Airborne Valkyrie

Price Paid:  $1900.00 at Airborne.net

Favorite Ride:
Anything that gets me in the saddle

Bike Setup:
Airborne Valkyrie frame
Ultegra 10spd triple drivetrain/brakes/shifters
Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork
FSA K-force handlebars
FSA stem
Airborne titanium seatpost
Selle Italia prolink gelflow seat
Cane Creek Arrowhead SG wheels

Summary:
Smooth as silk. I was (still am) a firm believer in the ride of steel. But then I rode this titanium road machine and wow. The ride is fantastic, hard to describe . . . the road feel of good steel, but with more comfort. I've only had it for about a month so I will definitely write a follow-up in a feww thousand miles, but so far so good.

Strengths:
Weight (18 lbs), comfort, look of titanium, responsive, stable, fast decents without even a twitch. Makes me want to ride all the time.
One last very important strength, PRICE.
Airborne (and now hopefully Flyte) gave a 30% discount for active duty military to support our troops.

Weaknesses:
None so far

Similar Products Used:
Gunnar Roadie
Cannondale CAAD5 R1000
Performance R-107

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at On-line

Favorite Ride:
Newport Beach Back Bay-Pacific Coast Hwy in either direction

Bike Setup:
Ultegra crank, derailers, and brakes.
105 cassette and flight ceck.
Zipp wheels

Summary:
My first experience with Airborne was on my fathers 2002 Zepline. The moment I hopped on I liked the feel, response, and the overall sensation I had riding the bike. When it was time for me to purchase a bike for a summer long ride across the counrty from Florence,Oregon to Washington D.C. I realized I need a bike that would work in all every condition this counrty and mother nature could dish out. I decided to give Airborne a look and to my surprise it was the most economical choice for the money(more bang for the buck). The website was amazing and the ability to build the bike to my liking and budget is what set Airborne apart from everyone. I chose the Valkyrie because of its versatility. The Valkyrie allows for the rider to experieince the mountains with grace and the flats with effortless speed. When the bike arrived I was not disappointed. I put what little there was to put together(maybe 15 minutes) and immediatly went for a ride. The weather that day was cold and rainy and the bike felt as smooth as if it were a sunny So Cal day. Along the trails people who knew cycling knew Airborne. I was asked everyday how I liked the bike, if it was worth the money, and would i recoment it. My answers were always YES, YES, YES!!! For three month i trained along the pacific coast for my journey across america. 2000 miles of training and the bike still felt like new. In June of 2004 the real test began. Ahead of me was 4,222 miles over 61 days(Average of 74 miles a day) In order to complete such a journey one needs a dependable and efficient bike, the Valkyrie was perfect. Riding through the valleys and mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado this bike endured 4 degree weather and thousands of feet of climbing and descending. The Valkyrie handled the switchbacks like a rollercoaster on rails. If long riding is your thing this bike will leave your back side praising its name. 443 miles in 4 days through Kansas and my back, behind, and legs had no ill effects. One last story, if speed and stability is your thing then you'll like this story. 7 miles of descent in Virginia I tucked in behind pretty big truck, caught a draft and rode 60mph with out so much as a wiggle. This bike was amazing and after switching bikes (LeMond) for 10 miles with a teammate for fun i realized how good i had it. 6500 miles in 5 months with only 2 flat tires and not one tune up. This bike can do it and leave you feeling like you are one of the lucky ones. On a side note, if its criteriums you like, I raced 1/2 a season on the Valkyrie in class 4 and did pretty well. Those who race know how the pelaton speed can fluctuate and break aways occur, this bike did very well in all aspects of my cycling career. Are there bikes better, of course. But for the money you get a bike you can recreation ride and/or compete with that will make you a very happy cyclist.

Strengths:
Longevity-this bike takes a licking and keeps on ticking, the miles that is. Im well over 8,000 mile and it still rides like the day I got it.

Forgivness-Not all roads are paved smooth(Missouri). The Ti bike allows the rider to enjoy the less enjoyable road conditions.
Website-Makes you feel like you are special and when you recieve your bike you know that it was made especially for you, no one else.
Price-More bike for the buck.

Weaknesses:
My only dislike was the logos. I am not a big fan of logos so take this with a grain of salt. There were logos on every tube of the bike, not necessary. If i could get one without logos, i would be happy. Too often people see the bike and judge the cyclist, I like to let my riding do the talking, then tell them I kicked there butts on a Ti Airborne.

