Kuota Khan

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at R&A Cycles

Model Year:
2006

Summary:
I love the look and feel of the bike. The geometry fits me well (shor-ish top tube). It's snappy and descends like a bat out of hell. FUN.

Not so fun though when the bike has a problem. Twice now, I've laid the bike down on the drive train side, and bent and/or broken the dérailleur hanger. These were not high speed crashes in a race either, the most recent happened when a car backed into me slowly, tipping me and the bike over. The part is hard to find, because for some reason, the dérailleur hanger on the 2006 Khan is different than any other Kuota. And as was indicated Pedal Masher, the distributor is lax on customer service. R&A went out of their way to try and help me with a hanger from one of the bikes they already had, but as I said, none of them fit the Kahn. The first time the hanger bent, the distributor was away for a week on vacation, so I was without the bike for 3+ weeks. The second time happened more than two weeks ago, and my rep at R&A still has no sense of when the part will arrive -- the distributor does not return calls.

Also, last summer, I was told by my rep at shop, that my seatpost was cracked. The shop called the distributor repeatedly, and he never got back to them regarding warranty issues for the seatpost. The seatpost is 30.0, and kind of rare (I think only Thomson also makes this size). It would have been great if it was under warranty, but I don't think I'll ever know.

I've missed some races because of the dérailleur hanger snafu, and I am considering selling the bike, and buying a more mainstream bike so if there's a problem, it's not a total hassle and time drain (and time away from the bike) to fix it.

I have a love-hate relationship with my Kuota Khan.

Strengths:
Comfortable, responsive, unique, fast.

Weaknesses:
Hard to get service and replacement parts

Price Paid:  $6000.00 at Elio sports Montreal

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Long flat rides

Bike Setup:
DA 10v, Fulcrum 1 wheels, Viking bar, FSA mega exo

Summary:
Idecided on this one after it was made bike of the year 2004. i thrive at long hard sprints and my Khan paces my efforts amazingly well. it gets nods everywhere, is a different bike, daring in design and yet humble. I love the responsiveness and the speed. Never has a single issue with the paint or any other detail. Service is the ebst where I bought it and they changed through Kuota my other bike a Kredo without any delay or problem...

Strengths:
Responsiveness, stiffness, velocity

Weaknesses:
None to tell

Similar Products Used:
Kuota Kredo, Colnago C50 & Willier Cento

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at Mission Bay Cycles {

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Long hard climbs

Bike Setup:
Price paid didn't include wheels. Full Durace including crank, Viking one piece bars,{took sometime to get used to but down tube postion is perfect},Kuota saddle, {comfort ok} Topolino wheels, Tufo tires.

Summary:
This bike is very stiff, light and fast. Very responsive when you get out of saddle, no flex. Very good-looking bike gets comments all the time on it. Great climber.

Strengths:
Very responsive
extremly light
Very attractive, different from anything else out there

Weaknesses:
Ride is fairly harsh for carbon.
Too many decals
Have one spot where clear coat has chipped, read review about bad paint, hope clear coat holds up.

Similar Products Used:
05 Tarmac Pro rides much better isn't quite as responsive
2000 Klein Quantum Pro
2000 Waterford 2200

Price Paid:  $4500.00 at Mission Bay Cycles {

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Long hard climbs

Bike Setup:
Price paid didn't include wheels. Full Durace including crank, Viking one piece bars,{took sometime to get used to but down tube postion is perfect},Kuota saddle, {comfort ok} Topolino wheels, Tufo tires.

Summary:
This bike is very stiff, light and fast. Very responsive when you get out of saddle, no flex. Very good-looking bike gets comments all the time on it. Great climber.

Strengths:
Very responsive
extremly light
Very attractive, different from anything else out there

Weaknesses:
Ride is fairly harsh for carbon.
Too many decals
Have one spot where clear coat has chipped, read review about bad paint, hope clear coat holds up.

Similar Products Used:
05 Tarmac Pro rides much better isn't quite as responsive
2000 Klein Quantum Pro
2000 Waterford 2200

Price Paid:  $5000.00 at ebay

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Up any hill

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Record Carbon group set,FSA Plasma 1 piece handle bar & stem,Mavic Ksyrium ES rims Continental GP4000 tyres ,Selle Italia SLR carbon seat,Look KEO carbon pedals

Summary:
When I first laid eyes on this bike I was sold,it is incredible to look at,1 of the best looking bikes around,I get comments about the bike everywhere I go.I put 2000km on it in the first 5 weeks, with no complaints.The frame is stiff and it is easy to put a 100km ride on it in complete comfort. It loves the hills & is extreamly fast on the desents.I have only had it up to 76km/h but it seems to be super responsive at all speeds & handles all conditions with ease.I LUV IT

Strengths:
Stiff frame ,comfortable ,looks fantastic ,no-one else has got one (or a bike that looks as good)strong :I hit a parked car at 25km/h with no damage at all

Weaknesses:
A little bit expensive ,but you get what you pay for.Paint could be better finished off.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Allez Elite ,Giant TCR 1