Serotta Frames
Richard Harris
completely blown away by the quality of build and engineering on these - the
prices didn't look too bad, either.
What I'd appreciate is anyone's personal experience of these frames, whether
the more expensive ones are worth the difference in cost and also how they
compare to the Merlins & Litespeeds.
TIA
Richard
Kurt Holm
outstanding bicycles. At this level it's hard to get a "bad bike."
It all comes down to what you're looking for. As evidenced by my
prior purchases, I'd go Merlin/Seven for titanium and Serotta for
steel.
Qui si parla Campagnolo
compare to the Merlins & Litespeeds. >>
If they are worth it to you is a tough question-Ben from the beginning has said
he wanted to build a ti frameset that has the ride qualities of steel, the
benchmark for ride quality-in his opinion(I agree), and I think he has done
this-
All three of his ti framesets, Legend, Concours and Classique TI are great
riding framesets-
peter
Paul Morrison
hoped. It has a carbon fork and rides like, like, like well, like something.
Back in 1989 I had a Tomasso with Campy C-Record (delta brakes!!!) and that
was one sweet ride. I used to swear everything had to be Italian, and now
New York is fine with me!! This Serotta rides better than the memories of
the 1989 season. (You know how memories get exagerated. . .)
It's stable, it climbs nicely and I think I'm in love. The paint is
astonishing, and the lug work is a joy to behold.
I outfitted it with Record (Ti) parts, including the Pedals. It's just as
nice on long rides as it is on short. (Long being 50miles, I'll shoot for a
really long one soon).
pauly
Kelley Clark
Just curious, thanks.
T P
problem I've had with the frame, is the drive side dropout (Campy) broke about 8
years ago. Serotta said they would warranty the broken part but it would cost
me $300 for paint plus shipping both ways. I thought that sucked; so I
contracted Holland Cycles (San Diego,ca.) to repair the frame. The frame repair
and a Joe Bell (JB) "fleet" paint job cost way less than just paint from
Serotta. So for the next 5 years I rode the bike incognito, i.e. no Serotta
decals, etc... The only way you could tell the bike was a Serotta was the
telltale "S" on the rear brake stay and the Serotta Colorado flared chain stays.
The bike didn't seem to care about the plain jane paint it rode as good as new.
The bike is on it's third paint job now and is restored to original specs. Time
does heal all wounds, as they say.
The bike after all this time and over 50,000 miles still rides as good
as the day I first brought it to life. Other than the broken dropout there have
been no other problems.
Richard Harris wrote:
> Saw a couple of Serotta road frames in Bicyle Odyssey last week. I was
> completely blown away by the quality of build and engineering on these - the
> prices didn't look too bad, either.
>
> What I'd appreciate is anyone's personal experience of these frames, whether
> the more expensive ones are worth the difference in cost and also how they
> compare to the Merlins & Litespeeds.
>
> TIA
> Richard
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Richard Harris
for a while - my current road bike is a custom Roberts SLX, drivetrain
recently upgraded to Record 9-speed Carbon/Ti (still with my old Delta
brakes though - they're way complex, grossly overweight and so beautiful
that I can't bear to part from them!). It's a beautiful machine but way
behind the times in overall weight. I've just sold my Cannondale, mainly
because I didn't get on with the Shimano componentry and am looking for a
really light frame that rides more like the steel - hence thinking about the
Serottas. Anyone any thoughts on weights and ride of these compared to (say)
the new Scandium framesets?
At the risk of being contentious, I'm afraid to say that the US
framebuilders are now way ahead of those in Europe (particularly the UK) in
terms of the use of new materials. That's a shame, as the quality of
workmanship here is great, but they haven't moved along with the times.
Richard
Jim Flom
Kelley Clark <clark...@uswest.net> wrote in message
news:37D9A5F8...@uswest.net...
> How much does your Atlanta weigh and with what parts/size frame?
> Just curious, thanks.
I'm obviously not Paul, but my Atlanta is outfitted with Campy Chorus, Mavic
Open Pro wheels (brass nipples), Ritchey saddle, 3TTT stem and handlebars,
Look PP 256 pedals and comes in at about 20 3/4 pounds. I am as
enthusiastic about mine as Paul is about his. I love it.
Jim
Jim Flom
JF
Kelley Clark <clark...@uswest.net> wrote in message
news:37D9A5F8...@uswest.net...
> How much does your Atlanta weigh and with what parts/size frame?
> Just curious, thanks.
