Condor Leggero

Ben6899

Fellow London types, does anyone here own a Condor Leggero. I've specced an Ultegra build for ~£3,500 and just wondered if anyone could comment on the ride quality of the frame.

I'm guessing it's pretty sh1t hot, if it's used by the RCS team, but I like to do my research!

clarkey cat

if you buy it I'm happy to test it out for you for the first few weeks and make sure the ride quality is okay...

Ben6899

clarkey cat wrote:

if you buy it I'm happy to test it out for you for the first few weeks and make sure the ride quality is okay...

I'll send you a PM.

TheEnglishman

For that kind of money won't Condor let you try it out?

Ben6899

TheEnglishman wrote:

For that kind of money won't Condor let you try it out?

They probably would, but all you get in a test ride is a feel for it it's the right fit. Not until you've dragged a bike up a hill or banged out some intervals on it, do you really know what it's like to ride.

dhope

Ben6899 wrote:

TheEnglishman wrote:

For that kind of money won't Condor let you try it out?

They probably would, but all you get in a test ride is a feel for it it's the right fit. Not until you've dragged a bike up a hill or banged out some intervals on it, do you really know what it's like to ride.

For £3.5k you could tell them you wanted to take it out to Richmond park? 2hr test ride probably isn't OTT

Ben6899

dhope wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

TheEnglishman wrote:

For that kind of money won't Condor let you try it out?

They probably would, but all you get in a test ride is a feel for it it's the right fit. Not until you've dragged a bike up a hill or banged out some intervals on it, do you really know what it's like to ride.

For £3.5k you could tell them you wanted to take it out to Richmond park? 2hr test ride probably isn't OTT

Happen you're maybe right. I'll have to have a word.

spasypaddy

for £3.5k i wouldnt be buying a condor... dunno what i'd be buying but it wouldn't be a condor

dhope

spasypaddy wrote:

for £3.5k i wouldnt be buying a condor... dunno what i'd be buying but it wouldn't be a condor

https://www.canyon.com/_uk/roadbikes/bike.html?b=2514
y'know, if you can put up with Campag

And it'd make Clarkey Cat so jealous he'd end up buying one too

spasypaddy

i wouldnt get a canyon either...

i'd look at getting something a bit less run of the mill. less common

dhope

spasypaddy wrote:

i wouldnt get a canyon either...

i'd look at getting something a bit less run of the mill. less common

I've got a Langster you can have for £3.5k. Guarantee it'll be the only £3.5k Langster you'll ever see

spasypaddy

thanks, i'll bear that in mind if i ever have that kind of money to spend on a bike again!

mroli

Just to get my affiliation out of the way with first - I'm a Rapha Condor club member, so I do like Condor bikes and what they do.
I've got a Diamante which is the old Leggero with an integrated seatpost and I love it. Although to be fair it is the only "high end" bike that I've got (comparing it against the Condor Squadra/Cervelo Team Soloist). The new model is exactly what the team race (so therefore it is effectively a National Champs winning frame under Kristian House a couple of years ago).
One of my clubmates got it to replace his (broken) Cervelo and said this about it after the etape: "It was lovely to ride, the best thing I can say is that I just didn't notice it. It felt really fast and great on the climbs (much like the Cervelo) but the descents were a big improvement. It felt so steady but still responsive, a rare combination."
I would be very surprised if they don't let you have a bit of a play on one, don't go at lunchtime and they may be a little less busy, but I defo would buy a top end Condor again.

Ben6899

Chaps, thanks for all the input.

You know, one of the top end Canyons was my first direction, but then - being a risk-averse Engineer - I was worried about getting the right fit and not being able to even sit on one, nevermind take one for a test ride.

Spasydaddy makes a fair point about wanting something less run of the mill... although I wouldn't necessarily consider the Leggero to be run of the mill.

