billyt1963

I live in Chattanooga, TN where we have a few hills. A little over a year ago I bought a Trek 1200, but have been wanting to go Carbon lately. I have been focusing on a Kestrel Talon. I have searched for threads here, but did not have much luck. I would love to hear a discussion of the folks on this board because of all the things I have read it seems to be a very knowledgeable group.

If there are any other suggestions in the $2000 range I would be interested in hearing.

I tend to bike 50 miles or so a week according to conditions.

Thanks for any information.

Billy Tiller

Namenda

Kestrel makes great frames. I dream of owning an Evoke one day. I think you'll be very happy with a Talon.

Dead Roman

I have a talon and love it. Yes I would consider it to be a great frame. Stiff light fast, just about everything ou could ask for.

CerveloNW

FYI - I don't know what size you, are but I am actually selling a very lightly used Kestrel Talon SL (Superlight) complete bike on Ebay. It is Item number: 270076745937 if you want to check it out.

I have loved the bike (and actually had a base Talon before the SL), but decided to spring for the Cervelo Soloist Carbon this year. The SLC is great, but to me the Talon SL is the better value.

CerveloNW

Oh - forgot to mention that the frame is 57cm.

Talewinds

You can't go wrong with the Talon.

billyt1963

That is actually is the right size. I will watch it, thanks for the heads up.

Billy

CerveloNW

Sounds good. Good luck if you decide to bid!

Another +/- $2k carbon bike that would be worth considering is the Specialized Roubaix Comp. I have one of these also, and it is a great bike. Not as fast or stiff as the Talon SL (or as unique), but it's a comfy ride. Depends on what your priorities are, as both are good all around bikes, but the Talon SL is more predisposed to speed, whereas the Roubaix is more predisposed to comfort, as it is not as stiff or light. My Talon SL weighs 17.5 lbs with pedals, and the Roubaix is about 19.5 lbs with pedals.

I'm keeping the Roubaix and not the Talon only because the Talon and the Cervelo Soloist Carbon are such similar bikes, and it would be silly to keep both.

cyclintom

My sister in law improved her Tri time by a significant margin when going from a Felt to the Talon. The aero difference can't be understated since my brother says that he now has a very hard time keeping up with her while before she could barely keep him in sight.

I looked the Talon over pretty closely and I'm pretty impressed that the workmanship and design look first rate.

FIVE ONE SIX

that's pretty heavy for a Roubaix, my Allez weighs 18 pounds, and the only carbon on it is in the rear drops and the seatpost...

Talewinds

You make a good point that I don't have much of an explanation for. I ride my Trek and my Pinarello day in and day out and maintain about the same speeds regularly on both. I jump on my Talon SL and I'm a fireball. Consistantly 3-4 mph faster on that bike, turning a BIG gear in loooowwww revs just cruising.
I've never bought into the idea that any one bike would be consistantly and significantly faster than any other bike out there, given level terrain and similar circumstances, but I can just rock the Kestrel.

CerveloNW

I was a bit surprised it's that heavy too. It "feels" lighter when I'm riding it, but I've weighed it multiple times and it always is about 19.3-19.4 lbs. I think the saddle and handlebars are a little on the heavy side, it has a bottle cage and a pump mount, I've double wrapped the bar tape with vibration dampener, and it currently has rain tires on it. All of that together may add up to a pound or so.... It is a very plush ride, and my bike of choice for long rides @ moderate pace.

Falkon 

The Talon is a nice bike. My shop had problems with Kestrel not wanting to warranty a broken frame, but they finally did. The shop owner was riding an Evoke until it got damaged [not a problem with the frame, it was an accident].

johnny99

Kestrel bikes are fine, but there is probably not much performance difference between them and the Specialized, Giant, or Trek carbon bikes in the same price ranges. You should take some test rides and buy whatever fits your body and riding style the best. There are a few different geometries available and some bikes are stiffer than others (which some people like and others do not).

billyt1963

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been doing a lot of looking and have not been able to find a Trek Carbon in this range. The LBS I am working with carries Trek, Giant, Cervelo, Fuji and Kestrel. I have ridden a Fuji team bike (Carbon and $1500) and the Kestrel. I need to ride a Trek, Giant and the Cervelo (even though I know it is out of my range) and then ride the Kestrel again. The short ride I had the seat was too high because when I got back my calf hurt.

I have a good relationship with the LBS and they know I am looking and being careful. I will probably have to ride some more.

Billy

Kuma

As I'm sure the LBS has told you, they have long experience in making carbon frames. There have been some anecdotal reports recently about their being touchy about warranty returns, but overall I think they have a good reputation in that area, too. Plus, the Talon frame looks really hot!

Dead Roman

All i can say is when I ride my talon its everything I want out of a bicycle.




And everyone oohs and ahs

Bob Ross

My LBS (a Kestrel dealer) contributed to this growing body of anecdotal lore; that, in addition to the fact that I just didn't find the ride appealing, prevented me from buying a Talon last summer.


Dude, where can you find a Talon for $2000?!?!?! Heck, if I coulda spent that little I might have happily disregarded the unappealing ride and the questionable frame replacement policy! That's at least $7-800 less than the full-Ultegra build I was looking at in June '06.

Cyclologist

I have experience with an authorized seller of Kestrel bikes on eBay who sells new Talons and Evokes at phenomenal closeout prices. When I called, Kestrel corporate office verified he is an authorized seller; previously worked as a sales associate for them before starting the ebay store. His store's seller ID is milewidesports. Check them out. I purchased a full ultegra Talon for 1575 with a pair of Continental attack/force tires thrown in. UPS had slightly damaged the frame and I was worried I would be stuck with a bum frame, but he made things right by issuing a refund, and fortunately UPS approved the damage claim since they aggreed the damage was their fault, which is typically unusual. Good experience overall, but after that I decided to take a slight detour from carbon for the moment and got a quality aluminum bike instead, with Cannondale CAAD8 frame.

Bob Ross

Holy crap!

cyclintom

I ride a 62 cm Colnago C40 and just about everything on it is carbon and it weighs 18 lbs flat.

Carbon isn't all that light when it isn't handmade VERY carefully. And I really do not like the extremely light carbon bikes since the wall thickness feels like paper. I can just see falling over and a small stone knocking a hole in the tube.

Cyclologist

waterrockets 

In this price range, there's no such thing as a "bad bike." So, yeah, it's a good bike.

CerveloNW

I know where you could pick up a nearly new 2006 Kestrel Talon SL for probably under $2k See my listing on Ebay.

Dead Roman

I got a full ultegra build talon for 1400 flat. Brand new with 06 10 speed grouppa