New road bike. What's your desire ?

[Calvin27]

Mooro would be awesome but $6500 is a fair difference from $3800 for a Bossi. Then Baum at $10,000 is another big jump.

Quite a few high quality carbon frame sets in the 3-4K range. Bastion was mentioned but that gets to Baum prices...

I'm not that big on local, but double for a $6k mooro vs $1500 for direct sourced with virtually no difference is a huge gap. If you were going to insist on local, you'd want something tangible. Bastion offers that but is obviously expensive. Baum is very expensive for what it is. Unless you were personally meeting the frame builder and getting measured up and all that then very hard to overlook overseas pricing. The problem is welding Ti is not as easy as steel and economies of scale certainly make a huge difference not with just manufacture but sourcing of material. Those folks at waltly can source Ti for prices that a local frame builder cannot even dream of getting chromoly in. Then add the efficiencies with a production line and jigs and all that and it stacks up significantly.

When I was looking there are quite a few outfits that do the local service part of this and then order the frame overseas direct which should be an option. Sourcing the frame overseas shouldn't be completely ruled out because the reality is all you are doing is getting the local frame builder to pay the chinese guy instead of you doing it directly. If you want local consider getting the design and fit and measure done here and with a shop that has links to manufacturers. If you are in Melbourne I highly recommend BikePro who does frames in steel and Ti. His bike fitting service is quite reputable.

[MichaelB]

You raise some good pints Calvin27, and I looked at Waltly for my MonsterCross, but always have that nagging doubt about issue rectification, if there was one.

Yes, there is a premium for local which would have a higher quality (expectation) and supporting local. But that does have a limit.

I’m still thinking hard about the Synapse frame, as for $1,100 shipped, it’s a deal. But, one thing stopping me is that with a thread together BB (and outboard bearings) only the Rotor 3D+ will fit on the BB30a - a BB386 crank doesn’t. That’s a compromise I’m not keen on, because I’m a bit pedantic.

A pressfit BB solution like BB Infinite or CBear use unique and expensive bearings.

Unless anyone can assist with either a cheap compact Rotor 3D+ with PM and 172.5 arms or show that a BB386 crank with fit with thread together BB, I’m a bit stuck.

I’d be happy to wait till November for the Bowman ...

[Calvin27]

I’d be happy to wait till November for the Bowman ...

Do what the heart desires. If you have bikes to ride now, it's worth waiting. They look beautiful!

[warthog1]

My last bike was to replace a broken frame.
A 2013 giant tcr frame from ebay for $450-
Slapped the 5800 105 on it off the broken frame and the c17 zondas.
I ride with blokes I have ridden with for a number of years.
Some of them have recent 10k plus new bikes.
The $450- tcr is just as fast ime.
The 10k bikes dont appear to have introduced any separation in ability.

That has made me reject the idea of an expensive new bike tbh.
I don't see it as a likely performance advantage for myself.
If you have the money sure, it is a valid passion to indulge.
I don't.
For others that don't it is possible to get a good bike pretty damn cheap.

[MichaelB]

At warthog1 - not gonna spend just for the sake of it. Work hard for my money (well, Mostly ...) so any frame will make sense.
But at the same time, I want something different, hence solutions like the Bowman.

One thing that is done though, is the Synapse frame is sold, so that solves that conundrum !!!

[g-boaf]

Chapter2 bikes look rather interesting and this one is pretty nice:

https://au.chapter2bikes.com/range/huru/matt-orange

Factor O2 VAM is pretty nice too:
https://factorbikes.com/product/o2-vam-frameset/
https://factorbikes.com/factor-x-attaquer/

But damn that's an expensive frameset.

[AndrewCowley]

The new Cervelo Caledonia looks interesting. Virtually an R5 with wide comfy tyres.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/caledonia-5

[g-boaf]

The new Cervelo Caledonia looks interesting. Virtually an R5 with wide comfy tyres.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/caledonia-5

The silver/black one is quite nice. It’s a nice understated colour combination/design.

I like the S5 as well.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/s5

I was riding with someone a long time back who had one of those in a very extreme setup. Really impressive bike. Our little bunch of four people was going very quickly that day. Reasonable bikes and fairly strong riders.

[MichaelB]

Chapter2 has no stick of my size, and $4.2k is above budget.

Factor O2 has frame sets available for under $4k, but colours are boring.

