Kestrel?
RonNg10016
cracks in its frames.
j...@miller.cs.saic.com
>cracks in its frames.
I have a Kestrel 200 SC that I got in 1991 and I've never had any problems
with it. It's very comfortable, climbs well, and time trials good. I've
never regretted spending the extra bucks for it.
Jim Miller __o o j...@miller.cs.saic.com
_ \<_ <\
___/\o__ ( )/( ) / >
Jeff Gee
>Any comments about Kestrel frames? I've heard it has a bad reputation for
>cracks in its frames.
I have a friend who just cracked his two-year old SC200 EMS at
the top tube. He had bumped the frame lightly against a wall
and thought he only had chipped the paint, but after a short ride
the tube broke completely through. Supposedly, to bring the frame
in at 2.6 lbs, Kestrel spec'ed the top tube to be extremely thin.
I think Kestrel has changed ownership since then, and newer
products should have this problem rectified. Still, considering
their shaky position in the marketplace, I would have some qualms
about buying one of their frames.
Jeff Gee
jg...@Eng.Sun.com
Mike E. Locke
>Any comments about Kestrel frames? I've heard it has a bad reputation for
>cracks in its frames.
I have a 56cm Kestrel 200EMS. I am 5'10.5" and weigh 147 lbs. I climb mostly
in the saddle. I do not race, and while I pass most people on the road, I am
by no means the fastest bicyclist around. I have crashed my bike twice (missed
turns in fairly fast descents, one crash was pretty hard). I carry lights with
a 2lb battery and commute stuff (change of clothes and lunch) on it regularly.
I have taken it on a bicycle road camping trip with 25lbs of gear strapped to
it. The bike is 2.5 years old and has about 12000 miles on it. I have ridden
it on moderately rough fire roads which made a mess out of my tires, but
caused no trouble with the frame.
There are some scratches and chips in the paint and a little damage to the CF
near the BB where a loose front der caused a miss shift followed by major chain
suck. There are no cracks or hints of cracks. I have no complaints
about my bike.
YMMV.
---
--
S'later, Mike Locke
Tri Race
Gee) writes:
>CLIP<I think Kestrel has changed ownership since then, and newer
>products should have this problem rectified. Still, considering
>their shaky position in the marketplace, I would have some qualms
>about buying one of their frames.
For the past few years Japanese companies (Schwinn included) have
controlled Kestrel. Good for quality and bad for prices and delivery
schedules. This spring four employees - aka, Sandpoint Designs - bought
the company and are now transferring production back from Japan. Products
made in the USA are supposed to be available by spring of '95.
If you have problems with cracks, etc. call them. If you're the original
owner (you may need to prove it) they will help you.
I was there yesterday (not an employee) and they don't act shaky... new
colors are coming.
Jim
Agoura Hills, CA
su...@ccsua.ctstateu.edu
Anyone have any weight specs on the Kestrel 200SCi and 200EMS frames?
I gave Kestrel a ring to get this info but no one ever returned my
call- side effect of the changeover, perhaps??
-I'm just trying to figure out whether or not I should pay more for the EMS...
Devin
Chris Gee
: In article <342urq$7...@engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM>, jg...@mogul.Eng.Sun.COM (Jeff
: Gee) writes:
:
: >CLIP<I think Kestrel has changed ownership since then, and newer
: >products should have this problem rectified. Still, considering
: >their shaky position in the marketplace, I would have some qualms
: >about buying one of their frames.
:
: For the past few years Japanese companies (Schwinn included) have
: controlled Kestrel. Good for quality and bad for prices and delivery
: schedules. This spring four employees - aka, Sandpoint Designs - bought
: the company and are now transferring production back from Japan. Products
: made in the USA are supposed to be available by spring of '95.
I heard Preston Sandusky is one of the four who bought the company
back from Schwinn/whoever. I was lucky to have bought mine before
they started production in Japan. They were having mold and quality
control problems typical of a new manufacturing facility.
