Moots Cycles Vamoots

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Business Cycles

Bike Setup:
Now going through an upgrade rebuild with Record 10 speed,Thomson post and stem,Cinelli bars,Selle Italia saddle,Kestrel fork and Shimano pedals.

Summary:
I bought this custom built Vamoots framset so i could combine the geometry and general dimensions of two frames i had previously owned.

Strengths:
Make no mistake about it, this frameset is BEAUTIFUL, whether just hanging on a wall or riding it, the quality oozes from this work of art. It does everything well and the performance is outstanding.

Weaknesses:
I should have bought it sooner

Similar Products Used:
no other Ti frames used previously

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
2003 Dura-Ace, Moots stem and seatpost, Deda 215 bars, SPD-SL pedals, Race Lite wheels with Conti 3000's. About 17 lbs. as built.

Summary:
I love this bike. I have been a recreational club rider for almost 20 years and was looking for a light and fast, but comfortable bike for fast club rides and pure enjoyment. I climb a lot, and this bike doesn't flex on climbs or chatter on descents. Instead, it sings. Yes, the welds are perfect and that matters, but the geometry, material, and precision of the Moots build are what make this bike work.

Strengths:
It's drop dead gorgeous. The pure joy of riding.

Weaknesses:
Other than the (gulp) expense, I have yet to think of one. Even in light of the expense, I think it is worth it. It is a racing geometry so don't expect a relaxed Grant Peterson type of build. But it is comfortable.

Similar Products Used:
Bridgestone Radac, Cannondale, Giant Cadex; started with a Schwinn Prelude (nice starter bike)

Price Paid:  $3500.00 at PRO-DEAL

Favorite Ride:
back country roads

Bike Setup:
Custom 2002 56cm seat tube with a lengthened top tube (about 57.5). Head andseat tube angles adjusted 1/4 degree from stock to accomodate.

Started out w/ DA 9 spd group. Switched to Record 10 group except for FSA Superlight crank, FSA BB, King Headset, Easton EC90 all carbon post, Speedplay X1 pedals.

Also has Ksyrium SSC SLs, Easton EC90 bar, Ritchey WCS stem, Fizik Aliante saddle, Pro Race tires.

Summary:
This bike is beautiful! I never get tired of looking at it... or riding it.

I love everything about this bike. It's light (about 16.9lbs as currently set up), quick, climbs, comfortable on any length of ride.

I don't have much to add to the other reviews. I agree with what the other reviewers have said (best welds, uniqueness, stiff chain stays and breezer dropouts help overcome ti's tendency to otherwise be a little flexy, terrific ride quality, etc., etc.)

Strengths:
Rideable art

Weaknesses:
zip

Similar Products Used:
Calfee Tetra Pro, Giant TCRs, Fuji Professional, Merlin...

Price Paid:  $4000.00 at Rock N Road

Favorite Ride:
Laguna loop

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace, Deda bars, 3T Less Stem, Moots layback post, Ksyrium SSL's.

Summary:
Owned a number of nice Ti frames searching for the "Holy Grail", including a LS Vortex, LS Ultimate, Merlin XL Compact, and the Vamoots. In the end the Moots offered everything I was looking for - the right combo of stiffness and comfort. On the plus side, Moots is not a very often - seen frame in So Cal. I've also come to admire the craftmanship that Moots offers compared to some very capable Ti manufacturers. I would hesitate to recommend Moots, the company - for their service, and the frame for its ride.

Strengths:
The ride. Comfortable yet stiff. The finish of this frame is awesome. To me the Litespeeds look a bit tinny. It just edges out Merlin's "copperish" finish and everyone mentions the welds. Well, I don't think their any better structurally than Litespeed or Merlin but they sure look better!

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
As mntioned above - Vortex, Ulitmate, Merlin XL Compact.

Price Paid:  $4000.00 at Moutain Outfitters W

Bike Setup:
VaMoots 3/2.5 (56cm)
Campagnolo Chorus Group
Proton Wheelset
Panaracer Stradius Pro Tires
Koobi Xenon Seat
Moots Seatpost
Moots Ti Beam Stem
Reynolds Ouzo Comp
Cane Creek Headset
Deda Anatomic 215 Handlebars
Reynolds Carbon spacers

Summary:
I have over 500 miles on this bike, and thereis nothing else that I have ridden that comes close. Yes, welds are outstanding, so big deal, you can't ride the welds. O.K. the Breezer dropouts are the collest, simplest, cleanest, around; who cares (and the more you look at them, the smaller they get). The chainstays could support a M1A1, what about it? And the Bike as a whole looks like you could hang it in the Louvre, does it really matter? Campagnolo has more Industrial Designers working on crank design than Ferrari has on the payroll, nobody cares. But, if you take all these things and create one bicycle, it truely is an incredible machine. Smooth on chip-and-seal, stiff in climbs, responsive on the slight uphill sprints (you know the ones). Campagnolo will shift (up or down) under extreme load, and do it with ease.

Strengths:
The frame and all components are top-shelf.
VaMoots Frame: plenty stiff and cofortable, you could hang it on the wall as art.
Campagnolo Chorus Group: In all honesty, I don't believe there is any better, I can't imagine what they could do to better this group, oh ya drop the price. The whhels are bomb-proof, light "enough", and stiff.
Moots Ti Beam stem: Carbon shmarbon, this is the best stem made, light and STIFF.

Weaknesses:
I would only change the handlebars for one reason, the flat part of the drop is not long enough for my hands, other than that, these bars are excellent and plenty stiff. No other weaknesses!

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale (used, not similar) however very nice stiff, rocksolid bike