Caledonia is very nice, but only the 5 version available as frame for US$4.somethingk, and even a 105 equipped and one is A$4,300 !

Palace:3 is looking nice. 30mm tyres too !

Even looked at the Mason Resolution (steel) frameset, but GBP1,600 is again too much

[warthog1]

At warthog1 - not gonna spend just for the sake of it. Work hard for my money (well, Mostly ...) so any frame will make sense.
But at the same time, I want something different, hence solutions like the Bowman.

One thing that is done though, is the Synapse frame is sold, so that solves that conundrum !!!

All good mate. Just pointing out for the fellow paupers you can still get something that goes well cheaply.

That Bowman in orange does look nice.

[MichaelB]

All good warthog1, and indeed will be looking at what come available from other sources for sure. I even remembered last night the Vitus Vitesse Evo that I got to review almost 3 years ago (man, time flies) and I enjoyed that bike, and their current Vitesse EVO CRS Ultegra is nice looking and $3.8k complete with Mech Ultegra. !!

Summarising some of the options that I've looked closely at so far :

Cervelo Caledonia - Frameset in low model not avail (only in the light 5 version), and base bike is $4.3k, crap colours, F&F only in the 5 is US$4.3k eerk
Bowman Palace:3 (alloy) - Sweet orange colour avail in Nov, but pay up front. Hmmm
Mason Resolution(Steel) - great option, but frameset approaching $3k landed
Chapter2 Huru - Nice specs, but $4.5k for F&F
Llewellyn Crescendo lugged steel - MAAAAN, super nice but prob too exxy atm. Maybe retirement present ?
Bossi Strada Ti - nice but again, >$4k
Prova Steel & Ti - See Llewlllyn
Mooro Ti F&F - See Llewlllyn
Factor O2 disc F&F - Love the ride, F&F is $4k, boring colours
BMC Roadmachine F&F > $4.5k and would need a repaint !
???

Edited to insert links

[Calvin27]

BMC Roadmachine

I was so bloody close to buying the BMC Roadmachine 02 in silver. That thing looked wicked and under $4k for hydro ultegra.

[MichaelB]

BMC Roadmachine

I was so bloody close to buying the BMC Roadmachine 02 in silver. That thing looked wicked and under $4k for hydro ultegra.

If there was one available in that spec and that price, I'd probably consider it ...but what is the difference between the "RoadMachine", and the "RoadMachine 02" frameset ?

e.g 99bikes have the following ;
Roadmachine 02 Two (2020) $4,679 - Ult Mech Hyd
Roadmachine 02 Three (2020) $3,599 - 105 Mech Hyd (presume the 'One' is then DA ?)
Roadmachine Three (2021) $5,044 - Ult Mech Hyd, but 2021 version
Roadmachine Four (2021) $3,783 - 105 Mech Hyd, but 2021 version

And if you look at the BMC website, there is the 2021 version of Roadmachine and Raodmachine 01, but are the frames the same, or just spec differences ?

[warthog1]

Good review on the vitus. Thanks Michael

[MichaelB]

Good review on the vitus. Thanks Michael

I actually tried to keep it and was offered a really sweet deal, but didn't have the available funds at the time

[warthog1]

I actually tried to keep it and was offered a really sweet deal, but didn't have the available funds at the time

Bugger
Yeah that'd be me much of the time too.
Earn reasonable money but basically single income family and 2 teenagers living at home, there are many other outgoings.

It was clearly a good bike if you wanted to keep it though.

[MichaelB]

I actually tried to keep it and was offered a really sweet deal, but didn't have the available funds at the time

Bugger
Yeah that'd be me much of the time too.
Earn reasonable money but basically single income family and 2 teenagers living at home, there are many other outgoings.

It was clearly a good bike if you wanted to keep it though.

That's why the Vitesse Evo CRS caught my eye too !! But don't know the max tyre size

[warthog1]

I'm not in the market but damn.
I'll have to check that out too.

[Calvin27]

And if you look at the BMC website, there is the 2021 version of Roadmachine and Raodmachine 01, but are the frames the same, or just spec differences ?

One does not try to understand BMC naming logic...

[RobertL]

The new Cervelo Caledonia looks interesting. Virtually an R5 with wide comfy tyres.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/caledonia-5

The silver/black one is quite nice. It’s a nice understated colour combination/design.

