Description Introducing the Talon - Kestrel's new 700C road frame, with a wind-cheating aero design, and an incredible price - especially when you realize just how much technology goes into making one of these sp...
Bike Setup: Ultegra components
Ultegra wheels
Stock setup from Kestrel
Summary: I was so proud of this bike when I first got it. It was nice and shiny, and red, and slick, with cool decals. You know the feeling.
I had a friend of mine, a former professional racer who trained as the Olympic facility in Colorado Springs, help me fit and tune the bike.
After three rides the seat tube on the frame showed multiple cracks. I hauled it back to the LBS for warranty replacement. They said it was an assembly error on my part. I left the seat post too long, and it slid down into the seat tube, cracking the frame.
I remember my first ride, the seat post crept down a couple inches. I hadn't tightened the seat collar enough (or, just being a new bike, it naturally came loose on the first ride).
Kestrel clearly admits that this was a design flaw in the Talon frame that they have since fixed. But the Fuji warranty team has determined that it's not their problem. They just bought Kestrel, but apparently won't assume Kestrel's problems.
So, Fuji offers me a crash replacement for $900.00. That's about twice as much as I'm going to pay for my Pedalforce frame to replace this piece of $hit.
Further review issues:
-the frame is bonded, not monocoque
-the frame is made in China, not USA
-the seat tube was engineered for Kestrel's aero seatpost. However, they ship it standard with a FSA round post tube, along with a funky little plastic adapter to make the round post fit a triangle hole. It doesn't hold the seat post very well. You either risk over tightening the seat collar (thus cracking the frame), or under tightening the seat collar, and having the seat post slide too far into the frame (thus cracking the frame). Either way, the frame is going to crack.
The bike rides nice. At least it did on my first 3 rides before the frame was ruined. In fact, it rides like a dream and climbs like a lizard up a cliff. I loved that bike for the three hours I rode it.
Bottom line: Fuji is not going to honor the Kestrel warranty. When you buy a Kestrel, you are buying a Fuji. Don't confuse the two. Kestrel was a premier boutique frame maker in Santa Cruz, California. Fuji is a reseller of cheap Chinese frames who recently bought the Kestrel brand to buoy their cheap image.
Strengths: Paint job
Cool looking aero tubes
Weaknesses: Bonded, not monocoque
Fuji all-hassles warranty
Summary: I have read the reviews here complaining about the harshness of the Talon ride and I have to wonder if they are riding the same bike I am. The ride of an old Cannondale? Not hardly!! I have ridden aluminum and steel frames of many different makes and nothing compares to carbon fiber. The only possibilities I can see are 1) they had harsher wheelsets. There is a big trend now to radial spoking and it harshens up any ride, with only a tiny weight savings; 2) possibly the bonded rear triangle gives a harsher ride on a smaller frameset. I am 6'2" and the relatively relaxed backstay angle for that size frame undoubtedly contributes to the comfort. As for the seat tube angle, I found I could comfortably stay in the aero position for the entire Ironman bike leg when others around me were sitting up and stretching their backs -- as I went past them. So I suggest you do as you should with any purchase of this type: try it for yourself, then decide.
Strengths: Very stiff rear triangle coupled with comfort at the hands and saddle.
Weaknesses: The "aero" seat tube doesn't really do anything for aerodynamics. Purely a cosmetic treatment. Either you can put up with it or you hate it. Beware, frame CANNOT be clamped by the top tube.
Similar Products Used: Specialized, Olmo, Cannondale, Bianchi, Battaglin, Kestrel 4000
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Bike Setup: Road -
Easton EC90SL forks
Full D/ace
Deda bars/stem
FSA Carbon pro cranks
Zipp 404 tubs/Mavic Open pro on Ultegra training wheels
Tri-
Oval A900 bladed fork
HED one piece aero bars
Bladed seat post with seat shifter
HED S/lite disc and H3 front
Summary: I got a Talon in 2004 and set it up with low pro bars, forward seat pillar etc for triathlons. I was pleased and happy with it but felt it was not too good in a very forward position as the ride and handling was unbalanced. As I prefer a very steep angle (78 degs +) I got a proper tri specific bike (Softride) which was much better set up to ride the position I liked.
I then set the Talon up for road racing use with Dura Ace all round and Zipp 404 tubulars. This rode OK and I did a few races on it - again I was pleased with it until I compared it to other bikes (see below but I know some of these cost 3 times more but it gives a reference).
Now (2007) that I have ridden a variety of bikes in exactly the same set up as what I had on the Talon, I rate the Talon as average on performance and ride, but very stiff, and it is damn ugly.
