seriously though, here's some fuel for discussion or calling me an idiot:

I am looking at essentially 3 bikes; cannondale capo, surly steamroller, and khs flite. it's a strange assortment, with a big price variance (about 2x as much for the capo as khs), but I can get good prices on those three models through a mate at an LBS, so those are the go. I don't love the steamroller, it's too roady I think, but feel free to tell me how twitchy etc it is, I'm pretty easily convinced. To choose between the two more track-like geometries (or maybe full track for the KHS) I really have one question;

How does a flite with probably it's own value again or more in parts stack up against a stock or near stock capo?

the capo basically blows my budget, but is apparently a ****hot frame, the khs is steeper and sharper, and could be instantly pimped with nice wheels and cranks and so on.. so yeah, will the khs flex under me like a *****? or should I be looking for a comfy steel street ride (main purpose) with big blingin parts?

flite is fine but if youre spending more than 350 for it get the kilo tt from bikesdirect since its the same bike.

capo is cool too.

I am spending more than 350, even if I get it on the cheap, but I'm in Australia, and while BD do ship I don't know if I need the headache..

so you want a cheaper and more twitchy frame? ...thats not designed to handle road conditions? and at the same time pay more for it.......

go with the surly, i doubt you will ever regret it.

I doubt you'd feel much flex from the Flite under street conditions unless you're very heavy. I've felt mine flex, yeah, but that was while riding track ratios (53x16) and doing seated accelerations or seated hill climbing. Regular 53x19 on the street, can't say I really feel much flex.

I don't want a cheaper twitchier framer I'm paying more for.. no matter what the KHS will be the cheapest bike, at least a hundred below the surly, maybe more.

Whether or not the KHS is made for the road is questionable, but the capo is, possibly as much as the surly, it's not as steep as the track frames they used to make that it's modelled off and it rocks two brakes. The question really is how much better is the capo frame than the flite? comparing trackish apples to track apples.

the KHS is drilled for a front/rear brake and has threading for bike racks and fenders. it's clearly made for the road, or atleast to be used on the road in addition to track.

capo is going to be different as it's aluminum and larger diameter tubing, as well as different geo as you noted. it's more apples to oranges in this case.

best bet is ride different stuff and figure it out from there.

+1. ride before buy

I can't speak to any of the bikes mentioned, but I can say that Cannondale does make a very nice product. They're really solid bikes; pretty stiff frames, but not as bad as you'd think oversized aluminum to be, and pretty good components. Plus, though steel may indeed be real, aluminum doesn't rust from the inside out.

To the heart of the matter, though: people who are saying try 'em out first are right on the money.

i love my steamroller
it has more relaxed geometry but that makes it really comfortable on longer rides if that interests you at all, i commute on it everyday and add some extra miles in with errands and fun rides...its tough and sturdy

I, too, love my Steamroller. Although the stock saddle is Godzilla and will treat your ass like Tokyo.

get rid of that thing today, i did a pretty long ride on the stock saddle and it was killing me so i bought a brooks...i gave the stock saddle to a buddy of mine and i told him it wasn't the most comfortable but he was happy with it