Look KG 361

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Ebay.com

Favorite Ride:
Monday Night Ride

Bike Setup:
Ultegra brake/shift levers, ITM 44 Handelbar, Deda 110 Stem, Ultegra Brakes, Shimano Ultegra Octalink BB, LOOK Carbon Crank, LOOK Keo Carbon Cro-Mo pedals, Mavic wheels, Michelin Krylon kevlar bead Tires, LOOK 25mm Carbon seatpost, Selle Itala Gen Gel Ti sadel.

Summary:
I was very suprised that I got a High quality Carbon bike at this price. I was the only bidder! This bike has been a complete joy the entire time I have owned it. I wouldn't ever trade it for anything Steel or Aluminum.

Strengths:
Carbon is just as great as they say it is!

Weaknesses:
The bike shop replaced my fork (after a women in a car hit me) with a fork that has a 40 degree rake (even after I requested a 45 rake fork) and it radicly changed the way it handels. Making the bike much more twitchy. I much prefer the handeling of a 45 degree rake, so now I'm on the hunt for a good LOOK fork with a much better 45 rake. Other than that its perfict.

Similar Products Used:
Lotus, Bianchi Aloro (lugged steel with Campy Mirage), Orbea Ultrafoco Carbon (Steel with Campy Centaur),

Price Paid:  $1020.00 at ebay.com

Favorite Ride:
Races

Bike Setup:
LOOK fork, Seatpost, Pedals. All Shimano Ultegra, Rolf Vector Comp wheels, Sele Itala Sadle,ITM bar, Dedacci Stem, Continental Tires, Cane Creek Head Set

Summary:
WOW! I bought this bike because my last bike (Orbea Ultrafoco Carbon) Got stolen. I didn't have any high hopes but was thuroghly amased at how wonderfully it rode. I now think that it is better than my prevoius Orbea. I know that LOOK was good but I bought it for the Team paint job. I plan on racing it when ever possable. I get coments like "nice bike" on a regular basis where ever I go. The Ebay seller said that the bike was $2700 new and I belive it.

Strengths:
Light weight, HM CARBON, Forgiving ride, Beautiful bright Team Colors in very rare Team Kelme Edition. The best road bike I have owned so far. Get a LOOK and you'll Love it!

Weaknesses:
The LOOK Carbon Seatpost started to crack after a few months fo use. I don't know if this was my fault or not, but these can be very expensive to replace. Also the seatpost binder mecanisem is very hard to find if you just happen to strip it like I did.

Similar Products Used:
1997 Bianchi Aloro(Campy Mirage), 2003 Orbea Ultrafoco Carbon(Campy Centaur), 2000 Schwinn Fastback Comp(105), 1980's Lotus(Shimano Exage), 1980's Centuriun LeMans

Price Paid:  $900.00

Bike Setup:
Campy Chorus with a touch of Ultegra. I built the bike up myself so there's little point in speccing it out here! Do Look even sell built up frames?

Summary:
The best bike I've owned. The ride quality is amazing, you can feel the road beneath you but you can also do an 80 mile ride and feel pretty good. Handling is very sharp and assured. You notice the light weight when climbing and I really appreciate it. Some people claim carbon is 'dead' and 'lifeless' but I can't say that's been my experience. It doesn't quite have the 'life' of a good steel frame, but then it weighs less and is more comfortable. Still it has feel! My Canondale was just too stiff by far and I weigh 192 lbs. Great for sprinting but the ride quality was appalling on bad (UK) roads. The only slight gripe I have is descents - it feels a little ropey to me at over 45mph. Haven't worked out if that's flex or fear, but it's not a big issue in any event.

If you're 250lbs or a professional (not a weekend racer, I do that on this bike), this probably isn't your bike. Otherwise, take a look.

Strengths:
Comfort and feel, responsiveness, love the geometry, weight, beautiful to look at, and not that expensive!

Weaknesses:
Possibly high speed descents. Other than that, nothing!

Similar Products Used:
custom 531 frame, Canondale R1000, Litespeed Capella, Trek OCLV.

Price Paid:  $1985.00 at http://www.excelspor

Bike Setup:
black 105
Ultegra wheels
Ritchey and Italia

Summary:
I truly love this frame. I searched and searched for something that felt comfortable over long rides, climbed great, and was stiff enough for my 190 pounds in sprints. This bike does all of the above well. Not quite as light (about 18 pounds loaded) as the 381i but I felt the ride was almost identical, so I went with this frame. Also, road Colnago's, Trek and Kestrel before deciding on the Look. I really could tell a difference in response and it didn't feel nearly as bumpy as the aluminum frames. Seamless design is just gorgeous too, and the CSC matte is low key but very beautiful. Honestly, I am so happy with this frame that I have stopped searching for "just the right" bike.

Strengths:
beautiful seams, all carbon
very responsive and smooth on the road
much less bumpy (I thought) than aluminum
comfortable on longer rides (80-100 miles)

Weaknesses:
not a super light (15 pounder)

Price Paid:  $2200.00 at ExcelSports.com

Favorite Ride:
Glendora Mtn Road, CA

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace

Summary:
First thing I noticed was how smoothly this bike rides over rough roads. Very compliant, but stiff stiff enough to respond when you want it to. In fact, despite some other reviewers stating that it is not good for sprints, I must point out that I have won 2 field sprints in the past month on this bike, and one was for the State Championships... so I find it plenty stiff enough for me. All around a great bike that damps enough vibration to keep thing comfortable on 6 hour rides (especially ones that end with a sprint!)

Strengths:
- vibration damping
- bang for the buck

Weaknesses:
25.0 post leaves you with few choices, but once you have a good post (try the USE alien carbon) when are you ever going to switch?

Similar Products Used:
LOOK KG381i,
Willier Galibier,
Merlin road (the old standard),
Litespeed Ultimate,
custom Reynolds 853 steel frame