Moots vs Trek vs Lynskey
05-22-18, 12:04 PM
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Moots vs Trek vs Lynskey
I am looking into (possibly) buying a new bike. The bikes I like are the Moots RSL, Lynskey 470/380 or Trek Madone 9.9
Here are the pluses and minuses I came up so far with for each choice:
1. Moots + detailed, clean looking, engraving options for the badge, etc.
- no 1 1/2 fork option
2. Trek madone + looks uncluttered
+ LBS support (not sure how important this is)
- the OCLV 600 frame I understand is not built in the USA. If that's the case, it is a deal breaker for me
3. Lynskey + positive experience with them (I own a Helix 2016, very, very sweet ride); they build good frames; the 1 1/2 fork is superb with the creek 110 !!!
- the looks are sub-par compared to Moots. The Lynskey I have was shipped with some low quality bolts that rusted within 2 years - in the FSA stem.
How important is a 1 1/2 fork? I like the feel of the Lynskey fork. The Trek Madone also has a 1 1/2 fork. Moots only offers 1 1/4 tapered to 1 1/8.
Any other things I should be aware of?
Many thanks to everybody participating in the thread! Much appreciated!
Here are the pluses and minuses I came up so far with for each choice:
1. Moots + detailed, clean looking, engraving options for the badge, etc.
- no 1 1/2 fork option
2. Trek madone + looks uncluttered
+ LBS support (not sure how important this is)
- the OCLV 600 frame I understand is not built in the USA. If that's the case, it is a deal breaker for me
3. Lynskey + positive experience with them (I own a Helix 2016, very, very sweet ride); they build good frames; the 1 1/2 fork is superb with the creek 110 !!!
- the looks are sub-par compared to Moots. The Lynskey I have was shipped with some low quality bolts that rusted within 2 years - in the FSA stem.
How important is a 1 1/2 fork? I like the feel of the Lynskey fork. The Trek Madone also has a 1 1/2 fork. Moots only offers 1 1/4 tapered to 1 1/8.
Any other things I should be aware of?
Many thanks to everybody participating in the thread! Much appreciated!
Last edited by Boerd; 05-27-18 at 07:41 PM.
05-22-18, 01:26 PM
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These super fat steerers/headtubes are 100% a gimmick, IMO, so I wouldn't make that a deciding factor. I dunno, I like the Moots.
05-22-18, 01:30 PM
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My vote goes to Moots.
05-22-18, 03:18 PM
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05-22-18, 03:56 PM
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Madone is a lighter, stiffer in the right places more aero aka better race bike than Moots or Lynskey.
Your disqualifier of buying a bike not made in the US from a US company is laughable. My vote.
FWIW, for a weekend warrior, it doesn't matter what you ride. If your fit is best you will be faster on CAAD12 at 1/4 the cost.
Your disqualifier of buying a bike not made in the US from a US company is laughable. My vote.
FWIW, for a weekend warrior, it doesn't matter what you ride. If your fit is best you will be faster on CAAD12 at 1/4 the cost.
05-22-18, 04:12 PM
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Madone is a lighter, stiffer in the right places more aero aka better race bike than Moots or Lynskey.
Your disqualifier of buying a bike not made in the US from a US company is laughable. My vote.
FWIW, for a weekend warrior, it doesn't matter what you ride. If your fit is best you will be faster on CAAD12 at 1/4 the cost.
Your disqualifier of buying a bike not made in the US from a US company is laughable. My vote.
FWIW, for a weekend warrior, it doesn't matter what you ride. If your fit is best you will be faster on CAAD12 at 1/4 the cost.
! Now - CAAD12 does seem interesting. HmmmJust for the record - I also ride during the week (and run) - ha ha (speaking of weekend warrior). But yes - in principle you are correct.
Still - I'd like to buy something at least partially "made in the USA".
Last edited by Boerd; 05-22-18 at 04:16 PM.
05-22-18, 04:40 PM
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Not sure it is fair to slag Lynskey off for rusted bolts on an the FSA stem. Well made and clean looking. Maybe not as nice as a Moots but significantly less costly. I love mine.
05-22-18, 05:02 PM
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05-22-18, 05:31 PM
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I'm not going to **** on anyone's desire to support US-made goods, but to play devil's advocate just a bit, I'd wager that Trek employs 10x more US workers than Lynskey and Moots combined.
