Kestrel RT700

Price Paid:  $2198.00 at Bikesdirect

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
anything with hills

Bike Setup:
Full Dura ace with Ritchey wheels and bars, ITM stem, EC90 seatpost Selle Italia slr saddle.

Summary:
I got this bike from bikesdirect with full Dura Ace build. It is taking the place of my Kestrel Talon as my main ride. The Talon is now my TT bike. I weigh 135lbs so I feel every bump, I canged the stock Ritchey seatpost for an EC90 carbon and it made the world of difference, much less harsh. The bike is really stiff at the BB, has a very smooth feel and looks really good. I especially like the way the seatstays are formed. I have a friend that rides an Orbea Orca and if he had the choice he would choose the RT700 over it, even though he has more than $8000 into his bike. I went with Kestrel again because their paint stays really fresh looking and the bikes are built very solid as well as coming with a lifetime warranty.
The cables are internally routed, but much easier to route than the talon, I actually replaced the cables myself.

Strengths:
The bike is a great racing bike because it is really stiff where needed but it also dampens the vibrations really well once I inserted the carbon seatpost. It looks great in Nude Carbon, I have not seen it in the copper and silver.

Weaknesses:
I have not found any weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:
Trek alpha sl 2500, Kestrel Talon, Ridley Crossbow, Redline Conquest, Motobeccane super mirage.

Price Paid:  $2198.00 at Bikesdirect

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
anything with hills

Bike Setup:
Full Dura ace with Ritchey wheels and bars, ITM stem, EC90 seatpost Selle Italia slr saddle.

Summary:
I got this bike from bikesdirect with full Dura Ace build. It is taking the place of my Kestrel Talon as my main ride. The Talon is now my TT bike. I weigh 135lbs so I feel every bump, I canged the stock Ritchey seatpost for an EC90 carbon and it made the world of difference, much less harsh. The bike is really stiff at the BB, has a very smooth feel and looks really good. I especially like the way the seatstays are formed. I have a friend that rides an Orbea Orca and if he had the choice he would choose the RT700 over it, even though he has more than $8000 into his bike. I went with Kestrel again because their paint stays really fresh looking and the bikes are built very solid as well as coming with a lifetime warranty.
The cables are internally routed, but much easier to route than the talon, I actually replaced the cables myself.

Strengths:
The bike is a great racing bike because it is really stiff where needed but it also dampens the vibrations really well once I inserted the carbon seatpost. It looks great in Nude Carbon, I have not seen it in the copper and silver.

Weaknesses:
I have not found any weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:
Trek alpha sl 2500, Kestrel Talon, Ridley Crossbow, Redline Conquest, Motobeccane super mirage.

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Bikesdirect.com

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
local loop

Bike Setup:
59 cm, Ritchey Protocol WCS wheels, FSA Carbon Crank, Ultegra components, Ritchey seat post, Continental 3000 wheels, Ricthey handlebars, Ultegra Flight Deck brakes, CaneCreek SC5 brakes, Syntace C2 aerobar with 31.8 adapters.

Summary:
I purchased this bike from Bikesdirect.com, and I have been very pleased. I had to take it in to the shop to get the back brake adjusted, as it was getting hung up on something, but I really like the bike.
I switched from an aluminum bike fram to this, and I like the carbon feel, as the damping was noticable on the first ride, especially since I had never ridden a carbon bike before.
The bike has an FSA Carbon compact crank, and that is working out wonderfully. The Ultegra shifts fine, and the Ritchey wheels, seat post, handlebar, etc, are fine.

Strengths:
It is a comfortable ride for me. I like the stiffness of the bike. The weight savings is good, and since I am big, 6 foot 4, 215 lbs., every bit helps. I put a syntace clip-on aero bar on it, and it has been VERY comfortable in the time trial position. I had to buy the 31.8 mm adapters for the aero bar, which actually raised the bar up a little of the handlebar, so I am able to get a comfortable hand position on the top of the bars when climbing.
It is a great bike!

Weaknesses:
I have not found any yet, except for the problem with the brake that I got fixed. A temporary problem is no big deal.

Similar Products Used:
My first bike was a 2005 Specialized Transition Multi-Sport, which I liked, but this bike is better.

