Soma Fabrications Smoothie

Price Paid:  $450.00 at Online

Bike Setup:
Mostly Ultegra 6600 setup with Easton Circuit Wheels and an old Titanium Flite Saddle

Summary:
Was looking for a cheap but trust worthy replacement for my harsh aluminum frame. After a couple months of searching for a steel frame which wouldn’t hollow out my wallet, I came across the Soma Smoothie and decided that it would make a good replacement bike *another option would’ve been the Gunnar roadie.

I have to say that the bike took a good amount of prep work before it was even assemble ready. After un-boxing the BB clearly needed to be chased and faced follow by a good frame treatment.

After a bit of frustration with assembly, the bike turned out to be an awesome ride. The pothole crossing around my house were dull down significantly and the bike performs at general riding level; climbs well, accelerates at a descent pace for amber light running.

Strengths:
- Smooooooooth
- Good for everything use!
- Speedy and handles with pin-point aggression.

Weaknesses:
- Flexes a little when hammering up treacherous steep hills.
- Had signs of flash rusting after un-boxing.
- Bike was not assemble ready; required chasing/facing and tapping.

Similar Products Used:
2nd steel bike owned
Masi Vinere

Price Paid:  $350.00

Summary:
Beautiful frame. I purchased the white color, and it has a beautiful finish. Relatively light quality steel frame, that can do anything, from competitive club ride to race. For the price its an real bargain. Very lively and responsive semi-compact geometry.

Strengths:
As indicated above.

Weaknesses:
Absolutely none.

Price Paid:  $148.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
Mixed matched Dura Ace mostly. Went with the recommended carbon fork.

Summary:
I've been thinking of picking this frame up for a couple of years, since retiring my Lemond Tourmalet, and I'm so happy that I finally did. I've been riding cross bikes for the past couple of years, and forgot how great a road bike is.

The Soma was a easy build, thanks to thoughtful design. Used parts I had laying around.

Ridability, fantastic. Comfortable bike, but when time time it flies,--its a climber at heart. I was really surprised at how great the ride is. Buy this frame if you're looking for a great, cheap, steel road race bike.

Strengths:
Great power transfer, loves to climb, smooth on the decent, easy build, very light (lighter then my 853 road bike).

Weaknesses:
Kind of springy when you really get on it, can feel the frame flex over the length of the bike, and a little side-to-side bb action. Very small.

Similar Products Used:
A handful of Lemonds, a Bianchi Eros.

Price Paid:  $299.00 at Price Point

Favorite Ride:
anything is fine with me

Bike Setup:
Deda carbon fork, Easton EC90 handlebars, stem, and seat post. Shimano Dura Ace derailleurs, Ultegra shifters, and brakes.
Mavic Open Pro wheels, and Continential 4000s tires

Summary:
Well I'm super bummed! I looked forward to having my first steel frame for quite a while. My carbon frame cracked, so I looked for a nice steel frame to replace it with. I found the Soma Smoothie, and ordered it in pearl white. I had to wait a month, as it was back ordered. When it showed up, I was stoked!
I was a bit disappointed, as the welding looked rather rushed, and not up to the standard of a $400 frame. There was some splatter from the welds, that was painted over, and looks like crap (should never happen with a TIG welded frame)
The paint in rather thin, and shows through in places. I had to have the head tube faced, as well as the bottom bracket, as they were not close to flat.
I decided to live with this, and put it together anyhow, although I considered returning it. I was very excited about this bike, and spent a lot of money to make it nice. I installed the new Chris King head set, the Dura Ace derailleurs, ETC. getting over my disappointment as I went, until I realized the never welded on the rear derailleur cable mount, there is nothing on the chain stay at all. Well it is going back now, and I will have to wait another month for a new frame. I will not be a Soma product. I really wanted to be a fan, but ....I never even got to ride it!

Strengths:
4.75 lbs in 60cm. Not a feather, but good enough. looks nice (from a bit of a distance) I like the color, the shape of the frame. the tube diameters look good, and I like the subdued graphics

Weaknesses:
mediocre welds at best. (I'm a welder)VERY thin, and easy to chip paint. It seems you should not have to pay extra to face the head set, and bottom bracket. I know this used to be common, but shouldn't it be finished???

Similar Products Used:
My first steel frame

Price Paid:  $180.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
SDBC Sat Ride

Bike Setup:
Set up as a fixed geared / single speed bike. SWEET!!!

Summary:
The frame is sweet. It's not the lightest but the frame is stiff and very smooth. It's also very responsive and lively. I've ridden carbon, aluminum, ti, and mixed materials but the ride of a steel bike is very unique in my opinion. Every cyclist needs to ride a steel bike at least once in their lifetime.

Strengths:
Price, tange prestige tubing, sloping geometry.

Weaknesses:
Weight. But who cares?

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale, Trek, Specialized, Litespeed, Lemond, Scott, Orbea, Airborne, Giant, Bianchi, Colnago etc...