Description The Evoke is Kestrel's new hard-core, road-specific machine. Super light, super stiff, with the super-smooth carbon ride that Kestrel is famous for. Semi-sloped top tube in a full size range for prope...
Bike Setup: 59cm, Ultegra components, Upgraded to Dura Ace Scandium wheels, Look Keo carbon pedals.
Summary: I bought the bike in May of 2008 and purposely waited over a year to write a review so that it was meaningful. The result? This bike has performed very well over the 1,500 miles I have put on it. It is very responsive and doesn't waste any part of your pedal stroke. Climbing is actually fun and it handles great on the downhills. I have not noticed any weaknesses with this frame.
Bike Setup: 56cm with Sram Rival and Ksyriums wheels
Summary: I bought this bike on Ebay at a very good price, it fits me perfect. The bike looks great and feels very strong. When I ride uphill the bike accelerates, it uses every bit of energy to propel forward. It is a great riding bike, the Sram components are the best.
Strengths: very stiff, very lightweight 16.2 lbs out of the box, great components, great look and feel
Weaknesses: saddle so far is a little hard for me and the rear deraileur lug is a little soft
Similar Products Used: Kestrel Talon, Cannondale six, Specialized Allez and Roubaix
Favorite Ride: Lake Minnetonka, or one with lots of hills
Bike Setup: Full Campy Record, Rolf Vector Pro wheels, San Marco Aspide saddle, Michelin Pro clinchers, ITM handlebars, Easton EA70 stem.
Summary: This is my second Kestrel. My first was, if I remember right, the SC200. It was a very responsive frame, yet very smooth over rough pavement. Coming in from a training ride I was hit by a car and the seat tube was cracked. Surprisingly this didn't affect the ride quality at all, but the insurance company covered the cost and I bought a Trek 5500. I found the ride of that bike very dead and unresponsive. Last year I purchased a nearly new 2007 Kestrel Evoke on e-Bay. This is a very stiff frame. The frame is small - 50 cm - and I thought the relaxed head tube would "flop" into corners like other small frames I've ridden, but it doesn't. The 12 cm. stem helps with the twitchiness. With the steep seat tube I have the saddle further back than normal, but it works fine. Overall, I'm very happy with this bike.
Strengths: Stiff and somewhat aero. Kestrel is a company that builds great bikes.
Weaknesses: I had trouble finding a replacement dropout. The handling on my bike (small - 50 cm) was twitchy, but with a longer stem (12 cm) it's now much better.
Similar Products Used: Many steel frames, Trek 5500
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Bike Setup: da/ultegra mix with ceramic bearing and pulleys,caymano saddle,fsa stem,ritchey wcs classic os hb,time pedals,am classic wheels w/powertap,michellintires,oval concept seatpost.
Summary: came with ultegra parts but i replace crankset w/dura ace w/ceramic bottom bracket,switced derailler pulley w/ceramic pulleys,am classic wheelset w/powertap(stiff and light).maiden voyage with this rig impressed me a lot;stiffness in the right places which translates to fast but comfy ride,hammer down and it responds with authority...looks muscular too(looks like the hummer w/its edges)..my choice of bike in fast group ride/race..
Strengths: value,looks,responsive and feels light,comfy in long rides.
Weaknesses: nothing so far...I never had any trouble switching wheelsets(done it 3 times already and it comes off easily hope they know how to do it right cause it hurts the reputation of this well built,well design bike.
Similar Products Used: roi antares,giant tcr 1 carbon,cannondale 6/13,sworks e5.
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