Felt F5 2012 spec vs. Kuota Kharma 2011 spec

Snaggletooth66

I am considering 1st carbon road bike and probably beyond the relatively entry level bikes popping up around the £1000 mark - in for a penny in for a pound!. At about £1600'ish I quite like the look of the Felt F5 (2012 spec seems similar to 2011) and am aware of the reviews about great light frame let down by slightly heavy wheels. On the other hand, the lure of an Italian stallion is strong and going down the less obvious (not 'PinaNago' ) route I am quite taken visually with the Kuota Kharma (KK). The 2011 colours more to my liking than the 2012 previews I've see and so am wondering whether I might get a deal on 2011 stock in cominf months. (I admit the cheaper Korsa looks good too!)

However, nothing in Cycling Plus (Rob Spedding - come on fella!) or on BikeRadar about the KK and so my question is does anybody own one and rate it / or wish they'd never bought it? The blurb on Epic Cycles web-site makes reference to being good for entry-level TT too and as I/m 45 that would probably descrive anything I'd be likely to do in that area. Other than that I do the ocassional sportive and my rides - including 1hr each way Ride to Work a couple of time a week - are reasonably 'brisk'.

Advice most appreciated. Cheers :?

danowat

I brought a 2011 Kharma at the beginning of the year, and its a bloody lovely bike.

Great to look at,comfy and fast, wheels are a bit basic, but other than that, I love it.

ollyridesfirst

I have the 2010 Kharma, and i absolutely love it.

I originally bought it for the looks, but it does ride very well now that the original R500 wheels have been upgraded!

Simply cannot fault it!

nochekmate

I don't think that you can go far wrong with Kuotas to be honest. Perhaps one of the most underrated brands for the money. Kharma, Kredo, Kebel are all good machines.

Slow Downcp

I have a 2005 (or 06) Kharma - fantastic frame would definitely consider Kuota again

mask of sanity

I love mine (KK), great VFM. The frame stiffness has also enabled me to change my climbing style from lots of out of the saddle riding to hardly any. It's not the lightest bike but who honestly cares seeing as you could make the difference up by going for a dump. Did I also mention that it's absolutely stunning to look at?! I keep mine in my room so it's often the first thing I see when I wake up which always makes me smile, and isn't that the most important thing?! That it makes you happy!?

I got it with Rival (Awesome!!!) and upgraded the wheels as they were pretty basic.

mask of sanity

Oh yeah, don't get one though!!! I also love it for it's exclusivity...

Snaggletooth66

Thanks all - looks like my destiny is the Kharma then (boom boom)!

flasher

2011 Felt F4 full Ultegra and decent wheels for £1500 on Wiggle, down from £2500, only 56 left............

kingrollo

I spent a whole year choosing a £1500 bike - eventually the Kharma got the vote. Wnt for upgraded wheels and ultegra for about £1700 - alot of people looking at it reckon is cost twice that.

Snaggletooth66

Kingrollo - that is a lovely looking bike. Damn!

Mask of sanity - I see from a previous thread you debated for a while about the KK and Rival etc? I only know humble Sora myself but I take if from your post that Rival is top notch (maybe takes a while to get used to I guess?)?

saintdracula

i would go for the felt f5 because the kuota is too popular. And the reviews seem ok, 90% on BR

mask of sanity

Snaggletooth66 wrote:

Kingrollo - that is a lovely looking bike. Damn!

Mask of sanity - I see from a previous thread you debated for a while about the KK and Rival etc? I only know humble Sora myself but I take if from your post that Rival is top notch (maybe takes a while to get used to I guess?)?

I went from Sora to Rival and was very impressed. I think £ for £ you're getting more with SRAM then you do with Shimano. Rival has a very mechanical feel which I really like and weighs less then Ultegra. But ultimately it comes down to how you feel using them. The hoods are slightly more chunky which I prefer and they protrude slightly less then Shimano. Some people have said that SRAM is hard to index and it probably has to be more precise then shimao but it's still an easy job.

It took me a bout a week to become used to the shifting. You can probably expect the odd upshift when you meant to down shift (I still do it every now and then) but the shifting mechanism is different from any shimano groupset above sora anyway so you'd still have to get used to a different method.

I'm very happy I went with SRAM and it will take a lot to get me back on to shimano for future bikes...

jarrvo

Just wanted to add that i got the Kuota Kharma 2011 back in june and its a great bike, i went for sram rival and mavic aksiums all for £1500.
I think as a brand its very underrated and will grow hugely in the next few years

Most of the lbs i spoke to were willing to make a deal, which im guessing getting to the end of the season will be even keener!

smckean

Very interesting topic to me. I have the option of buying a new felt f-series bike at dealer cost. Alternatively, I have found a 2011 Kuota Kharma with full dura ace that has been used for 6 months for sale for $2000. That's a $4000 bike. The rub with the Kharma is that it was in an accident where the rider hit a deer. Not with the stock wheels so those are fine. There are 3 or 4 small nicks in the paint but my real question is, how do I know if the frame is sound???? I suppose there is $2000 of value just in the durace stuff.

Thoughts?

danowat

I doubt I'd buy a carbon bike thats been crashed TBH, if in doubt, steer clear.