What Trophy / Special 2nd Bike to get...

Dizeee

I have posted on here in addition to another forum as I am in the market for a second road bike. I currently have a 2012 ally Bianchi 105 which I intend to keep and use as a secondary bike / winter hack / general purpose bike. I want something special, carbon fibre and Ultegra equipped as a long ride / trophy / competitive bike. I won't be competing on it but will be using it for some club rides e.t.c. and trying to improve my fitness considerably. Budget would be around the £2k mark, can go higher but would need some justifying to myself.

Anyway, here's the thing. I have been researching this for ages and have narrowed what I think I want right down. I am going to give some opinions below which I would be grateful for comments / correction / other opinions on.

Canyon - I think the way forward for what I want, seemingly the best value, respected brand and very light. Can't find much to fault other than that you can't try before you buy. (Currently considering a new Aeroad Carbon Fibre with Kysrium Elite wheels and Ultegra D12 for under £2500 on their outlet).

Bianchi - Already have one and not convinced I want to stay with the same brand but could be convinced.

Look - Love them but can't help but feel they are overpriced for what they are. Love the 575 with integrated headstem but looking at £3500 for this plus basic Ultegra and basic wheels - so much money.

De Rosa / Fondriest / Colnago- Like the look of them but again seem expensive, I am not sure how appropriate it would be bearing in mind my lack of knowledge.

Pinarello - The ROKH is what appears to keep coming up in my price range but I am unsure as to how much the frame differs from the higher end stuff. I get the impression the cheaper Pinarello's are "wannabe's" , i.e a Boxster rather than a 911 etc etc

Specialized - Like them and had a mountain bike but the price seems to be all about the frame. £2.5 gets you a Venge but with shit componentry - Sora and crap wheels!

Trek - Currently have a hybrid with them, like them, not sure how decent their offerings are in the bike department.

What else should I be considering in terms of models and spec and am I being fair with my thoughts above? Cheers

dnwhite88

Kuota kharma evo may be worth a look, kuota have a custom build policy so you choose everything exactly as you want it and they'll even put your name on it if you ask (I opted out) very happy with mine, and with ultegra it came in at £25 over your budget, might be worth a look?

hulla the hulla

Aeroad would get my vote but then I'm biased as I have one. Equivalents from some of the major brands seemed so much more expensive for a like for like spec'd bike.

jameses

The 'Bike of the Year' thing has just happened (£2k limit), I suspect anything featured in that would be a good buy.

goonz

dnwhite88 wrote:

Kuota kharma evo may be worth a look, kuota have a custom build policy so you choose everything exactly as you want it and they'll even put your name on it if you ask (I opted out) very happy with mine, and with ultegra it came in at £25 over your budget, might be worth a look?

Interesting....how good are the frames?

goonz

I have a soft spot for the Focus brand, the Focus Izalco or Cayo would be in your price range, but need to check componentry. Good thing with Focus is its the exact same frame as used on the top models unlike other brands where cheaper bikes can have cheaper/less specced frames.

How about a Ridley? Hardly anyone ever talks about Ridley on here, why is that?

Camcycle1974

You could do worse than a giant defy advanced 1 which fits your brief including price if you know where to look. Depends on whether you deem it to be "special" or not. Personally i think its a cracking bike, fast but compliant for long rides and a technically brilliant frame. Pm if you want more info.

Dizeee

What nationality are Focus? Have seen their frames at Sigma but know very little about them.

Giant are ok, kind of like them but I can't stand the fact it comes with OE wheels.

This is why I just keep coming back to the Canyon, nothing comes remotely close in terms of spec for price. For the same price as the cheapest Defy 1 - 2.5k - (some are 3.5k) I can get a Carbon Canyon with D12 and Kysrium Elite / Cosmic Carbone from the outlet.

Camcycle1974

Focus are also German. Quality frames, I just found the position on the Cayo I tried a little too low for my needs. OE wheels yes but just as good as your Mavic/Fulcrum offerings for the price.They are made for Giant by DT Swiss so not exactly bargain basement. The PSL1 on the Advanced models are a ver good quality light wheelset. Wheels can be also changed. The prices you are quoting are full RRP which is not necessarily what you should pay! My issue with Canyon is that you have no option to try the bike. What if it doesn't fit properly? I would rather go to my LBS and ride the bike I want to buy than buy from a picture and specs on the internet.

housemunkey

I managed (with a lot of internet trawling and shrewd buying) to build my Look 566 with mechanical ultegra, handbuilt wheels and full carbon finishing kit from FSA, Deda and Specialized for knats over £2k.

So if you are prepared to a spend a little time finding the very best deals and build the thing yourself, it is possible to get one of the 'posher' branded frames with good kit at a good price.

dnwhite88

goonz wrote:

dnwhite88 wrote:

Kuota kharma evo may be worth a look, kuota have a custom build policy so you choose everything exactly as you want it and they'll even put your name on it if you ask (I opted out) very happy with mine, and with ultegra it came in at £25 over your budget, might be worth a look?

Interesting....how good are the frames?

I would definitely recommend them, I know one other person with a kharma and one with a kebel (one up from mine) who is looking to buy a KOM which is their pro frame. Bike radar gave them a good review but said it was a harsh ride, I have spinergy wheels on mine and can spend all day on the bike so I'd disagree.

Dizeee

Bought a De Rosa Merak. Cant wait.

Monty Dog

I wouldn't worry about nationality - AFAIK everything on your list comes from China/Taiwan, the Look maybe from Tunisia and certainly none of the Italian brand frames come from Italy e.g. Giant also make frames for Trek and Colnago, amongst many others.
Whilst aero frames with deep tubes look good, the downside is generally a harsher ride so if you're not racing, benefits are questionable.

rolf_f

Dizeee wrote:

Look - Love them but can't help but feel they are overpriced for what they are. Love the 575 with integrated headstem but looking at £3500 for this plus basic Ultegra and basic wheels - so much money.

Genuinely hand made (as opposed to some high end bikes which are banged out of moulds and cost as much) - always a penalty for that. Produced, as Monty says, in Tunisia in Looks own factory (except the 566 irrc) - not quite still France (obviously the French are still keen on their ex colonies!) but not a million miles away and very different to the more arms length Taiwanese options.

Canyons are unarguably rather good but not really Trophy bikes IMO; it's a mail order bike. If you want a Trophy bike, it must come from somewhere like Epic Cycles, you must specify each component yourself and you really should see it put together!

Dizeee

Dizeee wrote:

Bought a De Rosa Merak. Cant wait.

Seeing as it was missed above...

letap73

Ok its a higher price, but interest free credit helps:

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... egory=Sale Bikes&product=CR1 SL 20sp - 2012 Road Bike

Put £2000 down the rest on interest free credit?

skyblue337

Might be able to get a Look 586 UD with Ultegra for a little over your budget. I've seen them for 2.4K

Dizeee

Spent a bit more than I bargained for in the end