Kinesis TK2 or Gran Fondo?

ianmichaeljones

I've been building up to buying a good quality winter bike - any more building up and winter will be over!

It'll be used for club runs, solo rides up to 70m or so, and up to 10m commutes. I have a Cervelo R3 as best so want a non-carbon, mudguarded affair.

I've come down to the Kinesis TK2 or Gran Fondo (please, for the sake of my sanity, no other suggestions!). I was able to test ride the TK2 at Epic Cycles today - they were very friendly and thorough, cheers to Simon there.

It was a very good ride - no real complaints at all. But is it worth shelling out an extra £300 or so for the Gran Fondo? Epic didn't have one built up to test. Has anybody tried both? Is the Fondo less racy than the TK2? Can you feel a difference - in comfort, in geometry, in weight?

hopper1

Maybe do a search in hre, or, check through C+ back issues, as they test rode a Gran Fondo, and thought very highly of it.

keef66

That's the very dilemma i'd have had last September if the Gran Fondo had been around then. As it wasn't, I ended up with the TK, and we're still blissfully happy together. (Also thanks to Epic)

I believe the Gran Fondo differs in having a Scandium frame / carbon seatstays, so a bit lighter and potentially less buzz. Is the head tube also a bit longer?

I suspect i'd probably spend the money on better kit on the TK2 frame.

canamdad

I have a T that is going into its 3rd winter- 5500 miles right now on it. It's a good bike and fits me well and runs when it's covered with mud and dirt! I know someone with a Gran Fondo and he likes it but the mudguard clearance is very tight even with 23mm tyres. I don't think you could get it to work with 25 mm which I prefer in winter. So just depends where you want to make your compromises: do you want a real winter bike then go T or TK (I guess they both have a 2 after them now) or something zippy for sportives with a little less application on the rain protection with the Gran Fondo.

ianmichaeljones

Cheers, Hopper and Keef. There's surely nothing more tedious than somebody else's bike-buying dilemma. It's tedious enough when it's your own.

The Gran Fondo does have a 2.5cm longer headtube, but you can obviously get the same riding position by losing the spacers. I assume it's less buzzy on the road and it is lighter - though only by 100g or so.

Review-wise, this site gave the Gran Fondo and the TK2 great reviews: four-and-a-half stars for the TK2, four for the Gran Fondo (though the review is so glowing, I don't know why it didn't get five). Roadcycling.co.uk also loved them both - 9 for the TK, 10 for the GF.

I'm looking at building whichever one it is with Veloce and Aksiums. What would you upgrade, Keef? (A carbon seatpost is my only thought - don't know if you need better wheels for winter.) Simon at Epic has the TK2 and really rates it.

ianmichaeljones

Cheers, too, canamdad - think we posted simultaneously there. I'm always on 23s, so no problem with the muddies.

For my money, the TK2 looks a bit nicer, if such things matter...

giant_man

Just be mindful that the Gran Fondo is scandium and not just alloy so the ride will be different to a T or TK.

Have a word with Coyote on here, he has a Gran Fondo.

ianmichaeljones

Cheers, Giant. I presume scandium is a good thing - a plus point compared to alloy?

I've PM-ed the Coyote, so thanks for the pointer.

Would be much handier if one of the suppliers had a Gran Fondo to test ride. I'd imagine that a bike you've test-ridden usually gets the nod over the one you haven't.

keef66

If I was spending an extra £300 on the TK2 it would go on better wheels I suppose. And a saddle of choice.

I have a carbon post on mine but I can't tell you if it contributes to the comfort of the ride; I suspect the 25mm conti 4 seasons tyres are largely responsible.

giant_man

ianmichaeljones wrote:

Cheers, Giant. I presume scandium is a good thing - a plus point compared to alloy?

I've PM-ed the Coyote, so thanks for the pointer.

Would be much handier if one of the suppliers had a Gran Fondo to test ride. I'd imagine that a bike you've test-ridden usually gets the nod over the one you haven't.

Well by all accounts (I haven't ridden one) a harsher ride but better handling, so I guess a trade off, comfort vs performance.I did think about getting one a year ago but didn't take the plunge. The TK and T have better colours this year, the blue and black imo is stunning and are very popular, they make a great winter bike.

Coyote

Hi Ian,

I've replied to your mail with a bit more detail.

GF does exactly what I want it for and I agree with most of the feedback you've had here.

After 4 or 5 attempts at getting a winter bike that performs the way I want it to I now have no plans to replace it. I'm now entering my 2nd winter with it and I'm very happy.

ianmichaeljones

Thanks very much for the post and the PM, Ed. Very useful to hear from a happy owner.

You might just have cost me an extra £300!

Which wheels and gruppo do you have on it, by the way?

Coyote

I've got a Campag 10 speed carbon Chorus group on mine. Got it as a clearance bargain (!) as the shops cleared the shelf for the incoming 11 speed stuff.

Wheels are Xero Lite XR-1.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... /xr-1-8941

I used Campag Protons when I first built it but they had to go as fixing punctures at the side of the road was a total nightmare as I took for ever getting the sodding tyres on and off - all my mates used to clear off and leave me there alone before hypothermia set in. :-(

Swapping to the Xero's had a major impact on the ride comfort - it almost removed it!!!! The deeper section rims made me feel every bump on the road. They are super light and super stiff for the money and almost bombproof though......so it took a better tyre choice to make me smile again! I changed them to the latest Michelin Pro Race 3 GRIP (the winter version) and the effect was as dramatic - smooth and comfy again! Been riding this combo for a year now and love it.

ianmichaeljones

Hi Coyote (how I wish I'd chosen a fun name, not just my own).

I like the sound of those wheels - I was going to go for Aksiums but the Xeros sound like they have the edge. I was planning on getting Pro Race 3 Grip, as it happens - I use the Pro Race 3 on the other bike and with a bit more grip for winter, what could be better?

Think it'll be Veloce for me (price has to be considered somewhere along the line). It seems a pretty decent gruppo, all in all, and a lot of people seem to favour it for winter. I can live without 11 speed. For now!

ianmichaeljones

Hi Coyote (how I wish I'd chosen a fun name, not just my own).

I like the sound of those wheels - I was going to go for Aksiums but the Xeros sound like they have the edge. I was planning on getting Pro Race 3 Grip, as it happens - I use the Pro Race 3 on the other bike and with a bit more grip for winter, what could be better?

Think it'll be Veloce for me (price has to be considered somewhere along the line). It seems a pretty decent gruppo, all in all, and a lot of people seem to favour it for winter. I can live without 11 speed. For now!

ScottieP

Hello Ian

What did you decide in the end? Both bikes are interesting choices, I saw a TK2 in the Cherry Red parked outside my local shops on the weekend and it looked good - even in the rain.

ScottieP