Schwinn over-estimated the high-end CF market when they bought a
controlling interest in Cycle Composites Inc. and they eventually
decided to bail out. Kestrel EMS forks were/are highly rated
although Lemond no longer spec's them. Greg is using some fork
from Mitsubishi Rayon(I think.)
:
: If you have problems with cracks, etc. call them. If you're the original
: owner (you may need to prove it) they will help you.
:
I own a 54cm 200ems built in 1990. I don't race, but I like to chase
the buses on Ventura Boulevard here in the Valley. The frame has its
fair share of chips and dings from chain suck and flying road debris
but is otherwise in very good shape; no cracks, creaking, snapping
or other noises. My dealer _gave_ me a little bottle of enamel paint
to cover my blemishes; so don't forget to ask for one.
Like a previous poster, I like to climb seated and the only time I really
feel flex(and it's not much) is when I'm chasing/outrunning a bus(yeah,
I know, it's Stupid, but I can get up to about 40mph when drafting and
about 34-35 when the adrenaline is flowing and the fear of getting run
over by an RTD bus is high.8-)
Don't forget to get a chain stay protector; I like the ones from
MTB gruppos that have the thin layer of foam under the skin.
When putting your bike up in a workstand, _DON'T_ put the frame in the
clamp! clamp the seat post(or a post substitute.) I watched an idiot
crack a trek 2300(?) like that.
I personally prefer the _feel_ of the Kestrel over the new Treks;
the 200ems feel a little more forgiving and supple, while the Trek
is quite stiff and "hard". I would characterize the Kestrel as a good
century frame for "fitness-warriors"(like myself) and the Trek as
great for crit's and strong riders(also riders over 145lbs?)
I also think the EMS fork is still lots better than the Trek's.
Feels stiff but doesn't transmit shock up your arms, and it feels
nice carving downhills; a little less squirrelly(sp?) then the Trek.
my setup:
Dura-Ace(1990) 53/39x13-23(or is it 12-21?), 3t supercompetizione(sp?)
bar and stem, American Classic seat post, Flite Ti saddle, Paragon Ti BB,
Time Crit pedals/shoes, mavic O4cd/continental GP/DT bladed spokes.
I shopped around and bought the frame/fork separately and then built
it up myself(wellll, the headset/BB were put in for me, and the wheels
were laced for me too, but I did the rest.)
Take a test ride and feel the difference between makes of frames.
Only _your_ body can tell you what feels best.
============================================================================
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============================================================================
Eric Lin
>From: ch...@fa.disney.com (Chris Gee)
>Subject: Re: Kestrel?
>Date: 1 Sep 1994 21:16:47 GMT
>I personally prefer the _feel_ of the Kestrel over the new Treks;
>the 200ems feel a little more forgiving and supple, while the Trek
>is quite stiff and "hard". I would characterize the Kestrel as a good
>century frame for "fitness-warriors"(like myself) and the Trek as
>great for crit's and strong riders(also riders over 145lbs?)
>I also think the EMS fork is still lots better than the Trek's.
>Feels stiff but doesn't transmit shock up your arms, and it feels
>nice carving downhills; a little less squirrelly(sp?) then the Trek.
I rode a Trek OCLV for a year then a Kestrel 200 for another year & now I'm
back on an OCLV. Personally, I like the OCLV better but that will vary with
different riders. It is easier to warranty a Trek than it is a Kestrel.
After riding the Trek for 1300 mi I put an EMS fork on. When I'm not
cornering, the EMS fork is more squirrelly than the Trek fork since
it's trail or rake or whatever is different. I felt the Trek fork was actually
more comfortable since it flexed more. The EMS fork definitely feels a lot
more solid and handles very well overall.
The Trek forks from '94 and onwards are reinforced with extra carbon fiber so
it's somewhat better.
Eric
Mike E. Locke
>In article <3412mk$r...@search01.news.aol.com> ronng...@aol.com (RonNg10016) writes:
>>Any comments about Kestrel frames? I've heard it has a bad reputation for
>>cracks in its frames.