Similar Products Used:
Lemond(sucks), Trek(sucks), Litespeed(overpriced & sucked)

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at airborne.net

Favorite Ride:
Jersey Shore

Bike Setup:
Complete Shimano 105 package

Summary:
I never considered purchasing a bicycle online until I read the reviews about Airborne. When I was in the market for a budget Ti bike last year, I decided to visit their website. They have a fantastic website! You can select from package deals, or build your dream bike from the ground up. Each time you make a selection, the site calculates the weight of the bike to the gram, and adjusts for the cost. Included on the site is a section for determining proper fit. Since I know my sizing preferences well, I opted to skip this step. I was a bit apprehensive about making that final click to purchase my Valkyrie. After all, I hadn't seen the bike nor tested it. I trusted Airborne because of their guarantee. Within 2 weeks, my bike arrived at my doorstep. It was superbly packed and well built. It took me 10 minutes to assemble it. I was in utter shock when I saw the completed bike! The company logo is laser etched into the headtube! The welds were meticulous and smooth. The bike had a stealth look to it, with a battleship grey finish and highly manipulated and sculpted tubes. 5,000 miles later, I can't stop raving about this bike! It's got the famous magic carpet ride that Ti is known for, but it is stiffer than my other Ti frame. This is because Airborne uses a semicompact design with manipulated stays in order to stiffen up the softer ride quality of Ti. On the flats, the Airborne is smooth and fast, and enables the rider to push a bigger gear. It is compliant, absorbs shock well, but allows enough communication between the road and the rider. It climbs well, but it doesn't lurch forward like it's turbocharged. It's more like a diesel engine; it takes a little more time to rev it, but once it winds up it's fast. It is very responsive in the corners and on descents, but it waits for the rider's input rather than taking off on it's own. I've found it to be a trustworthy training partner, and it is an economically sound and competitive option to other popular Ti makers. Ti is extremly strong and resilient, and the Airborne lives up to this reputation. All this and their bombproof guarantee!

Strengths:
Titanium - what it may lack SLIGHTLY in terms of stiffness and weight, it well makes up for in ride quality and longevity
Attention to detail - laser etched headtube badge, company logos on cable housings, quality welds, manipulated tubes
Website - user friendly, calculates cost versus weight, great selection
Quality build
Bombproof guarantee

Weaknesses:
None after 5,000 miles

Similar Products Used:
2004 Trek 5200 OCLV
2004 LeMond Arrive Ti
2001 Fuji Cross Colombus Genius
1996 Cannondale R900

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at roadbikereview class

Favorite Ride:
Anything with hills and curves

Bike Setup:
105, triple, Mavic SSC's

Summary:
Up front I'll say while I've been a decent mountain biker for years, this is my first road bike since a ten speed schwinn varsity in highschool in the 70's. I'm now living in geography challenged Houston and after doing a century and some MS-170 rides on my mountain bike, I realized I wanted a road bike. While I don't have a great deal of experience with other road bikes, I do know about what qualities make a great bike, and feel, build quality, etc.

After thinking I was "only" going to $800 or so on a bike, I got looking and ended up looking at used Merlin's and Litespeeds. Long story short, I saw this one, read reviews, measured myself and bought it.

What an amazing bike. Its so smooth compared to aluminum like my MTN bike, that I sometimes look down to see if my tires are leaking. It jumps ahead if I stand on it, cuts a line to split a dime, rails around corners, is firm on the brakes. The frame is sexy and the curves look great. I guess only complaint is that I think there are too many decals on it.

Strengths:
Ride quality
Build quality
Ti
Curved stays look hot
Good handling
Price/value

Weaknesses:
Too many stickers?
Only 105 group on my bike
Potential Embarrassment of getting wood while looking at it

Similar Products Used:
Tested Trek, Univega, Cannondale

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Montlake Bicycle Sho

Favorite Ride:
fox hollow-lorane highway

Bike Setup:
Full 105, Bontrager Selects, Reynolds Ouzo Comp Fork

Summary:
I purchased this bike under three months ago, and have been nothing but pleased with it so far. For the price, I simply didn't find anything near the value of this bike. Test-rode aluminum, aluminum-carbon, and steel frames in the ballpark of the price paid for the Valkyrie--nothing compared to the ride of Ti. This bike is incredibly comfortable on long rides, soaking up the road; it screams up hills; it inspires confidence on downhills. A joy to come home to. Also--I got great service from Montlake Bicycle Shop--patient, informed, and not pushy at all.

Strengths:
105 components have been a great value. The frame is beautiful, and is an amazing ride.
The value of bike you get for the price is astonishing.

Weaknesses:
None so far.