Price Paid:  $3128.00 at Interwebz

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Anything

Bike Setup:
All DA 7703, Mavic K SL3 tubulars, K-Force compact bars, Ritchey WCS stem, Kestrel RT seatpost, Look Keo Carbon CroMo pedals, Vred Fortezza Pro Tri-Comp's, Spec. BG Alias 143 saddle, and Elite patao 074 magnesium cages.

Summary:
As this is my first carbon bike, I have little to compare it to, other than my stable of three steel bikes.

First off, the build came out as planned. Basically a swap off from my Colnago which now is Campy Chorus Compact.

The complete bike as listed came in at at 17.4 lbs, a little heavier than I hoped for, but still light, concidering the DA triple.

Concerning the DA 7703 crank/FD. The crank is 30-39-53 w/172.5 arms. I can't get the FD high enough to completely clear the 53, just the tiniest rub when in the middle ring, which is very annoying when trying to adjust the FD trim. Think I'll just dremel a little off of the FD outside cage to gain a scootch of clearance.

Had none of the shifter adustment or shifting issues that I have heard about. Just took my time and dialed it in.

OK, on to the ride...

Well, it certainly is STIFF!!! It accelerates like a scalded cat (not that I've ever acually scalded a cat to see how fast it goes!) I have never felt that connected to the pavement before, zero flex, just forward motion. This is a FAST bike. The handling on my 57cm frame is flawless, no fork shimmy at any speeds, just pure stable speed. I felt the trademark carbon vibration damping, but was suprised at it's bump delivery up through the cockpit.

The benchmark I use for all my biking is my Colnago MXL. Before I swapped parts, I took the Colnago out to get a reminder of it's feel on a very familiar 27 mile loop that includes 50+mph descents, mile long flats, and 15%+ climbs. I rode at what I would call my "Casual Training" pace and finished the loop at 14.7mph. not fast, but not slow concidering it's freekin' January!

Swapped parts. Tuned up the RT700, hit the same loop. Finished at 15.1mph. Concidering the afternoon was much windier, colder, and I had already ridden the ride earlier, I can say that, yes Scarlett, the Kestrel IS faster. Not as smooth, not as comfortable, but the ability of the RT700 to accelerate and climb was pretty amazing. Out of the saddle sprints were instantaneous forward rushes. Descents were quicker, the bike felt more responsive.

On the other hand, the stiffness may become a drawback. It did not bother me at under 30 miles, but what about 50? 75? 100? The jury is still out. I may use the RT700 as the group ride weapon of choice. For the long rides, NOTHING compares (at least to me yet) with the Colnago MXL for great overall speed and incredible comfort.

The Kestrel RT700 is faster, quicker, snappier.

Bottom line?

For the money that I paid BD for the RT700 frame, fork, headset, and seatpost (gotta love the matching carbon aero seatpost) and the level of parts I put on the bike, all I can say is WOW!!!! (Yeah, I know I said that before in my opening poast, but it's worth saying again) Basically it cost me a Campy Chorus Carbon 8pc group ($900 from LaBicicletta) and a set of custom wheels I'm building for the Colnago ($475 in parts), for a total of like $2,300. I've still got to fine tune my position a bit, as the top tube on the RT700 is about 1cm longer than my other bikes, which was one of the things that I really liked about it. The build came off very smoothly, the bike looks super clean, and did I mention yet that it's FAST?

To sum it up in my book:

Carbon is Quicker, but Steel is Real!

Strengths:
Lightning fast reflexes, accelerates with ease, supremely capable at any speed.

Weaknesses:
Stiffer on larger bumps than I like.

Similar Products Used:
Colnago Master XL
LeMond Alpe 'd
Bianchi Nuovo Racer

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Internet

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
3 state 3 mountain

Bike Setup:
Sram Force compact groupo, FSA Carbon K-wing handlebars, Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheels with ceramic bearings, Look Keo Carbon pedals, Garmin Edge 305 computer, Cane Creek headset.

Summary:
Built this bike myself after purchasing the frame online and couldn't be happier. Fantastic frame...stiff and responsive. On my local 25 mile ride I reduced my best time the first time out on this bike by 1 minute 35 seconds.

Strengths:
quick accelerating bike, great descending ability.

Weaknesses:
none that I can find...best bike I have ever ridden.

Similar Products Used:
Felt F4C
Trek 2200