It is a fair bike for the money but I think it tries to be all things to all men and does none of them very well. It is too relaxed (73 degs) for a tri bike and having a forward seat post upsets the balance too much. For road racing it is very harsh ride and gives a dead feeling (I tried all sorts of wheels to try to change it but no real improvement) and handling is not great either although it is stiff and does not twist when you churn it. However, the balance between handling/stiffness/weight is not great
overall.
Maybe I bought the wrong bike for me and I am lucky to be able to have numerous bikes to be ride specific. In the end I sold it and it now has a happy new owner who will probably hang onto it until he compares it to something else!
Strengths: Price is OK but there is better around that don't try to be a road and a tri bike in one package. Don't think bikes can do both unless you ride a tri bike at 73 degs by choice (not because of lack of fit or suitable steep bike).
Weaknesses: Limited as a tri bike, slightly better in road configuration but a bit dead and too harsh (as harsh as an old Cannondale but does not have the liveliness!).
Similar Products Used: Numerous steel frames
Cannondale CAAD4
Specialized Roubaix Comp
Softride TT7
Time VXR
Merlin Titanium
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Bike Setup: Talon SL
w/Ultegra 10 will have to do till I can afford the Campy Carbon group
FSA Gossamer Double Crank- It's stock but it does the job in the flats and suits my purposes.
FSA Drop bars- Again stock, but a good performer for my needs
Stock seatpost is absolute poo! But I am preparing to obtain the Kestrel Carbon Aero.
Stock Shimano Wheelset- Not Aero or as cool looking as HED, Specialized, or Zipp, but they will cover mucho miles and seem built like an Abrams
Summary: After wrestling through the research and buying process, I chose the Talon Frameset. Though I test rode a friends Airfoil (and Loved it), I did not want to commit to a dedicated Tri/TT as I envision riding Group with climbing in the future. However, I was sold on Kestrel's experience and commitment to Carbon (Maybe there is something about Manufactures that start with "K" as I am a Klein enthusiast on the trail) I found the Talon a great choice for a rider that can't afford the space or $ to upkeep two top shelf bikes. I also probably could have got the Talon 700K as opposed tot he SL 800K and not noticed any difference whatsoever, but ego always get's the best of me with these types of choices. Kestrel could probably do away with one of there Talon models as the difference is negligible if not non existent.
In Summary, if my Talon were stolen, I'd buy another . . . . and that is the highest compliment a bike can get.
Strengths: Stiff as Board
Climbs like a Billy Goat
Surges forward . . . really fast!
Lighter than my Cat
Serves duel purposes well (Road/TT/Tr)
Lifetime No Fault Warranty means more mentally aggressive riding with no reservation.
Kestrel has maintained this frame for some time so it will be a viable, serviceable, and current frame for the foreseeable future
A ton cheaper than the similar outfitted Carbon Soloist.
Weaknesses: Kinda hard to justify that much more $$ for such a indistinguishable difference from the regular Talon.
Stock Seatpost is Heavy and looks terrible and out of place on such a beautifully Aero looking frame. Kinda like Vinyl seats in a Porche 911
Few Color Options (Only 2). The colors available in the SL Frameset are actually more attractive in the older Talon Framsets from 03-05. Kestrel's color schemes seem to be getting more boring or Dime a Dozen with each passing year. BRING BACK THE PLAIN SOLID CARBON WEAVE IN THE SL FRAMES!!
Seat Tube seems structurally vulnerable to cracking (Though I have not had a problem yet.
Similar Products Used: '01 Klein Quantim
'03 Trek 5200
'01 Kawasaki Ninja :-)
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Bike Setup: 2004 Talon w/ DA 10 and chopper bars from a '69 Schwinn Krate.
Summary: Be careful, this bike is not for everyone. The joining technique used to attach the rear triangle to the rear requires a LARGE contact area=incredibly stiff ride. When this bike was first introduced, this design was probably an excellent compromise between cost and performance. Today, there are far better choices available at this price in carbon. Trek's 5000/5200 and Giant's carbon frames come to mind. The bike descended beautifully, this is the single attribute I miss about this frame. Otherwise, I was happy to be rid of it. Kestrel needs to stop production of the Talon, its time has passed. In 2006, there are better options available.
Strengths: fast and stable descending.
Weaknesses: heavy, clunky, painfully stiff, and flashy.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Six13, Synapse, Trek Madone, Madone SSL, Look 585, 555, Orbea Orca, (OK, I'm a shop guy)
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
1 of 5
1 of 5
View Comments (1)
4 of 5
4 of 5
3 of 5
3 of 5
5 of 5
5 of 5