>
Mark Atanovich
"Richard Harris" <rich...@tdv.com> writes:
> Saw a couple of Serotta road frames in Bicyle Odyssey last week. I was
> completely blown away by the quality of build and engineering on these - the
> prices didn't look too bad, either.
Could you elaborate on the engineering? Just curious.
Mark Atanovich
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad
judgement."
GKnight137
built up with dura ace, chris king hub and 36 hole reflex, ti post but a
profile stem. It comes in at about 18.6lbs. I couldn't be more satisfied
(it's a good thing at these prices!). Previously been on a Cannondale and also
have a Bob Jackson that I've converted to fixed gear. The Serotta is light
years more comfortable and feels like a rocket after being on the others for a
while. Seriously, I don't know of anybody who's going to blow it big time by
the time you've gotten into the rarefied air of some of the more modern Ti
framesets. Just get one that fits correctly. The Serotta happened to be the
correct set up for distance as well as high speed tracking/cornering. I don't
do crits so there ya go. 100% endorsement if you can get behind the pricey
part. Ben does good work!
Jim Flom
questions.
Jim
Mark Atanovich <Atan...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:7rj9s3$kfk$1...@newsgate.sps.mot.com...
Rob Perkins
The steel & Ti frames are quite pretty, but you pay for it.
The lugged steel frames consist of Reynolds custom drawn tubes; in the
CSi they substitute a Columbus tube here or there, according to the rep.
They also have a TIG welded Reynolds 853 frame that they seem to be
going to the low end of top-market, if you know what I mean.
The Ti frames are nicely TIG welded, with the upper models having butted
tubes and varying down/seat tubes, like the Cannondale CAAD3/4 frames.
The top end Ti (Hors Categorie) has funky curved seat stays with an
elastomer damper running along the sta7 from below the brake bridge to
the drop outs, with a pivot at the bottom. Don't know if this
suspension works.
Nice bikes.
Rob Perkins
RUMSPEC
>The lugged steel frames consist of Reynolds custom drawn tubes; in
YOU Get what you Pay for!!!!!
Tonyroadnz
quick direction change and goes exactly where you point it. Custom bike 3
weeks, hard to complain there.
Rob Perkins
dough than Serotta. Just 'cause you spent a lot on your frame doesn't
make it any better... Rob
Fiamme Red
sometimes you don't!
in general, serotta frames make for a great riding bike and Ben has done a
good job to see it that way, takes great pride in his workmanship. don't
think he would put his name on something of poor quality.
however i have seen some terrible frame buiding by master frame builders, both
in europe and the US. Terry Shaw of Shaws light weight bicycles, who's an
outstanding surface plate and alignment expert, has told me about bottom
bracket shells that were brazed a 1/4" off in alignment.
if your bike rides good, then it may be best not to question it, you may be
in for a rude awakening.
I myself have overlooked a fork alignment problem. it's fixed now, but
couldn't believe how i missed it, or how the dealer missed it, or worst yet,
how the fame builder missed it.
-tom
Kurt Holm
<nospam_rob...@nortel-dasa.de> wrote:
>There are plenty of frame builders making just as good frames for less
>dough than Serotta. Just 'cause you spent a lot on your frame doesn't
>make it any better... Rob
Just wondering which frames have you ridden that are just as good as
the Serottas you've ridden but cost less? Thanks for the input.
>
>RUMSPEC wrote:
>>
>> >The steel & Ti frames are quite pretty, but you pay for it.
>> >The lugged steel frames consist of Reynolds custom drawn tubes; in
>>
V1pro
>>dough than Serotta. Just 'cause you spent a lot on your frame doesn't
>>make it any better... Rob
For the fast month I've been checking out a lot of frame builders and for the
money, Serrotta is the best value. They build up their frames with Reynalds 853
ovallized tubing and the finish and the lugs are just really nice.
If it's less dough you want to pay for a frame then build it with 531 tubing
but again from I have, Serrotta's prices are not much more than some frames
only using 531.
Robert DuBois
I've owned a handbuilt Peugeot, a Holdsworth and a Pinerillo Record as
well as a Serotta Csi. The Serotta is absolutely the best handeling of
them all. If you get a chance to demo one ride it fast and hard. Is it
worth it? Who knows? Would I buy another? You bet.
Bob
Rob Perkins wrote:
> There are plenty of frame builders making just as good frames for less
> dough than Serotta. Just 'cause you spent a lot on your frame doesn't
> make it any better... Rob
>