At the end of the day, I want a bike that I'll ride for ever and £3,500 is my realistic budget for the whole lot. I am well open to recommendations!

mroli, thanks for the rider review.

spasypaddy

im a dad!? news to me

its not so much run of the mill as a frame but as a manufacturer its quite common IMO. Bit like Cervelo. Brilliant bikes and a reason they are popular BUT I'd be looking at (amongst others):
Look
Time
Colnago
Scapin

Something with a bit of italian/european flair

Ben6899

spasypaddy wrote:

im a dad!? news to me

its not so much run of the mill as a frame but as a manufacturer its quite common IMO. Bit like Cervelo. Brilliant bikes and a reason they are popular BUT I'd be looking at (amongst others):
Look
Time
Colnago
Scapin

Something with a bit of italian/european flair

I have ALWAYS read it as spasyDaddy! I'm a freakin retard.

I see where you're coming from now. Do Sigma Sport stock any of those brands? I've always been intrigued by Look and Time bikes.

clarkey cat

Got to say if I had £3500 to spend in Condor I'd get a super accaccio built up with Chorus and some bling wheels. Possibly.

spasypaddy

haha no worries.

i'd recommend sacking sigma off and popping up to see Darren at Shorter Rochford in potters bar (not finchley as they dont stock high end stuff) assuming you are actually a North Londoner.

There are other brands out there that i'd look at as well. let me see if i can find my spreadsheet of exotic bikes!

clarkey cat

the Spin Spitfire comes in around the price point too. Damn bling though. Very gangster.

spasypaddy

Basso, Argon 18, Casati, Cinelli, Ciocc, Colnago, Conor, Corratec, Cyfac, Derosa, Faggin, Fondriest, Fontana, Formigli, Gitan, Guru, Kestrel, KTM, Kuota, Look, Merlin, Muusew, Mercx, Orbea, Phian, Viner, Time, Scapin

Were all manufacturers i considered and looked into before settling on my Look

Casati were the one that came millimetres from being selected...
http://www.ciclicasati.it/

mroli

Oh - Ben, of course, the other thing about Condor is, you can talk to them about custom paint jobs as well....

Ben6899

I am a North Londoner, yes. I could get to Potters Bar in half hour or so on the bike, so I might pop up there this or next weekend. Cheers!

Spin Spitfire... I've never ridden titanium. Hmm.

mudcow007

there is no way on gods green earth that condor is a common manufacture

i dont think i have ever seen one out on the road yet

common to me is Specialised & Trek

What about a Wilier?

Ben6899

mudcow007 wrote:

there is no way on gods green earth that condor is a common manufacture

i dont think i have ever seen one out on the road yet

common to me is Specialised & Trek

What about a Wilier?

See a lot of steel frame Condors in the Smoke, mate, it's a fair point.

Wiliers are nice, but not really on my radar. And I'm not sure why!

clarkey cat

surely you could go customer titanium for that price = and that would be a bike forever?

Enigma?

mudcow007

Ben6899 wrote:

See a lot of steel frame Condors in the Smoke, mate, it's a fair point.

touche'

dhope

mudcow007 wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

See a lot of steel frame Condors in the Smoke, mate, it's a fair point.

touche'

Yep, to be fair they're all over the place (says the recent condor buyer). Take a glance on LFGSS classifieds

Ben6899

mudcow007 wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

See a lot of steel frame Condors in the Smoke, mate, it's a fair point.

touche'

I didn't mean it like that. Sorry.

Enigmas are everywhere as well.

clarkey cat

Baum?

spasypaddy

clarkey cat wrote:

Baum?

dont even get a seatclamp at that price


and something someone said to me when i was considering what to get was if you get a smaller manufacturer they wont have done the research and development that someone like Look/Time have done and its not a proven frame

jonny_trousers

mudcow007 wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

See a lot of steel frame Condors in the Smoke, mate, it's a fair point.

touche'

Ooh, I saw what you did there. Nice!

I can't imagine there will be too many bikes at that price that are not good enough for the keen amateur. That really just leaves you with deciding what's important in a frame. If it's pose factor then the Leggero will certainly give you that, but I'm steadily coming to the conclusion that you do pay a premium for the badge and the 'exclusivity' factor where Condor is concerned, which, let's be honest, does count for something. If I ever have that kind of cash to spend on a bike then I will probably buy something Italian. Not because I know Italian bikes to ride any better than say American brands, but because I'm a ponce and think they exude style. If you like the look of the Leggero, if you can afford it, and most importantly, if you enjoy how it feels to ride, then why not?