Bike purchase your thoughts.
 

I would like a little feedback. I have 3 bikes in mind to consider, a Neuvation Ultegra with either carbon or AL, a Kestral Talon, or a Motorbecane Ti from BD. THe price varies from $1800 to around $2000. I am not a BD shill I bought an AL bike from them 2 years ago it was fine no problems and I sold it to upgrade to my present CF bike that I really like. I have not problem with BD I can do the mechanical work and the bike I had was fine just upgraded and also bought that through ebay.

I am simply looking for another road bike that is better to have around. My reason is that I like the Neuvation because I can order what I want for the components. I do not want a compact crank and have specific details they will tailor to my riding. I basically want a standard double 53/39 with an 11/25 rear and ultegra grade components. Finding a titanium frame is not possible at the LBS and they want more money if it was indeed what I wanted. If they could at least be close on the components I would pay a bit more but not the huge difference they want.

The Kestral has what I want in CF and it is an known bike. The Neuvation I just don't know but on the phone they seem to think the AL frame would ride really well too and it is much cheaper at about $1300. The Motorbecane is simply because it is a Ti frame and sells for $2000 with ultegra components with the right mix.

My problem is I will never be able to ride a Ti frame around here nobody has one so I cannot make any judgement on how it will ride. My AL frame previous was fine but the current CF bike is ride is much better for simply road riding much smoother on rough road. I have heard of AL that ride like CF but frankly unless I simply go riding every bike know how do you know?

THe only savings is if I buy a Neuvation Alloy bike for $1300 and save the difference. If this would ride at least near the CF I have now that would be fine. I am willing to pay more if they CF was clearly a better ride.

Any thoughts or help would be interesting from those in the know. Many bikes today have either a compact or a triple and I don't need a triple for sure. My present is a compact crank with an 11-23 but I almost never go to the small ring, not needed in the flatlands and I don't travel with my bike to the mountains.

I'm not sure what you're question is but I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them.

Going from a carbon bike to an Al bikes seems a bit of a step down, to be honest - or at best a lateral shift (comparing top-end Al to budget carbon).

Why not a carbon bike from Neuvation or from Pedal Force? $2k should get you plenty of bike.

Re Ti - no experience, sorry.

V

If you like your CF bike now, why get another one?

It seems to me that if you want to get a new bike it should have a purpose. Do you want a backup bike? Do you want Ti just to experience it? Do you want something to commute on? Do you want one of your bikes to be super light and the other one to just be normal?

I'm all for buying as many bikes as possible, but each one should have a purpose.

FWIW, since functionally they'll all be good and perhaps no better than what you're riding now, buy the one that most appeals to you. Maybe the Ti since you already have a CF bike, and would be embarrassed to be seen on a cheap aluminum bike:-)

I would get the talon that bike looks neat.

I have an AL-frame Ultegra Neuvation. It rides fine.

And Neuvation's customer service is absolutely top-notch. If something goes wrong, I'd bet John Neugent will fix it fast. I get the impression that he runs his business because he loves what he's doing. I get the impression that BD is more sell-the-bike-for-as-little-$$-as-possible oriented. That's great - if BD has what you want. BD's business model doesn't seem to me to provide much excess capacity to address customization requests or out-of-the-ordinary happenings. Just guessing on my part, but I suspect the cost of providing those kinds of services would have to show up in the price BD charges for their bikes.

BD has some absolutely great prices, but what you see is what you get - no customization.

Another Neuvation benefit is you can swap your stem, bars, and saddle out up to six months after purchase.

Go ahead and buy it.

Ti. You already have carbon. AL would be a downgrade. The Ti will last forever.

I would tend to agree with this logic ... go with the Titanium frame ... a very nice ride :thumb:

Shimano Ultegra 6700, 20 Speed Titanium 2010 Le Champion SL Ti $1999.99
3/2.5 Butted Titanium, Ultegra 6700 Crank, Mavic Ksyrium Equipe Wheels, Ritchey WCS Bar, Stem and Post
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...mp_slti_10.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...lti_10_600.jpg

I read the replies and agree with all of them in a way. I do not want to down grade but I sure wish I knew how the Titanium bike would ride. I am interested in if it would be more like an Al frame or Carbon ride. There just is no way to know and I cannot seem to find any reviews.

Somebody bought one and did a very complementary thread on it late last summer? I saw at the a race a while back and it was beautiful. The owner had just gotten it the day before.

i think you're missing an important point. frame material alone does not dictate how a bike will ride, by a long shot.

there is a huge difference in the ride between different alu frames, different carbon frames and the same with Ti.

Geometry matters more. wheels and tires matter more.