05-22-18, 05:50 PM
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OP what is your budget? It loks like you're shopping the $6,000-$10,000 bracket.
There are lots of boutique Titanium makers big and small in that bracket that are US born and bred. No22, Firefly, Independent Fabrication, Seven, Steve Potts,....all great folks to work with, and will make a beautiful bike....depending on what exactly your budget is and what features you want.
There are lots of boutique Titanium makers big and small in that bracket that are US born and bred. No22, Firefly, Independent Fabrication, Seven, Steve Potts,....all great folks to work with, and will make a beautiful bike....depending on what exactly your budget is and what features you want.
05-22-18, 05:51 PM
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Heck yeah.. their US legal team staff is probably larger than either of those other guys full employee base.
05-22-18, 05:59 PM
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Thanks for your understanding ! Now - CAAD12 does seem interesting. Hmmm
Just for the record - I also ride during the week (and run) - ha ha (speaking of weekend warrior). But yes - in principle you are correct.
Still - I'd like to buy something at least partially "made in the USA".
! Now - CAAD12 does seem interesting. HmmmJust for the record - I also ride during the week (and run) - ha ha (speaking of weekend warrior). But yes - in principle you are correct.
Still - I'd like to buy something at least partially "made in the USA".
Presuming you drive an American car. How much do you think is made in the US? How about the trans, computer or tires? Do you own a TV?
How about a computer you are typing on? Even Harley's have a lot of off shore content.
I am a patriot and love America but the buy American mantra is a ruse. It isn't real. Or if you adhere to it to the letter, you are really reducing your quality of life.
05-22-18, 06:02 PM
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Agree, Lynskey makes nice bikes. In a blind test, don't think you will be able to tell one apart from a Moots. A carbon fiber 9 series Madone will be faster, but just fractionally.
05-22-18, 06:07 PM
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The Carver is OEM'd by Lynskey
05-22-18, 06:15 PM
#18
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It would have costed them 10$ max to put some Ti/Al bolts. For a "boutique" shop I think attention to details matters. Anyway - I love my bike - it rides super!
05-22-18, 06:19 PM
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Virtually every complex US product has foreign content. What groupset are you buying? Or wheels? Where do you think they are made? How about cycling computer?...or tires?...or saddle?
Presuming you drive an American car. How much do you think is made in the US? How about the trans, computer or tires? Do you own a TV?
How about a computer you are typing on? Even Harley's have a lot of off shore content.
I am a patriot and love America but the buy American mantra is a ruse. It isn't real. Or if you adhere to it to the letter, you are really reducing your quality of life.
Presuming you drive an American car. How much do you think is made in the US? How about the trans, computer or tires? Do you own a TV?
How about a computer you are typing on? Even Harley's have a lot of off shore content.
I am a patriot and love America but the buy American mantra is a ruse. It isn't real. Or if you adhere to it to the letter, you are really reducing your quality of life.
But in this case I can buy something that I like (a frame) that's made in the USA - good enough. Ahh - and probably Rolf Prima wheels
05-22-18, 06:26 PM
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05-22-18, 07:16 PM
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Mosaic Ti bikes have been scientifically proven to be the best looking of all bikes:
https://www.mosaiccycles.com/rt-1-new
or if you are easy to fit:
https://www.mosaiccycles.com/rt-2
https://www.mosaiccycles.com/rt-1-new
or if you are easy to fit:
https://www.mosaiccycles.com/rt-2
05-22-18, 11:03 PM
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I vote for Moots
This is my 2018 custom Vamoots RSL. I also have a 2006 Moots Compact.
05-23-18, 06:36 AM
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One thing in Lynskey's favor to keep in mind is that they got into bike building through ti fabrication, not the other way around. They are often put into the "second tier" here on BF, due probably to pricing and some of their sales techniques mostly, but they have more ti welding experience than most. As for the rusted bolts on the stem, while they probably don't have the legal department of Trek or Specialized, they probably do have enough lawyers to advise them not to change parts on a suppliers part, especially one where failure could cause serious injury.
05-23-18, 06:47 AM
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Go with the Moots. If you like Ti also check out Dean in Boulder Colorado. They make an incredible Ti bike.