coolcamden

I'm thinking that I'd get a full carbon or Carbon/Ti frame to replace my DeRosa Merak. Getting tired of the aluminum frame, or just want something new and different.... most likely both... It does not need to be brand new, a used one with less than 700-800 miles is fine. I'll tranfer all my current components over to the new frame.

Recent browsing of popular sources yielded a few examples:

Scott CR1 Team Issue - used
Calfee Dragonfly -used
Trek 5.9 project one. I want something unusual, so if I had to get a Trek it'd have to be a project one in flames. - new

what's available? what's good?? like i said, I want something more unusual, so no Felt, no Giant, ...

legstwelve

pedalforce.

MacMan

At $1899 definitely worth a look:

Demit

pedal force would be going far under in both quality and price. also, pedal force is a generic as a frame can get.

Pedalforce isn't bad at all but I'd suggest looking used at that price range and not just at frames because, theres often very little difference in price between a frame and a whole bike at that price range.

voltman

Kuota K-Force

unbelievably

DeRosa's Avant

blacksquid

What about the a Kestrel Talon SL

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https://www.kestrel-usa.com/bikes/talonsl.php

bbp

Canyon Ultimate CF Pro 9.0

You be able to get a frameset (frame, fork, stem) shipped to the US for ~$1300 with a UCI racing license.

FrankBattle 

*something is inexpensive so this automatically = subpar quality?*

Personally, I have seen more problems with Treks. I have a PedalForce that is my primary bike and I have had no issues at all with it, but I am gentle on bikes, though I ride them often and hard when it's not snowing out. I'd recommend a PedalForce if a lesser known name is in the cards for you. If the ad machine has got you in its unrelenting vices, then there is nothing to see with PedalForce.

Giant also makes pretty decent CF frames and the full bikes can be had for < $2000.

I have a Giant also .. but scratch that. Just saw your disclaimer. PedalForce is unusual, I suppose

botto 

what's so unusual about a trek, project one paint job and all?

Hammertoe

Which one is it...

Oh no, I just ordered a Pedal Force....

What evidence do you have that Pedal Force (ADK) frames are poor quality...

DrPete 

$3000 for the complete bike w/Ultegra:

Grasschopper

Six fitty

Sorry just seems like everyone is just pimping what they have or what they want....

jit5

See what prices you can score on the Look frames. I got a sweet deal on a 585 that was almost within your budget.

It's a little more unusual that the Treks, Giants and Felts that you want to avoid.

And is light years ahead of any Pedal Force in terms of quality, or any other criteria for that matter except price.

DrPete 

Ask a totally subjective question, get a totally subjective answer.

DrPete 

Care to share with us why this statement is true? I'd love to know.

jit5

Let's see.

Feedback from years pro sponsorship at the highest level of pro racing.

Which teams are riding on the Pedal Force QS2 in the UCI ProTour? So where is the feedback on their design coming from or is it a case of these are the molds we came up with so I hope it works.

Manufactured by hand in their own facility.

Whose facility is the Pedal Force made in? And how much hand finishing goes into it?

Unsurpassed customer service if and when any problems occur.

Years of exemplary customer service. Have a problem and they will find a way to correct it or replace it.

Will they do the same for you two, three, four years down the road?

DrPete 

And NONE of those statements actually answer why a Look frame is "light years ahead" of Pedal Force in terms of anything.

FWIW, both PF and Look have 5-year warranties. Look only gives 1 year on that "light years ahead" hand-finishing work you refer to.

Grasschopper

So Look's lugged construction is light years ahead huh? Seems like the oldest design in CF bikes to me...now I am not saying you can't build a high end bike that way but it surely isn't cutting edge...if anything the PF monocoque frame is closer to the cutting edge.

And having a pro tour team on your bikes doesn't mean a heck of a lot...Vitus anyone (back in the 80s).

Manufactured in their own facility? Ok so Colnagos are crap as are Specialized as are Cervelo.

Sorry but your argument sucks.

jit5

Look's use of a forged carbon bottom bracket and tubes with variable wall thickness both longitudinally (butted) and circumfirentially is new technology. Monocoque forks including the steerer and carbon dropouts is new technology.

By the way how long was Vitus in the peloton? And how long has look remained there?

I guess if you think that the two are comparable in any way then I will leave you in your blissfully ignorant state.

SpongeDad

IIRC, wasn't Look getting dinged for bad paint jobs in the not to distant past?

[edit] I would check www.excelsports.com, they always seem to have a few closeout prices on Merlin frames (yes, I ride one, like it, so that's why I'm recommending it). Right now they have the 6-4 Ti frames for $2200.

cat4ever

Don't do something stupid and and get some obscure crap (like your name) painted on the top tube. I have the most expensive trainer bike in the world.

DocRay

"Cycling Plus" has had a QS-2 on long term test in the hands of a pro since late 05. They conclude that the frame quality is in fact higher than average.

DocRay

I think LOOK has done a good job selling you, but butted tubes in both directions is the norm now, as is monocoque fork. As for 'forged carbon', how exactly does one forge carbon?
Look frames are excellent, but more for quality than innovation. Lugged carbon is an excellent design, it just needs higher labor costs to do it right, LOOK moved its frame fabrication to Tunisia for this.

Whether or not a frame is in the peloton has nothing to do with frame quality.

Back to the OP: you can get an 06 Scott CR-1 for $1500 these days, looks better than the 07 version.
The Kuota Kharma is about $1600, or the LOOK 555, all are excellent frames, and same or better in performance to $4000 frames.

DocRay

Talk about blissfully ignorant..it's impossible to make a CF frame without handmade labor, which is why production of a lot of these frames has switched to places like Taiwan or Tunisia for LOOK.
You should also know that many or most handmade, artisan built, etc.etc. italian frames at $3500+ have no more than 2 year warranty.