Originally Posted by
PlatyPius
Kestrel disappeared because they started having serious QC issues. Ultimately, they were bought by Fuji. Fuji has spent the last year or two replacing all of the broken Kestrel frames from that period. In the meantime, they've been updating the designs/methods to get rid of the issues Kestrel was having before it died.
Any Fuji dealer can order Kestrel. Whether they will or not is up to them. Some dealers who sold Kestrel pre-Fuji are understandably wary.
FWIW, I would NOT buy a pre-2009 Kestrel.
Not sure about the past QC issues, but technically, Fuji and Kestrel (and SE and Breezer) are owned by the same parent company,
Advanced Sports, Inc. This is the same company that recently purchased Oval Concepts. I read an interview with an ASI rep last fall who stated that the two brands have their own separate R&D departments. Seems legit given the current product line offerings of each.