Frame made with Reynolds 953. This material is a martinsitic age-hardenable stainless steel. This super metal has an ultimate yield strength of 2000 MPa verses 1400 MPa for Reynolds 853 and 800 MPa for 4130 chrome-moly steel. 3Al-2.5V titanium has ultimate yield strength of 900 MPa. When you take in account the densities of steel and titanium, you find that the strength to weight ratio of 953 is 256 verses 3-2.5 Ti at 200.
Strengths: Stiff, unique, good fit, great customer service from IF.
Weaknesses: Stiff, runs a bit heavy to be used for a great deal of climbing compared to what you can get from the carbon world, but it's always better to lose the weight off your butt.
Bottom Line:
Had the bike two years and put 5988 miles on it counting riding and a very little bit of roller mileage. Does not count trainer time, which is substantial -- probably equal to the number of hours I've ridden it outdoors, but I have no way to tell. I ride a great deal in the hills solo and group rides @ 17-21 mph. I occasionally race Cat. IV.
Purchased this with insurance settlement -- otherwise, there's no way I could have afforded it. That said, retail on a Trek of Specialized is probably not much less (and some dummies pay it).
IF has fantastic customer service. I had the same problem with surface rust (on the bike) as the previous reviewer. Indy Fab said the steel itself will not rust, but that the stainless is run through machines that run regular steel, so some frames show surface rust (initially, my bike was naked and the first time I rode in the rain, it rusted). Initially, the manager of the shop where I got the bike told me cost would be the tear-down, rebuild, shipping and painting cost; however, when I contacted IF and asked them to make it right, they waved the cost of painting with no hesitation.
Still, this seems like a strange problem to have. The website touts the stainlessness of their bikes, so it seems that they should make sure they don't run into these problems. I assume it's a business decision based on the number of recalls not being enough to justify the cost, but I got her painted just to be on the safe side.
When ordering the frame (I believe all the SSR's are custom), I asked for a rigid, climbing/sprinting machine. Be careful what you ask for. I've only ever had steel or Ti frames and this frame is the stiffest I've ever ridden.
It's responsive and fun to ride. If you've got the insurance check burning a hole in your pocket, treat yourself.
The ride quality is excellent, although riding it a great deal during the week or over rough roads, tends to wear me out (I'm 36 years old, so that's probably the engine). I recommend a carbon seat post and handlebars for comfort. I've got an aluminum bar, which is embarrassing on a bike like this, now that I think about it.
Like the previous reviewer, this should be a bike you plan to keep forever (or until you die -- whichever comes first), so don't consider one if you're a new bike every two years kind of person.
Similar Products Used: 06 Litespeed Siena (I would recommend this bike, too. Nothing else recent. Previous bike was an '87 Ironman Centurion, which I bought new when I was a teenager!
Bike Setup: 17.5 lbs. with full Durace, Mavic ES, Easton EA 50 stem, EC 70 seatpost, Keo Carbon pedals, Indy Tubular bottle cages, Fisik Alliante saddle. 18.5 lbs. with saddle bag.
Unlike a previous reviewer, my frame does not flex. I am 6', 190 lbs, and am a powerful sprinter, and I find the frame solid, responsive and comfortable.
The frame builder did want to spec me with a sloping top tube, but I pushed back and asked for a more traditional look.
Complete bike is about 18 pounds, with strong (not light) wheels. Welds, paint and graphics are first rate. Complete bike cost ~ $5,500.
Strengths: Any custom bike is sweet, and a nice upgrade from off-the-rack bikes.
Weaknesses: Stupid expensive. Some amount of snob factor (which might be strength if that's what you're in to). Then again, IF is a small brand and fairly cool.
The "stainless" steel can stain. It won't rust, but just like a Leatherman, it can get stained. I need to wipe it down all the time.
Bottom Line:
I am 6'3" and 205, and I enjoy the bike very much. Part of it is that the components are very good, but I really love the way the frame feels. I would buy it again.
Unlike a previous reviewer, I don't have a problem with too much flex in the frame. In fact, the blend between stiffness and flexiness is just about right. I've had an aluminum bike, and I know how punishing a super-stiff frame can be. Likewise, I've had a steel bike, and know how flexy those can be. This one fits right in the middle and has the forgiving qualities of steel (bump absorption, vibration damping) while also allowing me to stand up and really torque it without pushing the bb around.
It's hard to describe this bike - better if you can try to ride one, even if it is the wrong size. I had been testing carbon bikes, and the shop had an IF SSR tester (which was only a 56 and too small for me, but I hopped on it anyway). I immediately loved it; I knew right away I wanted one. As soon as I got on it, I enjoyed the responsiveness. In comparison, all of the carbon bikes feel like you are riding a plastic bike. Carbon gives a stiff, dead-feeling ride. You can also win the TdF on carbon, and it is lighter and can look sexier than steel. But steel just feels better.
That said, we're really only talking about bikes here - if you spend $7000 plus on any road bike, you're bound to love it.
I don't recommend this bike to someone who races all the time - just get a carbon bike and replace it every two years.
I recommend this bike for someone who plans to keep it for at least five or ten years; carbon bikes go out of style after a few years (there is always something newer and better), but this is timeless.
Weaknesses: because of the thin tube wall thickness and the small tube diameters currently available, large frames will demonstrate significant lateral flex from head tube to seat tube, which will result in bottom bracket deflection, and loss energy transfer to the wheel.
Bottom Line:
2008 SSR. I purchased it with a 58 virtual top tube. Has about a 6 degree sloping top tube and 56 seat tube. I am just under 200 lbs. This frame is a very nice Ti substitute. However, the stainless material in this tube diameter is currently not very ideal for this frame-size. There is a lot of lateral flex from the head tube to the seat tube. If you sprint in this frame and torque on the bars, you will see tremendous flex in the frame. If you are a gentle rider and aware of this, you will very much enjoy the ride quality. Similar to ti, but crisper. Has a lovely ability to soak up the road chatter. It is disappointing that there is no means to test one so you try it out for yourself.
Bike Setup: Campy Record and Chorus mix. Serotta F10 fork (These forks are magical, custom made by Reynolds), FSA compact bar, Ritchey stem, moots seatpost, Fizik saddle, Time pedals
Similar Products Used: Seven Elium. It is a nice bike, but heavier than my SSR. It doesn't ride as smooth, nor does it handle as well.
Bike Setup: Campy Record Groupset
Reynolds Assault Wheels
Deda Newton Bars, Zero100 stem and post
Fizik Arione Carbon Flex Seat
Dura-Ace pedals
Conti 4000 tires
Tacx Carbon Cages
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