Incredibly light and stiff, climbs like a mountain goat on E.P.O.

Can't really find a weakness, though maybe the area where the cable passes throught the frame could be designed better.

a fantastic, strong light and durable all-round bike. Worth every penny.i previously had a specialized allez A1 with 105. the specialized had a sloping down tube which i didn't like and i upgraded to the look after only a year of riding. the look is a very comfortable ride, and it's lightness can't be emphasised enough. combined with the ksyriums and dura-ace it's a fantastic machine.

One of the best things about the Look 381/481 frames is that they are available in 1cm increments. This allows you to choose exactly the right size frame. The ride quality is very easy to get used to. Very smooth and comfortable. But with steering quick enough to handle the tightest descents with confidance or to just get out of the way of another rider. This is the best road bike I have ridden in 40 years. Not the ligthest, but the best all round road bike.

I have not found any real weakness in the frame or the bike. In my opinion, the seat post issue is really a non issue. All you really need is one post and there is a descent selection that fit the bike.

This bike does everything a good road bike should do. Steering is quick, but at the same time stable enough to ride without hands. No BB flex. Finish is excellent. The ride is very smooth. No matter what the roads, the bike just feels smooth and comfortable. If you need to push it, it goes. It gives you back everything you put into it. The laid back seat angle works well for my body style. The cockpit is just the right length. Other bikes, like the Trek 5200/5500 just stretch me out too much. The effective top tube length is just a little shorter than most other bikes giving me an ideal geometry. I love to climb and this bike both climbs with grace under heavy load and descends like it is on rails. For reference, I am 185# and like to ride mountains and long distance.

Similar Products Used:

Trek 5200/5500. Colnago C40, Bianchi Steel.

Overall stiffness, and comfort. Geometry, Looks, UNIQUE Haven't seen one around since I got it

25.0mm seatpost thats it folks (even thats not bad, I would have used a USE Carbon Alien anyway

By far the best bike I have ever owned. Ride is unbelievable. Extremely responsive and stiff, yet very comfy. I can do 75-100miles and not feel beat up. Climbs like a champ, slack seat angle makes for seated climbs fun. Well worth the money. I have ridden a fair amount of bikes and this is a keeper. Sweet stealth look about it too!

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Trek 5500, Trek 2300, Giant Cadex (carbon/alum), Diamond Back Axis Ti, Specialized Allez (chromo), Colnago Master Light

Workmanship, comfortable ride, and looks. The lugs are the 2003 model are smooth compared to stepped lugs on earlier models.

None that I've found

This is my 10th LOOK and early indications are, it's the best. It is extremely comfortable on long rides. The HSC4 Fork is very stiff. Workmanship is outstanding.

Similar Products Used:

Many other LOOKs including a 281, 386, AL384, and many earlier models. Other brands include a Cinelli Super Corsa.

Stiff, comfortable, beautiful

I love it so much, Im scared to race it in crits. I dont want to drop it. For the price paid, not the lightest horse in the barn, but definitely one PHAT bike.

Fast, compliant, and stunning. I love this bike. Straight and simple lines, but high tech and durable. I would buy another in a heartbeat. Despite being touted as stiff, will not beat you to death.

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Lemond, Fondriest, Cannondale

stiff, comfortable, climbs with the best of them.I would like to say that only now do I realize how good my old steel frame is, and that the LOOK carbon frame is incrementally better, about 15% advantage in shock absorbtion, climbing ability, and 2mph faster cruising on the flats.

no more excuses

I had been riding my Pinarello/Super Record bike since 1984, and it was always wonderful to me.Times change, and I was ready for something new.My research was extensive, and led me to LOOK. My 2003 KG381i in matte black now has about 1000 miles on it, including a very hilly Golden Apple Century last Sunday. Although the KG381i is made from carbon tubes of varying shape but normal diameters, the aluminum lugged construction gives it great strength.I am 5'11" tall and 185 lbs, and I cannot flex the frame , even in the steepest out of the saddle torture climbs.It is very stable on the road, extremely quick to accelerate, and corners with great precision.I have longish arms and legs, so the longish top tube is good for me. Be aware that when switching from Super Record to ERGO levers, allow for 2cm extra length, as the ergos put you further forward. This is maybe not a frame for those with short arms.Overall, the frame is a work of art, with the smoothed lugs,& carbon finish. I get compliments all the time.

Similar Products Used:

1984 Pinarello Columbus sl frame.

Ride characteristics and handling. Geometry (assuming you have long legs/short torso) Quality of frame build.

25mm seatpost not common (not as many seatpost options) Adjustable dropout screws can slip and are prone to stripping. Hard to find replacement screws. Adjustable dropout is more hype than anything, since most tire/rim combinations will rub seat tube on all but the longest setting.

