2011 Kuota Kharma
twotyred
Posts: 822
Frame: 2011 Kuota Kharma
Wheels: Reynolds Shadow
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra
Stem and bars: Deda
Decided to go for a new bike now instead of next year when the bike prices and vat will go up. Tested the Kuota against a Scott Addict and Bianchi Infinito. The Kuota had the smoothest ride, planted and stable and didn't lose out to the other bikes on stiffness, and just felt "right". I expected to get a 2010 frame but just as I placed my order some 2011 frames came through and one was my size- result!
Day after I picked it up did a 100 mile sportive and felt the least fatigued I ever have after a ride that long.
Thanks to Phil at Epic Cycles for his advice and patience whilst I spent almost the whole of a Saturday afternoon testing bikes. I can't recommend Epic Cycles highly enough.
Bring on the Etape in 2011.
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Enjoy, I am
and it does that without trying to rattle your fillings loose as well
That's a classy time gb. Good to know the bike impresses more powerful riders than me as well.
Very nice.
I know looks shouldn't matter but really I reckon to most of us how a bike looks is at least as important as how it rides.
How much did you pay for this?
Also available with Shimano 105 for £1500.
Brilliant bike!
I am looking to buy one early next year:)
let us know a review maybe helpful.
how much did the reynolds wheelset cost?
The san marco ponza saddle is brilliant, ive got one, excellent.
townson the Reynolds wheels are not available to buy separately. Epic obtain them direct from Reynolds and are only allowed to sell them on complete bikes. I know they sell the bike with cheaper Shimano WH-500 wheels but I don't know what the price differential is.
As for a review. It soaks up road buzz and is nice and planted on the road not being deflected from its line by bumpy surfaces. Decending at speed its stable. Despite being more comfortable than an all out race bike it still responds well to accelerations and is plenty stiff enough to respond to out of the saddle efforts in the same way as a Scott Addict or Bianchi Infinito does- this is no soft centred sportive bike. Once up to speed on the flat it carries speed really well. Shimano Ultegra performs smoothly and accurately but no better than 105. My large weighs 18.5 lbs without pedals so its not the lightest bike but frankly unless you weigh 8 stone dripping wet a 2lb difference between the Kuota and an ultra light bike like the Addict is insignificant (well I couldn't make the Addict go up a hill faster than the Kuota). Only issue I've had was a creaking sound from the seatpost/bottom bracket about 50 miles into its first ride. This creak disappeared about 30 miles later and hasn't returned- guess something just needed bedding in.
In terms of vfm IMHO the Kuota performed better than either the Scott Addict or Bianchi Infinito I rode back to back with the Kuota and the Kuota with Ultegra is still £200 cheaper than the Bianchi with 105 and £300 cheaper than the Scott again with 105.
Perhaps slightly different to other kharma owners - my previous bike was an Alu Pinarello - and the Kuota isn't as stiff as that.
But the ride is stable and very smooth. Although a sportive, more upright position than the pinarello - my speeds have improved - and thats gotta be because I am more comfortable on the bike.
I upgraded to xero wheels and ultegra £1700 from Henry Burton cycles who clearly knows his stuff. Swapped to a compact handlebar as well - much better.
Can't really understand why you don't see more kuota's around - doesn't seem anything to touch it for £1500 (105)
They don't have that many dealers in the UK (10 or 12 I think) plus at that price people start getting seduced by the famous brand names which, if my recent experience is anything to go by, aren't all that.
I'm happy for us Kuota owners to remain a small exclusive group of free thinkers with great taste and discernment
Anyway if they got more popular Kuota would put their prices up.
Shhhhh......
I've still got mine - too nice to change it (plus it was a Xmas pressie of the wife)
As said above, I am more than happy to be the only Kuota owner I know. Great bikes that stand out from the army of Specialized/Trek/Cervelo that you see on the club runs. Not there is anything wrong with these brands, they're excellent, but it is just nice to be different.
Saying that, though, I have found dealer and, to a greater extent, distributor support less than perfect...
I found the lack of manufacturers blurb/manual/ guarantee card etc on purchase a little underwhelming, however, the bike itself is fantastic and haven't needed to deal with the shop or the company and hope I don't have to for the forseeable future.
I agree with Glasgowbhoy regards the saddle. The San Marco saddle cut me during the Tour of the Peaks last year. Did the research and settled on Selle Italia SLR which came highly recommended for the heavier cyclist.
The bike has been fantastic, smooth and responsive. Aftersales service from twenty3c has been great and I cannot recommend them, together with Kuota, highly enough.
I chose the SRAM Groupset, the LBS kindly upgraded the brake callipers to the Force, (didn’t admire the black of the Rival) and have upgraded to Selle Italia Flite Gel saddle, wheels and tyres to Ksyrium Elites (silver to enhance the white of the frame) and Michelin Krylion Carbon. She now goes like she looks. Handles like a dream, though a bit twitchy to start with until you understand the geometry, light and stiff. She will get admiring glances where ever she goes, it’s just a shame about the bloke perched on its back, I now have to live up to those expectations.
But as was mentioned above, do we want to maintain the exclusivity of the brand or shout about our imagination and foresight. I am now considering my next upgrade, though a couple of years away, do I remain loyal to seductive looks or do I try another niche market> Who can tell, all I will say is this is an amazing bike, at an amazing price that everyone should try, as long as it doesn’t cheapen the brand and make it common place.