kestrel frame
 

does anybody know anything about kestrel frames are they any good ?

Love Kestrel frames. High quality...very very reasonable prices. Every bit the bike as the big name,

I've never ridden one but was very close to buying one online, all the research I did and comments from people who had were nothing but praiseworthy.

Im considering a Talon. Kestrel was one of the first in CF and at one time were the top of the line in carbon.

Yeah, Kestrel was at the top of the line at one time. But that was a long, long time ago. The demand dropped off when other companies caught up and offered new and improved frames but Kestrel didn't keep up. That was especially true with their tri frames.

I'm not sure if it's even the same company now. They are sold mostly through online places.

I just got a Kestrel Talon Tri from bikesdirect a couple months ago. I love it but don't have much experience in road cycling (two years). I've owned a steel fixed gear, an all aluminum Felt, and now this. This feels the fastest/smoothest and makes me want to ride more, which makes me faster :)

Kestrel was actually started by a couple ex-Trek people: Bevil Hogg and Tom French. I've never ridden one but people who have them seem to like them.

I ride an RT800 and love it.

There is a young Ladie local to me that has had one for about 2 years. I cant friggin catch her to ask her about it.

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.

I have a 2009 RT800. Love it. I think the Fuji Kestrels started in 2008. I got mine from Bikes Direct for under $3000 with all Dura Ace. Really an amazing bargain when you consider the cost of the DA grupo alone.

Not bad for a 16 pound carbon fiber bike with beautiful styling and paint.

Happy.
RT-700
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2641/...88dba6f51d.jpg

Blog entries on the bike at http://ccorlew.blogspot.com/search/label/Kestrel

great shot, Curtis

Wow. This is the first I've heard this. Can you share the source of your information?

Yeah...our Fuji rep. - I worked for a Fuji/Kestrel/Breezer dealer last year; and a different one the year before that.

thanks guys for all that info.

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.

It's easier to say "bought by Fuji" than it is to say bought by Advanced Sports, which also owns '...' and in turn is mostly owned by Ideal, a frame manufacturing company, which also builds many of BD's bikes.

Can you give me some detailed information or links to on-line articles about the pre-2009 QC issues?

I would love to read about it as I own a 2007 RT700. Never had any problems and LOVE the bike.

That is a problem I have had with CF. You usually don't know who really built it, and under the clear coat and paint it's hard to tell what you really have. Im not in the steel is real crowd (raced one of the first OCLV's on the road), but have to admit it is easier to spot a crappy lug or poor brazing. Someone can say Kestrel has issues, you hear about Madone BB's cracking. Antidotal and invisible to the eye problems, not a great confidence builder. I would be interested in more detail on quality issues as well, then I could scratch Kestrel off my list or keep it on.

I searched the web and found few complaints about Kestrel, and none on the RT700.

Toyota has a major recall on hand, does that make Toyota bad cars? Absolutely NOT. I say the above kestrel QC claim is non sense as to the whole Kestrel brand. All brands have issues at some point. Does that make Kestrel bad bikes? Absolutely NOT, unless you work for GM, Ford or Chrysler(Fiat). I remember that many years ago Fiat had to leave the US market due to extremely poor cars, and now, they are back as the Chrysler saviors.

The problems with Kestrels in the years leading up to their purchase by Advanced was bad enough that Advanced figured in the cost of replacing ALL of the frames sold in the previous 2 years into what they were willing to pay for Kestrel.

Again, I have no spreadsheets and graphs....sorry. This all came from our Fuji/Kestrel rep.

Nice Kestrel presentation video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-5L6Rluiw