>
>I have a friend who just cracked his two-year old SC200 EMS at
>the top tube. He had bumped the frame lightly against a wall
>and thought he only had chipped the paint, but after a short ride
>the tube broke completely through. Supposedly, to bring the frame
>in at 2.6 lbs, Kestrel spec'ed the top tube to be extremely thin.
There are 3 models in the 200 series line: the discontinued 200SC,
the 200SCi, and the 200EMS. The 200SC was discontinued 3+ years ago,
it had a lot of quality control problems. Some people tack EMS onto
the end of the frame model to denote that the bicycle has an EMS fork.
This unfortunately causes great confusion when you want to discuss
specifics.
Starting about 3 years ago, Kestrel thickened the top tube at the
point where a handlebar would swing around and hit it. I wacked my
2.5 year old 200EMS top tube very hard with the handlebar in a
nasty accident, and only suffered a large paint chip. YMMV.
My Kestrel dealer says to squeeze a suspect area on your CF bike (finger
pressure only!) to determine if the damage is more than skin deep. If
the CF makes a noise, you have a problem and should not ride the bike.
>
>I think Kestrel has changed ownership since then, and newer
>products should have this problem rectified. Still, considering
>their shaky position in the marketplace, I would have some qualms
>about buying one of their frames.
>
Kestrel quoted me 2.74lbs for the 200EMS and 2.9lbs for the 200SCi. They did not
say what frame size. Curiously, Nytro catalog #1 shows 2.74lbs for the 200EMS
and 3.5lbs for the SCi.
I bought the 200EMS, but at the time the price difference was only $200. The
price difference is much larger now. The 200EMS does have more bottom bracket
flex, so if this bothers you, you might want to stay away. Kestrel says
that the recommended rider weight limit on the 200EMS is 180lbs (I weigh
150lbs).
Richard Steele
>>>Any comments about Kestrel frames? I've heard it has a bad reputation for
>>>cracks in its frames.
>There are 3 models in the 200 series line: the discontinued 200SC,
>the 200SCi, and the 200EMS. The 200SC was discontinued 3+ years ago,
>it had a lot of quality control problems.
Kestrel says
>that the recommended rider weight limit on the 200EMS is 180lbs (I weigh
>150lbs).
>
This is not a recommendation for buying a Kestrel, but I'm a little disappointed
about the bad rap being put on the 200SC. I have owned and ridden one now for
two years. It's a 61CM with EMS fork, and has been just a joy for me. My weight
has ranged from 175-185 pounds. I'm not so sure about the quality of the 200SCI's
that were made in Japan to lower production costs.
Rick
Steven L. Sheffield
>: For the past few years Japanese companies (Schwinn included) have
>: controlled Kestrel. Good for quality and bad for prices and delivery
>: schedules. This spring four employees - aka, Sandpoint Designs - bought
>: the company and are now transferring production back from Japan. Products
>: made in the USA are supposed to be available by spring of '95.
>
>I heard Preston Sandusky is one of the four who bought the company
>back from Schwinn/whoever. I was lucky to have bought mine before
>they started production in Japan. They were having mold and quality
>control problems typical of a new manufacturing facility.
>Schwinn over-estimated the high-end CF market when they bought a
>controlling interest in Cycle Composites Inc. and they eventually
>decided to bail out. Kestrel EMS forks were/are highly rated
>although Lemond no longer spec's them. Greg is using some fork
>from Mitsubishi Rayon(I think.)
Schwinn didn't "decide" to bail out. Schwinn lost their interest
in Cycle Composites when they went bankrupt in 1991.
--
Steven L. Sheffield Disclaimer? I don't need no
(BOB #1765/IBOB #3) stinking disclaimer.
Internet: biki...@netcom.com __o
Voice: (415) 296-9893 _`\<;
Fax: (415) 597-9849 (*)/(*) Cars suck. Ride yer bike.