Moots Cycles 1999 VaMoots

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at through a friend

Favorite Ride:
maount dora metric century

Bike Setup:
Full Durace 9 speed, Mavic rims. My best recommendation of all is the Selle.smp saddle stratos version. It looks dangerous but is really comfortable and I can ride all day on.

Summary:
All my friends are jealous of my moots Vamoots. It is 8 Years old in perfect condition . I paid $1200 and we all agree I stole It. We just rode 65 miles through hilly country ( I live in S. FLa where it is flat). I felt like i was still warming up after 65 miles. It is perfection. All my riding buddies love my bike. They have everything from a 25 year factory Raleight to lightspeed- similar era- to current kuota All Carbon and non come even close to My Vamoots with allDura acse. In the sttepest hills whne everyone was struggling I just kept ridng up the hill. They are fortunate I did not have the proper Cassette for the steep grade or I would have really embarrassde them.

what can i say other thasn . I LOVE MY MOOTS!!!!!!

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
i am the rider and all I want otodo is have fun and not race bu I can't help my self.

Similar Products Used:
1982 something or other in Australia 12 speed that took me everywher

Price Paid:  $5000.00 at Sore Saddle Cyclery

Favorite Ride:
Gore Gruel

Bike Setup:
57.5 Moots Vamoots, 2002 Dura Ace Triple Gruppo, Moots Seat Post, Ti-Beam Stem, 3TTT 46 cm bars, Chr

Summary:
This is a review for the 2002 model, the major difference over previous year's models are a 1 1/8" headtube/set and a larger diameter top tube.

What a ride and what a birthday present - I turned 50 this year and this was my present to myself. It is also my second Moots - also have a YBB mountain bike. Both of these machines keep me rding a bike vs. taking up golf.

I cannot imagine a better bike than this - I dearly loved my Davidson Impulse and put many thousands of miles on its steel frame, but the weight was more (17.75 for the Moots, 21 for the Davidson) and it just didn't have that legendary silky feel going down the chip 'n seal highways and byways of NW Colorado.

Buy one of these bikes - you will not regret it.

By the way - I understand that the man behind the Moots design, Kent Eriksen, is the most proud of this road bike design, almost over anything else he has designed and built, with maybe the exception of the Smoothie.

Strengths:
Ti silky ride, lateral stiffness in the BB. I like the sizing a bit more; Moots' come in a 57.5 cm vs. a 58 cm size that I usually have to ride and this fits me better - the top tube is also a little longer than normal 58 cm bikes, too.

Weaknesses:
Absolutley none

Similar Products Used:
Davidson Impulse w/ Dura Ace, Trek 2100 SL w/ Ultegra STI, Bridgestone RB-1 w/ Ultegra

Price Paid:  $4999.00 at Vecchio's

Favorite Ride:
Squaw Pass

Bike Setup:
Campy Record, Zipp mid-deep clinchers built on Record hubs, and Wound-Up carbon fork

Summary:
I obsessed compulsively over this decision. Even though I looked at just about every great road bike on the market, I kept coming back to the VaMoots (I have a 2002). After logging my first 500 miles, I am ecstatic about my decision-I do not think there is a better bike on the market. Not only is it incredibly well made and finished (that almost goes without saying-the welds are as amazing as everyone says), but the ride is perfect. It balances everything that you could want in a road/racing/triathlon bike-stiff for sprints and out of the saddle climbs,compliant for descents and cornering, and ridiculously comfortable on long rides. While obviously very expensive, it's even a good value when compared to Seven, Serotta, Merlin, and Litespeed who ask $600.00-1,000 more for a comparable (possibly inferior) Ti frame. And if that's not enough, it's made in the best ski-town in Colorado.

Strengths:
Everything.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Calfee Tetra Pro,Seven Axiom,Serotta Legend, Pinarello Opera,etc

Price Paid:  $3140.00 at Belmont Wheelworks

Bike Setup:
Mostly Shimano Ultegra with Dura Ace Hubs. Front fork is a Slice carbon fiber (from a Cannondale).

Summary:
I would highly recommend this ride. After putting 5,000 miles on my Trek aluminum bike over the last three years, this was a much smoother more refined bicycle. I felt like I was moving from a Honda to a Jaguar. Perhaps the ultimate compliment was the reaction the bike got from other riders in a 200 mile charity ride that I do (the Pan Massachusetts Challenge). Riders with top Ty bikes (like Seven) were gushing effusively about the Moots. They are a rare bike (I didn't see another in the nearly 3,000 PMC riders) but those in the know are really appreciative. I've heard it said before and I will say it myself; if you can afford a Moots, buy it. you won't regret it.

Strengths:
Unbelievably smooth welds, extra strong frame using 6.4 titanium to increase durability in selected areas. The bike has beautiful lines and climbs like a mountain goat.

Weaknesses:
Decals that chipped for no reason

Similar Products Used:
1997 Trek 1400

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at pro-motion cycles

Bike Setup:
Shimano Dura Ace, Kysriums, Itm stem, 3ttt 220 bars, Ritchey WSC Ti saddle, Axial pro's, Columbus Muscle forks, Chris King H/Set, D/Ace seat post.

Summary:
I've owned 2 Ti mtb's in the past, a lightspeed Owl Hollow and a Diamond Axis TT. I thought the quality of these two Ti frames was good but compared to the Moots' build quality they weren't even in the same ball park. Theres a few Ti frames being ridden amongst the crew here including DeRosa's, Lightspeeds, Colnago's and Merlins and every time one of there owners see the welds on my Vamoots they weep. I ordered the Vamoots without test riding one (trusting these reviews) and have to say I'm not disapointed, it's stiff with no sign of excess flex and yet real comfy, it climbs like a goat, and corners and decsends better than I thought possible. I'm not regretting this purchase one bit.For the record my Vamoots is a 57.5cm and I'm 6'0" & 190lbs.

Strengths:
immaculate welds, alignment, finish, ride quality and customer service from Moots.

Weaknesses:
none!!!!.

Similar Products Used:
KHS Aero (reynolds 853), Giant Cadex Cfr1 (Also had 2 Ti mtb's).