Kestrel 200 SCi

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Bike shop in Queens

Favorite Ride:
Silver Comet Trail Atlanta, GA

Bike Setup:
Shimano Ultegra 600 group,Dura Ace pedals, Cane Creek stem, Mavic MA 40 rims, carbon fiber areo seat post, XO saddle, Kestrel EMS carbon fork.

Summary:
I purchased this bike new in 1989. It was ahead of its time then, and now is still the standard other frames are measured by. Sure there are flashier models out there, but this was the original. It truly rides like a dream and I can vouch for it's durability. This is the design that changed the direction for modern cycling.

Strengths:
Smooth ride, dampens road shock. Timeless styling.

Weaknesses:
I had a problem with the rear drop out after a few crashes. The factory eventually replaced the frame for me. No more problems since.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Descending Columbia Street all the way to the River.

Bike Setup:
Full Dura Ace all the way around. Modolo X-tenos quill, Weyless 7075 fully butted T6 alloy oversize bars, Bonty Bzzzkill.

Summary:
Holy wow, this is a fantastic bike. I spent loads of time researching and testing every new, top of the line carbon road bike out there (Lemond, Trek, Orbea, Fuji, Felt, Giant, KHS, Bianchi, etc.) and when it comes down to it, this bad boy rolls with the best of them.

With full Dura Ace all the way around, there's no question that it's a quality piece of gear. There are drawbacks, but they're so minor (paint, seat tube stop is strange, etc.) that I consider them to be idiosyncrasies (I am a huge Peugeot fan too, so idiosyncrasies are alright by me). If you find one of these, buy it immediately with no questions asked- just be prepared to enjoy yourself immensely.

Strengths:
Sexy, Sexy, Sexy. Competitively lightweight for the price. Unique looking in a field of Madones and other silly bikes. Eats road shock like a gas loaded shock.

Weaknesses:
Not the newest, lightest thing on the market. Paint. Came with a somewhat lame Steering Quill which could be much lighter and have less history of catastrophic failure...

Similar Products Used:
Trek Madone 5.9 SL, Specialized Roubaix, Orbea Orca, Lemond Tete' de Course, Litespeed, Bianchi, etc.

Price Paid:  $2800.00 at Super Go

Favorite Ride:
Vancouver to North Shore

Bike Setup:
Full Dura Ace.

Summary:
A superb machine. The frame technology used is only now widely seen. Buy one if you find one for sale!

Strengths:
Light, stiff and eats road shock.

Weaknesses:
None.

Price Paid:  $400.00 at online

Favorite Ride:
Early Sunday morning

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace triple setup except for the crankset - Ultegra triple

Summary:
The carbon bike I wanted other than the Madonne. I was riding a Trek 2200 before I bought this online then swapped all the components. All DA except for the crankset which is Ultegra triple. Logged about 1500 miles since I got it. Installed an Easton EC70 carbon handle bar, replaced the fork with LOOK HSC (it had a Performance brand carbon fork), and a Bontrager carbon/alum. stem. Original owner took good care of the frame. It had a couple of cable rubs, which I was able to get rid off using a little elbow grease and my magic wax that I also use on my cars :) I scratched an area of the top tube; emailed Kestrel in Santa Cruz and asked where I can buy the black touch up paint, they asked for my mailing address and sent me one for free. That's service.

Strengths:
comfortable, good climber, still gets attention from other cyclists.

Weaknesses:
it's not the latest and greatest model.

Similar Products Used:
Trek Madonne, Vellum cycles

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at RRB Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Kettle Morraine Drive -Greenbush

Bike Setup:
Red 200sci w/ 10sp Campagnolo Chorus, 28h DT rims on Record Hubs (built by me). Arionne saddle, Chris King GripNut, Speedplay X2, Profile stem, 3TTT bars, Michelin Pro tires. Approximately 18 lbs.

Summary:
I have been riding this bike for the last nine years. I am on my second set of components. I rode Campy Chorus 8 speed for seven years and felt no need to replace the frame as nothing else seemed worth it. I upgraded to Chrus 10speed and reduced the weight by about 2 lbs.I keep stuff a long time and this has held up very well. It even survived a 40mph crash while I did not (shattered ankle). It sprints well, climbs well and absorbs road shock. The combination of traditional wheels and the carbon frame and titanium saddle and post make for a very plush ride. I have rarely if ever felt beat up after riding this bike. I rarely get enough time to take a ride long enough to do that. This bike was so far ahead of the curve that I think the Europeans took about six to seven years to catch up. Funny thing, last year I was on a large group ride with C50,s BMC's, Pinarellos, Madones, Merlins, Seven's, etc and one of the other riders commented during a rest stop that my bike was the best looking bike in the group. I think he was sincere. Comments like that certainly help cure the bug to get something new.

Strengths:
It's red in that Ferrari red sort of way. Still looks great going into its tenth year. Durable. Good customer service. The bottom bracket shell loosened in the second year. It was replaced with a new design and while they had it they replaced the seat binder sleeve with an improved design even there was no problem with that.

Weaknesses:
old style headset, I have to use an adapter to use current stems. A bit heavy by current standards.

Similar Products Used:
Bob Jackson Grand Prix retired with about 60,000 miles, Trek Aluminum 1000, RRB steel (nice local frame, my son rides it now), test rode Trek 5200, Litespeed Classic, Klein Quantum.