Joe I

I am looking to purchase one of these three frames.
I am an avid recreational roadie. I have a durace groupo and a carbon tubular wheelset to build up the frame choice.

The kuota Kredo and Kestrel Talon SL are about the same price. The fuji is a used frame (2005) in excellent condition. C700 carbon, full monoque frame. $700.

IF price is no object, why buy the Kuota or the Kestrel over the Fuji?

Donegal

I have a Kredo and it rocks. If anything, it is too light. It's stiff on the cranks and I love it. I have no interest in the kestrel, dealer by me has quit carrying them, too many problems. Fuji, Pro, don't know that one. My buddy's second bike is a Fuji, heavy but stable.

I bought my Kredo on Ebay and love it. Got one hell of a deal on a bike that is comparable to any bike out there. It's stiff, light and looks great.

My second bike is an Aegis Victory, a company that is the forerunner of Kestrel. The two owners of the respective companies used to be partners. Kestrel went mass-produced and became big time. Aegis is still hand built in Maine(of all places).

I am 170 lb. w/big legs and hate a bike that flexes. With my Kredo, I have even been able to make the spokes pop while climbing on a brand new pair of Reynolds wheels. I stuck my old Ksyriums back on so I can pound them.

GlassWolf

the kestrel is still hand made, just in taiwan, now by Martec.
still great frames. I've never heard of a single problem with a Talon/SL.
The Talon SL also happens to be my favorite frame.

recursive

My Talon SL developed a crack on the inner seatpost binding area. I'm not sure what it's called, if anything. Supposedly they have good service, but they didn't replace my frame, just gave me a different aero seatpost that would work, as the crack is not in a structurally significant place, except for holding up round seatposts.

Other than that, I like it. Although I'm sure this comes off sounding negative overall, I'd consider getting another one.

biffstephens

I love my Kredo....no issues at all...great looking, great riding..

By the way Martec makes Kuota's too...

Joe I

Thank you all for the input concerning kuota and Kestrel. I have since discovered that Fuji's parent company has actually purchased the Kestrel company recently.

You mention a manufacturer named Martec.

Who are they?

biffstephens

https://allanti.com/page.cfm?PageID=328

Great reading....you will see the Martec name mentioned many times.

GlassWolf

yup Fuji owns Kestrel now, and Martec makes both Kestrel and Kuota, both of which I rather like.. so when I saw the 3 brands you were considering, I smiled a little, but I figured you'd done some preliminary Googling beforehand, thus I hadn't gone into that much detail. I apologize for assuming as much.
Martec is one of the biggest carbon fiber companies in Taiwan, responsible for the production of a good number of carbon frames sold in the US by name-brand companies.
Also note that Kestrel was founded by engineers from Trek, for whatever that's worth.

All said and done, Kestrel dealers are hard to find now due to many shops driopping them until this whole buyout sorts itself out.
If you like the Talon SL, look at Kuota's Kebel.
Very similar frame geometries, similar looks, etc. I'm actually considering buying one this year, if I have the money for it. They are readily available, and I'm tired of hunting for a used Talon SL in 48cm, only to have every friggin' seller I've made arrangements with, back out at the last moment and decide to "keep the bike for my fiance" or whatever.
*screams*

Kestrel Bicycle

Advanced Sports Inc. (ASI) actually owns Kestrel now. ASI also owns Fuji, Breezer and SE bikes and we manufacture bikes for other companies.

Martec does make many carbon frames for companies in China and although we do use them, they are not the only factory that makes the Talon frames or some of our other Kestrel frames.

There are a handful of very good carbon companies in China and all have their good and bad points.

Hope that helps and adds something to the conversations.

Steven

ehidle

I have a 2005 Fuji C7 frame that I've been riding for nearly 4 years. In many ways I like it more than the SL-1 C10 frame I got in 2007. I have put the C7 through a lot of abuse. I was hit by a car in 2006 on it and it survived just fine. Before that, the rear derailleur snapped off when the chain got caught, and it ripped the clear coat off the chain stay, but the frame held up perfectly.

It has traveled with me to Atlanta, DC, Colorado, Phoenix, and Brazil, and never once has given me a peep of trouble.

ehidle

Wow, so you guys are finally on the Intarweb forums now... glad to see ya here.

Tell Bicycle Bill I said hey...

zacster

I have a Kuota Kredo myself and love it.