I agree w/most of the reviews below. This bike is by no means plush, but it does provide a great balance between comfort and being responsive and providing road feel. I came from a 1996 Cannondale CAAD3 frame. I have no issues with the stiffness of the CAAD3, but I feel much better on a 70-plus mile ride after riding the LOOK. I was so conditioned to brace myself on the CAAD3 for various road imperfections, that I continued to do so for the first few months. The bike does feel as though it rides on glass, and is very solid and stable on high-speed descents. For me, the geometry works like a charm. I enjoy hilly terrain, and the slack seat angle provides a much better climbing position if you have long legs. Within the first 2 months of riding I've was able to increase my average speed by about 3/4 mph and even a larger increase on some of the longer climbs. I'm sure part of the increase can be attributed to the motivation of riding a great frame, but some of it has to be the bike (or the geometry). In addition it's great ride characteristics, it is a very rare bike around here. Plus, the color scheme for my frame (red/polished carbon black) is not available in the U.S. which make it even more unique.

Similar Products Used:

Calfee, Trek, C'dale

- Vibration damping that gives a silent ride - Vertical Compliance that gives and incredibly smooth ride - Lateral stiffness that makes the bike corner like it's on rails - Adjustable dropouts so you can tweak the handling to your personal preference - You don't see them everywhere, other than under the pro's. - Reasonably light (well under 17 lbs for a Dura-Ace equipped bike) - Look seatpost that is reasonably light and very comfortable. It also allows for a lot of seat positions that make this bike very versatile and fitting it very easy.

Availability Hopefully your dealer has a demo to try. If not contact the Cycle Loft in Burlington, MA.

I've "borrowed" my store's demo Look for over a month now and the ride has been incredible. The bike is incredibly smooth has almost has a floating feel. When I first got on it I was actually looking for potholes and cracks in the road to hit. The carbon definately dampens vibration in a way that other materials could not. The handling of the bike is fantastic. While it is very compliant vertically, it is incredibly stiff laterally. I am almost 200 lbs and can not get the front derailleur to rub no matter how hard I hammer. It can be a fairly stable bike or a very quick handling bike because it has adjustable dropouts (adjustable wheelbase), but not matter how fast or quick it is it always goes exactly where you point it. Railing a corner on this bike is a blast! Ask your local rep or sales guy about what goes into making one of their frames. It is absolutely incredible. Much more labor intensive than virtually any carbon frame out there. Definately try the Look seatpost. It has a lot of give and smooths out the road even further.

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Trek 5200 Serotta Legend Ti Serotta Colorado 3 Serotta Fierte Merlin Road Ti Pinarello SLX etc, etc, etc I've been selling bikes for a long time and this is easily on of the finest bikes that

Comfort, Efficency, Strength. These words say it all, this is the best of the best with out the dead feel of a monocoque frame.

Price if you buy it anywhere other than totalcycling.com. (My Value rating is based on the fact I only paid about $3200 to set this bike up and roll out of my garage through totalcycling.com)

I received this bike in April ordering a 2002 model, but received a 2003 in the CSC paint. This bike is made to ride in the drops, and because of the top tube length I was able to ride a smaller frame (57cm). In Minnesota the roads are really beat up in the spring with pot holes and cracks. This bike makes it as if I was riding on glass, but for a carbon frame I still get great road feel through the frame and bars. This bike is so efficient, I was able to increase my MPH average the first day and I never dreamed of flying up hills as I do now. This has got to be the most comfortable and efficient frame there is.

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Miele SLX, Prologue Tange Prestige, Cannondale, Gitane SL

Stiff and responsive. Great climber and stable coming down. No strange sounds or creaks. Gorgeous style and finish. Smooth, but hardly dead.

The choice of a 25 mm. seat tube leaves few choices. Steer clear of the the Look ergo post. I didn't (even though I read the reviews). The Look post has a poor clamp design and my saddle wasn't level after each of my first 4 rides. I quickly swapped it out for the USE. The adjustable dropouts are not even! I assumed that if I just moved to the longest position on each side, the wheel would be perfectly aligned, however, in this position, the rear wheel was positioned closer to one of the seatstays. I had to adjust so that one dropout was fully back and the other nearly fully back to get the rear wheel correctly aligned. This was a bit of a pain, but now that its done I shouldn't need to touch it.

I purchased the 2003 Jalabert frame. Look has done a better job of blending the connection of the carbon tubes to the lugs over the 2002 frame. The Jalabert frame is gorgeous. The fade from black to clear coat to orangey red is superb as it should be for a frame in this price range. I have to disagree with some of the previous reviews (look in the 2002 section) regarding the smoothness/vibration absorbtion of this frame. While the ride is certainly smooth, I did not notice a marked increase in absorbtion from my previous Raleigh R700 aluminum which had the same wheels, bar, seatpost, and saddle. I have to agree with the review in Bicyling where they also noted the frame to be somewhat harsher than other carbon frames. The upside is responsiveness and stiffness. It has plenty of jump and the handling is quite nimble. Coming off the more sedate Raleigh, my first impression of the bike was that it was twitchy. After a few rides, I realized that the frame is stable, but extremely responsive. Its like going from driving a midsize, family car to a high end sports car. After a few rides, you adjust, then appreciate the quick handling. This bike loves climbing and is stable on the way down. I agree with Jalabert when he described the precise tracking of the bike. You can put the bike where you want very nicely. I have the adjustable dropouts in the longest position for stability (more about this in the weakness section). The bike is not superlight, but with the superlight build up I have on this frame, it comes in at about 16.2 pounds minus the pedals (49 cm. frame). After 3 weeks on this bike, I'm in love and have no regrets.

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No other carbons. Raleigh R700