Strengths: -Stiff, Sprinter Approved!
-Solid climber
-Carbon fibre comfort
-Really structurally sound into the turns
-Agressive geometry = great handling in a crit/awesome power transfer
Weaknesses: -maybe a little heavy when comparing it to a sub 1000g frame? But don't be a dummy, it's still light enough for any racing you wanna do.
Bottom Line:
I got this frame online from the distributor when they were switching from kestrel to fuji. I freakin live the bike! Kestrel has a slightly more agressive geometry on this thing to make it feel more powerful in turns and accelerations. All I know, is that I have short legs, and not many bikes would fit me, and that aggressive geometry translates into my short thighs being exactly where they need to be!
I'm a sprinter by nature and can throw down 1200+ watts in the finish, and sure--this thing flexes a little bit (all bikes will), but honestly, it's really stiff. You can barely even see it flex in the trainer. Kestrel did a good job with the torsional rigidity. I use to ride a giant TCR aluminum, and I'm positive this thing is much stiffer. I did tests side by side!
I won't win the world record king of the mountain contest or anything, but in my last 3's race, this baby still got me up the hill first. It climbs pretty sweet.
As far as comfort goes, it's carbon fibre, and it feels like carbon fibre. I think it's mighty comfy, but I'm racing the bike, and maybe I'm not as concerned with comfort as some others would be... (I do ride with a saddle that's little more than a carbon shell)
But, regardless, I can't think of anything wrong with the frame! Perhaps, if you're into counting every possible gram, you might not like that the frame+fork is over 3 lbs, but this is a bike built for agressive riding and laying the hammer down on the pedal. With full 2009 rival on it, it still weighs just under 16 lbs.
I just did a 1/2 mile, 15 turn crit--yup, you read that right, it was veeeery dangerous--and the bike was freakin solid in the handling department! I'm really happy with it!
Similar Products Used: Giant TCR aluminum, Giant OCR3
Bike Setup: Full 2009 Rival grouppo
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Danny Beis
a Road Racer
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2009
Strengths: -Stiff, Sprinter Approved!
-Solid climber
-Carbon fibre comfort
-Really structurally sound into the turns
-Agressive geometry = great handling in a crit/awesome power transfer
Weaknesses: -maybe a little heavy when comparing it to a sub 1000g frame? But don't be a dummy, it's still light enough for any racing you wanna do.
Bottom Line:
I got this frame online from the distributor when they were switching from kestrel to fuji. I freakin live the bike! Kestrel has a slightly more agressive geometry on this thing to make it feel more powerful in turns and accelerations. All I know, is that I have short legs, and not many bikes would fit me, and that aggressive geometry translates into my short thighs being exactly where they need to be!
I'm a sprinter by nature and can throw down 1200+ watts in the finish, and sure--this thing flexes a little bit (all bikes will), but honestly, it's really stiff. You can barely even see it flex in the trainer. Kestrel did a good job with the torsional rigidity. I use to ride a giant TCR aluminum, and I'm positive this thing is much stiffer. I did tests side by side!
I won't win the world record king of the mountain contest or anything, but in my last 3's race, this baby still got me up the hill first. It climbs pretty sweet.
As far as comfort goes, it's carbon fibre, and it feels like carbon fibre. I think it's mighty comfy, but I'm racing the bike, and maybe I'm not as concerned with comfort as some others would be... (I do ride with a saddle that's little more than a carbon shell)
But, regardless, I can't think of anything wrong with the frame! Perhaps, if you're into counting every possible gram, you might not like that the frame+fork is over 3 lbs, but this is a bike built for agressive riding and laying the hammer down on the pedal. With full 2009 rival on it, it still weighs just under 16 lbs.
I just did a 1/2 mile, 15 turn crit--yup, you read that right, it was veeeery dangerous--and the bike was freakin solid in the handling department! I'm really happy with it!
Similar Products Used: COLNAGO MASTER PISTA WITH ALL CINELLI AND CAMPAGNOLO RECORD GROUPS, AND CAMPAGNOLO TRACK WHEELS SET. PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODIES DREAMS TRACK BIKES
Weaknesses: read above this bike is not worthy to race or ride
Bottom Line:
this is for 2008 evoke menu wouldnt let me choose 08 only o7. This bike is cheap chinese made junk... lets see the carbon weave has all kinds flaws in it, the weave is unsymetrical and ugly. WORST the front derailer hanger is bolted on and not rivited, it comes loose very often and could cause you to drop the chain and eat it. the paint chips very easy, although the paint job is very prety it wont last. The good, it seems quite stiff and light even though the fork is not full carbon it has alluminum steerer.
Strengths: Stiff without beating the rider up
Light
Aerodynamic - passing cars do not upset handling at all
Sprints like a Gray Hound
Tracks well at speed
Weaknesses: Paint seems to chip easily
Bottom Line:
After only 300 miles and 7 days with the bike I am impressed. Was tempted to go with a more curvey carbon frame, but the price and specs lured me to the Evoke. In real life the frame tubing is much more manipulated than it looks in pictures. On the road the tube manipulations make sense immediately. You know the pavement is under you, but there is no road buzz and bumps are muffled. The geometry is quite aggressive. Though I am light at 143# I can feel the bend in sway in my other aluminum framed bike. The Evoke has no lateral give. Stand up and sprint and the frame says, "Yes Sir!" Much like a modern sports car, the frame is somewhat twitchy at slow speeds. As you go faster it hunkers down and tracks like it is on rails. And it is easy to go fast. Set up with cages and pedals, the full bike weighs about 16#. The only climbs I have in my area are high rise bridges. My other 17.5# bike climbs the bridges at about 16-17mph. The Evoke climbs at about 20mph easily. Four words to describe the bike:
Similar Products Used: Felt F65, Concord Record, Trek 2100
Bike Setup: Kestrel Evoke Frame/Fork
Cane Creek ZS-2 Short headset
Ritchey WCS handlebar/stem
FSA K Force Light seat post
Velo saddle
Ultegra Shifters, Derailleur, Chain, Cassette and Pedals
FSA SLK Compact Crank
Ritchey WCS Protocol wheel set
Kenda Kaliente tires
