Need purchasing advice: Look 595 vs. Masi Premiare PC2

FourYearStrong

Hi all,

Longtime lurker, first time poster. Hoping you pick your brains this morning and get a second set of eyes on two bikes I'm considering. I recently sold my stalward Masi Vincere road bike and am ready to upgrade to a carbon fibre model. Wanted a second set of eyes to see if anything sticks out or if there are any red flags.

OPTION 1: Look 595
My friend recently bought this bike off Craigslist and is interested in selling it to me (he hasn't ridden it much.) He says the posting indicated the original MSRP was over $3k and it's no more than three years old. I am familiar with Look, but hadn't heard of the 595. After doing some research, I couldn't find any reference to the 595 model before 2011 or so. Does anyone know if this bike was in fact in production up until three years ago? Also having issues finding specs, but it looks like the factory bikes were sold with pretty high-end Shimano components. It also comes with some nice Reynolds Solitude wheels and newish tires. Looks pretty clean and lightly-used.

Here are some photos to help with the IDing.

http://tinypic.com/r/b6spdl/9
http://tinypic.com/r/15mok29/9
http://tinypic.com/r/2lcpf1i/9

Asking price is $1,300.

OPTION 2: Masi Premiare PC2
I've been a longtime Masi fan and have owned three of them over the past decade, including my very first roadie. My local bike shop has what appears to be a great deal on a new 2013 Masi Premiare PC2 for just $969. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/2qhrcQh Includes service package and discount on components (although I already have everything I need.) The components look a bit middling and I'm not a huge fan of the Brev. M wheels (especially compared to the Reynolds wheels of the Look) but it still seems like a lot of bike for not a lot of money.

Thoughts? Slaps in the face? Thanks in advance for providing a second set of eyes!

Matthewfalle

Buy the Look. It's lovely.

A friend has one in all white with Super Record and Bora deep rims and it's utterly lovely.

Buy it, cut that junk off the stem, pop on some deep rims.

It's lush.

bungalballs

I have a 595 inbuilt up with Da9000 and Reynolds carbon rims, and it's my pride and joy. Easily sub 7kg and it's a joy to ride. In my view, one of the last great looking looks whilst they were still using lugged carbon.

Yes they definitely exist pre 2011, my frame is 2008 pro team colours. Have a google for Thor Hushovd.

Definitely buy the look, assuming the saddle is high enough for you.

bungalballs

By the way, your mate's looks like a 2008 based on googling.

proto

This didn't take a lot of effort: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/p ... ion-17377/

BTW, I had a similar Look 585, and it was a very lovely thing indeed. If it fits you, buy the Look.

FourYearStrong

Thanks everyone. Clearly what I've heard resoundingly clear is that the Look is the better bike.

I totally agree, but I guess what I'm concerned about is buying a 9-year-old bike that looks clean but could have an untold number of miles on the frame and components, whereas the Masi is new and covered under warranty for two years. Am I being overly cautious?

ugo.santalucia

Buy the Look, no question. Although of course I understand the appeal of Masi, being Italian, that is not a hand made bespoke frame lovely crafted by Faliero, but most likely a mass manufactured in mould frame made in China with a Masi sticker on... it could be anything, they probably made an identical one that said Colnago on the downtube. At least with Look you are buying into the work they put to innovate and improve and I believe they do make their own frames.

In my experience Look frames are superb and stand out from the crowd for quality. Check it before you buy it, inspect the frame for potential cracks, ride it to see if there is anything that feels or sounds wrong... if not, it's probably OK

Matthewfalle

Buy the Look and upgrade to Super Record mechanical and deep rims and carbon bars and carbon stem. And cut off all that junk on the stem and let me live my life vicariously through your bike purchases.

bigdaveskinnytyre

Look all the way

I had a 585 and always lusted after a 595, the 585 was the best road frame I've owned.

I've just picked up a 5 year old 586 with Chorus to satisfy the Look shaped hole in my stable. Personally not a fan of the newer ones with the integrated stem, proprietary chainsets etc.

585 and 595 were their pinnacle in my view.

FourYearStrong

Well, friends — I took a leap of faith and picked up the Look. My friend is actually going to let me take it for a mechanical inspection and a fitting before I put money down on it, so there's no risk of me getting stuck with something that's broken or doesn't fit right.

Needs new tires (the slicks it has on now are bald) but took it for a quick spin and everything else seems to be in perfect mechanical order — like riding on air. More soon!

Matthewfalle

Top purchase that man - more pictures please.

Captain Fagor

Another vote for the 595. I certainly like mine.

Matthewfalle

I also wouldn't worry about the tyres: having tread on bi-cycle tyres is pointless, so if they are meant to be slick and have no cracks or aren't buggerred then keep them until you stick deep rims with tubs on it.

rolf_f

bigdaveskinnytyre wrote:

Look all the way

I had a 585 and always lusted after a 595, the 585 was the best road frame I've owned.

I've just picked up a 5 year old 586 with Chorus to satisfy the Look shaped hole in my stable. Personally not a fan of the newer ones with the integrated stem, proprietary chainsets etc.

585 and 595 were their pinnacle in my view.

I have one of the last 585s. There's no alternative bike that I would want to swap it for.