My new Kinesis 4S!

barry_badrinath

Here is my new Kinesis 4S. It's my new commuter / 'all weather' bike, as I couldn't really justify a new winter bike in April! Bought the frame set and then built up with full 105 group set (besides the brakes).

Lovely looking bike, but I'm not 100% on the orange bottle cages at the moment - a bit loo light maybe.... Pleased with how the silver 105 stuff matches the frame. Tough ride into a rank head wind this morning though, ugh.

holiver

Looks good. The front end is quite high which would have made the headwind have even more of an impact...

Any idea on weight?

barry_badrinath

Yeah I was thinking that I need to lower that - should have got the mechanic to do it when he dropped it over. Is it an easy enough job?

No idea, but definitely lighter than my old Boardman commuter. How does one weigh a bike?

whoof

Looks nice. I've been thinking what to get if I replace my commuter/winter bike. What mudguard clearance is there? I keep seeing 'winter' bikes with forks that will only take a 23 mm tyre.

To lower the position I would turn the stem upside down just need a couple of allen keys (probably 4 & 5 mm). Search youtube or something it's pretty simple.

barry_badrinath

It can take full bolted on mudguards - those are sks chromoplastics on there. No hint of rubbing so far. Will probably change up to 25s once the weather gets rubbish again.

jomoj

this is very nice but agree on the accessories unfortunately, just a bit too lary orange but you could add some matching cables and tape to balance it out. Bontrager do a bright orange gel tape that would go with the cages.
Quite tempted by one of these but can't decide on the black or the silver...

You'll be able to fit 28s and full guards on there no problem, that's what the frame is designed for. Is that the 57cm frame by the way?

It looks like they left plenty of spare steerer tube to allow you to adjust position so you could flip the stem and swap a spacer round to above the stem to move it even lower. If you want to, then:

Undo the bolts on the front of the stem and rest the bars on the front wheel.
Undo the 5mm bolt in the top cap on the stem and take it off
Undo the 4 or 5mm bolts holding the stem to the steerer, slide it off, take off a spacer, put the stem back up the other way and put the spacer on top.
put the top cap on and tighten it until there is no play in the headset but it's not stiff
straighten the stem and tighten the bolts up
put the bars back in and do up the 4 bolts on the front evenly - do a top bolt, then a bolt diagonal to it, then the one above then the one diagonal to that - helps keep the tension equal.
check and ride on.

barry_badrinath

Cheers buddy - that's awesome. Will look to get that sorted next week (have my stag this weekend, which I am rather worried about!).

Yeah that's the 57. I think I'll probably leave the garmin mount for now, but replce the bottle cages with the black / orange elites. I originally fancied the black one, as wasn't initially sure of the orange on this, but then someone commented that it was a bit Team Sky, and that stuck in my head!

antfly

That front end isn't high, it just depends how long your arms are and what's comfortable..

RideOnTime

yeah, she's sleek...

rutled

looks great, mine is getting built up at this moment, again with 105 groupset (bar the brakes) and h plus son archetype rims, on the black frame. Is there much toe overlap on yours? I tried a friends grandfondo ti in 57 frame before pre-ordering my 4S and without mudguards I had no toe overlap but only just. It's probably not too important anyway as I have it on another bike and never had a problem.

KINGGARY

That's a cracking looking bike, really must build a proper winter bike this year.
Love the colour scheme on the frame.

barry_badrinath

rutled wrote:

looks great, mine is getting built up at this moment, again with 105 groupset (bar the brakes) and h plus son archetype rims, on the black frame. Is there much toe overlap on yours? I tried a friends grandfondo ti in 57 frame before pre-ordering my 4S and without mudguards I had no toe overlap but only just. It's probably not too important anyway as I have it on another bike and never had a problem.

Not noticed it too badly, but then I've only been on a couple of commutes so far, and no long rides. Can't get out this weekend unfortunately

holiver

My T2 is a 57 and shares geometry with the 4S. I have the P35 guards fitted and only really experience toe overlap when unclipped (with my foot further forward on the pedal)

bjl

Just picked up a bargain priced TK3 frame on t'bay, which is basically the same frame , built it up and am very pleased with how comfortable and sporty it is, my favourite bike at the moment.

Felix28

I've got the tektro r359 brakes but am unable to mount it. Did you have a similar problem?

I wanted to use the shimano mounting nuts but did not work for front nor the back brakes. My back brake caliper is on now with the tektro supplied nut. As for the front brake, the nut won't fit into the fork from the back.

What brakes did you use and how did you mount them? Also, did you leave the spacers on?

ba68

Given our rubbish springs, autumns, winters and sometimes summers I tend to ride my "wet" bike more than I expected to so I am thinking of swapping my Ribble Winter frame for one of these, any thoughts?

rutled

I've had my 4S for about six weeks now and have ridden nothing else. really comfortable on the rougher roads and compact groupset really helps on the hills. I have H plus and son archetype rims which are slighty wider at 25 mm, and with 25 mm tyres really robust and comfortable. relaxed geometry too. I have a Madone carbon 5.9 SL too but its only been out on one sportive so far, as I am enjoying the 4 S so much and able to keep up with my buddies on their carbon bikes. definitely recommend it.

Daithi

rutled wrote:

looks great, mine is getting built up at this moment, again with 105 groupset (bar the brakes) and h plus son archetype rims, on the black frame. Is there much toe overlap on yours? I tried a friends grandfondo ti in 57 frame before pre-ordering my 4S and without mudguards I had no toe overlap but only just. It's probably not too important anyway as I have it on another bike and never had a problem.

Has your 4S been built up now? Appreciate some feedback on comparison between the Grand Fondo and the 4S. I fancy a new winter frame and the 4S makes perfect sense but I had a titanium Raleigh before and loved the smooth ride. Had a Racelight T before which was good and overlapped with the period I owned the Raleigh frame. When I switched from the Racelight T to the Raleigh I used to think I had a flat back tyre at first as it soaked up the bumps so well but the front end on the Racelight felt a lot more direct. I think I'd be happy with the 4S but would really love the Grand Fondo as I'm 45 now and ready for some comfort ;-)