EPX 303 - 105

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at see above

Favorite Ride:
Gates Mills-Holden Arboretum

Bike Setup:
stock plus Speedplay Zeros, and now Ritchey WSC Compact 50/34 and Ultegra 12/27.

Summary:
An update to my 2003 review above: the bike has been fantastic, the 105 started behaving when it broke in, and I added Speedplay zeros to the stock bike. After 5 years of attacking all hills with the 53/39 and 12/23, I dialed it back and last night installed a Ritchey WCS Compact 50/34 and an Ultegra 12/27, and enjoyed mercy while climbing today; the 105 still shifts without a problem, though a bit noisy. I think I'll leave chain as is as I might ramp up to the 53/39 or the 12/13 again depending on rides, the switch-over is really painless.

Strengths:
Still solid after 5 years, no cracks or any apparent problems.

Weaknesses:
None for my style of riding.

Similar Products Used:
see above

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at LBS new orleans

Bike Setup:
yellow 59cm, cosmos wheels, maxxis tires, ITM stem, post,& bars, Look pedals. 12-23/39-53. upgrading to full Dura Ace, better set of wheels.

Summary:
Really enjoy this bike. Was concerned with my weight. 6'3" and 220 lbs. Hammer hard, but the bike sprints very well. Nice to kick them on their $3K carbons. Went from steel lugged Viner/fork, to full carbon and fork. What a difference! Steel is real, but this frame is great, and I lost @ 4-5 lbs! Upgrading to Dura Ace as we speak. (ebay bids) This franme/fork is definitely worthy of Dura Ace or Campy Record! Buy one! This bike is marginally small for me, as it's measured center to top. I noticed it at he bike shop, but next option was a 62cm, whcih was too big. Wish a 60 would be made, or make them center to center.
Will start doing TriAthlons next year, will be looking to pick up a Nullabar (EPX) frame to build up.

Strengths:
price, for sure. v-good quality. everyone wants to know @ the bike, and the company; like having something the others don't have. corners very, very well, even when pushed hard into a corner.

Weaknesses:
it's a catch 22 - epx is an 'unknown". Have a small crack in a cable outlet on top tube-keeping a close eye on it.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Sirrus/105, Viner w/Oria (lugged)tubing/Record, Cannondale R500, Cannondale MTB hard tail (custom build)Schwinn Crate (HA)

Price Paid:  $949.00 at Supergo.com

Favorite Ride:
ANY road with NO traffic!

Bike Setup:
56cm EPX 330 full monocoque carbon
Yellow
Shimano 105 Groupo 9 speed 12/23
172.5 Ultegra cranks 53/39
105mm ITM Road Racing stem with carbon spacers.
Ultegra SPD-R pedals.
Selle Italia Mythos trans am.
Tacx bottle cages.
Cateye wireless cyclocomputer.

Summary:
I haven't done any serious riding since college and grad school but still did some occasional riding. I was shopping for an up-to-date road bike but most of the carbon fiber Treks were a bit too costly. I found the 56cm EPX 330 during random online surfing in July 02. The price was unbelievable for a full carbon/105 bike! The bike arrived in good condition and the assembly was a joy. The stem and cranks were a bit long and the Mavic Cosmic wheels were slightly out of true. This bike is LIGHT! Even at aboutt 25% of maximum conditioning, I was able to climb the moderately steep hills around my house. I'm riding more and more now so I can truly tap the full potential of this bike. This bike should still be available at LBSs. Check EPX site.

Strengths:
LOW price! Light. Quality frame and components. Hi-tech. Sleek Looks. Assembly is fun for tinkering/tweaking.

Weaknesses:
130mm stem and 175mm cranks too long for 56cm frame. Mavic Cosmos needed truing. Fork dropouts have "safety" retainers (Hello?)counterintuitive to letting the front wheel "drop" out! Blobs of adhesive on paint (rubbed out with damp cloth). Selle Italia ODS a bit narrow for me and too soft.

Similar Products Used:
Austro Daimler Vent Noir w/ Reynolds 531 and Campy Nuovo Record.
Univega Super Strada w/ Tange Champion and Dura Ace AX.
Raleigh Elkhorn MTB.
Yokota Legend w/ Tange and RX-100 (cross bike).

Price Paid:  $1075.00 at All 3 Sports, Atlant

Favorite Ride:
EPX 303 105

Bike Setup:
62cm Shimano 105 DuraAce seat post,

Summary:
Very Pleased with the bike. Exceeded my expectations. Good looking. However, had a off center back brake attachment hole out of the box. This was fairly easily fixed with a littel brake caliper bending. I got about 1100 miles on it. Last week the seat stay adjacent to the brake attachment hole started cracking! I have yet to get a response from EPX about replacement frame. In spite of this, I love the bike and think EPX is a great value.

Strengths:
Looks. Lightness. Quickness. Value.

Weaknesses:
Manufacturing flaw. Too short a seat post which I replaced. Seat could be better.

Price Paid:  $960.00 at Online: Supergo.com

Favorite Ride:
Watchung Reservation

Bike Setup:
63CM Carbon frame. 105 STI throughout with Mavic Cosmos (sealed bearing). and ITM stem. Speedplay X2 pedals. Added Specialized Carbon Seat post to replace standard one. Sealle San Marcos saddle

Summary:
While upgrading from my old steel Fuji Ace, I realized that I could not afford a quality ride. With a $1000 ceiling I jumped at the offer. Complete with Shimano 105 throughout, sealded bearinged Mavic Cosmos wheelset. It is just great.
I spent about $1050 including local assembly for maybe $2,000 machine.

Strengths:
Ultra light. Love the color (Yellow) Love the wheel set. Black anodized radial standard front and 2-cross rear. Shifting is the best I have experienced coming from my old Fuji. I can quickly downshift on a hill and have not been caught in too big a gear.

Weaknesses:
Online vendor shipped via UPS ground and it arrived with some damage to rear wheel which had to be replaced. (also a minor scratch on rear deraileur). Also, it is hard to find touch-up paint. I found some at the local hobby shop which was not a perfect match but close enough for minor knicks. Standard seat post was too short.