Kestrel Talon

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Cycle Smithy Chicago

Favorite Ride:
Kestrel Talon SL

Bike Setup:
I'M LOOKING AT A CERVELO, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH I LOSE ON THE KESTREL.

Summary:
DO NOT USE THE FSA ALLOY TUBE, WHICH COMES WITH THE TALON SL. SOONER OR LATER, YOU WILL CRACK THE FRAME. I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO RIDE IT, FIRST ADJUSTMENT THE FRAME CRACKED AS THE FSA TUBE WAS INSERTED INTO THE FRAME. NO WARRANTY HELP FROM KESTREL!

Strengths:
NONE

Weaknesses:
POOR DESIGN COMBINES ALLOY WITH CARBON WITHOUT MAXIMUM INSERTION LINES,WARNINGS, OR INTERIOR FRAME STOPS. iE. POOR DESIGN

Similar Products Used:
WILL TRY TO SELL THIS TURKEY WHEN IT COMES BACK FROM JOES FRAME REPAIR IN WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA

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Price Paid:  $2000.00

Favorite Ride:
The next

Bike Setup:
Kestrel Talon 57cm, Easton EC90 SL fork, Ultegra & D/Ace set, HED One piece Aero Bars, HED S/Lite Disc + Deep (racing wheels), Spinergy SR3 (training wheels) Aero carbon forward seat pin (to get 76 degrees), Tri saddle - not weighed but probably about 18-19lb with peddles.

Summary:
Got the Talon and set it up as a dedicated Tri/ TT bike to complement my CAAD 4 road/training bike.
The looks are great; I like the internal cable routing and general finish although the seat stay to seat tube connection is a bit "industrial" - overall still looks better than most.
So far after a few hundred kms I like the ride. First ride out I was 2mph faster than normal (probably not just to the bike).
It is quite light, aero (partly due to HED bars which make a big difference), stiff, reasonably compliant and works well.
I noticed that with forward position the handling is not too stable as I almost lost the back wheel on a wet roundabout but I guess this can only be expected with a road geometry bike like this. A tri bike geometry is too extreme for me so thats why I went for a road bike.
When giving it some power up a hill I got some chain rub but this could be partly due to the chainset (however I never got chainrub on CAAD 4). Not been on any decent decents yet but fork is light (300grms and much lighter than the Kestrel Alu Steerer stock item) and stiff so reckon it should do well. Not tried in standard road set up but expect it would be great.
Looking forward to plenty more miles on it.

Strengths:
A good balance of lightness, aero, stiffness, comfort, looks, individuality (not as common as OCLV or TCR) and value.
I give it 5/5 for value and 4.5/5 for performance.
Lifetime warranty.

Weaknesses:
Not very light (I know they offer the SL version but did not consider USD500 extra for saving 300grms to be good value), stiffness to weight ratio is not fantastic (that one goes to Scott C1), the most aero (HED VO3 or Cervelo P3), best road handler (C50 or Six Thirteen) but nonetheless it is a fine bike, especially at the price.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale CAAD4, Giant Composite, Steel 78 degree custom tri bike, tested others

Price Paid:  $1700.00 at smitty's bike shop

Bike Setup:
ultegra-triple throughout
shimano 540

Summary:
I am very happy with the bike. My aluminum bike kicked my but on long rides. This bike allows me to ride farther and faster. I am much fresher the run portion of tri's.

Strengths:
carbon fiber
frame weight although not the lightest on the market
ultegra set-up - not the lightest but solid
Good bike for both tri's and regular road riding

Weaknesses:
I would change out the seat post
My bike came with shimano 540's which i upgraded

Similar Products Used:
giant

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Go Ride Cycles in Sa

Favorite Ride:
Uvas reservoir loop plus Croy, Willow Springs, Llagos, etc. Love to do Metcalf and Canada off 152

Bike Setup:
Dark blue metalic Talon frame.
Full Campy Record group, including headset
Look 396 pedals
Zipp 303 with tubular Conti Sprinters/Ksyium SL with Veloflex clinchers

TTT XL bars and Zepp stem
Carbon aero seat post
Fizik saddle

Summary:
I bought this frame for $1000 from Go Ride Bicycles in San Mateo (sale) and built it up myself as a project. I ride mostly recreational rides but sometimes will jump in and do a time trial or triathlon. This bike is awesome. I bought the 2003 dark metallic blue and put Campy Record on it. I alternate either Mavic Ksyrium SL clinchers (for road rides) or Zipp 303 tubulars (for racing, but sometimes for the road just to show off the bike).

With all the carbon fiber on the frame, the Record, and the Zipps, this bike is just a beautiful piece of work. It always draws a lot of attention when out on a group ride or at a coffee stop (Starbucks!). But that's not what it's really about. The real deal is it's performanced

Strengths:
Super fast: sprints like the stiffest aluminum frames (Specialized S works), corners and descends with confidence (as well as a Trek 5200, which I also own), and climbs with ease. The aerodynamics is no bull, either, they really help, especially, when you get down.

Weaknesses:
The seat post that came with it was the metal aero post. I weighed it and forgot the weight, but remember it was an absurd weight for a bike like this. I bought the carbon aero post from Supergo (Weyless), took some finger nail polish remover and took off the Weless logo (slid right off!), and put it on, adding even more beautiful carbon to my bike and it's even aero at a reduced weight.

Similar Products Used:
I also have a scadium Tommasini (also lightning fast), a USPS 5200, a vintage steel Centurion Ironman, and a lugged steel single speed/track bike.

Price Paid:  $2300.00 at Bike Source in Highl

Favorite Ride:
2003 Kestrel Talon

Bike Setup:
Stock bike with ultegra triple (for climbing CO mtns and to save my knees for a lifetime of riding).

Summary:
Bought this bike as an upgrade from my steel Lemond. Fell in love on the test ride and have been in love since. Great looks and a lucky red color to boot! Put Specialized Armadillos on it for winter riding here in Denver area and haven't flatted since. Overall the nicest bike i've had; more affordable than Trek 5200.

Strengths:
Full ultegra, velomax wheels, seat, fork, and full carbon frame.

Weaknesses:
the seatpost sux; had to file down bolts on each side to keep it from slipping; looking to change it out w/ more aero carbon post. Some grinding in gears on big angles, but to be expected.

Similar Products Used:
Lemond 2001