I like the S5 as well.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/s5

I was riding with someone a long time back who had one of those in a very extreme setup. Really impressive bike. Our little bunch of four people was going very quickly that day. Reasonable bikes and fairly strong riders.

A guy on my team has a new S5. It looks really good. That "funny" bar/stem setup looks much better in real life than in photos.

[Rorschach]

BMC Roadmachine

I was so bloody close to buying the BMC Roadmachine 02 in silver. That thing looked wicked and under $4k for hydro ultegra.

If there was one available in that spec and that price, I'd probably consider it ...but what is the difference between the "RoadMachine", and the "RoadMachine 02" frameset ?

e.g 99bikes have the following ;
Roadmachine 02 Two (2020) $4,679 - Ult Mech Hyd
Roadmachine 02 Three (2020) $3,599 - 105 Mech Hyd (presume the 'One' is then DA ?)
Roadmachine Three (2021) $5,044 - Ult Mech Hyd, but 2021 version
Roadmachine Four (2021) $3,783 - 105 Mech Hyd, but 2021 version

And if you look at the BMC website, there is the 2021 version of Roadmachine and Raodmachine 01, but are the frames the same, or just spec differences ?

I did this look at this when I was getting my BMC - I have a 2019 RM02 Three.
The main difference between the RM01 and RM02 (now just Roadmachine) is carbon layup and the ability on the RM01 to completely route cables internally using a different steerer (I think).
I'm not a huge fan of the current colour schemes, the some of the 2019 ones looked pretty good. I'm considering a repaint/wrap when I get sick of it to something like the 2020 Teammachines

[biker jk]

I was so bloody close to buying the BMC Roadmachine 02 in silver. That thing looked wicked and under $4k for hydro ultegra.

If there was one available in that spec and that price, I'd probably consider it ...but what is the difference between the "RoadMachine", and the "RoadMachine 02" frameset ?

e.g 99bikes have the following ;
Roadmachine 02 Two (2020) $4,679 - Ult Mech Hyd
Roadmachine 02 Three (2020) $3,599 - 105 Mech Hyd (presume the 'One' is then DA ?)
Roadmachine Three (2021) $5,044 - Ult Mech Hyd, but 2021 version
Roadmachine Four (2021) $3,783 - 105 Mech Hyd, but 2021 version

And if you look at the BMC website, there is the 2021 version of Roadmachine and Raodmachine 01, but are the frames the same, or just spec differences ?

I did this look at this when I was getting my BMC - I have a 2019 RM02 Three.
The main difference between the RM01 and RM02 (now just Roadmachine) is carbon layup and the ability on the RM01 to completely route cables internally using a different steerer (I think).
I'm not a huge fan of the current colour schemes, the some of the 2019 ones looked pretty good. I'm considering a repaint/wrap when I get sick of it to something like the 2020 Teammachines

From the 2020 models, the frames are exactly the same for the RM01 and 02. Only difference is the ICS cockpit on the RM01.

[MichaelB]

From the 2020 models, the frames are exactly the same for the RM01 and 02. Only difference is the ICS cockpit on the RM01.

Cheers.

Reckon that applies to the 2021 models ?

I did this look at this when I was getting my BMC - I have a 2019 RM02 Three.
..
[/quote]

I note in another thread, you fitted 28mm tyres, but what is the measured size, and is there more room for anything bigger ?

[Mububban]

Seeing as my current bike was 9.5kg stock, and I'm so skeletal that losing bodyweight isn't feasible, something lighter would be nice Mid 7s would be lovely as although I am slow and rubbish, I keep seeking out hills to climb...

Something like a modern TCR which is somewhat-aero but not crazy high prices. Just bought a house though and need to replace both old cars in the next year or so, so new bike day is many years off

[warthog1]

The new Cervelo Caledonia looks interesting. Virtually an R5 with wide comfy tyres.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/caledonia-5

The silver/black one is quite nice. It’s a nice understated colour combination/design.

I like the S5 as well.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/s5

I was riding with someone a long time back who had one of those in a very extreme setup. Really impressive bike. Our little bunch of four people was going very quickly that day. Reasonable bikes and fairly strong riders.

A guy on my team has a new S5. It looks really good. That "funny" bar/stem setup looks much better in real life than in photos.

Multiple S5s here.
I have an old S5
That bar stem setup is not pretty I reckon. They aren't cheap.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cervel ... -Stem/KD3Q