StanSeven

An Ellis is fine if you know your exact dimensions and precisely what you need. Serotta and Seven and others sell through dealers experienced in fitting and the exact bike they sell. Those dealers help you in finding just what's right for you. Ellis is a one person builder in Wisconsin.

Drag

We're obviously not looking at the same thing. The OP was posted on 8-31-12. To me anyway. Heck, the poster only registered on Aug 2012 so how possibly could he post back in 2003???

Drag

Oh wait. Alston28 was quoting a guy that sold Serottas. Gotcha.

HAMMER MAN

i wouldn't say that Serotta is a mid-life crisis bike. That is no different than everyone that buys a carbon frame is nothing more than a person who is star struck with the pro racers and everything is about copying the way they ride and what they ride.

Some people just like custom bikes or top line steel mfg.

for information sake
i have a custom waterford 2200
custom CDA serotta
a custom tiemeyer aluminum
a carbon felt
a razesa
and a specialized allez
They are all fun and each as its own unique ride characteristics

StanSeven

Read the fifth sentence in the OP post - "I found the post below from 2003. Are these comment still valid?"

Drag

Yup. Saw that. At first i wasnt sure if that last statement was his or part of the quote.

alston28

Thanks for everyone's comments. The fitters are different. I'm leaning toward custom in order to get a bike that fits. I would prefer to spend less on a stock bike, but I want a bike that fits and I just don't think a stock bike is going to fit. The Seven is less expensive than the Serotta, but the Serotta fitter enjoys a wider, if not better, reputation. I don't have an alternative option for a custom bike where I live.