Kuota K-Factor

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at City Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Any Smooth Road

Bike Setup:
"Medium" Size Frame
Dura Ace Shifters
Dura Ace Rear Der
Ultegra Front Der
Ultegra Brake Calipers
Kuota K03 (SRAM) carbon cranks
Profile Design T2 OS stem/bullhorn/aero bars
Profile Design 052 brake levers
Mavic Krsyrium Elite Wheelset
Selle San Marco Triron seat

Summary:
I have the 2009 K-Factor SL. For the money, you can not beat this bike. The Kueen and Kalibur are (a little) lighter and stiffer, but a lot more expensive. This is a great bike if you lack hamstring flexibility (like a lot of cyclists according to my chiropractor). It's a fairly relaxed geometry due to a longish head tube, which is great when transitioning to the run or racing anything longer than Olympic distance. My LBS did a fairly intensive fitting for me, so I had zero neck/shoulder pain that you usually experience with a new bike. (I highly recommend getting professionaly fitted...it's worth any extra cost). For a tri bike, it climbs very well (again the relatively relaxed geometry has a lot to do with this). I went up some 5% grades and didn't leave my aero bars. The only weakness is frame flex, which may be a sacrifice for light weight/good price. I notice frame flex most on the trainer...didn't notice it while actually riding. The Kueen and Kalibur are probably stiffer due to a higher grade carbon. My overall rating is 4.75...would be a 5 if the frame was stiffer.
If you live near Kansas City, go to City Cycles...they upgraded components w/o bustin' my bank account. I am NOT affiliated with City Cycles, but as someone that moves a lot I always appreciate getting the low down on good bike shops.

Strengths:
Light
Price
Geometry (somewhat relaxed)
Plush ride (even by road bike standards)
Looks mean (nude carbon)
Aero seat post looks cool
Climbs well

Weaknesses:
Frame flex (needs to be stiffer)
Geometry (somewhat relaxed...if you prefer agressive, you may need a different bike).

Similar Products Used:
Colnago Cronos (agressive geometry)
Trek 5200 Road Bike (OCLV, stiff carbon

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at Cadence Cycle and Mu

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Philly to Valley Forge

Bike Setup:
Shimano Ultegra/Dura-Ace build. Profile Design aero bars(stock). Selle Italia saddle. Keo carbon pedals. Mavic Ksyrium Elites.

Summary:
This bike is a great bike for beginners to intermediate triathletes. The original price was 1,600 but I spent a good deal to upgrade certain parts that I feel was well worth the money.

It's not as aggressive as a Cervelo, Cyfac, or any other crazy time trial bike but it's enough to even the playing field so that it comes down to the cyclist and not the bike.

I've raced a few times with this and unless I get fast enough to try placing on the podiums, this will be the bike that carries me to the finish lines. This is going to be my tri bike through my 70.3's and Ironmans.

Strengths:
Good price relative to high-end european bikes. Great styling. Good aero design with well-balanced stiffness and flex points.

Weaknesses:
A tad on the heavier side, but that probably has more to do with the components than the actual frame.

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Ebay

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Beach Drive - Maryland

Bike Setup:
Full DA groupset
FSA Vision aerobars
Look pedals
Flashpoint wheels

Summary:
The nicest bike I've ever owned. The taller head tube makes it esier to stay in the aero position. I only leave the aero bars on the steepest of climbs only. The frame kills the bumbs in the road and it makes for a very smooth ride. The price allowed me to get an aero helmet and race wheels

Strengths:
Tall head tube for comfort
Realistic seat angle
Carbon frame
Cost

Weaknesses:
Nothing

Similar Products Used:
Trek E9
Fuji Aloha

Price Paid:  $2800.00 at Nytro

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Dawn Patrol, no traffic

Bike Setup:
Ultegra drive train, pro lite cosmos, FSA cockpit, and (my favorite) Niterider Moab Li-Ion HID lamp.

Summary:
Not a good bike for new triathletes--a great one.

A slightly less aggressive geometry keeps mortals in aero position longer. I bought this bike at the end of last summer and quickly stopped riding my Canondale road bike.

I put in about 150 miles a week, and just finished the Hawaii 70.3, my first at this distance, and third triathlon. I've been bit by the bug, and expect to keep going. I was afraid that if I skimped on my first tri bike that I would want to replace it within a year. I also wanted to avoid being the newbie schmuck with the Cervelo P2C. The K Factor is the perfect middle ground. I may upgrade components, but this bike has the right balance of comfort and performance.

I really liked powering past Cervelos, Griffens, BMCs, etc. on the climb to Hawi. The thing I loved is that I'm not a better rider than those folks. Their 80 degree seat tube put them in such discomfort that they had bailed on the aero position, and were sitting up with palms on the arm pads.

Maybe someday my back will be strong enough to endure that, but for now, I'm happy with the K Factor.

Strengths:
Great looks, fast, comfy

Weaknesses:
rider

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale, Fuji

Price Paid:  $2532.00 at tribe

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
ultegra all around, hed 3s for racing, vistas for training, ultegra cranks,

Summary:
This is my first tri bike and I cannot think of another I should have bought. After riding several different bikes before making a decision, I am very happy with mine. It actually handles well, is very comfortable to ride and paces well. Stiff where it needs to be but doesn't beat you up on the long rides.

Strengths:
quick acceralation
comfortable ride
great looking
ultegra all around is reliable

Weaknesses:
none thus far. this is a great time trial/ triathlon bike.

Similar Products Used:
FELT, Cervelo, Trek...the usual suspects