Moots Cycles Vamoots

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Custom Moots Compact. Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork. Moots stem and seatpost, of course. DT Swiss wheels handbuilt by Joe Young. Campy Chorus/Record combo.

Summary:
Wonderful bike. Exceptional value as the benefits easily justify the expense. Have never felt so comfortable on a bike. Smooth, quick, light.

Weaknesses:
Are you kidding?

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at ebay

Model Year:
2002

Bike Setup:
Campy drivetrain, Cane Creek brakes with red pads (they can actually stop the wheels this way!) old carbon mtb post, easton carbars, spds

Summary:
This is one of the best and most beautiful bikes that exists. It is actually a Hampsten that was built by Moots, I imagine to Moots geo, but I am not sure. I have never seen better welds by any other manufacturer. The stout chainstays transfer power, but the seatstays do a good job of damping the road shock. I love climbing out of saddle as the bike just wants to run. Long days seated are a joy and I can go longer than ever before and still not feel fatigued from the road.

Strengths:
Impeccable quality. American made. Light and low maintenance industrial beauty. No chips, no paint, no worries.

Weaknesses:
My own. I need to figure out my stem/bar a little bit better. Leaves me lusting for the SL

Price Paid:  $3100.00 at Pedal Pushers, Denve

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Morrison to Heritage Sq. climb, CO

Bike Setup:
Campy of course. Once you go Italian, you never leave.

Summary:
I'm always looking for the best, so, after visiting Kent Eriksen at the Sore Saddle Cyclery back in 1991, I finally pulled the trigger and bought a Vamoots.

The ride exceeded my expectations! I previously had a Merlin Extralight, and was very pleased with it, except that their frames are not built with a geometry to my requirements. But, the Moots further enhanced the ride quality. I do not notice any bottom bracket flex, although I do notice a slight lack of transfer of force to the wheel on steep climbs (compared to my Pegoretti Marcelo and a Parlee I tested.) Yet, this is very minimal, and the bike responds to input when you put the power to the pedal. This bike is probably the most ideal realization of developing a frame that gives you the highest levels of all characteristics you look for in a road frame. Stiff enough to transfer your pedaling to the wheel, yet still has the magic to absorb the road chatter better than any other bike I have ridden (except possibly the Cannondale Synapse, likely the best off-the-shelf-bike available, I use one in the off season.) The frame is very accurately aligned and doesn't waver at all down the mountain passes.

If you have the means to obtain one, you WILL know where your money went. I can't say I have bought many things in my life that I felt content with the price I paid several months after the purchase. This is a delightful exception.

Strengths:
Ti ride with lateral stiffness. It just doesn't get better than this (that I have ridden yet.)

Weaknesses:
I'm educated in Quality Assurance, and I cannot find anything negative to mention. That is a rarity for me and stands as a high compliment to the folks at Moots!

Similar Products Used:
Merlin Extralight

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at Wrench Science

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Beach Road, Melbourne, Australia

Bike Setup:
Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork, SRAM Force Group (love it), Zero-G Ti brakes (they seem a bit fiddly and won't stay centered - but stop well and look cool), Crank Bros 4Ti, Easton EA70 "wing" bars (The most comfortable bars I have ever ridden), Ksyrium ES's, Conti GP4000's

Summary:
I spoke to a friend of mine - a respected frame-maker. His advice was, "if you only buy one custom bike in you life, make it Ti. And if you only buy one Ti bike, look at the Moots." To be honest, I had never heard of Moots when I started my quest -- and had never ridden one (or even seen one in Australia).

I've had this frame a couple of weeks now, and have put quite a bit of distance on it in that time. As I told the guys at the shop, "it rides like my carbon bike, but more so!" By that, I mean that it is totally plush on rough surfaces (eg. all of the roads around here) and feels great long rides, bit it pumps like a *** on sharp climbs. At almost 17 lbs (~58cm sizing), its comparable in weight to my mid-range carbon bike, but feels much lighter on the road. I specifcally avoided the SL version, as I had heard/read that it is a bit harsh. I am happy with that decision, as this is plenty stiff (and I way 100Kg/220Lbs).

I would confidently recommend this bike for people like me - strong(ish) recreational riders who want to buy their last bike.

While I have focused this review on the frame rather than components, I would really recommend looking at the Moots seat post as well. I have the lay-back one. No flex. Really comfortable. And definately the cleanest lines of amy lay-back post I have seen. Also, looks great on the Ti bike.

Strengths:
1) The workmanship really is as spectacular as they say. When you pay this for a frame, you expect the welds to be this stellar.

2) Value (relative). Believe it or not, these are very well priced against other custom Ti bikes (as much as half the price of some comparable frames that I considered). With top-rate materials and workmanship, I view this as the best value Ti bike I considered.

3) The frame is very thoughtfully designed. For example, the breezer drop-outs give a very positive (eg. stiffer in the bottom) and clean looking weld-point than many Ti frames; and they look really nice as well.

4) finish. I really like the simple bead-blasted finish. It looks like Ti.

Weaknesses:
1) While I am happy with the bike fit that I got, I do think that Moots could probably learn from the customization process that Seven (and perhaps others) use. Every customer wants to believe that theirs is unique and will totally fit.

2) A bit of toe overlap - which I know is common. But nonetheless not ideal.

Similar Products Used:
Looked at every high-end Ti bike I could find.

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Price Paid:  $3500.00 at Turin Cycles Evansto

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Sella Ronda

Bike Setup:
Mix of Record and Chorus, IF steel fork, DT Swiss 32 spoke wheels.

Summary:
This is a Mootour 61 cm with a YBB. Designed for long and ultra long distances, with S&S couplers for travel. Bike is beautifully made, Titanium has a wonderful road feel. YBB is a problem, as it doesn't fully lock out. No response from Moots whether that's normal. No or very reluctant help from the LBS on any of the questions I have had. Once set up properly, this is the ultimate bike to have. It climbs, descents, and goes fast in a straight line.

Strengths:
Build quality, frame geometry, material.

Weaknesses:
Customer service. Absolutely unacceptable for a bike that fully built up is around $6000

Similar Products Used:
Felt F 50, LeMond Buenos Aires

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